Disclosed is a method for detection and/or quantification of microorganism in a liquid sample, in particular in a water sample, the method comprising the steps of: (a) distributing the liquid sample into a number of different discrete volume portions in a linear distribution pattern, or diluting the liquid sample into a number of dilution samples by a dilution factor of a linear distribution pattern; (b) allowing the microorganism to grow; and (c) applying the Most Probable Number method to the linearly distributed volume portions or the linearly diluted dilution samples to detect and/or quantify the microorganism. The invention also discloses a sample holder for detection and/or quantification of microorganism in a liquid sample, wherein the sample holder is structured to hold the liquid sample in a number of different compartments, wherein the different compartments respectively define a linear volume distribution.

Use of a TNFR1-FADD-caspase8-caspase3 pathway inhibitor in preparation of a medicament for treating an immune system related disease caused by autoinducer, a method for screening a medicament for treating an immune system related disease caused by autoinducer and a method for treating an immune system related disease.

Disclosed are isothiocyanate (ITC)-detecting biosensors that utilize recombinant host cells containing an ITC responsive genetic element such as a saxA promoter, operably linked with a reporter element, such as a luxCDABE operon or ilux operon. Such biosensors can detect the presence of diverse ITCs in samples such as plant extracts, biofumigated soils and seed meal amended soils.

A biosensor comprising an electrode and inverted molecular pendulums (iMPs) is described. Each IMP includes a linker bound to the electrode, and an analyte receptor and a redox reporter both bound to the linker. The redox reporter is reactive at positive potential when the linker presents a net negative charge and reactive at negative potential when the linker presents a net positive charge. Upon application of an electric field, the biosensor is characterized by an iMPs unbound state, where no analyte is bound to the receptor, at which the iMPs are displaced towards the electrode and electron transfer from the iMPs towards the electrode occurs at an unbound electron transfer rate, and an iMPs bound state, where the analyte is bound to the receptor, at which the iMPs are displaced towards the electrode and electron transfer from the iMPs towards the electrode occurs at a bound electron transfer rate.

The invention disclosed herein concerns screening and early detection of a variety of disease conditions in seemingly healthy subjects, enabling early intervention and treatment.

Provided is a whole-cell biosensor system with robust biocontainment for field deployment and a strong visual reporter for readouts in the deployed environment. The engineered biosensors in an encapsulated and deployable system (eBEADS) demonstrate a portable, no power living sensor for detection of environmental pollutants, e.g., 2-phenylphenol (2-PP). The whole-cell biosensor system uses bacteria engineered to detect an analyte and generate a visual colorimetric output upon being contacted with the analyte. Advantageously, the analyte is detectable with the naked eye and the whole-cell biosensor system enables analyte detection without electronics.

A method for determination of the growth rate of biofilm (7) using an electrical impedance analyses is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: bringing a culture medium fluid (3) in contact to an electrode structure (4a, 4b), having biofilm (7) grown within the fluid culture medium (3) with the biofilm (7) arranged in distance to the electrodes structure (4a, 4b), so that the fluid culture medium (3) is placed between the growing biofilm (7) and the electrode structure (4a, 4b); measuring the impedance of the electrodes structure (4a, 4b) over a monitoring time, and determining the growth rate of the biofilm (7) as a function of the reduction rate of the impedance values measured on the electrode structure (4a, 4b).

In vitro method for detection of infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The present invention relates to compounds of general Formula (I) and to their use as haptens. Moreover, the present invention also refers to conjugates comprising the haptens of the invention and to their use for obtaining antibodies. Finally, the invention also relates to an in vitro method for the detection of infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa by means of the identification and/or quantification of the main signaling molecules from the pqs quorum sensing system.

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In a general aspect, microorganisms [e.g., bacteria, etc.) are identified and detected. In some examples, a liquid solvent is supplied through a first channel of a sampling probe to an internal reservoir of the sampling probe; a fixed volume of the liquid solvent in the internal reservoir is held in direct contact with a sample surface for a period of time to form a liquid analyte; gas is supplied to the internal reservoir through a second channel of the sampling probe; the liquid analyte is extracted from the internal reservoir through a third channel of the sampling probe; the liquid analyte is transferred to a mass spectrometer; the mass spectrometer processes the liquid analyte to produce mass spectrometry data; and the mass spectrometry data are analyzed to detect and identify a microorganism [e.g., acteria, fungi, or another type of microorganism) present at the sample surface.

Methods and devices for monitoring the viability of a biofilm comprising Pseudomonas Aeruginosa bacteria are provided by detecting pyocyanin. The invention relates to electrochemical methods and devices that offer a simple and inexpensive alternative for immediate identification of bacterial infection due to the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In some embodiments, an inexpensive, disposable electrochemical sensor can be used to rapidly screen for the presence of P. aeruginosa in clinical wound effluent samples.