Abstract: Provided are methods of diagnosing IgA nephropathy in a subject. Optionally, the methods comprise isolating an IgG from the subject and determining whether the IgG binds to a galactose-deficient IgA1. Optionally, the methods comprise providing a biological sample from the subject and detecting in the sample a mutation in a IGH gene, wherein the mutation is in a nucleotide sequence encoding a complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3) of a IGH variable region. Optionally, the methods comprise determining a level of IgG specific for a galactose-deficient IgA1 in the subject. Also provided are methods of treating or reducing the risk of developing IgA nephropathy in a subject.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a general-purpose experimental tool which specifically binds to a macromolecular substance that will be a receptor for a specific ligand such as drug, and is applicable throughout various processes to explore the nature of the macromolecular substance. In order to achieve this object, a molecular module has been developed which binds to a target compound and is used for purifying or labeling the target compound, wherein the molecular module has a rod-like spacer substance, an interacting substance that interacts with the target compound, a tag and a labeling substance, the interacting substance being positioned at one end of the rod-like spacer substance, and the tag and the labeling substance being positioned at the other end of the rod-like spacer substance.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an antibody against a Panton-Valentine leukocidin toxin contained in Staphylococcus aureus, a method and a kit for detecting the toxin with the use of the antibody, and a pharmaceutical composition containing an antibody against a Panton-Valentine leukocidin toxin for treating PVL infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus containing PVL are provided. Also, an antibody which is capable of binding to Panton-Valentine leukocidin F and has no cross-reactivity to LukD and/or HlgB and an antibody which is capable of binding to Panton-Valentine leukocidin S and has no cross-reactivity to at least one of LukE, HlgC, and HlgA are provided.

Abstract: A mechanism for optimizing insulin infusion rate of a CSII pump for each patient. A continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy uses a continuous subcutaneous insulin pump, which includes: determining a circadian variation curve representing sympathetic nerve activity and that represents parasympathetic nerve activity of a target patient; acquiring an inflection point of each of the circadian variation curves representing the two types of nerve activity; detecting a time that corresponds to the inflection point; and employing the time as a point at which the insulin infusion rate of the continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion pump is changed.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an antibody against a Panton-Valentine leukocidin toxin contained in Staphylococcus aureus, a method and a kit for detecting the toxin with the use of the antibody, and a pharmaceutical composition containing an antibody against a Panton-Valentine leukocidin toxin for treating PVL infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus containing PVL are provided. Also, an antibody which is capable of binding to Panton-Valentine leukocidin F and has no cross-reactivity to LukD and/or HlgB and an antibody which is capable of binding to Panton-Valentine leukocidin S and has no cross-reactivity to at least one of LukE, HlgC, and HlgA are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel peptide based on CAP11 as well as provides an antibacterial agent, an LPS-cell-binding inhibitor, and a drug such as a bacterial-infection-treating agent or an endotoxin-shock suppressant, each containing the peptide as an active ingredient. The peptide has the following amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1): X01 X02 X03 X03 X04 X02 X03 X03 X05 X04 X03 X04 X02 X01 X03 X02 X05 X03 (wherein X01 represents a cationic amino acid residue or a polar uncharged amino acid residue, X02 represents a non-polar amino acid residue, X03 represents a cationic amino acid residue, X04 represents a non-polar amino acid residue or a cationic amino acid residue, and X05 represents a non-polar amino acid residue or a polar uncharged amino acid residue). Each of the antibacterial agent, lipopolysaccharide-cell-binding inhibitor, and drug (e.g., bacterial-infection-treating agent or endotoxin-shock suppressant) contains the peptide as an active ingredient.