Methods are provided for the prognosis, diagnosis and treatment of various pathological states, including cancer, chemotherapy resistance and dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease. The methods provided herein are based on the discovery that various proteins with a high level of sialylation are shown herein to be associated with disease states, such as, cancer, chemotherapy resistance and dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease. Such methods provide a lysosomal exocytosis activity profile comprising one or more values representing lysosomal exocytosis activity. Also provided herein, is the discovery that low lysosomal sialidase activity is associated with various pathological states. Thus, the methods also provide a lysosomal sialidase activity profile, comprising one or more values representing lysosomal sialidase activity. A lysosomal sialidase activity profile is one example of a lysosomal exocytosis activity profile.

The present disclosure relates to, inter alia, a weed control method. In one example, a method comprises applying to the locus a weed controlling amount of a pesticide composition comprising a FatA acyl-ACP thioesterase-inhibiting herbicide, wherein the crop plants are modified such that they comprise a FatA acyl-ACP thioesterase which provides the crop plant with tolerance against the FatA acyl-ACP thioesterase-inhibiting herbicide. Recombinant polynucleotides and suitable for use in the methods, and edited FatA acyl-ACP thioesterases are also disclosed.

An apparatus for testing for the presence of pathogens in test liquids is described. Also described is a method for testing for the presence of pathogens in test liquids. Also described is a hydrogel for testing for the presence of pathogens in test liquids.

Provided is a method for identifying whether an RNA molecule has a 2′-O-methylation modification on a nucleotide, said method comprising: (1) contacting the RNA molecule with a ribonuclease Rnase R; and (2) detecting whether the RNA molecule is degraded or detecting hydrolysis termination positions after degradation. If the RNA molecule is degraded, this indicates that the RNA molecule does not have a 2′-O-methylation modification on a 3′ terminal nucleotide, and if hydrolysis terminates at a same site on multiple random broken fragments, this indicates that the RNA molecule has a 2′-O-methylation modification on the nucleotide at the position immediately preceding the termination site. Also provided are applications of the method for screening for a disease diagnosis target and confirming whether a subject has a 2′-O-methylation modification-related disease.

Provided is a method for identifying whether an RNA molecule has a 2′-O-methylation modification on a nucleotide, said method comprising: (1) contacting the RNA molecule with a ribonuclease Rnase R; and (2) detecting whether the RNA molecule is degraded or detecting hydrolysis termination positions after degradation. If the RNA molecule is degraded, this indicates that the RNA molecule does not have a 2′-O-methylation modification on a 3′ terminal nucleotide, and if hydrolysis terminates at a same site on multiple random broken fragments, this indicates that the RNA molecule has a 2′-O-methylation modification on the nucleotide at the position immediately preceding the termination site. Also provided are applications of the method for screening for a disease diagnosis target and confirming whether a subject has a 2′-O-methylation modification-related disease.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fluorescence imaging probe capable of selectively visualizing target cells such as cells expressing β-galactosidase (lacZ expressing cells) at a single-cell level in a red fluorescence region, and of performing co-staining together with GFP. An intracellularly-retainable red fluorescent probe comprising a compound represented by the following formula (I) or a salt thereof: ##STR00001## wherein: A represents a monovalent group cleaved by an enzyme; R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, or one to four of the same or different substituents bonded to a benzene ring; R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, and R.sup.6 each independently represent —CFR.sup.10R.sup.11, —CF.sub.2R.sup.12, a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkyl group, or a halogen atom, wherein at least one of R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, and R.sup.6 is —CFR.sup.10R.sup.11 or —CF.sub.2R.sup.12; R.sup.2 and R.sup.7 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkyl group, or a halogen atom; R.sup.8 and R.sup.9 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; R.sup.10, R.sup.11, and R.sup.12 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an alkenyl group; X represents Si(R.sup.a) (R.sup.b), wherein R.sup.a and R.sup.b each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; and Y is —C(═O)— or —R.sup.cC(═O)—, wherein R.sup.c is an alkylene group having 1-3 carbon atoms.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fluorescence imaging probe capable of selectively visualizing target cells such as cells expressing β-galactosidase (lacZ expressing cells) at a single-cell level in a red fluorescence region, and of performing co-staining together with GFP. An intracellularly-retainable red fluorescent probe comprising a compound represented by the following formula (I) or a salt thereof: ##STR00001## wherein: A represents a monovalent group cleaved by an enzyme; R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, or one to four of the same or different substituents bonded to a benzene ring; R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, and R.sup.6 each independently represent —CFR.sup.10R.sup.11, —CF.sub.2R.sup.12, a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkyl group, or a halogen atom, wherein at least one of R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, and R.sup.6 is —CFR.sup.10R.sup.11 or —CF.sub.2R.sup.12; R.sup.2 and R.sup.7 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkyl group, or a halogen atom; R.sup.8 and R.sup.9 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; R.sup.10, R.sup.11, and R.sup.12 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an alkenyl group; X represents Si(R.sup.a) (R.sup.b), wherein R.sup.a and R.sup.b each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; and Y is —C(═O)— or —R.sup.cC(═O)—, wherein R.sup.c is an alkylene group having 1-3 carbon atoms.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a detection means whereby Staphylococcus aureus can be identified at a high accuracy. An aspect of the present invention relates to a medium for detecting S. aureus which comprises one or more kinds of nutrient components, a color developing agent capable of developing a color in the presence of α-glucosidase, a color developing agent capable of developing a color in the presence of phosphatase and 0.5 mg/cm.sup.3 or more of sodium colistin methanesulfonate. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a sheet for detecting S. aureus, said sheet comprising the aforesaid medium, and a method for detecting S. aureus with the use of the medium and sheet as described above.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a detection means whereby Staphylococcus aureus can be identified at a high accuracy. An aspect of the present invention relates to a medium for detecting S. aureus which comprises one or more kinds of nutrient components, a color developing agent capable of developing a color in the presence of α-glucosidase, a color developing agent capable of developing a color in the presence of phosphatase and 0.5 mg/cm.sup.3 or more of sodium colistin methanesulfonate. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a sheet for detecting S. aureus, said sheet comprising the aforesaid medium, and a method for detecting S. aureus with the use of the medium and sheet as described above.

Probes for the detection of β-lactamase-type enzymatic activity. In particular, novel fluorogenic substrates for detecting the presence of a catalytically active β-lactamase and a detection method using such substrates.