Abstract: The invention generally relates to methods of using compositions that include sets of magnetic particles, members of each set being conjugated to an antibody specific for a pathogen, and magnets to isolate a pathogen from a body fluid sample.

Abstract: Separation media comprising a support and crosslinked whole cells fixed to the support. The separation media are useful in affinity columns for the separation of the antibodies from a solution, particularly for the separation of polyclonal antibodies that have been raised against the same type of whole cells. In an embodiment, the whole cells are whole bacterial cells.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to methods for universal target capture.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to a system for isolating or separating a target from a sample. In certain aspects, processes performed by the target capture system include introducing a plurality of magnetic particles, in which a plurality of the particles include at least one binding moiety specific to a target, into a sample to form at least one target/particle complex and applying a magnetic field to isolate the magnetic particle/target complexes from the sample. The process starts at inputting a sample into the system and ends at delivering a capture target or nucleic acids of the target into a container for further analysis.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to methods for amplifying nucleic acid from a target. In certain aspects, methods of the invention involve obtaining a sample including a target, conducting an assay that isolates the target from the sample, lysing the target to release the nucleic acid, and amplifying the released nucleic acid such that the amplifying occurs in the presence of debris from the lysing step.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to methods for indicating whether an assay for isolating targets is properly isolating and detecting targets. Methods of the invention involve obtaining a sample suspected of a containing target, introducing a detectable marker into the sample, conducting an assay using magnet particles to isolate the detectable marker and the target if it is present in the sample, determining the presence or absence of the target; and confirming that the assay functioned properly by determining presence or absence of the detectable marker.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to methods and devices for transferring a sample into a cartridge for processing. Methods of the invention include providing a vessel containing a sample, coupling the sample to a cartridge configured to process the sample at an interface, in which the interface is configured to provide communication between the vessel and the cartridge, introducing a fluid, capture particles, or both from the cartridge into the vessel, and transferring the sample, fluid, and capture particles from the vessel and into the cartridge for processing.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods of generating antibodies against a species of pathogen that involve identifying the pathogen that is most genetically representative of member of pathogen species and using the identified pathogen to generate an antibody.

Abstract: Methods for degrading contaminant nucleic acid. The methods use combinations of metal ions and peroxide ions to produce a variety of oxidative species that degrade nucleic acid. Methods of the invention are useful for decontaminating laboratory equipment or solutions. After the equipment or solutions have been decontaminated, the metal ion and peroxide ion solution can be deactivated by raising the temperature to dissociate the peroxide or by binding the metal ions, e.g., with a chelating agent.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to devices for target detection and methods of use thereof.

Abstract: NMR technology disclosed herein, such as an NMR apparatus or an NMR method, for example, may be useful for purposes described herein, such as determining presence or absence of magnetic resonance from a sample, for example. Methods pertaining to such NMR technology include methods of designing or constructing NMR apparatus, methods of using NMR apparatus, methods of employing data obtained from NMR apparatus, and/or the like. Various apparatus and methods for detection of magnetic resonance in sample material are disclosed herein. Additionally, various apparatus and methods for usefully employing magnetic resonance data are disclosed herein.

Abstract: Methods of the invention generally involve using magnetic particles to isolate low levels of pathogens from a samples and identifying genes expressed by those pathogen. In one aspect, the method includes obtaining a sample comprising a pathogen, forming magnetic particle/target complexes, separating the magnetic particle/target complexes using magnetic fields, and determining an expression profile of a nucleic acid derived from the target.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to methods of using compositions that include sets of magnetic particles, members of each set being conjugated to an antibody specific for a pathogen, and magnets to isolate a pathogen from a body fluid sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides microcoil magnetic resonance based modules, detection devices, and methods for their use. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a module including a microcoil possessing an inner diameter of between 25 microns and 550 microns, a conduit disposed proximate to the microcoil, in which the conduit is in fluid communication with a sample reservoir, an affinity column in fluid communication with the conduit and the sample reservoir, and a connector for connecting the module to a magnetic resonance detector.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to conducting an assay on a sample that isolates a pathogen from the sample and allows for analysis of the pathogen with minimal (i.e., at most 24 hrs of culturing) or no culturing of the pathogen. In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods for identifying a pathogen from a sample that involve obtaining a sample including a pathogen, conducting an assay that isolates the pathogen from the sample, culturing the isolated pathogen for at most about 24 hrs, and analyzing the pathogen.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to using magnetic particles and magnets to isolate a target analyte from a body fluid sample. In certain embodiments, methods of the invention involve introducing magnetic particles including a target-specific binding moiety to a body fluid sample in order to create a mixture, incubating the mixture to allow the particles to bind to a target, applying a magnetic field to capture target/magnetic particle complexes on a surface, and washing with a wash solution that reduces particle aggregation, thereby isolating target/magnetic particle complexes.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to conducting an assay on a sample that isolates a bacterium from the sample, in which the assay isolates as low as about 1 CFU/ml of bacteria in the sample.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to compositions that include magnetic particles bound to pathogens in a body fluid.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to compositions and methods for isolating mid-log phase bacteria. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a magnetic particle conjugated to an antibody that includes an epitope specific for mid-log phase bacteria.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to using magnetic particles and alternating magnet fields to separate a target analyte from a sample. In certain embodiments, methods of the invention involve contacting a sample with magnetic particles including first moieties specific for a target analyte, thereby forming target/particle complexes in the sample, flowing the sample through a channel including second moieties attached to at least one surface of the channel, applying alternating magnetic fields to the flowing sample to result in target/particle complexes being brought into proximity of the surface to bind the second moieties and unbound particles remaining free in the sample, binding the target/particle complexes to the second moieties, and washing away unbound particles and unbound analytes of the sample.