Abstract: A method of characterizing glycans attached to glycoproteins is disclosed herein. The method comprises a first step of immobilizing the glycoproteins on colloidal particles forming glycoprotein/colloidal particles. The glycans on the glycoproteins may then be characterized, for example the composition and/or structure of glycans may be characterized or the glycans attached to proteins may be identified. Characterization may be accomplished by either binding the glycoprotein/colloidal particles with one or more binding agents and assessing the aggregation of the glycoprotein/colloidal particles or by cleaving glycans from the glycoprotein/colloidal particles with a cleaving agent and analyzing the glycans.

Abstract: A membrane-coated particle composition and methods comprising a particle surrounded by a native cell membrane are disclosed. The cell membrane may contain selected receptors or binding components. At least a portion of the receptors or binding components are oriented on the membrane-coated particle in the same or similar orientation as in the native cell membrane. The membrane-coated particle(s) finds use, for example, in contexts of basic research, proteomics, drug discovery, drug delivery, medical diagnostics, and aspects of patient care.

Abstract: A separation-free assay including a binding partner, a binding partner labeled with a directly luminescent label, and a nonspecifically binding label able to affect the signal of the unbound labeled binding partner, in which a signal of the binding partner label or the signal of the nonspecific binding label is measured in a binding event, and where at least one of the binding partners is a mobile binding partner.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The present invention provides for sonication-assisted metal-enhanced fluorescence, luminescence, and/or chemiluminescence assay systems using low-intensity ultrasound waves to significantly reduce the assay time by increasing the kinetic movement of molecules within the system.

Abstract: In the case of assaying the level of complex AB in a sample which likely contains the complex AB composed of substance A with another substance B, the complex is assayed by the competitive homogeneous assay method with the use of reagents including a reagent containing partner C specifically binding to substance A, a reagent containing partner D specifically binding to substance B, a reagent containing fine particles carrying substance A or an analog thereof and substance B or an analog thereof, and a reagent containing partner C specifically binding to substance A and partner D specifically binding to substance B. Thus, the complex in the sample can be easily assayed. The above method is applicable to general-purpose biochemical automatic analyzers.

Abstract: A homogeneous method of determining inhibitors of proteolytically active coagulation factors (anticoagulants) in a sample, in particular direct thrombin and factor Xa inhibitors, and also a test kit to be used in such a method. Use is made of ligands which bind to the proteolytically active coagulation factor but are not cleaved by the latter and compete with the anticoagulant to be determined.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods for examining the progression, regression or risk of individuals at risk for developing coronary artery disease (CAD).

Abstract: The invention features methods and devices for the detection of biomarker complexes and their components and for the sequential detection of multiple epitopes of a biomarker. The invention also features methods for diagnosing disease and evaluating the efficacy of treatment of a subject with a disease.

Abstract: Provided is a technique of extracting a component in a food from the food by using a reducing agent that is inexpensive and has a mild reducing action. A component in a food is extracted by mixing the food with an extractant containing a sulfite. In addition, the resultant food extract is brought into contact with a specific antibody that specifically recognizes a substance included in a specified ingredient of interest for inspection, to thereby inspect the presence or absence and/or the amount of a specified ingredient in a food by utilizing an immunological measurement method. Further provided is a food inspection kit for inspection of the presence or absence and/or the amount of a specified ingredient in a food, including: (1) an extractant and a sulfite to be added to the extractant, or an extractant including a sulfite added; and (2) an antibody that specifically recognizes a substance included in a specified ingredient of interest for inspection.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the dissociation constant for a particular ligand is disclosed. In accordance with certain embodiments, the method creates a chemical denaturation curve of a protein in the absence of the ligand. A particular point is selected from this curve, such as the point at which 90% of the protein is unfolded. The molarity of chemical denaturant is determined for this selected point. A one point test is then performed for the protein with a predetermined concentration of the particular ligand. The fraction of protein which is unfolded at this point is then used to determine the dissociation constant for the ligand. This constant is used to quickly determine whether a particular ligard is well suited to be considered a potential drug candidate against that protein target.

