Abstract: Disclosed are a spectrofluorimetrically detectable luminescent composition and processes for enhancing the luminescence of one or more lanthanide-containing macrocycles. The luminescent composition comprises a micelle-producing amount of at least one surfactant, at least one energy transfer acceptor lanthanide element macrocycle compound having an emission spectrum peak in the range from 500 to 950 nanometers, and a luminescence-enhancing amount of at least one energy transfer donor compound of yttrium or a 3-valent lanthanide element having atomic number 59-71, provided that the lanthanide element of said macrocycle compound and the lanthanide element of said energy transfer donor compound are not identical. The addition of gadolinium(III) in the presence of other solutes to both the prototype and the di-functionalized europium, samarium, and terbium macrocyclic complexes, which were taught in our U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,373,093 and 5,696,240, enhances their luminescence.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring cellular activity in a cellular specimen. According to one embodiment, a plurality of excitable markers are applied to the specimen. A multi-photon laser microscope is provided to excite a region of the specimen and cause fluorescence to be radiated from the region. The radiating fluorescence is processed by a spectral analyzer to separate the fluorescence into respective wavelength bands. The respective bands of fluorescence are then collected by an array of detectors, with each detector receiving a corresponding one of the wavelength bands.

Abstract: This invention relates to a filtration apparatus and method for the separation of microscopic entities from a fluid (liquid or gas) and subsequent visual or imaging microscopic analysis of the entities separated thereon either directly or after treatment of the entities whilst on the apparatus in order to enhance their subsequent visualization and/or imaging. Such treatment can comprise reaction with reagents contained in other solutions that can be made to imbibe and/or pass through the filtration apparatus and which can be washed with solutions that can be made to imbibe and/or pass through the filtration apparatus. An example of a specific area of application is in the microbiological testing of fluids in order to detect, identify and/or enumerate microorganisms contained in a fluid test sample.

Abstract: A cancer screening method is provided, wherein the method is characterized by introducing a chemical compound to a patient, the compound being a complex of a fluorescent marker and a radioactive marker. Cells are then collected preferably through non-invasive or minimally invasive means. If fluorescence is observed in the exfoliated cells, tomographic scanning is conducted to further locate and/or confirm suspected malignant areas or metastatic areas. Further observation or treatment may be conducted either through fluorescence guided endoscopy, photo-dynamic therapy, and/or radiation treatment.

Abstract: This invention describes a method of removing N-terminal alanine residues from polypeptides, preferably recombinant proteins, using an aminopeptidase derived from the marine bacterium Aeromonas proteolytica. Accordingly, Aeromonas aminopeptidase (AAP; E.C. 3.4.11.10) can be used to remove N-terminal alanyl residues from derivatives of human somatotropin (hST, human growth hormone, or hGH), porcine somatotropin (pST), and bovine somtotropin (bST), for example, to yield proteins having their native amino acid sequences. The enzyme reactions can be carried out in free solution, or the AAP can be immobilized on a solid support, for reactions carried out in vitro. An efficient method for converting Ala-hGH to hGH, for example, comprises expression of Ala-hGH in E. coli, recovery of inclusion bodies, solubilization and refolding in detergent, detergent removal by ultrafiltration, selective precipitation, enzyme cleavage, followed by two column chromatography steps.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for distinguishing bacterial from non-bacterial exacerbations of chronic lung disease. The method comprises detecting the presence of elastase in patient sputum containing secretions of the lower respiratory tract.

Abstract: Releasable leads having an elongated fixed portion extend over a surface defined by a dielectric material of a component or by a semiconductor body. A semiconductor element having a conductive structure connected to a set of contacts is also disclosed. A method of making the conductive structure is disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for assessment of the ability of substances to ameliorate the toxic-effects of compounds based on a lymphocyte culture assay. The lymphocyte assay is a repeatable and quantitative assay for lymphocyte growth in a chemically defined media in which specific compounds with potential toxicity and substances with potential abilities to ameliorate the toxicity can be added to determine specific and individualized requirements for such substances. Also disclosed are methods for ameliorating side-effects by administering to a patient undergoing therapy with a drug that has a toxic-effect, a substance identified by the methods of the invention. Further provided is a composition that ameliorates the toxic-effect of the statin family of drugs. Methods and processes for partially purifying and/or isolating this composition are also provided.

Abstract: The present inventors have discovered that &agr;-Aminoadipate Reductase is essential for fungal pathogenicity. Specifically, the inhibition of &agr;-Aminoadipate Reductase gene expression in fungi results in no signs of successful infection or lesions. Thus, &agr;-Aminoadipate Reductase can be used as a target for the identification of antibiotics, preferably antifungals. Accordingly, the present invention provides methods for the identification of compounds that inhibit &agr;-Aminoadipate Reductase expression or activity. The methods of the invention are useful for the identification of antibiotics, preferably antifungals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to non-radioactive enzymatic methods for detecting Sphingosine-1-Phosphate (S1P) in biological fluids. The present invention further relates to a method of detecting the presence of cancer in a patient by the use of these and other methods of detecting S1P in biological samples from a patient.

