The present invention provides methods of detecting analytes using particles having different physico-chemical properties, such as buoyancy, size, density, spectral characteristics, and/or binding properties, in solution-based sandwich assays and solution-based competition assays. The methods can be performed using rotors and bench-top centrifuges and provide for rapid, qualitative and quantitative detection of analytes. The present invention also provides kits that can be used to perform the methods, and mixtures containing particles suitable for the methods.

The invention provides compositions (e.g., peptide compositions) useful for the detection of antibodies that bind to Borrelia antigens. The peptide compositions comprise polypeptide sequences comprising variants in the IR6 domain of the Borrelia VlsE protein. The invention also provides devices, methods, and kits comprising such peptide compositions and useful for the detection of antibodies that bind to Borrelia antigens and the diagnosis of Lyme disease.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to chimeric antibodies which specifically bind to Borrelia decorin-binding protein A (DbpA) antigens and compositions or kits comprising such antibodies. The disclosure further relates to use of such antibodies in the detection of Borrelia sp. in samples, e.g., biological samples such as human blood and/or tissues of deer, ticks and other carriers of Borrelia. Embodiments of the disclosure further relate to diagnosis and/or therapy of Lyme disease using the chimeric antibodies and/or compositions containing the chimeric antibodies.

Described in certain example embodiments herein are methods of treating or preventing a Borrelia burgdorferi (B. burgdorferi) infection, a symptom thereof, or a disease, disorder or condition resulting therefrom in a subject in need thereof that include reducing or eliminating a B. burgdorferi peptidoglycan-associated protein (PAP), optionally neutrophil attracting protein A (NapA), a function thereof, activity thereof, or any combination thereof in the subject in need thereof. Also described herein are methods of diagnosing and/or prognosing B. burgdorferi infection in a subject that include detecting a B. burgdorferi PAP, optionally NapA.

The invention provides compositions (e.g., peptide compositions) useful for the detection of antibodies that bind to Borrelia antigens. The peptide compositions comprise polypeptide sequences comprising variants in the IR6 domain of the Borrelia VlsE protein. The invention also provides devices, methods, and kits comprising such peptide compositions and useful for the detection of antibodies that bind to Borrelia antigens and the diagnosis of Lyme disease.

Reagents and methods to use said reagents for detection of markers of various aspects of Lyme disease have been identified in biological fluids thus permitting diagnosis or classification of Lyme disease subjects as well as indicating suitable methods of treatment.

Provided herein are multiplex assays for detecting antibodies indicative of presence and stage of syphilis infection in an individual. Individuals infected with syphilis produce antibodies directed to syphilis components and the lipid cellular debris associated with the infection. The present disclosure represents the first combination of these diverse antibody targets in a single assay.

The present invention relates to methods for the diagnosing, prognosing, monitoring, differentiating, treating, and managing of Lyme disease in a subject. The methods according to the invention are characterized by the detection of a biomarker signature comprised of a combination of two or more analytes indicative of disease.

A solid support for detecting the presence of antibodies in a biological sample, where the solid support includes microbial antigens immobilized on the solid support, wherein the microbial antigens include at least one antigen prepared from the group consisting of pleomorphic round bodies of Borrelia genus, for example Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii. Also, a method of detecting a tick-borne microbe in a biological sample, wherein the solid support is contacted with a biological sample.

An isolated monoclonal antibody against the interleukin 1-alpha or beta receptor antagonist, known as IL-1RA. The antibody inhibits the interaction of IL-1RA with the membrane-binding chain thereof, the interleukin-1 receptor. Also, nucleic acid molecule encoding for a light chain of the monoclonal antibody, and a nucleic acid molecule encoding for a heavy chain of the monoclonal antibody. Also, a method for treating an inflammatory, infectious or autoimmune disease, which includes administering the isolated monoclonal antibody or a nucleic acid coding for the isolated monoclonal antibody, and a method of or the diagnosis of an inflammatory, infectious or autoimmune diseases, which includes contacting a biological sample with the isolated monoclonal antibody.