Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for diagnosing and/or predicting the risk of developing autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) in a subject. The methods are based on the inventors' identification of a novel biomarker for AIH. The invention further comprises the use of said biomarker in the methods disclosed herein, and kits comprising agents for detecting said biomarker. The invention also relates to a method of treating AIH in a subject, wherein the subject has been diagnosed with AIH or determined to be at risk of developing AIH using the methods disclosed herein.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods of derivatizing sialic acids which may be present on glycan moieties. This can be of use in determining the glycosylation profiles of, for example, glycoproteins and glycolipids and the use of such methods in clinical analysis as well as biological development and control.

Abstract: A method of purifying a glycan and/or a glycoconjugate comprising the steps of: (a) providing a stationary phase that comprises cotton; (b) applying a glycan and/or glycoconjugate-containing sample to the stationary phase; (c) washing the stationary phase with a first solvent; and (d) eluting the glycan and/or glycoconjugate from the stationary phase with a second solvent. A kit for purifying a glycan and/or glycoconjugate, the kit comprising: a stationary phase comprising cotton; and instructions for purifying a glycan and/or glycoconjugate according to the disclosed method.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods of derivatising sialic acids which may be present on glycan moieties. This can be of use in determining the glycosylation profiles of, for example, glycoproteins and glycolipids and the use of such methods in clinical analysis as well as biological development and control.

Abstract: A method of purifying a glycan and/or a glycoconjugate comprising the steps of: (a) providing a stationary phase that comprises cotton; (b) applying a glycan and/or glycoconjugate-containing sample to the stationary phase; (c) washing the stationary phase with a first solvent; and (d) eluting the glycan and/or glycoconjugate from the stationary phase with a second solvent. A kit for purifying a glycan and/or glycoconjugate, the kit comprising: a stationary phase comprising cotton; and instructions for purifying a glycan and/or glycoconjugate according to the disclosed method.

Abstract: The invention provides the use of 2-picoline borane (2-PB) for the reductive amination of carbohydrates, especially glycans from book plasma, wherein the concentration of 2-PB is less than the concentration of NaBH(OAc)3 or NaBH3CN required to obtain comparable conversion of the carbohydrate. It also describes a process for labelling a carbohydrate, the process comprising contacting the carbohydrate with a labelling agent, e.g. 2-aminobenzoic acid, 2-aminobenzamide, APTS, etc. in the presence of 2-picoline borane as reducing agent. Labelling the carbohydrate in this way facilitates detection using HPLC techniques, e.g. HILIC-HPLC-FL, HILIC-ESI-IT-MS, or capillary electrophoresis.

Abstract: Herein is reported a method for the determination of the glycosylation of an immunoglobulin with electrospray mass spectrometry but without the need for a chromatographic purification step after the digestion of the immunoglobulin and prior to the mass spectrometric analysis.