The present invention pertains to an enzymatic measurement method using an antibody-enzyme complex or a nucleic acid probe measurement method using an enzyme-labeled nucleic acid probe, in both of which the quantification of a product of a reaction by an enzyme in the antibody-enzyme complex or the enzyme-labeled nucleic acid probe is performed by generating thio-NAD(P)H by an enzymatic cycling reaction using NAD(P)H, thio-NAD(P), and a dehydrogenase (DH), and measuring the amount of the generated thio-NAD(P)H or measuring a change in color caused by the generated thio-NAD(P)H. An enzymatic reaction system in which NAD(P) generated from NAD(P)H by the enzymatic cycling reaction is selectively reduced, is caused to coexist with the enzymatic cycling reaction. The present invention also pertains to a kit for enzyme immunoassay, and a kit for nucleic acid probe measurement. In the enzymatic cycling reaction, the detection sensitivity is increased by increasing the amount of thio-NAD(P)H generated per unit time with respect to a predetermined amount of a substrate (reduced), and combining the same with an enzyme immunoassay, etc., enables quantification, etc., of a protein or nucleic acid with high sensitivity.

The present invention relates methods for rapidly detecting the presence of bacteria in biological solutions regardless of their origin in non-laboratory environments. The present invention further relates to methods for binding, capturing, and concentrating the bacteria in a given sample.

A detection method of a target molecule in a specimen includes a (target molecule)-(labeled binding molecule)-(capturing molecule) complex forming step of reacting the target molecule in the specimen, a capturing molecule that binds to the target molecule, and a labeled binding molecule that binds to the target molecule and which is labeled with an enzyme that catalyzes a reaction to produce ATP, to form a complex formed of the target molecule, the capturing molecule, and the labeled binding molecule, a step of removing the labeled binding molecules which did not bind to the target molecule, an ATP production step of producing ATP by reacting the (target molecule)-(labeled binding molecule)-(capturing molecule) complex with a substrate of the enzyme that catalyzes a reaction to produce ATP, an ATP amplification step of amplifying the produced ATP, and an ATP detection step of detecting the amplified ATP.

A target molecule redox method includes: a first process of bringing a liquid containing a target molecule to a non-flowing state, and causing electron transfer between an electron carrier immobilized on an electrode connected to an external power supply outside the liquid and the target molecule to oxidize or reduce the target molecule; and a second process of bringing the liquid to a flowing state. The first process and the second process are sequentially repeated.

The present invention provides markers for judging the efficacy of therapy with a PD-1 signal inhibitor before or at an early stage of the therapy. As biomarkers for predicting or judging the efficacy of therapy with a PD-1 signal inhibitor, surrogate indicators of metabolic changes relating to mitochondrial activity in T cells and/or T cell activation in a subject are used. As such indicators, intestinal flora-related metabolites in the serum or plasma, energy metabolism-related metabolites in the serum or plasma, amino acid metabolism-related metabolites and/or derivatives thereof in the serum of plasma, oxygen consumption rate and/or ATP turnover in peripheral blood CD8.sup.+ cells, amino acids in T cells, and T-bet in peripheral blood CD8.sup.+ cells may be used.

Transducers, kits, systems, and methods for determining a concentration of an analyte are described. In an embodiment, the transducers include a chromophore; and an enzyme physically associated with the chromophore. In an embodiment, the transducer is configured to catalyze a reaction comprising a plurality of reaction elements. In an embodiment, the plurality of reaction elements comprises one or more reactants including the analyte and one or more products. In an embodiment, an amount of fluorescence emitted from the chromophore is determined by a concentration of a reaction element of the plurality of reaction elements.

Provided is a ultra-high-sensitivity assay in which the assay can be made on a commonly used assay apparatus such as an absorptiometer and a plate reader or with naked eyes. The high-sensitivity assay in which the assay can be made on a commonly used assay apparatus or with naked eyes can be provided by combining an enzyme cycling method using thio-NAD(P) as a coenzyme, a labeling enzyme and a substrate for the labeling enzyme optimally, and by amplifying thio-NAD(P)H, which is a signaling substance, exponentially and then quantifying the thio-NAD(P)H colorimetrically.

A disposable microbe-collecting carrier cartridge and a carrier treating apparatus which efficiently convert microbes collected on a carrier into a solution and prevent variations in the amount of retrieval of microbes upon concentration on a filter are provided. A cartridge formed of an upper lid having a plurality of through holes, a container in an inverted-cone shape having both of a liquid storage sink unit having a filter at the bottom and an air suction path, and a support base for setting up a thermoplastic carrier, and a carrier treating apparatus formed of a dispensing nozzle for liquid supply, a liquid supply mechanism, a liquid heating mechanism, and a suction pump for filtration are prepared. Warm water is supplied onto the filter set up on a bottom surface of the inverted-cone-shaped. The contact with the warm water causes the carrier to be solated filtered through the filter.

Methods for identifying animals that are genetically superior, drugs, nutritional strategies, or physiological manipulations that improve feed efficiency or productivity of animals, e.g., selecting animals that are genetically superior for feed efficiency or productivity based on metabolic rates of particular tissues, wherein metabolic rates of certain tissues such as skeletal muscle are inversely proportional to feed efficiency, while metabolic rates of other tissues such as mammary gland are directly proportional to milk production. Thus, animals with low skeletal muscle metabolic rates are generally more feed efficient, e.g., gain more weight per unit of food. The methods herein may be used to improve the genetics, nutrition, and handling or animals more efficiently produced animal products, e.g., meat production, milk, production, egg production, wool production, etc. The methods herein may also be used to determine estimated breeding values of animals for feed efficiency, growth, or production.

Provided herein are inhibitor-resistant luciferase mutants, and methods of use thereof. In particular, luciferase mutants are provided that are thermal stable and exhibit improved stability in the presence of luciferin break-down products, such as dehydroluciferin. Further provided are assay systems comprising inhibitor-resistant luciferase mutants and amino acid sequences of the inhibitor-resistant luciferase mutants.