The invention relates to the use of precursor peptides and B1 proteins from lasso peptide biosynthesis systems for affinity purification, proximity-based sortase-mediated protein purification and ligation, and detection of fusion proteins. For proximity-based sortase-mediated protein purification and ligation, the invention relates to techniques that link protein purification with conjugation to other agents, including therapeutic agents, imaging agents, or linkers.

The invention generally relates to methods of using compositions that include sets of magnetic particles, members of each set being conjugated to an antibody specific for a pathogen, and magnets to isolate a pathogen from a body fluid sample.

The present invention relates to enterococcal cell wall polymers and their uses in the prevention and therapy of bacterial infection.

The invention generally relates to conducting an assay on a sample that isolates a pathogen from the sample and allows for analysis of the pathogen with minimal (i.e., at most 24 hrs of culturing) or no culturing of the pathogen. In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods for identifying a pathogen from a sample that involve obtaining a sample including a pathogen, conducting an assay that isolates the pathogen from the sample, culturing the isolated pathogen for at most about 24 hrs, and analyzing the pathogen.

The invention generally relates to methods of using compositions that include sets of magnetic particles, members of each set being conjugated to an antibody specific for a pathogen, and magnets to isolate a pathogen from a body fluid sample.

The present invention includes the complete genome sequence for the methanogen, Methanobrevibacter ruminantium, including polynucleotides which encode M. ruminantium polypeptides or peptides, as well as polynucleotides from non-coding regions. Also included are the encoded M. ruminantium polypeptides and peptides, and antibodies directed to these peptides or polypeptides, in addition to expression vectors and host cells for producing these peptides, polypeptides, polynucleotides, and antibodies. The invention further includes methods and compositions for detecting, targeting, and inhibiting microbial cells, especially methanogen cells such as M. ruminantium cells, using one or more of the disclosed peptides, polypeptides, polynucleotides, antibodies, expression vectors, and host cells.

The invention generally relates to conducting an assay on a sample that isolates a pathogen from the sample and allows for analysis of the pathogen with minimal (i.e., at most 24 hrs of culturing) or no culturing of the pathogen. In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods for identifying a pathogen from a sample that involve obtaining a sample including a pathogen, conducting an assay that isolates the pathogen from the sample, culturing the isolated pathogen for at most about 24 hrs, and analyzing the pathogen.

The invention generally relates to conducting an assay on a sample that isolates a bacterium from the sample, in which the assay isolates as low as about 1 CFU/ml of bacteria in the sample.

Medicament for the treatment or the prevention of a bacterial infection, characterized in that it contains at least one polypeptide selected from the group of SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 9, and contiguous fragments thereof, wherein said at least one polypeptide or contiguous fragment thereof induces opsonic antibodies in a patient in need thereof. The polypeptides or the contiguous fragments thereof according to the present invention can be used for the preparation of a vaccine against an infection against Enterococcus.

An antibody preparation suitable for intravenous administration in humans includes IgG, IgA and at least 5% IgM antibodies by weight of the total amount of antibodies. The preparation is prepared from human plasma, has specific complement activating activity, and, in an in vitro assay with human serum suitable to determine the ability of the antibody preparation to activate complement unspecifically, the antibody preparation generates substantially no C5a and/or substantially no C3a. The antibody preparation can have medical uses.