Abstract: The present invention shows that the measurement of the inhibitory activity of a subject's RBCs-RI (Red Blood Cells cytosolic ribonucleic inhibitors) on the blood/serum RNases is a novel way of differentiating healthy from septic blood and represents a valid biomarker with great clinical potential. In particular, the effect of lysing the erythrocytes of a blood biological sample and the subsequent release of the cytosolic ribonuclease inhibitors (RI), in particular the Blood ERythrocyte-derived RNase Inhibitors (BERRI), provides for a significant decrease in RNase activity in control or uninfected samples, while little effect is observed in septic samples, showing that the reduction of nuclease activity in the control or uninfected samples is due to the specific inhibition, by the BERRI, of the blood/serum RNases, in particular of the RNase A type endonuclease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rapid detection of microbial-associated nuclease activity with chemically modified nuclease (e.g., endonuclease) substrates, and probes and compositions useful in detection assays.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rapid detection of microbial-associated nuclease activity with chemically modified nuclease (e.g., endonuclease) substrates, and probes and compositions useful in detection assays.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rapid detection of microbial-associated nuclease activity with chemically modified nuclease (e.g., endonuclease) substrates, and probes and compositions useful in detection assays.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rapid detection of microbial-associated nuclease activity with chemically modified nuclease (e.g., ribonuclease) substrates, and probes and compositions useful in detection assays.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rapid detection of microbial-associated nuclease activity with chemically modified nuclease (e.g., endonuclease) substrates, and probes and compositions useful in detection assays.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of diagnostics and, more in particular, to MRI activatable contrast agents and compositions thereof for the detection of nuclease activity, wherein said nuclease activity is caused by microbial infection or by nuclease activity related to cancer, particularly colon cancer or pancreatic cancer. Activatable contrast agents for MRI have been developed, wherein the oligonucleotide is flanked by a paramagnetic and a superparamagnetic agent, and thus providing magnetic quenching. Moreover, the oligonucleotide has regions that confer resistance to mammalian endonucleases and sensitivity to microbial endonucleases. When the activatable contrast agent of the invention is in the presence of microbial nuclease activity or a tumour cell nuclease activity, the oligonucleotide is cleaved, agents are unquenched, and the signal derived from the activated contrast agent is detected by MRI.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rapid detection of microbial-associated nuclease activity with chemically modified nuclease (e.g., ribonuclease) substrates, and probes and compositions useful in detection assays.

Abstract: This invention defines gated silica nanoparticles into which chemical cargo materials or substances are embedded and of which surfaces are coated with biologically active gating molecules and apparatus employing such silica nanoparticles. The invention and the apparatus employing the invention have the potential to be used in diverse fields such as health, food and textiles. Furthermore, the applicability of the invention and the apparatus defined in this document is not limited to the above fields and can be extended to many other sectors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rapid detection of microbial-associated nuclease activity with chemically modified nuclease (e.g., ribonuclease) substrates, and probes and compositions useful in detection assays. Accordingly, in certain embodiments, the present invention provides a probe for detecting a microbial endonuclease comprising a substrate oligonucleotide of 2-30 nucleotides in length, a fluorescence-reporter group operably linked to the oligonucleotide, and a fluorescence-quencher group operably linked to the oligonucleotide. The fluorescence-reporter group and the fluorescence-quencher group are separated by at least one RNAse-cleavable residue, e.g., RNA base.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rapid detection of microbial-associated nuclease activity with chemically modified nuclease (e.g., endonuclease) substrates, and probes and compositions useful in detection assays.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for performing single step assays for the determination of the presence or absence of an analyte in a liquid sample, on a solid surface. The method disclosed, comprise an aptamer coated and signal molecule loaded porous silica particles immobilized on a porous solid material. Specific interaction of the analyte with the aptamers coated on the silica beads, cause release of the signal molecules which result in a detectable signal on the solid support. Also provided are assay devices for the detection platform.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rapid detection of microbial-associated nuclease activity with chemically modified nuclease (e.g., ribonuclease) substrates, and probes and compositions useful in detection assays. Accordingly, in certain embodiments, the present invention provides a probe for detecting a microbial endonuclease comprising a substrate oligonucleotide of 2-30 nucleotides in length, a fluorescence-reporter group operably linked to the oligonucleotide, and a fluorescence-quencher group operably linked to the oligonucleotide. The fluorescence-reporter group and the fluorescence-quencher group are separated by at least one RNAse-cleavable residue, e.g., RNA base.