Methods and devices are provided for pretreatment of a sample containing microbial cells. In some embodiments, the pretreatment of the sample is performed via the initial selective lysis, within a sample pretreatment vessel, of non-microbial cells (such as blood cells) and the subsequent centrifugal separation of the sample to remove the resulting debris and concentrate the microbial cells. An immiscible and dense cushioning liquid may be included for collecting the microbial cells adjacent to the liquid interface formed by the cushioning liquid upon centrifugation of the pretreatment vessel. After removal of a substantial quantity of the supernatant, resuspension of the collected microbial cells, and re-establishment of the cushioning liquid interface, at least a portion of the remaining suspension may be removed without substantially removing the cushioning liquid. One or more intermediate wash cycles may be performed prior to extraction of the remaining suspension, which provides a “pretreated” sample.

The present invention refers to a device comprising polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) filters and the use of the same for collecting, detecting and identifying organisms present in air ecosystems. The invention also provides a method suitable for the capture, detection and identification of whole airborne biological particles, including viruses and other important air pathogens, which involves the use of the device. This method allows toperform organism, preferably viral, metagenomics to sequence all DNA and RNA organisms captured in the filters. This methodology may be used to detect, for instance, SARS-CoV2 particles in air samples.

The present disclosure provides a method for screening, isolating and purifying analytes.

The present disclosure provides a method for screening, isolating and purifying analytes.

A method for predicting the pathogenicity and virulence of a strain of Gram-negative bacteria of the Enterobacteriaceae family, wherein the amount of 2-hydroxymyristate and/or 2-hydroxymyristic acid present in the lipopolysaccharides of the bacteria is identified and measured, the amount of 2-hydroxymyristate and/or 2-hydroxymyristic acid is compared with a reference value, and wherein it is concluded that the strain is virulent if the amount of 2-hydroxymyristate is greater than the reference value. Also, the use of the 2-hydroxymyristic acid ester as a marker of pathogenicity and virulence of a Gram-negative bacterial strain and an in vitro diagnosis kit implementing this marker.

A method for predicting the pathogenicity and virulence of a strain of Gram-negative bacteria of the Enterobacteriaceae family, wherein the amount of 2-hydroxymyristate and/or 2-hydroxymyristic acid present in the lipopolysaccharides of the bacteria is identified and measured, the amount of 2-hydroxymyristate and/or 2-hydroxymyristic acid is compared with a reference value, and wherein it is concluded that the strain is virulent if the amount of 2-hydroxymyristate is greater than the reference value. Also, the use of the 2-hydroxymyristic acid ester as a marker of pathogenicity and virulence of a Gram-negative bacterial strain and an in vitro diagnosis kit implementing this marker.

An evaluation method is a method for evaluating a cell mass containing a plurality of aggregated cells, and includes an imaging step of capturing an image of light obtained from the cell mass by irradiating the cell mass with light, an analysis step of setting a reference point for the cell mass included in image data obtained by the imaging step, setting sampling circles centered on the reference point, and determining a parameter for a state of the cell mass based on image data included in regions on the sampling circles, and an evaluation step of evaluating the cell mass based on the parameter.

An evaluation method is a method for evaluating a cell mass containing a plurality of aggregated cells, and includes an imaging step of capturing an image of light obtained from the cell mass by irradiating the cell mass with light, an analysis step of setting a reference point for the cell mass included in image data obtained by the imaging step, setting sampling circles centered on the reference point, and determining a parameter for a state of the cell mass based on image data included in regions on the sampling circles, and an evaluation step of evaluating the cell mass based on the parameter.

Apparatus and methods for creating deposits of uniformly spaced or uniformly overlapping droplets of selected chemicals where each droplet has an a priori known amount of the selected chemical or chemicals is taught (including biological and microbial materials). In some embodiments the deposits may be used as samples of different but known concentrations that may be used to calibrate spectroscopic inspection instruments to enable such instruments to not only provide identification in situ of unknown materials but also to provide calibrated and traceable surface concentrations of such materials. In some embodiments, such calibrated instruments may be used in enhanced processes for validating the cleanliness of manufacturing surfaces such as surfaces of equipment used in the preparation of pharmaceuticals, food, or semiconductor devices. Such instruments may be used to ensure adequate purity, or non-contamination, of surfaces of products themselves or packaging materials or of locations where such products will be used. Such calibrated instruments may also be useful in detecting cleanliness of non-manufacturing surfaces where contamination may be of concern, whether they be public or private spaces such as laboratories, restaurants, airports, satellites or other spacecraft. In some embodiments, such instruments may range from deep UV instruments to far infrared instruments or beyond.

Apparatus and methods for creating deposits of uniformly spaced or uniformly overlapping droplets of selected chemicals where each droplet has an a priori known amount of the selected chemical or chemicals is taught (including biological and microbial materials). In some embodiments the deposits may be used as samples of different but known concentrations that may be used to calibrate spectroscopic inspection instruments to enable such instruments to not only provide identification in situ of unknown materials but also to provide calibrated and traceable surface concentrations of such materials. In some embodiments, such calibrated instruments may be used in enhanced processes for validating the cleanliness of manufacturing surfaces such as surfaces of equipment used in the preparation of pharmaceuticals, food, or semiconductor devices. Such instruments may be used to ensure adequate purity, or non-contamination, of surfaces of products themselves or packaging materials or of locations where such products will be used. Such calibrated instruments may also be useful in detecting cleanliness of non-manufacturing surfaces where contamination may be of concern, whether they be public or private spaces such as laboratories, restaurants, airports, satellites or other spacecraft. In some embodiments, such instruments may range from deep UV instruments to far infrared instruments or beyond.