Abstract: The aim of the present invention is a method of sampling all or part of a sample (11) of biological matter (7), which is crude, enriched or cultured through contact with a culture medium (8), such as agar, for example in a Petri dish, using a probe (3) equipped with a terminal end (4), said sampling method comprising the steps of cooling the terminal end (4) of the probe (3), sticking all or part of the sample (11) of biological matter (7) to be sampled through contact, or by applying a pressure exerted by the terminal end (4) onto the sample (11) of biological matter (7), and sampling of all or part of the sample (11) of biological matter (7) so as to separate the sample (11) of biological matter (7) from the culture medium (8), a method of depositing into a container (9) or onto an analysis plate (14) all or part of a sample (11) of biological matter (7) stuck onto a frosted terminal end (4) of a probe, said depositing method including a step of separating the terminal end (4) of the probe (3) from all or p

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for determining the antibiotic-resistance status of microorganisms. The invention further provides methods for determining the antibiotic-resistance status of microorganisms in situ within a single system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for scanning, detecting, and monitoring microorganisms on solid or semi-solid media using intrinsic fluorescence (IF) measurements. The methods are further directed to detection, characterization and/or identification of microorganisms on a solid or semi-solid media using intrinsic fluorescence (IF) measurements that are characteristic of said microorganisms.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for agitating multiple specimen containers each containing a sample and a growth medium. The system includes a plurality of racks. The racks have a plurality of receptacles, each of which is adapted for holding a specimen container. The racks include a first rack oriented in a first direction and a second rack oriented in a second direction different from the first direction. The system also includes a rotating turret having a frame holding the racks. The frame is rotatable about an axis, wherein the rotating turret operates to rotate the racks about the axis to an access position, e.g., where a user may access the specimen containers. The system also includes an agitation assembly coupled to the racks. The agitation assembly rocks the racks back and forth thereby agitating specimen containers held by the racks. In one configuration, the system is incorporated into an automated instrument detecting whether a microbiological agent is present in the specimen container.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for separating, characterizing and/or identifying microorganisms in a test sample. The method of the invention comprises an optional lysis step for lysing non-microorganism cells that may be present in a test sample, followed by a subsequent separation step. The method may be useful for the separation, characterization and/or identification of microorganisms from complex samples such as blood-containing culture media. The method may also be useful for the physical separation and/or enrichment of two or more different or individual microorganism species contained in a mixed test sample. The invention further provides for spectroscopic interrogation of the separated microorganism sample(s) to produce measurements of the microorganism and characterizing and/or identifying the microorganism(s) in the sample using said spectroscopic measurements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a Petri dish, intended for receiving an agar culture medium for microorganisms, including a base receiving said culture medium and a lid capable of being positioned on the base, said base and said lid being substantially circular, said Petri dish being characterised in that the base includes at least one means intended to avoid the retraction of the culture medium, said means projecting and being positioned on the periphery of the base.

Abstract: The method for controlling the progression of a fluid, from upstream to downstream, in a microfluidic component comprising for example a plurality of microchannels each comprising a plurality of successive reaction or detection zones and a plurality of passive valves, controls the progression of the fluid in the microchannels by controlling the increase of a pressure difference between upstream and downstream of the component. The method controls the pressure difference increase discontinuously in the form of enabling pulses so as in particular to synchronize passing of the corresponding passive valves of the microchannels. The pressure difference is advantageously adjusted to a zero value between two successive enabling pulses.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for temperature control within an automatic biological analyzer, the automatic analyzer essentially comprising: support, guidance, and step-by-step transport means for reaction cuvettes on a path comprising a predetermined number of positions, a support turntable for analyte samples, a support turntable for reactants, means for taking defined quantities of samples and reactants and for injecting the same into the reaction cuvettes, means for washing the cuvettes, means for optical reading of the determination results and a computerized control system which permits carrying out pre-programmed analysis cycles.

