The disclosure provides for a polyclonal antibody that specifically detects Acinetobacter baumannii, a multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogen, and uses thereof, including as diagnostic tests and for immunoassays to be used in therapeutic decision-making or research experiments.

The present invention is directed to polyclonal antibodies, specific for the capsular polysaccharides of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup X (NmX), wherein said antibodies are suitable for in vitro detection of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup X in biological fluids without culture. The invention also concerns said polyclonal antibodies in different diagnostic tests and methods, in order to detect NmX. The invention discloses also a rapid diagnostic test for detecting NmX in a biological fluid, as well as a method for obtaining polyclonal antibodies useful for detecting NmX in biological fluids such as cerebrospinal fluid, serum and urine.

This invention relates, inter alia, to an immunogenic fragment of a Neisserial Heparin Binding Antigen (NHBA) protein of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (SEQ ID NO: 1) for the prevention and treatment of Neisseria gonorrhoeae or gonococcal- or meningococcal-associated diseases and conditions. In some embodiments, the immunogenic fragment corresponds to a C-terminal fragment of the protein (SEQ ID NO: 2).

Polyclonal antibodies specific for serogroup X of N. meningitidis and uses thereof in diagnosis. The present invention is directed to polyclonal antibodies, specific for the capsular polysaccharides of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup X (NmX), wherein said antibodies are suitable for in vitro detection of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup X in biological fluids without culture. The invention also concerns said polyclonal antibodies in different diagnostic tests and methods, in order to detect Nm X. The invention discloses also a rapid diagnostic test for detecting NmX in a biological fluid, as well as a method for obtaining polyclonal antibodies useful for detecting NmX in biological fluids such as cerebrospinal fluid, serum and urine.

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.

The invention uses ELISA or similar assays for analysing a meningococcal vaccine. The assay uses antibodies which bind to meningococcal proteins within the vaccine, and in particular monoclonal antibodies which are bactericidal for meningococcus and/or which recognise conformational epitopes within the meningococcal proteins. By performing the assay on a series of dilutions of a test vaccine, and by comparing the results with those obtained using a reference vaccine of known potency, it is possible to determine the relative potency of the test vaccine. This value can be used as a parameter for determining whether a manufactured batch of a vaccine is suitable for release to the public, or whether it has experienced a production failure and so should not be used.

Disclosed herein are methods for assaying whether a given Neisseria species, such as a given Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain, is susceptible to a cefixime compound and treatment methods based on the assay results.

The invention uses ELISA or similar assays for analysing a meningococcal vaccine. The assay uses antibodies which bind to meningococcal proteins within the vaccine, and in particular monoclonal antibodies which are bactericidal for meningococcus and/or which recognise conformational epitopes within the meningococcal proteins. By performing the assay on a series of dilutions of a test vaccine, and by comparing the results with those obtained using a reference vaccine of known potency, it is possible to determine the relative potency of the test vaccine. This value can be used as a parameter for determining whether a manufactured batch of a vaccine is suitable for release to the public, or whether it has experienced a production failure and so should not be used.

Presented herein, in certain embodiments, are compositions comprising antibody binding agents that specifically bind to A. baumannii and inhibit and/or block A. baumannii infection, and uses thereof.

Described is a biosensor for detection of analytes and methods of using the same for detecting bacterial infection in a subject. The biosensor comprises an array of gold nanoparticles, biotinylated polyethylene glycol thiol, polyethylene glycol thiol, at least one neutravidin molecule, and at least one affinity reagent immobilized on a surface of the at least one neutravidin molecule. The affinity reagent may be an aptamer or a siderophore. The biosensors demonstrate extraordinary selectively and sensitivity for rapid detection of whole-cell bacteria.