Abstract: The subject invention pertains to an assay and a method for diagnosing, identifying and/or differentiating microorganisms, and in particular bacteria such as Mycobacterium spp. within biological samples. The present invention also relates to assays, gene arrays, probes and primers, nucleic acids and methods for detecting microorganisms in a sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for reducing the risk of bacterial infection or sepsis in a susceptible patient by treating the susceptible patient with a pharmaceutical composition containing bacteriophage of one or more strains which produce lytic infections in pathogenic bacteria. Preferably, treatment of the patient reduces the level of colonization with pathogenic bacteria susceptible to the bacteriophage by at least one log. In a typical embodiment, the susceptible patient is an immunocompromised patient selected from the group consisting of leukemia patients, lymphoma patients, carcinoma patients, sarcoma patients, allogeneic transplant patients, congenital or acquired immunodeficiency patients, cystic fibrosis patients, and AIDS patients. In a preferred mode, the patients treated by this method are colonized with the pathogenic bacteria subject to infection by said bacteriophage.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for reducing the risk of bacterial infection or sepsis in a susceptible patient by treating the susceptible patient with a pharmaceutical composition containing bacteriophage of one or more strains which produce lytic infections in pathogenic bacteria. Preferably, treatment of the patient reduces the level of colonization with pathogenic bacteria susceptible to the bacteriophage by at least one log. In a typical embodiment, the susceptible patient is an immunocompromised patient selected from the group consisting of leukemia patients, lymphoma patients, carcinoma patients, sarcoma patients, allogeneic transplant patients, congenital or acquired immunodeficiency patients, cystic fibrosis patients, and AIDS patients. In a preferred mode, the patients treated by this method are colonized with the pathogenic bacteria subject to infection by said bacteriophage.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for reducing the risk of bacterial infection or sepsis in a susceptible patient by treating the susceptible patient with a pharmaceutical composition containing bacteriophage of one or more strains which produce lytic infections in pathogenic bacteria. Preferably, treatment of the patient reduces the level of colonization with pathogenic bacteria susceptible to the bacteriophage by at least one log. In a typical embodiment, the susceptible patient is an immunocompromised patient selected from the group consisting of leukemia patients, lymphoma patients, carcinoma patients, sarcoma patients, allogeneic transplant patients, congenital or acquired immunodeficiency patients, cystic fibrosis patients, and AIDS patients. In a preferred mode, the patients treated by this method are colonized with the pathogenic bacteria subject to infection by said bacteriophage.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for reducing the risk of bacterial infection or sepsis in a susceptible patient by treating the susceptible patient with a pharmaceutical composition containing bacteriophage of one or more strains which produce lytic infections in pathogenic bacteria. Preferably, treatment of the patient reduces the level of colonization with pathogenic bacteria susceptible to the bacteriophage by at least one log. In a typical embodiment, the susceptible patient is an immunocompromised patient selected from the group consisting of leukemia patients, lymphoma patients, carcinoma patients, sarcoma patients, allogeneic transplant patients, congenital or acquired immunodeficiency patients, cystic fibrosis patients, and AIDS patients. In a preferred mode, the patients treated by this method are colonized with the pathogenic bacteria subject to infection by said bacteriophage.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for reducing the risk of bacterial infection or sepsis in a susceptible patient by treating the susceptible patient with a pharmaceutical composition containing bacteriophage of one or more strains which produce lytic infections in pathogenic bacteria. Preferably, treatment of the patient reduces the level of colonization with pathogenic bacteria susceptible to the bacteriophage by at least one log. In a typical embodiment, the susceptible patient is an immunocompromised patient selected from the group consisting of leukemia patients, lymphoma patients, carcinoma patients, sarcoma patients, allogeneic transplant patients, congenital or acquired immunodeficiency patients, cystic fibrosis patients, and AIDS patients. In a preferred mode, the patients treated by this method are colonized with the pathogenic bacteria subject to infection by said bacteriophage.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for reducing the risk of bacterial infection or sepsis in a susceptible patient by treating the susceptible patient with a pharmaceutical composition containing bacteriophage of one or more strains which produce lytic infections in pathogenic bacteria. Preferably, treatment of the patient reduces the level of colonization with pathogenic bacteria susceptible to the bacteriophage by at least one log. In a typical embodiment, the susceptible patient is an immunocompromised patient selected from the group consisting of leukemia patients, lymphoma patients, carcinoma patients, sarcoma patients, allogeneic transplant patients, congenital or acquired immunodeficiency patients, cystic fibrosis patients, and AIDS patients. In a preferred mode, the patients treated by this method are colonized with the pathogenic bacteria subject to infection by said bacteriophage.