Abstract: Products and methods for the research, diagnosis, risk assessment, course monitoring, treatment and prophylaxis of various metabolic disorders and their early forms, concomitant diseases and secondary diseases are provided. Metabolic diseases include, for example, metabolic syndrome, non-insulin-dependent diabetes, (type II diabetes), insulin resistance, obesity (adiposis), in addition to diseases that are associated with disorders of the fatty acid metabolism. Methods may include analysis of the concentration of the adipocytic form of the fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP, FABP 4, P2) in various bodily fluids.

Abstract: Methods for determining the presence or amount of a complex comprising a first and second molecular entity are provided, preferably an sFlt-1:PlGF complex. A determination of the presence or amount of the complex can be used in methods for predicting, detecting, monitoring a disease, or guiding therapy in respect to a disease such as vascular, vascular-related disease, cardiac, cardiac-related disease, cancer, cancer-related disease, preeclampsia, and preeclampsia-related disease. Determining sFlt-1:angiogenic factor complex is particularly useful for predicting and detecting preeclampsia in early stages of gestation and in stages of the disease where clinical evaluation may be uninformative.

Abstract: Provided herein is a modified method of agglutination to detect infections caused by microorganisms including the steps of staining the test serum, plasma or blood or purified antibodies with a protein stain; mixing serum, plasma or blood with stained antibodies with an equal quantity of colored antigen particles on a glass slide; adding diluted Antiglobulin conjugated with Biotin to the mixture; subjecting the mixture to the step of mixing, adding diluted Avidin (preferably tagged with a visible indicator) to the mixture and thoroughly mixing all the ingredients.

Abstract: The present invention provides a simple method which is capable of evaluating the binding activities of an antibody to both an antigen and an Fe receptor. Disclosed is a method of measuring the binding activities of an antibody to both an antigen or antigen epitope and an Fc receptor or a fragment thereof, comprising a step of mixing the antibody with the antigen or antigen epitope labeled with one member of a set of donor and acceptor capable of fluorescent resonance energy transfer and the Fc receptor or fragment thereof labeled with the other member of the set of donor and acceptor; a step of 10 irradiating the resultant mixture with light having a wavelength capable of exciting the donor; and a step of measuring the fluorescence level of the mixture. Also provided are a method of estimating the ADCC activity of an antibody, a method of controlling the quality of an antibody, a method of manufacturing an antibody, a method of screening for antibodies, and kits for use in these methods.

Abstract: Methods and reagents are disclosed for detecting a false result in an assay measurement for determining a concentration of an analyte in a sample suspected of containing the analyte. The method comprises measuring assay signal resulting from background only and measuring assay signal resulting from the presence of analyte in the sample plus background and subtracting the first measurement from the second measurement to determine the concentration of analyte in the sample. For example, a measurement result 1 is determined by means of an assay conducted on a portion of the sample where analyte in the sample is substantially sequestered and a measurement result 2 is determined by means of the assay conducted on an equal portion of the same sample where analyte in the sample is substantially non-sequestered. Measurement result 1 is subtracted from measurement result 2 to determine the concentration of analyte in the sample.

Abstract: Provided is a method and reagent for measuring cystatin C in a human body fluid, by contacting a human body fluid with (a) first insoluble carrier particles coated with a first anti-human cystatin C monoclonal antibody and (b) second insoluble carrier particles coated with a second anti-human cystatin C monoclonal antibody, where the first anti-human cystatin C monoclonal antibody has an affinity for cystatin C that is higher than the second anti-human cystatin C monoclonal antibody, the second anti-human cystatin C monoclonal antibody recognizes an epitope of cystatin C that is different from the epitope recognized by the first anti-human cystatin C monoclonal antibody, and the first and second insoluble carrier particles are coated with from 1% to less than 4% by weight of the anti-human cystatin C monoclonal antibodies.

Abstract: A method for measuring the presence or absence and/or strength of the inhibitory activity of a test substance on binding between a ligand and a receptor thereof, which comprises the following steps (1) to (3): (1) immobilizing either of the test substance or the ligand on a solid support; (2) contacting the test substance and the ligand for a given period of time in the presence or absence of the receptor for the ligand; and (3) comparing the level of binding between the test substance and the ligand in the presence and absence of the receptor.

Abstract: Methods for identifying Quantifiable Internal Reference Standards (QIRS) for immunohistochemistry (IHC). Also disclosed are methods for using QIRS to quantify test antigens in IHC.