Abstract: A transport system is provided for a sample testing machine. The transport system includes a carrier holding a set of test sample devices and a drive subsystem for moving the carrier through the sample testing machine. The drive subsystem includes a reciprocating motor-driven block engaging the carrier and moving the carrier back and forth in a predetermined longitudinal path extending along a longitudinal axis from an entrance station to a plurality of processing stations in the sample testing machine. The processing stations are accessed as the carrier is moved along the path. The carrier includes features in the form of slots that are detected by strategically placed optical interrupt sensors. As the carrier moves, the slots are detected by the sensors to thereby continuously track the position of the carrier and the test devices as they are moved through the instrument.

Abstract: The method for controlling the progression of a fluid, from upstream to downstream, in a microfluidic component comprising for example a plurality of microchannels each comprising a plurality of successive reaction or detection zones and a plurality of passive valves, controls the progression of the fluid in the microchannels by controlling the increase of a pressure difference between upstream and downstream of the component. The method controls the pressure difference increase discontinuously in the form of enabling pulses so as in particular to synchronize passing of the corresponding passive valves of the microchannels. The pressure difference is advantageously adjusted to a zero value between two successive enabling pulses.

Abstract: The invention relates to: a nucleotide fragment of an MSRV-1 LTR-RU5 region, comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the expression of a protein, wherein the protein comprises a peptide sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, and SEQ ID NO: 4; complementary nucleotide fragments; probes and primers that hybridize to the fragment; proteins encoded by the fragment; antibodies directed against the proteins encoded by the fragment; and processes for detecting the presence of MSRV-1 using a probe or an antibody of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a temperature-stable labeling reagent of formula: in which R1 represents H or an alkyl, aryl or substituted aryl group, R2 represents a detectable marker or at least two detectable markers linked together by at least one multimeric structure, L is a linking arm containing a linear succession of at least two covalent bonds and n an integer equal to 0 or 1, R3 and R4 represent independently of each other: H, NO2, Cl, Br, F, I, R2-(L)n-Y—X—, OR, SR, NR2, R, NHCOR, CONHR, COOR with R=alkyl or aryl, A is a linking arm containing at least one covalent double bond allowing conjugation of the diazo functional group with the aromatic ring and u is an integer between 0 and 2, preferably equal to 0 or 1, and —Y—X— represents —CONH—, —NHCO—, —CH2O—, —CH2S—.

Abstract: The invention relates to bi-functionalised metallocenes of general formula (I) where Me=a transition metal, preferably chosen from Fe, Ru and Os, Y and Z, when identical are selected from —(CH2)n—O—, (CH2)—O—[(CH2)2—O]P— and —(CH2)q—CONH—(CH2)r—O—, or Y=—(CH2)S—NH— and Z=—(CH2)t—COO—, n=a whole number from 3 to 6 inclusive, p=a whole number from 1 to 4 inclusive, q=a whole number from 0 to 2 inclusive, r=a whole number from 0 to 2 inclusive, s=a whole number from 2 to 5 inclusive, t=a whole number from 3 to 6 inclusive, R and R?=H atoms or are protective groups used in oligonucleotide and peptide synthesis, where at least one of R or R? is protective group used in oligonucleotide and peptide synthesis and R and R? are as defined below: (i) when Z and Y are selected from (CH2)n—O—, —(CH2)—O—[(CH2)2—O]p— and —(CH2)q—CONH—(CH2)r—O—, then R and R? are protective groups used in oligonucleotide synthesis and R is a group which can leave a free OH group after deprotection, preferably a photolabile group such as mono

