Abstract: A fluid collection device comprising an elongate container having an opening at one end, and a swab that is insertable into the container through said opening, wherein: the swab comprises an absorbent collector, for acquiring a fluid sample in use; and the internal cross-sectional area of the container becomes smaller in a direction away from the opening, the internal cross-sectional area becoming sufficiently small so as to cause the absorbent collector to be radially compressed as the swab is inserted into the container in use, thereby causing the absorbent collector to release at least some of the fluid sample held therein. The swab may further comprise a shaft, the absorbent collector being at or near a distal end of the shaft, and a closure being at or near a proximal end of the shaft, the closure being adapted to engage with the container and to close the opening of the container with the absorbent collector inside the container.

Abstract: The invention provides poliovirus like particles, which comprise stabilised empty poliovirus capsids that retain their native antigenic properties. The invention also provides methods of identifying mutations useful in the production of such poliovirus like particles, methods of producing such poliovirus like particles and the use of such poliovirus like particles in methods of vaccinating against poliovirus.

Abstract: There is provided a method for distinguishing between sepsis and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in a patient, comprising: (i) determining the amount of one or more biomarker for sepsis, and one or more biomarker for SIRS in a sample obtained from a patient, wherein the one or more biomarker for sepsis is selected from the group consisting of: ITGB3, ITGA2B, MYL9, LCN2, TREML1, LCN15, CMTM5, PPBP, and PF4; and the one or more biomarker for SIRS is selected from the group consisting of: PLA2G7, ARHGEF10L, MYCL, TGFBI, and GPR124, (ii) comparing the amount of the one or more biomarker for sepsis determined in said sample in (i) to a corresponding reference value representative of a healthy individual, (iii) comparing the amount of the one or more biomarker for SIRS determined in said sample in (i) to a corresponding reference value representative of a healthy individual; wherein the patient is diagnosed as having sepsis, when an increase is observed in the one or more biomarker for sepsis, and no

Abstract: The invention relates to antibiotic compounds of formula (A1) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, tautomers and combinations thereof, wherein X and L are optional linkers and one of RA or R1 comprises Ar1, wherein Ar1 is an antibiotic resistance breaker moiety which comprises an optionally substituted C6-10 aryl, C7-13 aralkyl, C5-10 heteroaryl, C6-13 heteroaralkyl, C5-10 heterocyclyl, C6-13 heterocyclalkyl, C3-10 carbocyclyl, C4-13 carbocyclalkyl, —C(?NR?)—NR?R? or —CH2—CH?CH2 group; wherein after administration of the compound to a bacterial infection this moiety reduces or prevents efflux. The invention also discloses pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of formula (A1) and the use of such compounds as medicaments, in particular, to treat bacterial infections, such as drug-resistant bacterial infections.

Abstract: This invention relates to the detection and diagnosis of tuberculosis. More specifically, the invention relates to new biomarkers and combinations thereof that enable the accurate detection and diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Abstract: The present application relates to recombinant Clostridium difficile antigens based on a fusion protein that consists of or comprises a first amino acid sequence and a second amino acid sequence, wherein: a) the first amino acid sequence is provided by an amino acid sequence that has at least 80% sequence identity with an amino acid sequence consisting of residues 1500-1850 of a C. difficile Toxin A sequence or residues 1500-1851 of a C. difficile Toxin B sequence; and b) the second amino acid sequence is provided by an amino acid sequence that has at least 80% sequence identity with an amino acid sequence consisting of a long repeat unit located within amino acid residues 1851-2710 of a C. difficile Toxin A sequence or within amino acid residues 1852-2366 of a C. difficile Toxin B sequence; though with the proviso that the fusion protein is not a polypeptide comprising amino acid residues 543-2710 of a C.

Abstract: Methods are presented which use impedance flow cytometry for rapid susceptibility testing of antimicrobial agents including phage, antimicrobial peptides and rapid analysis of antimicrobial mediated serum bactericidal assays.

Abstract: The present invention provides a viral vector or bacterial vector, said vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a Hantavirus nucleoprotein or antigenic fragment thereof; wherein said vector is capable of inducing a protective immune response in a subject. The present invention also provides compositions and uses of the vector in methods of medical treatment.

