An imaging system and method for microbial growth detection, counting or identification. One colony may be contrasted in an image that is not optimal for another type of colony. The system and method provides contrast from all available material through space (spatial differences), time (differences appearing over time for a given capture condition) and color space transformation using image input information over time to assess whether microbial growth has occurred for a given sample.

Compositions and methods disclosed concern an isogenic population of in vitro human embryonic stem cells comprising a disease form of the Huntingtin gene (HTT) at the endogenous HTT gene locus in the genome of the cell; wherein the disease form of the HTT gene comprises a polyQ repeat of at least 40 glutamines at the N-terminus of the Huntingtin protein (HTT). The cell lines of the disclosure comprise genetically-defined alterations made in the endogenous HTT gene that recapitulate Huntington's Disease in humans. Furthermore, the cell lines have isogenic controls that share a similar genetic background. Differentiating cell lines committed to a neuronal fate and fully differentiated cell lines are also provided and they also display phenotypic abnormalities associated with the length of the polyQ repeat of the HTT gene. These cell lines are used as screening tools in drug discovery and development to identify substances that fully or partially revert these phenotype abnormalities.

Compositions and methods disclosed concern an isogenic population of in vitro human embryonic stem cells comprising a disease form of the Huntingtin gene (HTT) at the endogenous HTT gene locus in the genome of the cell; wherein the disease form of the HTT gene comprises a polyQ repeat of at least 40 glutamines at the N-terminus of the Huntingtin protein (HTT). The cell lines of the disclosure comprise genetically-defined alterations made in the endogenous HTT gene that recapitulate Huntington's Disease in humans. Furthermore, the cell lines have isogenic controls that share a similar genetic background. Differentiating cell lines committed to a neuronal fate and fully differentiated cell lines are also provided and they also display phenotypic abnormalities associated with the length of the polyQ repeat of the HTT gene. These cell lines are used as screening tools in drug discovery and development to identify substances that fully or partially revert these phenotype abnormalities.

Systems and methods for sensing vibrational absorption induced photothermal effect via a visible light source. A Mid-infrared photothermal probe (MI-PTP, or MIP) approach achieves 10 mM detection sensitivity and sub-micron lateral spatial resolution. Such performance exceeds the diffraction limit of infrared microscopy and allows label-free three-dimensional chemical imaging of live cells and organisms. Distributions of endogenous lipid and exogenous drug inside single cells can be visualized. MIP imaging technology may enable applications from monitoring metabolic activities to high-resolution mapping of drug molecules in living systems, which are beyond the reach of current infrared microscopy.

Systems and methods for sensing vibrational absorption induced photothermal effect via a visible light source. A Mid-infrared photothermal probe (MI-PTP, or MIP) approach achieves 10 mM detection sensitivity and sub-micron lateral spatial resolution. Such performance exceeds the diffraction limit of infrared microscopy and allows label-free three-dimensional chemical imaging of live cells and organisms. Distributions of endogenous lipid and exogenous drug inside single cells can be visualized. MIP imaging technology may enable applications from monitoring metabolic activities to high-resolution mapping of drug molecules in living systems, which are beyond the reach of current infrared microscopy.

A method is disclosed comprising providing a biological sample on a swab, directing a spray of charged droplets onto a surface of the swab in order to generate a plurality of analyte ions, and analysing the analyte ions.

The present invention provides a novel method for more simply and rapidly detecting target bacterial cells by a device using a binding molecule capable of binding to the target bacterial cells. In the method, a sample is incubated in a reagent for concentration of bacteria to cause the sample to react with a fluorescently-labeled binding molecule, and a fluorescence polarization degree is then detect to detect the target, and this is performed using a bacterial detection tool. The bacterial detection tool is obtained by attaching a sample collection tool to a main body. The sample collection tool includes a collection section and a connection section that is connected to the main body. The main body includes a reagent storage chamber, a collection section storage chamber, and a connection section that is connected to the sample collection tool. The reagent storage chamber and the collection section storage chamber are separated from each other. The sample collection tool and the main body are connected to each other at the connection section of the sample collection tool and the connection section of the main body after the preparation step and before the incubation step with the collection section being placed inside the collection section storage chamber. The reagent storage chamber and the collection section storage chamber internally communicate with each other after the preparation step to perform the incubation step and the reaction step. h a sample is collected; and a connection section that is connected to the main body, the main body comprises: a reagent storage chamber that contains the reagent and the fluorescently-labeled binding molecule; a collection section storage chamber that contains the collection section of the sample collection tool; and a connection section that is connected to the sample collection tool, the reagent storage chamber and the collection section storage chamber are separated from each other, and the sample collection tool and the main body are connected to each other at the connection section of the sample collection tool and the connection section of the main body with the collection section of the sample collection tool being placed inside the collection section storage chamber of the main body.

The present invention provides a novel method for more simply and rapidly detecting target bacterial cells by a device using a binding molecule capable of binding to the target bacterial cells. In the method, a sample is incubated in a reagent for concentration of bacteria to cause the sample to react with a fluorescently-labeled binding molecule, and a fluorescence polarization degree is then detect to detect the target, and this is performed using a bacterial detection tool. The bacterial detection tool is obtained by attaching a sample collection tool to a main body. The sample collection tool includes a collection section and a connection section that is connected to the main body. The main body includes a reagent storage chamber, a collection section storage chamber, and a connection section that is connected to the sample collection tool. The reagent storage chamber and the collection section storage chamber are separated from each other. The sample collection tool and the main body are connected to each other at the connection section of the sample collection tool and the connection section of the main body after the preparation step and before the incubation step with the collection section being placed inside the collection section storage chamber. The reagent storage chamber and the collection section storage chamber internally communicate with each other after the preparation step to perform the incubation step and the reaction step. h a sample is collected; and a connection section that is connected to the main body, the main body comprises: a reagent storage chamber that contains the reagent and the fluorescently-labeled binding molecule; a collection section storage chamber that contains the collection section of the sample collection tool; and a connection section that is connected to the sample collection tool, the reagent storage chamber and the collection section storage chamber are separated from each other, and the sample collection tool and the main body are connected to each other at the connection section of the sample collection tool and the connection section of the main body with the collection section of the sample collection tool being placed inside the collection section storage chamber of the main body.

The present invention provides sensor cells comprising a receptor that binds to an analyte indicative of the presence of an agent, where binding of the analyte to the receptor triggers a detection event that is indicative of the presence of the agent. In certain embodiments, the detection event is appearance of a reporter detectable by the naked eye. The present invention also provides uses of such sensor cells for detecting the presence of an agent in a sample.

The present invention provides sensor cells comprising a receptor that binds to an analyte indicative of the presence of an agent, where binding of the analyte to the receptor triggers a detection event that is indicative of the presence of the agent. In certain embodiments, the detection event is appearance of a reporter detectable by the naked eye. The present invention also provides uses of such sensor cells for detecting the presence of an agent in a sample.