Abstract:
A conserved inner-core oligosaccharide epitope expressed on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of a range of disease causing pathogenic bacterial isolates, including Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (Ap), Mannheimia haemolytica (Mh) and Pasteurella multocida (Pm), is disclosed. Construction of a mutant bacterial strain exclusively expressing the conserved inner core OS epitope as a terminally exposed structure has allowed the identification, production and isolation of an inner core LPS which is common to all three organisms. Further provided are associated vaccines, antibodies raised against the conserved LPS inner core and glycoconjugates comprising the LPS inner core linked to an immunogenic carrier.
Abstract:
Provided is a method of quantitatively determining the ability of individual IgG heavy chains to selectively pair with a particular IgG light chain when the heavy chains and two unique light chains are co-expressed. The method provides results with reasonable throughput and is robust and accurate. The co-expressed heavy and light chains do not need to be isolated and purified which enables more efficient screening.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to an integrated optical polarization rotator component, comprising three passive unitary polarization rotator cascaded and alternated with two phase shifters, which are adjusted to accurately and robustly provide a given polarization rotation, in order to compensate for manufacturing deviations from a nominal geometry and/or tuning the central wavelength of component to a given value. Thus, increased functionality is provided together with improved fabrication tolerances, possibly through implementing only known and well tested waveguide cross-section geometries and manufacturing processes
Abstract:
A system and method for molecule detection uses a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) system with detection spots having fixed nanostructures. An SPR assembly may be combined with a digital microfluidic control system such as an electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) chip. The microfluidic system individually directs sample droplets to different detection spots of the SPR assembly, thus allowing the SPR examination of different samples or sample reactions on the same surface. The nanostructures at the detection spots enhance the sensitivity of the SPR signals.
Abstract:
A tandem mass spectrometer is disclosed. A first mass analyzer within a low-pressure region is provided for passing ions therethrough. A collision cell is at an ion outlet of the mass analyzer to provide a location for ions to collide therein with a collision gas to form resultant ions. The resultant ions are then provided to a FAIMS analyzer for separation thereof and the separate resultant ions are provided to a mass analyzer for analysis.
Abstract:
There is provided a method for treating or preventing a Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection in a subject, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a compound of general formula I below or a pharmaceutical composition comprising said compound, or a derivative thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a solvate or hydrate thereof, or a stereoisomer thereof.
Abstract:
Successful application of an engineered protein as therapeutics or in other industries would require the protein to have good expression level, good biophysical properties and often desired affinity to its target. The present invention provides s method of screening large numbers of protein candidates (PCs) in all three aspects simultaneously. PCs are fused to a protein anchor, which is captured by the target/antigen. The captured PCs are evaluated for their expression levels, biophysical properties and affinities using conventional methods.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a novel integrated PCR-free signal amplification polynucleotide detection system which combines a specific receptor, an optical transducer, and an amplification mechanism. This novel detection system is based on different electrostatic interactions and conformations between a cationic polythiophene (i.e. polymer 1) and single-stranded or double-stranded polynucleotides (such as ss-DNA or ds-DNA), and the efficient energy transfer between the triplex (complexation between the cationic polythiophene and ds-DNA) and neighboring fluorophores attached to ss-DNA or ds-DNA probes. It is to be understood that in the case of ss-DNA, triplex formation occurs via the hybridization of complementary ss-DNA strands, combined with complexation with the cationic polythiophene. The present detection system allows for the detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from samples in only a few minutes, without the need for nucleic acid amplification.
Abstract:
Laser ablation combined with spectrometric analysis is a good tool for determining the composition of heterogeneous materials. By measuring the depth of an ablation crater at a target of a heterogeneous material, it is possible to generate a compositional profile as a function of the depth. It is also possible to generate a 3 dimensional profile by depth profiling of a plurality of craters. The depth measurement is conducted in situ and in real time so that the evolution of composition as a fucntion of the depth can be measured. An interferometric technique with a short coherence length light is one of the preferred embodiments for measuring the depth in situ and in real time.
Abstract:
There is described an improved ultrasonic nozzle (30) including a nozzle body (31) having a fluid flow channel (32) formed axially therethrough with an inlet (2) at an upstream end of the channel (32) for receiving a pressurized fluid and an orifice (36) at the downstream end of the body for discharging the pressurized fluid towards a surface to be eroded (37), a transformer (38) axially aligned within the flow channel (32) to form, in cooperation with the flow channel (32), an annulus (28) between the two for the flow of the pressurized fluid, a vibrator (29) for ultrasonically oscillating the transformer (38) to pulse the pressurized fluid prior to its discharge through the orifice (36). The flow channel (32) and transformer (38) taper conformably axially inwardly in the direction of flow of the pressurized fluid at a uniform rate so that the transverse width of the annulus (28) remains constant along the length of the transformer (38).