Described herein is a mycobacterium mutant, comprising at least one mutation in at least one gene sequence encoding global gene regulators (GGRs) selected from the group consisting of sigH, sigL, sigE, ECF-1, and mixtures thereof, wherein the GGR gene is at least partially inactivated. Described herein also is a vaccine based on the mutant and a method of differentiating between subjects that have been infected with mycobacterium and subjects that have not been infected with mycobacterium or have been vaccinated with a mycobacterium vaccine.

Provided herein are compositions and methods for diagnosing and characterizing tuberculosis infection. In particular, provided herein are compositions and methods for identifying drug resistant tuberculosis.

A device for selectively capturing mycobacteria comprises a substrate and a capture polymer layer of poly-diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride, wherein the capture polymer layer is covalently linked onto the substrate via a UV-initiated polymerization reaction of a solution comprising diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride and a photoinitiator in water purged of dissolved oxygen, and wherein the UV exposure time is 30 seconds to 4 minutes at a power density of about 20 to about 25 mW/cm.sup.2. A kit can comprise the device. A microfluidic chip comprises at least a portion of at least one channel sidewall coated with a capture polymer layer of poly-diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride. A method for manufacturing the device includes plasma treating a substrate, providing a solution comprising diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride and a photoinitiator in water purged of dissolved oxygen, and coating the plasma-treated substrate via a UV-initiated polymerization reaction.

The present invention relates to recombinant bacteria to which a novel lipid peroxidation system has been applied and a method for preparing a biofuel and a biopolymer using same. The artificial lipid peroxidation system of the present invention can be used to prepare ultra-high concentrations of free fatty acids through artificial lipid peroxidation without cell death, and a biofuel and a biopolymer can be prepared therefrom. In addition, the artificial lipid peroxidation system according to the present invention increases intracellular redox energy density and can thus additionally promote carbon dioxide fixation. Accordingly, it is possible to prepare increased quantities of a biofuel and a biopolymer.

Embodiments of the present disclosure pertains to a genetically altered bacterial strain that lacks functional versions of at least three of the following proteins: FbpA; SapM; Zmp1; DosR; FadD26; SigH; nuoG; and Eis. In some embodiments, the bacterial strain lacks functional versions of at least the following proteins: FbpA; SapM; Zmp1; and DosR. In some embodiments, the bacterial strain lacks functional versions of at least the following proteins: FbpA; SapM; Zmp1; DosR; FadD26; and SigH. In some embodiments, the bacterial strain lacks functional versions of at least the following proteins: SapM; Zmp1; and nuoG. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of treating or preventing a bacterial infection in a subject by administering to the subject a bacterial strain of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the bacterial infection is tuberculosis.

The invention relates to modified Mycobacterium cells, and their uses as vaccines, and, particularly, modified Bacillus Calmette-Gurin vaccines. The invention extends to the use of the modified vaccines for vaccination applications in a wide range of animals, including cattle and humans. The invention extends to novel antigens, kits and compositions comprising these novel antigens and to their use in diagnosis. The invention also extends to apparatus comprising the modified vaccine and the antigens, and compositions comprising the antigens.

The present invention relates to a method for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which can replace the conventional culture method that takes a long time of four to eight weeks to detect active tuberculosis, and which is a method for detecting active Mycobacterium tuberculosis by using isotopes on a sample of a patient's sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.

The invention provides a method for detecting desired Mycobacterium species in a sample, the method comprising the steps of: a) mixing mycobacteriophage-coupled paramagnetic particles with the sample to form a reaction mixture under conditions suitable to allow the mycobacteriophage to bind to any mycobacteriophage-sensitive Mycobacterium species present in the sample; b) applying a magnetic field to the sample to collect, and separate, mycobacteriophage-coupled paramagnetic particles with bound desired Mycobacterium species; c) incubating a suspension of the separated paramagnetic particles with bound Mycobacterium species under conditions to allow the mycobacteriophage to replicate inside viable Mycobacterium species cells and to lyse the viable Mycobacterium species cells; d) recovering, from the incubated suspension, nucleotide, optionally DNA, of lysed Mycobacterium species DNA; and e) analysing the nucleotide, optionally DNA, released from the lysed Mycobacterium species to identify a signature nucleotide, optionally DNA, sequence that occurs in the desired Mycobacterium species. The invention also provides use of a mycobacteriophage; and a kit suitable for performing the aforementioned method.