Abstract: A method for the diagnosis of a tuberculosis infection caused by Mycobacteria belonging to the Mycobacteria tuberculosis complex group (MTC) in an animal including a human being, which comprises in vitro-detection of cell-mediated immune response to OmpAtb and/or antibodies against OmpAtb in a sample taken from that animal.

Abstract: Method for the diagnosis of a tuberculosis infection caused by Mycobacteria belonging to the Mycobacteria tuberculosis complex group (MTC) in an animal including a human being, which comprises in vitro-detection of cell-mediated immune response to OmpAtb and/or antibodies against OmpAtb in a sample taken from that animal.

Abstract: Methods for the detection of the disease associated conformation of the prion protein as an indication of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), including preclinical detection of infected live animals and humans, and post-mortem detection methods are disclosed. In one aspect, the tissue or body fluid sample of a test subject is contacted with an antibody that binds only the disease related conformation of the prion protein under non-denaturing conditions.

Abstract: The presented invention relates to monoclonal antibodies useful in sensitive and specific immunological assays for the identification of prions in various tissues and body fluids, the production of such monoclonal antibodies by means of immunization of PrP0/0 mice by means of a new recombinant fragment of PrP and the use of the antibodies, e.g. for therapeutic and preventive treatments of humans and animals suffering from prion diseases.

Abstract: A device for the visual analysis of test strips, each having at least one delimited area in which, after contact with a sample to be examined, a visually detectable signal can be generated, with the device having a positioning device including a seat for at least one test strip or at least one test strip unit consisting of a plurality of test strips combined in a defined spatial arrangement, the device further including an image generating device which graphically records at least one of the delimited areas and transmits the recording result to an image analysis device, with the image analysis device qualitatively and/or quantitatively analyzing the visually detectable signals for each test strip.

Abstract: The presented invention relates to monoclonal antibodies useful in sensitive and specific immunological assays for the identification of prions in various tissues and body fluids, the production of such monoclonal antibodies by means of immunization of PrP0/0 mice by means of a new recombinant fragment of PrP and the use of the antibodies, e.g. for therapeutic and preventive treatments of humans and animals suffering from prion diseases.

Abstract: A test strip for detecting an analyte in liquid or homogenised samples, with a section which may be brought into contact with the sample and with at least one first defined region on the test strip in which detection reagents are immobilised which bind the prion protein. A device is also provided that permits simultaneous testing of several samples in sample containers, provided in a group with a defined geometrical arrangement. The device includes a holder in which several test strips are fixed in an arrangement corresponding to the defined geometrical arrangement of the sample containers, such that the lower section thereof may be introduced into each of the sample containers.

Abstract: The presented invention relates to monoclonal antibodies useful in sensitive and specific immunological assays for the identification of prions in various tissues and body fluids, the production of such monoclonal antibodies by means of immunization of PrP0/0 mice by means of a new recombinant fragment of PrP and the use of the antibodies, e.g. for therapeutic and preventive treatments of humans and animals suffering from prion diseases.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for testing samples containing prion protein for the possible presence of the PrPSc form, according to which: (Step a) the sample is mixed with protease in order to digest protease-sensitive proteins or protein regions; (Step b) after digestion, it is tested whether the sample contains the region PrP 27-30 of the prion protein, which is resistant in the PrPSc form of the prion protein protease, and the presence of PrPSc in the sample is established based on the positive detection of PrP 27-30. The inventive method is characterized in that, during Step b, the sample is additionally tested in order to determine whether a complete digestion of the protease-sensitive region of the prion protein has occurred.

Abstract: This document describes an optical sensor unit and a procedure for the specific detection and identification of biomolecules at high sensitivity in real fluids and tissue homogenates. High detection limits are reached by the combination of i) label-free integrated optical detection of molecular interactions, ii) the use of specific bioconstituents for sensitive detection and iii) planar optical transducer surfaces appropriately engineered for suppression of non-specific binding, internal referencing and calibration. Applications include the detection of prion proteins and identification of those biomolecules which non-covalently interact with surface immobilized prion proteins and are intrinsically involved in the cause of prion related disease.