Disclosed herein are methods and systems for rapid detection of microorganisms such as bacteria in a sample. A genetically modified bacteriophage is also disclosed which comprises an indicator gene encoding one subunit of an indicator protein. The specificity of the bacteriophage allows detection of a particular bacteria of interest and an indicator signal may be amplified to optimize assay sensitivity.

One non-limiting and exemplary embodiment provides a metal microscopic structure capable of detecting a low-concentration analyte with high sensitivity. The metal microscopic structure includes a base member including multiple protrusions arrayed at predetermined intervals, and multiple projections made of a metal film covering the base member and configured to generate surface plasmons upon irradiation with light. A film thickness of the metal film positioned in a bottom portion of a gap between every adjacent two of the multiple projections is greater than a height of the multiple protrusions and is more than or equal to 90% and less than or equal to 100% of a film thickness of the metal film deposited on top portions of the multiple protrusions.

Provided herein are compositions, methods, and kits for detecting human picobirnavims (PBV). In certain embodiments, provided herein are PBV specific nucleic acid probes and primers, and methods for detecting PBV nucleic acid.

A system for prompt virus infection carriers detection/screening using THz spectroscopy, which comprises a micro/nano-antennas array implemented as an antenna chip of predetermined shape and size, that has the maximum aspect ratio of the capacitor gap being sensitive to both P and S polarization, the array consisting of a plurality of printed micro-antenna elements, each of which having an equivalent inductor L of printed inductors and an equivalent capacitor C defined by gaps between printed contacts the length of the capacitor and the dielectric constant of a filler being between the printed contacts, to thereby determine a resonant frequency of the antenna element, the gaps are formed essentially along the cross diagonals of the each antenna element, thereby obtaining maximal aspect-ratio between the length of the capacitor and the gap width, that maximizes and sharpen the resonance effect of the each micro-antenna element; at least one capsule for holding the chip with the antennas array in a fixed position, preferably at the center, the at least one capsule being at least partially transparent to THz radiation range; means for applying material containing samples of viruses/exhaled biological ingredients to be detected that are exhaled into the gaps, for altering the dielectric constant of the filler and the resonance frequency; a THz spectrometer for scanning the samples and detecting shifts in the resonance frequency induced by the presence of the exhaled viruses/biological ingredients; at least one processor for processing the detected shifts in the resonance frequency and associating different shifts with different types of viruses/biological ingredients. The size of the array is matched to the beam size of the spectrometer, such that the entire radiation collimated beam will be captured by the antennas array, thereby maximizing the signal to noise ratio and the dynamic range.

Disclosed herein are methods and systems for rapid detection of microorganisms such as bacteria in a sample. A genetically modified bacteriophage is also disclosed which comprises an indicator gene encoding one subunit of an indicator protein. The specificity of the bacteriophage allows detection of a particular bacteria of interest and an indicator signal may be amplified to optimize assay sensitivity.

This disclosure relates generally to detection of pathogens from a gaseous mixture associated with secretions. Conventional methods typically involve invasive or biohazardous techniques, the requirement of quantity limits utility of several natural secretions, there is a dependency on immunological reactions to develop in a subject being monitored resulting in long time taken for detecting pathogens, which increases risk to health and environment. There is also reduced specificity and sensitivity considering the dependency on signature identification or training of machine learning models. Again, prior art focusses on designing antibodies for a particular type of sensor which is challenging when dealing with natural immunoglobulin. The present disclosure addresses these challenges by enabling identification of a most viable sensor for the natural immunoglobin, the viability being based on mathematical representations of the relationship between a sensor and the immunoglobulin using an ontology of domain knowledge associated with pathogens, technology, processing and detection.

The present invention relates to a low-cost, thermally reversible valve for paper-fluidic diagnostic devices. In particular, this invention demonstrates a tunable valve mechanism fabricated by wax-ink printing and localized heating via thin-film resistors to sequentially release liquids through a cellulose or nitrocellulose membrane. The wax-ink valve can obstruct fluid flow for a sustained time and are thermally actuated to release a controlled amount of liquid past the valve. This integrated paper-fluidic diagnostic assay device requires minimal user involvement, can be easily manufactured and tuned to meet various fluid delivery timing and incubation needs.

The present disclosure includes methods and systems of detecting bacteria in a sample using phage-functionalized sensors, methods of enriching a sample with phage-functionalized magnetic particles, phage-functionalized magnetic particles and methods of making phage-functionalized magnetic particles.

Methods for separating blood plasma from whole blood in the absence of performing centrifugation are provided. The method combines mechanical filtration and blood cell aggregation and is adapted for use in POC clinical testing.

A biosensor molecule comprises: a protease amino acid sequence; at least one sensor comprising at least one sensor amino acid sequence which is responsive to at least one target molecule; and an inhibitor of the protease activity of said protease amino acid sequence; wherein the biosensor is switchable from a protease active to a protease inactive state, or from a protease inactive to a protease active state when said sensor responds to said target molecule. The biosensor protease may be a protease of a virus such as a Potyvirus or a Flavivirus wherein the inhibitor is an autoinhibitory peptide derived from the virus. The biosensor may respond to the target molecule allosterically or may be cleaved by a target protease molecule.