Methods, compositions and cells are provided that identify and isolate a population of adult non-embryonic progenitor cells having multilineage potential, physical diameters of about 2 μm to about 8 μm in size or about 4 μm to about 6 μm, and expressing at least one of the stem cell associated genes among Oct-4, KLF-4, Nanog, Sox-2, Rex-1, GDF-3 or Stella. Methods are also provided that identify and isolate populations, which are subsets or subpopulations of progenitor adult stem cells within the population of the adult stem cells which is a heterogeneous population, the methods including contacting the adult stem cells with a ligand specific for at least one of: CD99, tetraspan, ICAM4, full-length MUC1, and truncated MUC1 receptor, in which a presence of a surface protein on the cells that bind to the ligand identifies the population which is the subset of the differentiated progenitor adult stem cells.

Electrokinetic devices and methods are described with the purpose of collecting assayable agents from a dielectric fluid medium. Electrokinetic flow may be induced by the use of plasma generation at high voltage electrodes and consequent transport of charged particles in an electric voltage gradient. Actively growing mold releases the carbohydrate cell wall component (1.fwdarw.3)-β-D-Glucan into the air. The invention recognizes that the airborne fraction is that which affects respiratory health and selectively tests for a free form which is soluble in aqueous medium. The sample to be analysed is preferably collected by the electrokinetic propulsion method described, but any air sampling method such as filtration, impactor or impingement may be applicable.

A problem to be solved is to perform an immunoassay method for BG in a biological sample having a sensitivity equivalent to and a reactivity similar to a Limulus amebocyte lysate reagent. The problem can be solved by an immunoassay method for β-D-glucan in a biological sample, comprising assaying β-D-glucan in the biological sample by using a monoclonal antibody binding to (1.fwdarw.3)-β-D-glucan having a degree of polymerization of 4.

Methods, compositions and cells are provided that identify and isolate a population of adult non-embryonic progenitor cells having multilineage potential, physical diameters of about 2 μm to about 8 μm in size or about 4 μm to about 6 μm, and expressing at least one of the stem cell associated genes among Oct-4, KLF-4, Nanog, Sox-2, Rex-1, GDF-3 or Stella. Methods are also provided that identify and isolate populations, which are subsets or subpopulations of progenitor adult stem cells within the population of the adult stem cells which is a heterogeneous population, the methods including contacting the adult stem cells with a ligand specific for at least one of: CD99, tetraspan, ICAM4, full-length MUC1, and truncated MUC1 receptor, in which a presence of a surface protein on the cells that bind to the ligand identifies the population which is the subset of the differentiated progenitor adult stem cells.

This disclosure describes, in one aspect, a method for identifying β-glucan binding to immune cells of a subject. Generally, the method includes obtaining a blood sample from the subject, the blood sample comprising immune cells, adding soluble β-glucan to at least a portion of the blood sample and incubating the mixture under conditions allowing the soluble β-glucan to bind to the immune cells, and detecting soluble β-glucan bound to the immune cells. In another aspect, this disclosure describes a method that generally includes identifying the subject as a low binder of β-glucan, and co-administering to the subject a soluble β-glucan and an antibody preparation capable of converting the subject from a low binder to a high binder.

The application provides heat-treated Limulus amebocyte lysates useful for detecting β-glucans.

In a first step, when a β-1,6-branched β-1,3-glucan is contained in a test specimen, an active reporter protein comprising one and the other of split reporter proteins is formed by binding the β-1,6-branched β-1,3-glucan to a first fusion protein and a second fusion protein, and when a β-1,3-glucan is contained in the test specimen, the active reporter protein comprising one and the other of the split reporter proteins is formed by binding the β-1,3-glucan to the first fusion protein and a third fusion protein, and in a second step, the active reporter protein formed in the first step is detected and quantified.

This disclosure provides, in one aspect, dosing strategies for soluble β-glucan immunotherapy to optimize acute immunopharmacodynamic responses for the immunotherapy and/or subject. It also provides a method for analyzing a sample from a subject for a biomarker to identify the appropriate dosing strategy for soluble β-glucan immunotherapy. Generally, the method includes obtaining a biological sample from a subject, analyzing the sample for a biomarker anti-β-glucan antibody level or immunopharmacodynamic response level, classifying the subject into a subgroup based on the biomarker anti-β-glucan antibody level or immunopharmacodynamic response level and identifying the appropriate dosing strategy based on the subgroup classification.

The present application provides a fungal (1,3)-Beta-D glucan-directed monoclonal antibody, coding genes thereof, expression thereof and application thereof and belongs to the technical area of medicine & biomedical detection. The antibody contains complementarity determining regions of a light chain variable region and its amino acid sequences contain: VL-CDR1 shown by SEQ ID NO:1, VL-CDR2 shown by SEQ ID NO:2 and VL-CDR3 shown by SEQ ID NO:3; the antibody also contains cornplementarity determining regions of a heavy chain variable region and its amino acid sequences contain: VH-CDR1 shown by SEQ ID NO:4, VH-CDR2 shown by SEQ ID NO:5 and VH-CDR3 shown by SEQ ID NO:6. This antibody specifically binds with the fungal (1,3)-Beta-D glucan, has strong antibody affinity and does not trigger cross reaction with interference substances.

The β-glucan-binding protein contains an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1.