Abstract:
The invention provides a method to test for the presence of a microbe in a fecal sample, a method to determine if the population of a gastrointestinal microbe within an organism increases or decreases over time, a method to test the efficacy of a vaccine against a Helicobacter bacterium, kits, and a nucleic acid segment that specifically hybridizes to H. pylori species found in humans.
Abstract:
The present invention provides for methods of quantitating the amounts of proteins or peptides, including those that are closely related isoforms, using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Measurement of protein concentrations in vivo has been extremely difficult and problematic, and protein concentrations have not been shown to correlate well with mRNA levels, the standard used in the past. The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of prior methodologies by taking advantage of MALDI-TOF-MS technology and applying it to proteins and peptides in a way that allows for accurate, quantitative measurement in vivo of protein or peptide concentrations.
Abstract:
A method for assaying a nucleobase-containing target with a nucleobase-containing probe, wherein: (a) the target is pre-incubated with at least one target incubation agent prior to being mixed with the probe; and/or (b) the probe is pre-incubated with at least one probe incubation agent prior to being mixed with the target to form the hybridization mixture. The pre-incubation enhances the signal to noise ratio of the assay. The pre-incubation medium and/or the hybridization medium can be pretreated with electric voltage. A kit for performing the method includes the probe, a label adapted to emit the signal, and at least one target incubation agent and/or probe incubation agent.
Abstract:
Methods are disclosed for diagnosing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), one exemplar method of which includes determining whether a sample is positive for anti-flagellin antibodies (AFA), diagnosing the presence of IBD when the sample is positive for AFA, and diagnosing the absence of IBD when the sample is negative for AFA. Alternatively, instead of testing for positivity with respect to AFA, or in addition thereto, an exemplar method can determine whether the sample has an AFA level above an AFA cut-off value (X); and diagnosing IBD when' the AFA level is above X, and diagnosing absence of IBD when the AFA level is below X. Test kits that include items used to carry out the disclosed methods are also disclosed.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a new method for measuring cytotoxic activity of immune cells, and to methods and products for treating abnormal immune responses.
Abstract:
The present invention discloses methods and apparatus for the detection of biological molecules in various samples. In particular, a method for detecting a hapten-labeled analyte in a solution wherein substantially all other solution constituents are labeled with a hapten is disclosed. The method may be used to detect single or multiple analytes in solution (Figure 1). Apparatus to detect such analytes are also disclosed.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a microfluidic device for synthesizing an array of compounds and methods for using the same. In particular, the microfluidic device of the present invention comprises a solid support base, an elastomeric layer attached to the solid support, and a plurality of flow channels located within the interface between the solid support and the elastomeric layer. In addition, the solid support comprises a functional group for forming a bond with a reactive reagent. In some embodiments, the microfluidic device further comprises a second plurality of flow channels that intersect the first plurality of flow channels. A plurality of control channels are also present in the microfluidic devices of the present invention. The control channels can be actuated to regulate flow of fluids within the flow channel(s).
Abstract:
The present invention discloses methods of screening a subject for Alzheimer's disease comprising detecting the presence or absence of a marker or functional polymorphism associated with a gene linked to Alzheimer's disease.
Abstract:
This invention relates to novel fluorinated dendrons and to a universal strategy for producing functional fluorinated dendrons programmed to self-assemble into supramolecular nanocylinder compositions containing pstacks of high electron or hole mobility donors (D), acceptors (A), or D-A complexes in the core. Such nanocylinder compositions are uniquely applicable to devices spanning from single supramolecule to nanoscopic and to macroscopic scales including transistors, photovoltaics, photoconductors, photorefractives, light emissives, and optoelectronics.
Abstract:
The present invention provides methods for matching a sample of an unknown query peptide to a database of known peptides. The methods described herein allow for the rapid, sensitive, and selective identification of an unknown query peptide, which enables the development of high throughput protein identification. The methods described herein also allow for mass spectrometry data for a query peptide to be categorized and weighted according to its quality. Furthermore, the methods described herein provide robust identification of modified query proteins by either anticipating modifications or adjusting for modified peptide masses.