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for using a test card (1) comprising at least one fluid circuit, constituting a network of channels (3) and/or of compartments (17), for transferring at least one biological liquid from at least one inlet (2) to at least one outlet (6, 17), and a hydrophobic fluid is injected into the test card, into all or part of the network of said card, prior to the transfer of the biological liquid(s), said hydrophobic fluid filling the capillary spaces formed by the angles of the network of channels and/or of compartments of the card and avoiding the formation of bubbles and/or of dead volumes during the transfer of the biological liquid. The invention is of preferential use in the field of microfluidics applied to biology.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a medium for microbiological analysis by biochemical means involving chromogenic or fluorogenic substrates that react with enzymes (esterases) specific for the target strains. One object of the invention is to improve the sensitivity, initial translucence, stability and ease of use of such detection/identification media. For this purpose the medium according to the invention is characterized in that it is in a stable, ready-to-use liquid or gel form and in that it contains a solubilizer and stabilizer selected from fatty acid sorbitan esters, bile salts and mixtures thereof, as well as a selective activator selected from alkylsulfate salts, for example the sodium salts. The medium can comprise a solvent, for example dimethyl sulfoxide. The invention further relates to the method of obtaining this medium and to the use of products of the sodium alkylsulfate type as selective activators in such media. Application: microbiological analyses.

Abstract: Method for the wet dynamic separation of a suspension in liquid phase, comprising microparticles comprising a magnetic material and a liquid medium in which said microparticles are in suspension, in which method: a) the suspension is confined in a chamber having a volume defined by at least two dimensions, for example length and depth; b) at least one plurality of elementary magnetic fields is set up, these magnetic fields being distributed in a “Halbach semi-configuration”, whose respective ends facing the chamber generate a vector sum of said elementary magnetic fields, corresponding to a magnetic capture field passing through said chamber and exerting a magnetic attraction on the microparticles, and whose opposite respective ends generate no magnetic field; and c) said capture magnetic field is generated, whereby a solid phase enriched with microparticles is captured in said chamber, and a liquid phase depleted in microparticles is extracted from said chamber.

Abstract: Viral material, in the isolated or purified state, in which the genome comprises a nucleotide sequence chosen from the group including sequences SEQ ID NO:46, SEQ ID NO:51, SEQ ID NO:52, SEQ ID NO:53 and SEQ ID NO:56, their complementary sequences and their equivalent sequences, in particular nucleotide sequences displaying, for any succession of 100 contiguous monomers, at least 50% and preferably at least 70% homology with the said sequences SEQ ID NO:46, SEQ ID NO:51, SEQ ID NO:52, SEQ ID NO:53 and SEQ ID NO:56, respectively, and their complementary sequences.

Abstract: The invention relates to composite particles comprising a hydrophobic polymer core and inorganic nanoparticles. Said hydrophobic polymer forms a polymer matrix inside which the inorganic nanoparticles are stabilized and distributed in a relatively homogenous manner. Said particles are at least partially surrounded by an amphophilic copolymer comprising a hydrophobic part and a hydrophilic part, said hydrophobic part being at least partially immobilized in the polymer matrix. The inventor also relates to the preparation method thereof, the conjugates comprising such particles and a ligand and the use of same in reactants and therapeutic compositions.

Abstract: A medium for biological analysis by biochemical means involving chromogenic or fluorogenic substrates that react with enzymes (esterases and/or osidases and/or peptidases and/or sulfatases and/or phosphatases) specific for the target strains is that is in a stable, ready-to-use liquid or gel form and contains at least one emulsifying stabilizer of the fatty acid sorbitan ester/fatty acid type and at least one solvent (dimethyl sulfoxide). This medium is obtained by mixing a stock solution of esterase and/or osidase and/or peptidase and/or sulfatase and/or phosphatase substrates in the solvent, and the emulsifying stabilizer, with some of the constituents of the culture medium.

Abstract: The invention concerns the use of filtering means comprising a housing (2) wherein are arranged parallel to one another a plurality of hollow fibers (3), whereof the porous wall (3a) of each defines an aperture (4), so that said means comprises a inner path and an outer path (B) corresponding to the volume available between the fibers and the disc separator for treating an initial sample with large volume comprising in diluted state a plurality of micro-organisms of different sizes. The invention is characterised in that during at least a concentration step, one single means of filtering is available, the atomic mass unit threshold of the porous wall (3a) of the fibers is determined so as to retain the smallest micro-organism of the initial sample, said means being used in frontal mode and discontinuously, thereby providing the output sample liquid, that is the concentrate.