The present invention broadly provides different compositions, kits, vectors, and methods including monoclonal antibodies directed to epitopes found within lipoarabinomannan (LAM) and phosphatidyl-myo-inositol mannoside 6 (PIM6) for the diagnosis and treatment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections.

Methods and compositions are disclosed herein to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens, e.g., lipoarabinomannan (LAM) and/or Ag85B (Rv1886c), in a sample (e.g., a human urine sample) for diagnosis of tuberculosis. By developing ultrasensitive assays, both antigens are detected, with quantifiable differences levels in TB patients vs. non-TB controls.

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 generally relates to kits for detecting Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infection and biomarkers correlated with MAP-associated diseases or disorders. The present method also relates to methods of diagnosing a subject with a MAP-associated autoimmune disease or disorder and/or determining the treatment course of a subject diagnosed with a MAP-associated autoimmune disease or disorder.

Described herein are trehalose analogues. Also described herein are methods of making the trehalose analogues and uses of the analogues. For example, the disclosed trehalose analogues may be useful in the detection of bacteria.

The present invention relates to the diagnosis of Buruli ulcer. The inventors investigated the potential role of local natural antibodies in the recognition of mycolactone produced by M. ulcerans, and confirmed the presence of such antibodies in humans. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of diagnosing Buruli ulcer in a subject comprising detecting anti-mycolactone immunoglobulin (anti-mycolactone IgG) in a biological sample obtained from said subject.

Methods of culturing and detecting a biomarker which may be associated with autoimmune diseases, in particular inflammatory bowel disease and Crohn's disease; also a screening method for substances suitable for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease including Crohn's disease; the method including culturing a biomarker in a culture media which includes a culture broth, OADC, PANTA and Mycobactin J.

The invention relates to modified Mycobacterium cells, and their uses as vaccines, and, particularly, modified Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccines. The invention extends to the use of the modified vaccines for vaccination applications in a wide range of animals, including cattle and humans. The invention extends to novel antigens, kits and compositions comprising these novel antigens and to their use in diagnosis. The invention also extends to apparatus comprising the modified vaccine and the antigens, and compositions comprising the antigens.

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.

Described herein are trehalose analogues. Also described herein are methods of making the trehalose analogues and uses of the analogues. For example, the disclosed trehalose analogues may be useful in the detection of bacteria.