Abstract: Optical detection techniques for the assessment of the physiological state, health and/or viability of biological materials are provided. Biological materials which may be examined using such techniques include cells, tissues, organs and subcellular components. The inventive techniques may be employed in high throughput screening of potential diagnostic and/or therapeutic agents.

Abstract: A novel enzymatic approach for analytical method development is disclosed. A process wherein enzymes replace commonly used reagents/chemicals in a method/procedure. This approach increases the speed of analysis, reduces the usage of reagents/solvents, decreases the quantities of wastes generated, reduces the overall cost of drug testing/analysis in pharmaceutical or other related industries. The approach can be used to assay or analyze an active/inactive ingredient present in a solid, liquid, or semi-solid dosage forms of a drug.

Abstract: A method of conducting a rapid microbiological assay of gases is disclosed that utilizes an improved gelatin membrane filter that is pre-filtered before casting to remove microscopic-sized particles.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) in which R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are hydrogen atoms or chromogenic substituents and X is hydroxyl, OR6 wherein R6 is selected from the group consisting of C1-C4 alkyl, or O−Me+ wherein Me+ is a cation derived from an organic or inorganic base; these compounds do not exhibit significant fluorescence but are capable of being cleaved by phosphatidyl-inositol-specific phospholipase C, an enzyme which is indicative of bacterial activity; the umbelliferyl moity resulting from such cleavage is a strong fluorogen thus providing effective test methods for various pathogenic bacteria, such as Listeria, Staphylococcus and Clostridium species. Also disclosed are plating media for detection of microorganisms that are capable of metabolic generation of a phosphatidyl inositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC).

Abstract: A device for determining a substance contained in a body fluid is provided. An indicator member has a testing zone that changes the color based on the concentration level of the substance contained in a body fluid applied to the testing zone. The indicator member is rotatably mounted on a basic carrier. A set of differently colored color fields is provided on the basic carrier along the circumference of a circle having a radius from the center of said basic carrier. The indicator member rotates about the center of said basic carrier. The changed color of said testing zone of said indicator member is compared to said differently colored color fields on the basic carrier.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for determining the effect of each of a plurality of test agents on cells from a subject, and a method to profile patient cell responses to test agents.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods to identify test compounds that alter circadian rhythms of mammals, and more specifically, directed to methods for determining the ability of a test compound to alter hCKI &dgr; and &egr; phosphorylation of a human Period protein. The present invention is also directed to a method for determing the ability of a test compound to selectively alter phosphorylation, interaction with, or alternatively degradation, of one or more human Period proteins relative to its ability to alter phosphorylation, interaction with, or alternatively degradation, of a different human Period protein.

Abstract: A culture medium suitable for Disk Susceptibility testing of a variety of fastidious microorganisms is disclosed.

Abstract: A fluorescence polarization process used to identify activity of conjugative enzymes involved in xenobiotic transformations, such as glucuronosyltransferases is provided.

Abstract: The invention concerns a novel chromogenic medium for isolating Staphylococcus aureus, charcterised in that it comprises in a culture medium of Staphyloccus aureus at least one of the following two chromogenic agents: 5-bromo 6-chloro 3-indoxyl phosphate and 5-brono 4-chloro 3-indoxyl glucoside and it further contains deferoxamine.

Abstract: An assay system is provided for detecting the enzymatic activity of a phosphorylation enzyme. The enzyme may be a phosphatase or protein kinase. The substrate for the enzyme is immobilized on a solid support via covalent or non-covalent binding through a signal enhancing polymer. The immobilized substrate provides an enhanced signal to background ratio when compared to a substrate in solution. The methods are easily adapted to high throughput screening systems.

Abstract: A novel sorbitol dehydrogenase having excellent substrate affinity and substrate specificity which can be used to measure D-sorbitol which occurs in human erythrocytes and serum in a slight amount or D-sorbitol or D-fructose contained in foods, a microorganism for producing such an enzyme, and a process for the production of the enzyme using such a microorganism. Also disclosed is provides a method for the measurement of sorbitol using the foregoing sorbitol dehydrogenase and a reagent for the quantitative determination therefor.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for quantitatively determining mannose, which comprises reacting mannose in a specimen with an enzyme which is capable of oxidizing the mannose by dehydrogenation, in the presence of an electron acceptor, and quantitatively determining a formed reductant of the electron acceptor; and a reagent for the quantitative determination of mannose.

