Abstract: A sterility indicating composition comprising a plurality of sterilization process resistant spores which contain an active protease during germination and initial outgrowth of the spores; and a germination medium comprising at least one labeled protease substrate and at least one nutrient for germination of the spores; wherein the medium is essentially free of a) any active protease other than the active protease contained by the plurality of spores and b) any protease substrate other than the at least one labeled protease substrate, other than any protease substrate originating from the plurality of spores, and other than any protease substrate which does not compete with the labeled protease substrate for the active protease; and wherein the at least one labeled protease substrate comprises a peptide which can be cleaved by the active protease and which is labeled with one or more dye groups, at least one of which undergoes a detectable change when the peptide is cleaved by the active protease, and wherein

Abstract: The present invention provides antibodies that bind to the endospore of the bacterium Clostridium difficile, methods of making such antibodies, and methods of using such antibodies, including methods of detecting C. difficile endospores.

Abstract: The present invention provides antibodies that bind to the endospore of the bacterium Clostridium difficile, methods of making such antibodies, and methods of using such antibodies, including methods of detecting C. difficile endospores.

Abstract: Herein are disclosed methods and devices for evaluating the quality of oils (e.g., cooking oil or flying oil). The methods can provide an indication of the free fatty acid content of the oil. The methods use an optical interrogation device to provide an indication of free fatty acid based on quantitative measurements of optical reflectance from test zones on a sampling substrate.

Abstract: Herein are disclosed methods and devices for optically monitoring multiple parameters of an oil sample. In one embodiment, the methods and devices can be used for determining the quality of cooking or flying oil in terms of the free fatty acid content and total polar compound content of the oil. The methods use an optical absorbtive/reflective property in evaluating the free fatty acid content, and use optical fluorescence in evaluating the total polar compound content, with both measurements using a single sampling substrate and a single measuring device.

Abstract: A sterility indicating composition comprising a plurality of sterilization process resistant spores which contain an active protease during germination and initial outgrowth of the spores; and a germination medium comprising at least one labeled protease substrate and at least one nutrient for germination of the spores; wherein the medium is essentially free of a) any active protease other than the active protease contained by the plurality of spores and b) any protease substrate other than the at least one labeled protease substrate, other than any protease substrate originating from the plurality of spores, and other than any protease substrate which does not compete with the labeled protease substrate for the active protease; and wherein the at least one labeled protease substrate comprises a peptide which can be cleaved by the active protease and which is labeled with one or more dye groups, at least one of which undergoes a detectable change when the peptide is cleaved by the active protease, and wherein

Abstract: The present invention provides antibodies that bind to the endospore of the bacterium Clostridium difficile, methods of making such antibodies, and methods of using such antibodies, including methods of detecting C. difficile endospores.

Abstract: Herein are disclosed methods and devices for optically monitoring multiple parameters of an oil sample. In one embodiment, the methods and devices can be used for determining the quality of cooking or flying oil in terms of the free fatty acid content and total polar compound content of the oil. The methods use an optical absorbtive/reflective property in evaluating the free fatty acid content, and use optical fluorescence in evaluating the total polar compound content, with both measurements using a single sampling substrate and a single measuring device.

Abstract: Herein are disclosed methods and devices for evaluating the quality of oils (e.g., cooking oil or flying oil). The methods can provide an indication of the free fatty acid content of the oil. The methods use an optical interrogation device to provide an indication of free fatty acid based on quantitative measurements of optical reflectance from test zones on a sampling substrate.

Abstract: A method of determining the quality of oil by irradiating the oil at a first wavelength, e.g., of about 470 nm, measuring a level of fluorescence of the oil at a second wavelength, e.g., of about 520 nm, comparing the measured fluorescence level to a predetermined threshold level to determine whether or not the oil quality is acceptable. The oil is preferably discarded if the measured fluorescence level exceeds the predetermined threshold level, which can be generally dependent on the oil composition. The fluorescence is correlated to the level of polar components in the oil. Also described are devices for determining the quality of oil via fluorescence.

Abstract: Imidazoquinoline and tetrahydroimidazoquinoline compounds that contain ether and sulfonamide or sulfamide functionality at the 1-position are useful as immune response modifiers. The compounds and compositions of the invention can induce the biosynthesis of various cytokines and are useful in the treatment of a variety of conditions including viral diseases and neoplastic diseases.

