Abstract: An analytical device that can be used to conveniently and accurately assay plural vessels. In one exemplary embodiment, a pair of LED sources provides illumination through a pair of radial waveguides to plural vessels arranged in a pair of substantially concentric and circular rows about the LED sources. A light pipe receives light transmitted through a vessel from each radial waveguide and reflects the received light downward to a single printed circuit board that contains a photodiode for each light pipe, as well as processing circuitry. The first LED source/radial waveguide optical is used to confirm the presence of a vessel, and the second is used to perform, e.g., turbidometric and/or calorimetric assays upon an analyte within the vessel. The vessel is incubated in a vessel support that includes a heat conducting base and a heat insulating cover. Heat is supplied by a DC heater.

Abstract: An analytical device that can be used to conveniently and accurately assay plural vessels. In one exemplary embodiment, a pair of LED sources provides illumination through a pair of radial waveguides to plural vessels arranged in a pair of substantially concentric and circular rows about the LED sources. A light pipe receives light transmitted through a vessel from each radial waveguide and reflects the received light downward to a single printed circuit board that contains a photodiode for each light pipe, as well as processing circuitry. The first LED source/radial waveguide optical is used to confirm the presence of a vessel, and the second is used to perform, e.g., turbidometric and/or colorimetric assays upon an analyte within the vessel. The vessel is incubated in a vessel support that includes a heat conducting base and a heat insulating cover. Heat is supplied by a DC heater.

Abstract: Kits and method for detecting bacterial endotoxin in an aqueous solution are provided. In certain examples, the kit includes at least a first container comprising solid, endotoxin-specific, horseshoe crab amebocyte lysate and at least one buffer, whereby the sensitivity of the amebocyte lysate is pre-certified. In certain examples, the kit also contains at least a second container comprising a defined quantity of endotoxin configured as a positive product control, wherein the defined quantity of the endotoxin is pre-certified to react positively with the amebocyte lysate in the first container.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a simple, rapid, and cost-effective test kit for specifically detecting bacterial endotoxin in aqueous solutions, such as water or dialysate solutions, using a Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL)-based gel clot assay. Advantageously, the test kit can vary in its level of sensitivity for detecting endotoxin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of endotoxin neutralizing protein (ENP) and derivatives thereof as stand alone microbial inhibitors or as synergistic enhancers of antibiotics and preservatives. Compositions comprising ENP or alone or in combination with an antibiotic may be used to prevent or treat gram-negative bacterial infections, endotoxemia, septic shock, gram-positive bacterial infections, yeast infections and fungal infections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an artificial bait for marine animals, comprising cell-free hemolymph of a horseshoe crab. The cell-free hemolymph of the horseshoe crab, which is the byproduct from the manufacture of Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL), is an excellent attractant to be used in artificial baits for marine animals. The baits according to the invention attract the target marine animals better than the horseshoe crab itself. Further, the baits of the invention seem to attract non-target game less than the target game. The present invention also relates to a method of preparing a bait comprising cell-free hemolymph of a horseshoe crab, and a method of attracting marine animals.

Abstract: Endotoxin binding/neutralizing proteins capable of binding endotoxin in vivo, thereby neutralizing the toxic effect or bioactivity of endotoxin which are isolated from a horseshoe crab such as Limulus polyphemus, pharmaceutical compositions and pharmaceutical uses of the proteins, a method of purifying the proteins and an assay for endotoxin based on the proteins, are disclosed.

Abstract: Endotoxin binding/neutralizing proteins capable of binding endotoxin in vivo, thereby neutralizing the toxic effect or bioactivity of endotoxin which are isolated from a horseshoe crab such as Limulus polyphemus, pharmaceutical compositions and pharmaceutical uses of the proteins, a method of purifying the proteins and an assay for endotoxin based on the proteins, are disclosed.

Abstract: Fluorescently labeled ENP as well as methods of preparation are disclosed. Also disclosed is a method of detecting endotoxin in a liquid sample suspected of containing endotoxin, comprising admixing said liquid sample with fluorescently labeled ENP for a time sufficient to form a complex between the labeled ENP and the endotoxin, and performing fluorescence polarization experiment on the sample, wherein a change in the fluorescence polarization indicates the presence of endotoxin.

Abstract: Endotoxin binding/neutralizing proteins capable of binding endotoxin in vivo, thereby neutralizing the toxic effect or bioactivity of endotoxin which are isolated from a horseshoe crab such as Limulus polyphemus, pharmaceutical compositions and pharmaceutical uses of the proteins, a method of purifying the proteins and an assay for endotoxin based on the proteins, are disclosed.

Abstract: Endotoxin binding/neutralizing proteins capable of binding endotoxin in vivo, thereby neutralizing the toxic effect or bioactivity of endotoxin which are isolated from a horseshoe crab such as Limulus polyphemus, pharmaceutical compositions and pharmaceutical uses of the proteins, a method of purifying the proteins and an assay for endotoxin based on the proteins, are disclosed.

Abstract: Endotoxin binding/neutralizing proteins capable of binding endotoxin in vivo, thereby neutralizing the toxic effect or bioactivity of endotoxin which are isolated from a horseshoe crab such as Limulus polyphemus, pharmaceutical compositions and pharmaceutical uses of the proteins, a method of purifying the proteins and an assay for endotoxin based on the proteins, are disclosed.

Abstract: Endotoxin binding/neutralizing proteins capable of binding endotoxin in vivo, thereby neutralizing the toxic effect or bioactivity of endotoxin which are isolated from a horseshoe crab such as Limulus polyphemus, pharmaceutical compositions and pharmaceutical uses of the proteins, a method of purifying the proteins and an assay for endotoxin based on the proteins, are disclosed.

Abstract: An analytic instrument for kinetically measuring light absorption characteristics of a plurality of independent samples contained in disposable test tubes arranged in a circular pattern about a single light source. The instrument is designed to be used with a host personal computer and is not specific to any particular type of assay. The instrument obtains and temporarily stores raw data in the form of digitized output signals from the plurality of photodetectors and periodically passes them to the host computer. An incubator has test tube wells arranged in a circular array equidistant from a single incandescent light source. The circular symmetry controls the thermal gradients in the incubator such that all of the samples are disposed on the same isotherm and all of the photodetectors are disposed on the same isotherm.

Abstract: Limulus lysate of improved sensitivity to endotoxin is prepared by withdrawing hemolymph from Limulus polyphemus (horseshoe crab), preparing a lysate by lysing the amoebocytes obtained from the hemolymph, treating the lysate with an amount of an organic solvent sufficient to precipitate a clotting inhibitor within the lysate and isolating the organic solvent treated lysate. In another embodiment, the sensitivity of the lysate is further increased by adding a salt of calcium, magnesium, manganese, thereto.