Abstract: A reagent and method for determining the levels of 3-hydroxybutyric acid in a sample are provided. The reagent comprises a ferricyanide salt, a catalytic amount of a first enzyme operative to catalyze the oxidation of 3-hydroxybutyric acid in the sample, a cofactor corresponding to said first enzyme, and a catalytic amount of a second enzyme operative to catalyze the oxidization of the cofactor and the reduction of the ferricyanide. The reagent is incorporated into a test strip that generates an electrical output signal indicative of the level of 3-hydroxybutyric acid when the reagent is contacted with a sample.

Abstract: A method of improving a phenotypic defect in a cell that contains a conformationally defective target protein wherein the conformational defect causes the phenotype defect, comprising contacting a first cell that expresses said conformationally defective target protein with an amount of a protein stabilizing agent that is effective to improve the conformational defect, thereby improving the phenotypic defect of the first cell in comparison with a second cell having the same conformationally defective target protein and phenotypic defect, wherein the second cell is not contacted with the protein stabilizing agent.

Abstract: The invention provides an assay for detecting phospho-N-acetylmuramyl-pentapeptide translocase enzyme activity, which comprises the steps of: (1) incubating a reaction mixture comprising, in aqueous medium, N-succinimidyl [2,3-3H] propionate substituted UDP-MurNAc-pentapeptide, N-succinimidyl propionate substituted UDP-MurNAc-pentapeptide (non-radioactive), a source of divalent metal ions, a source of undecaprenyl phosphate, a source of translocase enzyme and a detergent, under conditions suitable for enzyme activity to occur; (2) acidification of the reaction mixture with a suitable buffer comprising a quaternary ammonium salt at pH˜4.2 to stop the enzyme reaction of step (1); and (3) extraction of any undecaprenol-pyrophosphate-[2,3-3H]propionate-N-acetylmuramylpentapeptide product formed and measuring radioactivity using a scintillation counter; and also a kit for use therein.

Abstract: The present invention is related to microbiology and forms part of a system for rapid microbiological diagnosis. The invention allows detection of turbidimetric changes due to microbial growth, using equipment comprised of two main devices: a static turbidimetric minireader and a microflow sensor which is fed by a peristaltic pump; this equipment is coupled to a microcomputer with a program package for acquisition, processing and formation of databases used in generating necessary reports. The diagnostic kit has a glass vial with culture medium and a polymer with derepressive activity and two additional substrates for E.coli identification, as well as a set of antibiotic discs arranged in a strip for antibiogram determination from previously isolated colonies or samples obtained directly from their sources, allowing detection of urinary tract infections from direct samples of urine, and additionally simultaneous identification of E.coli.

Abstract: Transmembrane potential measurement methods using cationic dyes, and anionic dyes are provided. Compositions of the cationic and anionic dyes and microfluidic systems which include the dyes and membranes are provided in conjunction with processing elements for transmembrane potential measurements.

Abstract: This invention relates to a container and method for detecting a specific environmental parameter or combination of parameters, or for determining the effectiveness of a sterilization procedure. The invention relates to test indicators containing controlled volumes of compressed, gas-permeable materials, and modified caps comprising one or more apertures, sterilant permeable inserts, protruding members, or a combination thereof, and to methods for using test indicators for determining the efficacy of different types of sterilization processes. If proper sterilization conditions are not met, the interactive enzyme system remains active, and a color product forms upon the addition of the remaining components of the enzyme system. If the proper sterilization conditions are met, the sterilant destroys the interactive enzymes and no color product is formed. Inactivation of the enzyme system parallels the inactivation of bacterial spores subjected to the sterilization process.

Abstract: A small diameter flexible electrode designed for subcutaneous in vivo amperometric monitoring of glucose is described. The electrode is designed to allow “one-point” in vivo calibration, i.e., to have zero output current at zero glucose concentration, even in the presence of other electroreactive species of serum or blood. The electrode is preferably three or four-layered, with the layers serially deposited within a recess upon the tip of a polyamide insulated gold wire. A first glucose concentration-to-current transducing layer is overcoated with an electrically insulating and glucose flux limiting layer (second layer) on which, optionally, an immobilized interference-eliminating horseradish peroxidase based film is deposited (third layer). An outer (fourth) layer is biocompatible.