Management of the health status of an animal colony using a plurality of blood collection cards and the analysis of dried blood from members of the colony that has been collected on the cards. Members of the colony may be removed from the colony as a result of the analysis.

The present invention is directed to novel polynucleotides, polypeptides, and polyproteins of Mycoplasma surface proteins, all of which are useful in detecting infection and for the preparation of vaccines for treating and preventing diseases in swine and other animals. Vaccines provided according to the practice of the invention are effective against Mycoplasma infections. Detection and therapeutic polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies are also a feature of the present invention. Assays, kits, systems, and nanoparticle encapsulated compositions related to the polynucleotides, polypeptides, polyproteins, antibodies or fragments, derivatives, and variants thereof are also disclosed.

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.

The present invention is directed to an isolated synthetic tripeptide of formula H-D-Phe-N-Methyl-L-Val-L-Ala-OMe (SEQ ID NO:1), or a derivative thereof, and to the corresponding lipotripeptides, which are specific to Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) S-type strain, as well as derivatives and conjugates thereof. The invention also concerns the use of these antigens in different methods and tests for detecting Map infection, especially by detecting humoral response and cell mediated response of infected animals. The invention is also directed to a genetic signature of Map and a mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy signature of Map presence or infection.

The current invention provides a multiplex method for screening bovine samples for antibodies against several important pathogens. These pathogens include Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus (BVDV), Bovine Herpesvirus-1 (BoHV-1), Mycobacterium paratuberculosis (MAP), Leptospira species, Neospora caninum and Fasciola hepatica. This multiplex screening is enabled by substrates with immobilized pathogen antigens and offer multiple advantages for the routine testing of farm animals.

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.

The present invention relates to a DNA aptamer binding specifically to tuberculosis specific antigen 7.7 kDa (TB7.7), a biosensor for diagnosis of tuberculosis, comprising the same, and a method for providing information for diagnosis of tuberculosis. The present inventors found that not only does a DNA aptamer according to the present invention have specific binding potential to TB7.7 protein, but also the binding affinity is excellent. When used, the DNA aptamer of the present invention can be thus expected to exhibit greater stability than a conventional ELISA method using an antibody. Hence, the aptamer is expected to find useful applications in the development of compositions for tuberculosis diagnosis, biosensors for tuberculosis diagnosis, and information providing methods for tuberculosis diagnosis.

This disclosure describes markers that are associated with active tuberculosis (TB) and demonstrates that the disclosed markers can be used as a biomarker for determining whether a subject has or is at risk of having active TB and for the early detection of HIV-associated TB. This disclosure also provides methods of screening subjects who are thought to be at risk for developing active TB, methods of determining the efficacy of therapeutic regimens for preventing or treating active TB, and methods of identifying anti-TB agents.

An immunochromatography includes a concentration step of concentrating a solution capable of containing an antigen by ultrafiltration to obtain an antigen-concentrated solution; a spreading step of spreading particle composite bodies on an insoluble carrier having a reaction site at which a second binding substance capable of binding to an antigen in the antigen-concentrated solution has been immobilized, in a state where the particle composite bodies which are composite bodies of the antigen and a modified particle which is a particle modified with a first binding substance capable of binding to the antigen are formed; a capturing step of capturing the particle composite bodies at the reaction site of the insoluble carrier; and an amplification step of amplifying information of the particle composite bodies captured in the capturing step.

In vitro method for diagnosing subjects infected with Mycobacterium species. The present invention is directed to an in vitro method for the diagnosis of subjects infected with Mycobacterium species, particularly subjects infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) which is the causative agent of paratuberculosis (PTB).