Abstract:
A system and method for characterizing viral infection in a human or animal patient, in particular coronavirus infection, involves providing fluid from a body sample of the patient to a biosensor array comprising an array of sensor elements bearing one or more antigens of a target virus, to perform assays. The assays comprise a first group to sense a collective immune response and a second group to selectively sense an immunoglobulin IgM response and an immunoglobulin IgG response to the antigens. The collective immune response detects presence of the target virus and the levels of the immunoglobulin IgM and IgG response are compared to determine a stage of the immune response to the target virus.
Abstract:
We describe a system/method for predicting the outcome of a medical procedure on a patient. The system/method uses using complement cascade data representing levels of a set of complement cascade markers in the patient at a succession of peri-operative time intervals, determining deviations from a model of the response to provide a pre-symptomatic prediction of the outcome. In embodiments the complement cascade pathways include the lytic pathway and at least one of the lectin pathway, the classical pathway and the alternative pathway, and the biomarkers include at least C3. The system may include an electroluminescence or plasmon-resonance multianalyte detector to analyse a blood sample from the patient.
Abstract:
An apparatus for infusion equipment comprising a vessel having a tubular bore and a separate actuator pump for the vessel. The apparatus comprises a holder shaped and dimensioned to hold the vessel and a pump attachment to which the holder can be securely fitted. The attachment is shaped and dimensioned to be removeably engagable with an actuator pump, to thereby, when the holder is fitted to the pump attachment, removeably hold the pump and vessel in mutual fixed relation such that the actuator pump is operably engaged with a piston of the vessel without attaching the vessel to the pump. Embodiments of a case, a kit and a method are also described.
Abstract:
The present invention provides methods and compositions comprising at least one thermolysin-like neutral protease enzyme with improved storage stability and/or catalytic activity. In some embodiments, the thermolysin finds use in cleaning and other applications comprising detergent. In some particularly preferred embodiments, the present invention provides methods and compositions comprising thermolysin formulated and/or engineered to resist detergent-induced inactivation.
Abstract:
Described are variants of alpha (?)-amylases having altered starch hydrolysis profiles. The variants have improved thermostability and increased specific activity, resulting in reduced peak viscosity and altered final viscosity during starch liquefaction. The amylase variants are useful, e.g., in liquefaction and other starch degradation processes.
Abstract:
The present invention provides methods and compositions comprising at least one neutral metalloprotease enzyme that has improved stability in the presence of a metal chelator. In some embodiments, the neutral metalloprotease finds use in cleaning and other applications comprising citrate. In some particularly preferred embodiments, the present invention provides methods and compositions comprising variant neutral metalloprotease(s) engineered to resist citrate-induced autolysis.
Abstract:
The present invention provides methods for engineering proteins to optimize their performance under certain environmental conditions of interest. In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods for engineering enzymes to optimize their catalytic activity under particular environmental conditions. In some preferred embodiments, the present invention provides methods for altering the net surface charge and/or surface charge distribution of enzymes {e.g., metalloproteases or serine proteases) to obtain enzyme variants that demonstrate improved performance in detergent formulations as compared to the starting or parent enzyme.
Abstract:
Provided are pharmaceutical formulations comprising sustained release particles each having an inner core bead comprising an active pharmaceutical ingredient an intermediate coating substantially surrounding the inner core bead, and an outer coating substantially surrounding the intermediate coating comprising a pH independent polymer. Also provided is a pharmaceutical formulation comprising two bead populations wherein each of the first and second bead populations have a different drug release profile. Also provided is a method of preparing an extended release dosage composition comprising one or more bead populations.
Abstract:
This invention is generally concerned with methods and apparatus for optical monitoring of fluid level and quality, in particular by means of evanescent wave techniques such as cavity ring-down spectroscopy. We describe a fuel monitoring system, comprising: an evanescent wave fuel sensor for monitoring said fuel, the sensor comprising a light source and a transducer for providing an electrical signal in response to light from said light source, and having a light path between said light source and said transducer including an evanescent wave sensing region; and a processor coupled to said fuel sensor, for converting said electrical signal from said transducer into a signal characterising said monitored fuel; and an output coupled to said processor, for outputting a signal responsive to said fuel characterising signal. We further describe apparatus for jointly determining depth of fluid in a tank and characterising the fluid according to depth, and a fluid storage tank having a three dimensional structure for containing fluid, and a three-dimensional array of fibre-optic sensors integrated into said tank structure.
Abstract:
This invention relates to amylase polypeptides, and nucleic acids encoding the polpypeptides and uses thereof. The amylases of the present invention have been engineered to have more beneficial qualities. Specifically, the amylases of the current invention show an altered exospecifity.