Abstract: The instant invention provides methods for identifying agents that modulate an enzymatic activity of a carbohydrate sulfotransferase. The methods generally involve contacting the sulfotransferase, in a reaction solution, with a sulfate donor, a test agent, and a polymeric sulfate acceptor that is readily separated from the reaction solution. Determination of an effect of the test agent on the sulfotransferase is by detecting the amount of sulfate in the polymeric sulfate acceptor that has been separated from the reaction solution. The invention further provides kits for use in carrying out the subject methods.

Abstract: Methods, compositions and articles of manufacture for assaying a sample for a GHB source are provided. A sample suspected of containing a GHB source is contacted with a first oxidoreductase selective for GHB and an oxidized cofactor. In the presence of GHB in the sample, the first oxidoreductase oxidizes GHB to succinic semialdehyde and reduces the cofactor. The reduced cofactor thus produced can be detected directly, or a hydride abstractor can be used that abstracts a hydride from the reduced cofactor and produces a detectable change. The hydride abstractor can be a second oxidoreductase that oxidizes the reduced cofactor and produces a detectable change in a chromogen or dye. Preferably a visual change is produced, allowing performance of the assay outside of a laboratory setting. Fusion proteins comprising the first oxidoreductase, polynucleotides encoding such proteins, host cells expressing such proteins, and vectors comprising such polynucleotides are also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in carrying out a microbiological assay on samples in a petri plate has a support for holding the petri plate, a camera, and a plurality of diffuse-white-light emitting diodes. The camera optically detects microbe-growth inhibition zones arising about the diffusion disks and is disposed above the support. The diodes are disposed in a circular array above the support and below the camera for illuminating the nutrient medium and the drug diffusion disks. An electrical power and control circuit energizes the diodes with power from the computer upon an activation of the camera.

Abstract: A method for measuring chemiluminescence by which measurement of chemiluminescence can be carried out efficiently and accurately. In this method, an enzyme reaction of a chemiluminescent substrate in the presence of the enzyme carrying out the enzyme reaction and a chemiluminescence enhancer is conducted further in the presence of a chemiluminescence intensity-adjusting agent; and then the resulting chemiluminescence from the reaction product is measured.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a kit for detecting or quantitatively determining homocysteine rapidly and simply and with high sensitivity by oxidizing the residual homocysteine cosubstrate, the produced homocysteine-converting enzyme product or an enzyme reaction product thereof in the presence of an SH reagent to produce hydrogen peroxide and determining the produced hydrogen peroxide by color development using an oxidative color-developing agent. By using the method and kit of the present invention, homocysteine in biological samples, in particular, in body fluids such as blood and urine can be detected and quantitatively determined rapidly and simply and with high sensitivity.

Abstract: Methods for identifying a hyaluronidase 2 (HYAL2) specific inhibitor, which selectively inhibits HYAL2 activity, but does not substantially affect the activity of non-inflammatory hyaluronidases, are provided. Also provided are HYAL2 specific inhibitors obtained using such a method. In addition, methods for ameliorating an inflammatory disorder or vasculitis condition by specifically inhibiting HYAL2 is provided.

Abstract: A method, kit, system and reagent for measuring low molecular weight heparin in a whole blood sample is provided which involves the use of a Factor Xa activator, such as Russell's Viper Venom, as the coagulation assay initiator.

Abstract: A method is presented for the preparation and use of fluorogenic peptide substrates that allows for the configuration of general substrate libraries to rapidly identify the primary and extended specificity of enzymes, such as proteases. The substrates contain a fluorogenic-leaving group, such as 7-amino-4-carbamoylmethyl-coumarin (ACC). Substrates incorporating the ACC leaving group show comparable kinetic profiles as those with the traditionally used 7-amino-4-methyl-coumarin (AMC) leaving group. The bifunctional nature of ACC allows for the efficient production of single substrates and substrate libraries using solid-phase synthesis techniques. The approximately 3-fold increased quantum yield of ACC over AMC permits reduction in enzyme and substrate concentrations. As a consequence, a greater number of substrates can be tolerated in a single assay, thus enabling an increase in the diversity space of the library.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a method for determining the concentration of organisms in a fluid, where metabolite parameters are recorded by means of a data acquisition unit and subsequently converted.

Abstract: The instant methods and compositions represent an advance in controlling drug resistance in microbes. AcrAB-like efflux pumps have been found to control resistance to drugs, even in highly resistant microbes. Accordingly, methods of treating infection, methods of screening for inhibitors of AcrAB-like efflux pumps, and methods of enhancing antimicrobial activity of drugs are provided. Pharmaceutical composition comprising an inhibitor of an AcrAB-like efflux pump and an antimicrobial agent are also provided.