The present invention relates to the field of malaria. More specifically, the present invention provides methods and compositions useful for rapidly testing for malaria infection. In one embodiment, a method for identifying the malaria parasite Plasmodium in a human subject comprises the steps of (a) incubating a saliva sample obtained from the subject with an antibody that specifically binds PSSP17, wherein the presence of PSSP17 creates one or more antibody: PSSP17 complexes; (b) applying a detection agent that detects the antibody-PSSP17 complexes; and (c) identifying the subject as having the malaria parasite Plasmodium where the antibody-PSSP17 complexes are detected.

The invention provides methods and compositions for detecting and diagnosing sexually transmitted infections using a string of epitopes (SOE) specific for detection of causative microorganisms. The antigenic epitopes may be single epitope sequences, a plurality of epitope sequences joined by repeats of glycine (-GG-) and/or lysine (-KK-) to form a series of epitopes (SOE), or nucleotide sequences encoding one or more SOEs and host cells harboring said SOE nucleotide sequences. SOEs specific for highly immunogenic regions of proteins from Trichomonas, Treponema and Neisseria species are provided. SOEs to detect the presence of trichomonas species comprise regions from Trichomonas-sptciric aldolase, GAPDH, a-enolase and a-actinin proteins. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising SOEs can also be used as vaccines or to elicit an immune response to specific microorganisms.

The invention provides methods and compositions for detecting and diagnosing sexually transmitted infections using a string of epitopes (SOE) specific for detection of causative microorganisms. The antigenic epitopes may be single epitope sequences, a plurality of epitope sequences joined by repeats of glycine (-GG-) and/or lysine (-KK-) to form a series of epitopes (SOE), or nucleotide sequences encoding one or more SOEs and host cells harboring said SOE nucleotide sequences. SOEs specific for highly immunogenic regions of proteins from Trichomonas, Treponema and Neisseria species are provided. SOEs to detect the presence of trichomonas species comprise regions from Trichomonas-sptciric aldolase, GAPDH, a-enolase and a-actinin proteins. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising SOEs can also be used as vaccines or to elicit an immune response to specific microorganisms.

The described invention provides a method for rejuvenating an aging blood and vascular system comprising aging-associated hematopoietic defects in an aging hematopoietic microenvironment of bone marrow including deteriorating vascular integrity, reduced hematopoietic stem cell function, or both. The method includes administering to a subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising an inhibitor of a pro-aging angiocrine factor, a splice variant, or a fragment thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The described invention has identified thrombospondin-1 as a candidate pro-aging factor.

The invention provides methods of treating or preventing malaria comprising administering to an animal an effective amount of a compound of formula I:

Q-YR.sup.1R.sup.2(I),

wherein Q, Y, R.sup.1, and R.sup.2 are as described herein. Methods of inhibiting a plasmodial surface anion channel of a parasite in an animal are also provided. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound represented by formula I in combination with any one or more compounds represented by formulas II, V, and VI. Use of the pharmaceutical compositions for treating or preventing malaria or for inhibiting a plasmodial surface anion channel in animals including humans are also provided. Also provided by the invention are clag3 amino acid sequences and related nucleic acids, vectors, host cells, populations of cells, antibodies, and pharmaceutical compositions.

Provided herein are methods of sorting antigen-specific IgM memory B cells (MBCs), compositions and methods comprising such antigen-specific IgM MBCs, and recombinant antibody or antigen-binding fragments isolated from such antigen-specific IgM MBCs. As demonstrated herein, IgM and IgD MBCs are unique populations of cells with distinct phenotypic, functional and survival properties. Accordingly, the antigen-specific IgM MBCs and antibodies and antigen-binding fragments derived from these cells described herein are useful in therapeutic applications in vaccine strategies and treatment of infectious diseases.

Methods are provided for producing monoclonal antibody candidates using adaptive immunity profiling. In some aspects, the method provides for the use of massively parallel signature sequencing.

Substantially purified salivary Lu. longipalpis polypeptides, and polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are disclosed. Vectors and host cells including the Lu. longipalpis polynucleotides are also disclosed. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed for inducing an immune response to sand fly saliva. In other embodiments, methods for treating, diagnosing, or preventing Leishmaniasis are disclosed.

Substantially purified salivary Lu. longipalpis polypeptides, and polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are disclosed. Vectors and host cells including the Lu. longipalpis polynucleotides are also disclosed. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed for inducing an immune response to sand fly saliva. In other embodiments, methods for treating, diagnosing, or preventing Leishmaniasis are disclosed.

The present disclosure is directed to reagents and methods of using the reagents to detect epitopes of Trypanosoma cruzi.