Abstract: Provided are devices, systems, and methods configured to uniformly illuminate a biological sample with a patterned illumination source and determine a contour of the biological sample.

Abstract: The invention provides mixtures of linear nucleic acid probes, including circularizing “capture” probes, capable of massively multiplex capture of one or more sequences of interest from a plurality of target organisms. The methods provided by the invention enable rapid, precise, and economical detection of one or more organisms of interest, such as common pathogens.

Abstract: A rapid diagnostic assay for influenza virus, particularly avian influenza and more particularly H5N1, is described. The assay is based on amplification of a significant portion of the hemagglutinin (HA) gene and sequencing of several loci within the HA gene, using techniques which can obtain real time sequence information from multiple sites of a target DNA, in particular pyrosequencing and bioluminescence regenerative cycle. The assay contemplates the use of information-rich subsequences within the HA gene, e.g., (1) a glycosylation sequon; (2) receptor binding site; and (3) HA1/HA2 cleavage site. Other subsequences for sequencing include strain and clade markers, which vary among H5N1 strains.

Abstract: A rapid diagnostic assay for influenza virus, particularly avian influenza and more particularly H5N1, is described. The assay is based on amplification of a significant portion of the hemagglutinin (HA) gene and sequencing of several loci within the HA gene, using techniques which can obtain real time sequence information from multiple sites of a target DNA, in particular pyrosequencing and bioluminescence regenerative cycle. The assay contemplates the use of information-rich subsequences within the HA gene, e.g., (1) a glycosylation sequon; (2) receptor binding site; and (3) HA1/HA2 cleavage site. Other subsequences for sequencing include strain and clade markers, which vary among H5N1 strains.