Abstract: The present invention is directed to the identification of a novel repressor located between ˜1.2 kb to ˜1.6 kb from the translation start site of the IFN-?1 promoter. The present invention provides a method of using siRNAs against ZEB1 (binds to the repressor region) and BLIMP-1 (binds outside the repressor region) and increases the promoter activity of IFN-?1 (i.e., increases the production of IFN-?1 protein). siRNAs against ZEB1 mRNA or BLIMP-1 mRNA increase IFN-?1 gene activity. There is provided a therapeutic application of siRNAs against ZEB1 and BLIMP-1 mRNAs in treating a mammal (including a human) by increasing the production of IFN-?1 protein that promotes an anti-viral response as well as treats asthma diseases.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ex vivo method of treating plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) in Th2- or Th17-associated diseases by modulating the cytokine expression or secretion using interferon lambda (IFN-?). For the Th-2 or Th17-associated diseases, pDC cells from a patient having the disease are exposed ex vivo with IFN-? in an effective amount to inhibit cytokine releases. The IFN-? exposed pDC are administered back into the patient. The present invention also provides a method of ex vivo IFN-? treatment of pDC, in conjunction with co-administration of a composition comprising IFN-?.

Abstract: Disclosed are antibodies that bind to the antigenic proteins GroES, RpIL, GroEL, SodB, UbiG, the ABC transporter, and an expressed antigenic protein of unknown function (the “BepA” protein) of Bartonella henselae, and use of these antigenic proteins in immunoassays in order to determine whether a sample from a subject contains one or more of these antibodies. Presence of such an antibody in the subject indicates that the subject is or was infected with Bartonella henselae, or indicates that the subject has an increased likelihood of being infected presently or in the past with Bartonella henselae. Also disclosed are kits for performing immunoassays, wherein each kit contains one or more of these antigenic proteins and also contains the reagents necessary for conducting an immunoassay.

Abstract: Methods are described herein for detecting and identifying distinct species of nucleic acids, in a single container, for example, from a certain genus of infectious agents or otherwise causative agents comprising, for example, providing a forward PCR primer common to a homologous gene region between the distinct species, and providing a reverse PCR primer common to a homologous gene region between the distinct species, to thereby define a PCR target region amongst the species, and providing a first oligonucleotide probe specific to a nucleic acid sequence within the target region that is characteristic of a first species, providing a second oligonucleotide probe specific to a nucleic acid sequence within the target region that is characteristic of a second species, wherein the first and second oligonucleotide probes are each detectably labeled with distinctly different detectable labels, conducting a PCR reaction in the container by means of the primers to amplify the target region amongst the species, and de

Abstract: Disclosed are oligonucleotides useful in methods for determining whether a sample contains Borrelia afzelii, a spirochete which is a causative agent of Lyme disease in humans. These oligonucleotides, which have nucleotide sequences derived from a coding segment of the gene encoding the p24 gene for the outer surface protein of Borrelia afzelii, are useful as forward and reverse primers for a polymerase chain reaction using nucleic acids from a biological sample as templates, and as probes for detecting any resultant amplicon. Detection of an amplicon indicates the sample contains Borrelia afzelii. Real-time PCR and detection using florescence resonance energy transfer is disclosed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for determining azole resistance in Candida glabrata. A biological sample containing Candida glabrata is obtained and a normalized mRNA level of CDR1 gene is determined using qRT-PCR. Using a microbroth dilution assay conducted at azole concentrations of about 2-8 ?g/mL, a susceptible isolate of Candida glabrata is obtained. A qRT-PCR assay is employed on the susceptible isolate and an average mRNA level of CDR1 is obtained. A fold-change value for CDR1 is obtained by comparing the CDR1 mRNA level of the biological sample with that of the average mRNA level. A ?2-fold change value is indicative of an azole resistance in Candida glabrata. The present method provides a qRT-PCR assay for azole resistance that has a sensitivity of ?90% and a specificity of ?90%.

Abstract: Disclosed are oligonucleotides useful in methods for determining whether a sample contains Atopobium vaginae or has an increased likelihood of containing Atopobium vaginae, an organism which is seen in conjunction with bacterial vaginosis or is a causative agent of bacterial vaginosis. These oligonucleotides, which have nucleotide sequences derived from a segment of the genome of Atopobium vaginae, are useful as forward and reverse primers for a polymerase chain reaction using nucleic acids from a biological sample as a template, and as probes for detecting any resultant amplicon. Detection of an amplicon indicates the sample contains Atopobium vaginae or has an increased likelihood of containing Atopobium vaginae.