Abstract: A method of biological assay comprises the steps of providing an enzyme substrate comprising two fluorescence dye groups bound to a flexible peptide, the dye groups being of proximity sufficiently close so as to allow free energy attractions to draw the dyes together to essentially self-quench fluorescence of the dye groups, wherein self quenching of fluorescence of the dye groups is effected by dye dimerization or stacking, and enzymatically cleaving the peptide to release the fluorescence dye groups from dye dimerization or stacking, thereby producing an increase in fluorescence intensity. A protease substrate for use in the method of the invention is also disclosed. This invention finds use in detection and identification of microorganisms, sterilization assurance, pharmaceutical discovery, enzyme assays, immunoassays, and other biological assays.

Abstract: Fluorescent energy transfer dyes capable of moving between a more stacked configuration to exhibit fluorescent quenching and a more spaced configuration to exhibit fluorescence can be conjugated to a peptide epitope or nucleic acid for use in the detection of an unknown antibody in bulk solution. The resulting labeled peptide reagent can be used in an immunoassay procedure by placing it in bulk solution along with the unknown antibody to be detected. When the antibody binds to the peptide epitope, the pair of dyes carried by the peptide epitope will have their configuration altered from a stacked to an unstacked configuration and will exhibit a fluorescent increase in response thereto.

Abstract: Imidazoquinoline and tetrahydroimidazoquinoline compounds that contain ether and sulfonamide or sulfamide functionality at the 1-position are useful as immune response modifiers. The compounds and compositions of the invention can induce the biosynthesis of various cytokines and are useful in the treatment of a variety of conditions including viral diseases and neoplastic diseases.

Abstract: Dye labeled imidazonaphthyridine, imidazopyridine and imidazoquinoline compounds having immune response modulating activity are disclosed. The compounds arc useful, inter alia, for determining the binding and/or receptor sites of the molecules.

Abstract: Imidazoquinoline and tetrahydroimidazoquinoline compounds that contain ether and sulfonamide or sulfamide functionality at the 1-position are useful as immune response modifiers. The compounds and compositions of the invention can induce the biosynthesis of various cytokines and are useful in the treatment of a variety of conditions including viral diseases and neoplastic diseases.

Abstract: Imidazoquinoline and tetrahydroimidazoquinoline compounds that contain ether and sulfonamide or sulfamide functionality at the 1-position are useful as immune response modifiers. The compounds and compositions of the invention can induce the biosynthesis of various cytokines and are useful in the treatment of a variety of conditions including viral diseases and neoplastic diseases.

Abstract: A method of biological assay comprises the steps of providing an enzyme substrate comprising two fluorescence dye groups bound to a flexible peptide, the dye groups being of proximity sufficiently close so as to allow free energy attractions to draw the dyes together to essentially self-quench fluorescence of the dye groups, wherein self quenching of fluorescence of the dye groups is effected by dye dimerization or stacking, and enzymatically cleaving the peptide to release the fluorescence dye groups from dye dimerization or stacking, thereby producing an increase in fluorescence intensity. A protease substrate for use in the method of the invention is also disclosed. This invention finds use in detection and identification of microorganisms, sterilization assurance, pharmaceutical discovery, enzyme assays, immunoassays, and other biological assays.

Abstract: A method of biological assay comprises the steps of providing an enzyme substrate comprising two fluorescence dye groups bound to a flexible peptide, the dye groups being of proximity sufficiently close so as to allow free energy attractions to draw the dyes together to essentially self-quench fluorescence of the dye groups, wherein self quenching of fluorescence of the dye groups is effected by dye dimerization or stacking, and enzymatically cleaving the peptide to release the fluorescence dye groups from dye dimerization or stacking, thereby producing an increase in fluorescence intensity. A protease substrate for use in the method of the invention is also disclosed. This invention finds use in detection and identification of microorganisms, sterilization assurance, pharmaceutical discovery, enzyme assays, immunoassays, and other biological assays.

Abstract: Imidazoquinoline and tetrahydroimidazoquinoline compounds that contain ether and sulfonamide or sulfamide functionality at the 1-position are useful as immune response modifiers. The compounds and compositions of the invention can induce the biosynthesis of various cytokines and are useful in the treatment of a variety of conditions including viral diseases and neoplastic diseases.