Abstract: The present application relates to recombinant Clostridium difficile antigens based on a fusion protein that consists of or comprises a first amino acid sequence and a second amino acid sequence, wherein: a) the first amino acid sequence is provided by an amino acid sequence that has at least 80% sequence identity with an amino acid sequence consisting of residues 1500-1850 of a C. difficile Toxin A sequence or residues 1500-1851 of a C. difficile Toxin B sequence; and b) the second amino acid sequence is provided by an amino acid sequence that has at least 80% sequence identity with an amino acid sequence consisting of a long repeat unit located within amino acid residues 1851-2710 of a C. difficile Toxin A sequence or within amino acid residues 1852-2366 of a C. difficile Toxin B sequence; though with the proviso that the fusion protein is not a polypeptide comprising amino acid residues 543-2710 of a C.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acid products and corresponding methods for identifying the presence or absence of Zika virus in a sample.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for detecting the presence or absence of an antiviral drug-resistant HSV, comprising: (a) identifying one or more HSV mutation selected from: (i) a thymidine kinase (TK) mutation selected from 250G>A (HSV-2), 0C>T (HSV-1), 268C>T (HSV-2), 373C>T (HSV-1), 146T>G (HSV-1), 363G>A (HSV-), 497T>A (HSV-1), 558G>T (HSV-2), 641A>G (HSV-2), 715T>C (HSV-1), 938T>C(HSV-2), 437_438insA (HSV-1), 169delC (HSV-1), 170delC (HSV-1), 171delC (HSV-1), 1072delC (HSV-1), 458delC (HSV-2), 459delC (HSV-2), 460delC (HSV-2), 461delC (HSV-2), 881delC (HSV-1), 882delC (HSV-1), 883delC (HSV-1), 884delC (HSV-1), and 885delC (HSV-1); and (ii) a DNA polymerase (DNA pol) mutation selected from 1882C>G(HSV-2), 2405T>G (HSV-1), 2500G>T (HSV-1), 2515A>G (HSV-1), 2892_2893insT(HSV-1), 2893_2894insT (HSV-1), 2894_2895insT (HSV-1), and 2895_2896insT (HSV-1); wherein the presence of said one or more HSV mutation confirms the presence of an antiviral drug-res

Abstract: The present invention provides in vitro methods for culturing Legionella, comprising incubating a Legionella bacterium on a charcoal-free solid agar medium comprising: serum, wherein the serum is present at a concentration of 1%-35% (v/v); a nitrogen source; and an iron source. Charcoal-free solid agar media for use in methods of the invention are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides an antigenic composition for use as a mycobacterial vaccine, said composition comprising (i) a first mycobacterial antigenic polypeptide, wherein said first mycobacterial antigenic polypeptide comprises a polypeptide sequence having at least 70% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6, 12, 2, 18, 8, 10, 16, 4, or a fragment thereof having at least 50 consecutive amino acids thereof; or (ii) a first mycobacterial polynucleotide, wherein said first mycobacterial polynucleotide comprises a polynucleotide sequence encoding said first mycobacterial antigenic polypeptide, or wherein said first mycobacterial polynucleotide comprises a polynucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 5, 11, 1, 17, 7, 9, 15, 3.

Abstract: A composition is provided comprising N. meningitidis outer membrane vesicles, wherein said outer membrane vesicles are enriched with at least one antigenic component. The composition is suitable for use in vaccines and for treatment of infection, particularly meningococcal infection, demonstrating a broad spectrum of protection. A number of preferred antigenic components are described and include antigenic proteins and proteoglycans derived from N. meningitidis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detecting viral infection of a subject by a first Flavivirus species, said method comprising: (a) contacting a sample from said subject with a solid phase support, wherein said solid phase support includes a capture means for immobilising antibody present in the sample that binds a first antigen from a first Flavivirus species; (b) challenging said immobilised antibody with: (i) a second antigen from a second (different) Flavivirus species, wherein the binding of said second antigen thereto suppresses (e.g.

Abstract: The present invention provides antigens, for use in the treatment or prevention of C. burnetii infection. Also provided are nucleic acids encoding such antigens, and antibodies raised against such antigens.

Abstract: The invention relates to pyrrolobenzodiazepines compounds (PBDs) and to pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which are useful as medicaments, in particular, to treat bacterial infections.

Abstract: There is provided a method for distinguishing between sepsis and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in a patient, comprising: (i) determining the amount of one or more biomarker for sepsis, and one or more biomarker for SIRS in a sample obtained from a patient, wherein the one or more biomarker for sepsis is selected from the group consisting of: ITGB3, ITGA2B, MYL9, LCN2, TREML1, LCN15, CMTMS, PPBP, and PF4; and the one or more biomarker for SIRS is selected from the group consisting of: PLA2G7, ARHGEF10L, MYCL, TGFBI, and GPR124, (ii) comparing the amount of the one or more biomarker for sepsis determined in said sample in (i) to a corresponding reference value representative of a healthy individual, (iii) comparing the amount of the one or more biomarker for SIRS determined in said sample in (i) to a corresponding reference value representative of a healthy individual; wherein the patient is diagnosed as having sepsis, when an increase is observed in the one or more biomarker for sepsis, and no

Abstract: The present invention provides antibodies, for use in the treatment, suppression prevention of Filovirus disease, particularly Ebola virus disease. Also provided immunogens for use in eliciting such antibodies.

Abstract: A biological process indicator is provided for validating a treatment process in which the amount or activity of a contaminant in a sample is reduced. The indicator comprises a thermostable kinase covalently linked to a biological component, with the proviso that the biological component is not an antibody. Methods of preparing the indicator, and methods of using the indicator, are also provided.