Abstract: Methods and devices for sanitation using bacteriophage are disclosed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for sanitation using at least one bacteriophage includes the steps of (1) storing the at least one bacteriophage in a container; and (2) applying the at least one bacteriophage to a surface to be sanitized with a dispersing mechanism. According to another embodiment of the present invention, a sanitation device that dispenses at least one bacteriophage includes a container, at least one bacteriophage stored in the container, and a dispersing mechanism that disperses the at least one bacteriophage from the container.

Abstract: Methods and devices for sanitation using bacteriophage are disclosed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for sanitation using at least one bacteriophage includes the steps of (1) storing the at least one bacteriophage in a container; and (2) applying the at least one bacteriophage to a surface to be sanitized with a dispersing mechanism. According to another embodiment of the present invention, a sanitation device that dispenses at least one bacteriophage includes a container, at least one bacteriophage stored in the container, and a dispersing mechanism that disperses the at least one bacteriophage from the container.

Abstract: Methods and devices for sanitation using bacteriophage are disclosed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for sanitation using at least one bacteriophage includes the steps of (1) storing the at least one bacteriophage in a container; and (2) applying the at least one bacteriophage to a surface to be sanitized with a dispersing mechanism. According to another embodiment of the present invention, a sanitation device that dispenses at least one bacteriophage includes a container, at least one bacteriophage stored in the container, and a dispersing mechanism that disperses the at least one bacteriophage from the container.

Abstract: Methods and devices for sanitation using bacteriophage are disclosed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for sanitation using at least one bacteriophage includes the steps of (1) storing the at least one bacteriophage in a container; and (2) applying the at least one bacteriophage to a surface to be sanitized with a dispersing mechanism. According to another embodiment of the present invention, a sanitation device that dispenses at least one bacteriophage includes a container, at least one bacteriophage stored in the container, and a dispersing mechanism that disperses the at least one bacteriophage from the container.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to oligonucleotides used as amplification primers and assay probes for specific and sensitive for virulent strains of V. vulnificus. The target sequence of the probes and primers according to present invention is a capsular polysaccharide (CPS) transport gene (wza) of V. vulnificus. These probes can detect wza DNA or RNA in an unknown sample suspected to have pathogenic strains of V. vulnificus including human, animal, or environmental samples. The invention is also directed to in vitro-expressed protein from the cloned wza for production of polyclonal or monoclonal antibody that is specific for the wza gene product and will detect the V. vulnificus Wza protein in a sample comprising unknown protein.

Abstract: Gastrointestinal tissue injury and infections are treated by orally administering Lactobacilli strains. The Lactobacilli strains prevent neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis tissue injury and necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants. Preterm infants, full-term infants, children and adults as well as animals may be given the Lactobacilli strains. The strains are Lactobacillus salivarius strain ATCC 202196 and Lactobacillus plantarum strain ATCC 202195. Further, the strains may be given individually or as a combination of the two strains. In addition, the strains are useful in treating diarrhea. The Lactobacilli strains normalize and balance bacterial milieu in the gastro-intestinal tract. The Lactobacilli strains may be in lyophilized capsule form. The capsule may be an enteric coated slow-release microcapsule. The Lactobacilli strains may also be administered by means of a naso-gastric tube, especially for preterm infants.

Abstract: Substantially pure capsular polysaccharide obtained from Vibrio cholerae Bengal serogroup-O139, capsular polysaccharide-protein conjugates thereof, and antibodies having binding specificity to said capsular polysaccharide.

Abstract: Nucleic acid probes specific for pathogenic stains of vibrio vulnificus and methods employing the same, comprising nucleic acid hybridization probes specific for the vvh gene of pathogenic strains of vibrio vulnificus.