Abstract: Methods for the production of lipids and biofuels with a culture of Candidatus Microthrix spp. grown on a medium such as wastewater or sewage sludge are provided. The Candidatus Microthrix spp. may be cultured with additional microorganisms that contribute to the accumulation of lipids from the growth medium such as Zoog!oea spp., Rhizobacter spp., Blautia spp., Hydrolatea spp., ODI genera incertae sedis. Further discloses are transformed organisms comprising genes isolated from Candidatus Microthrix parvicella, as well as methods and processes for producing lipids, fatty acids, or biofuels in vitro using the protein products of the isolated genes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of detecting a heteroresistant population of a pathogen in a sample, the method comprising: a) providing a sample comprising a population of a pathogen; b) extracting nucleic acids from the sample; c) amplifying a target locus of the genome of the pathogen in the extracted nucleic acids, wherein the target locus comprises at least one minor variant associated with drug resistance in the pathogen; d) consecutively sequencing both overlapping nucleic acid strands from a single DNA molecule amplified from the target locus on a Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) platform; e) applying an alignment algorithm to sequencing data from the overlapping nucleic acid strands; and f) performing an analysis of the aligned sequencing data to detect the at least one minor variant and heteroresistant population of the pathogen.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention include a method of preparing a sample for sequencing that includes receiving a sample and amplifying at least one marker within the sample. In some embodiments, amplification of the first marker may include mixing the sample with a first oligonucleotide that comprises a first universal tail sequence and a second oligonucleotide that comprises a second universal tail sequence. In some aspects of the invention, the first universal tail sequence and the second universal tail sequence are different sequences.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of detecting a heteroresistant population of a pathogen in a sample, the method comprising: a) providing a sample comprising a population of a pathogen; b) extracting nucleic acids from the sample; c) amplifying a target locus of the genome of the pathogen in the extracted nucleic acids, wherein the target locus comprises at least one minor variant associated with drug resistance in the pathogen; d) consecutively sequencing both overlapping nucleic acid strands from a single DNA molecule amplified from the target locus on a Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) platform; e) applying an alignment algorithm to sequencing data from the overlapping nucleic acid strands; and f) performing an analysis of the aligned sequencing data to detect the at least one minor variant and heteroresistant population of the pathogen.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention include a method of preparing a sample for sequencing that includes receiving a sample and amplifying at least one marker within the sample. In some embodiments, amplification of the first marker may include mixing the sample with a first oligonucleotide that comprises a first universal tail sequence and a second oligonucleotide that comprises a second universal tail sequence. In some aspects of the invention, the first universal tail sequence and the second universal tail sequence are different sequences.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and kits that may be used to detect and quantify the presence of Coccidioides species. The methods include quantification real-time PCR assays, and the kits and compositions include oligonucleotides used as primers and probes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of detecting a heteroresistant population of a pathogen in a sample, the method comprising: a) providing a sample comprising a population of a pathogen; b) extracting nucleic acids from the sample; c) amplifying a target locus of the genome of the pathogen in the extracted nucleic acids, wherein the target locus comprises at least one minor variant associated with drug resistance in the pathogen; d) consecutively sequencing both overlapping nucleic acid strands from a single DNA molecule amplified from the target locus on a Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) platform; e) applying an alignment algorithm to sequencing data from the overlapping nucleic acid strands; and f) performing an analysis of the aligned sequencing data to detect the at least one minor variant and heteroresistant population of the pathogen.

Abstract: Methods for the production of lipids and biofuels with a culture of Candidatus Microthrix spp. grown on a medium such as wastewater or sewage sludge are provided. The Candidatus Microthrix spp. may be cultured with additional microorganisms that contribute to the accumulation of lipids from the growth medium such as Zoog!oea spp., Rhizobacter spp., Blautia spp., Hydrolatea spp., ODI genera incertae sedis. Further discloses are transformed organisms comprising genes isolated from Candidatus Microthrix parvicella, as well as methods and processes for producing lipids, fatty acids, or biofuels in vitro using the protein products of the isolated genes.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, assay kits, signature primers, and probes for detecting the presence of Burkholderia pseudomallei and/or Burkholderia mallei in a sample using real-time reverse-transcriptase PCR.

Abstract: MLVA methods for strain discrimination among Mycobacterium tuberculosum strains are disclosed. Nine VNTR loci have been identified from genomic sequences of Mycobacterium tuberculosum strains and primer pairs suitable for amplifying the VNTR by PCR are disclosed. Polymorphisms at these loci were used to resolve genotypes into distinct groups. This sub-typing scheme is useful for the epidemiological study of Mycobacterium tuberculosum and may be applied to the local detection of the pathological causative agent of tuberculosum.

Abstract: MLVA methods for strain discrimination among Mycobacterium tuberculosum strains are disclosed. Nine VNTR loci have been identified from genomic sequences of Mycobacterium tuberculosum strains and primer pairs suitable for amplifying the VNTR by PCR are disclosed. Polymorphisms at these loci were used to resolve genotypes into distinct groups. This sub-typing scheme is useful for the epidemiological study of Mycobacterium tuberculosum and may be applied to the local detection of the pathological causative agent of tuberculosum.

Abstract: MLVA methods for strain discrimination among Mycobacterium tuberculosum strains are disclosed. Nine VNTR loci have been identified from genomic sequences of Mycobacterium tuberculosum strains and primer pairs suitable for amplifying the VNTR by PCR are disclosed. Polymorphisms at these loci were used to resolve genotypes into distinct groups. This sub-typing scheme is useful for the epidemiological study of Mycobacterium tuberculosum and may be applied to the local detection of the pathological causative agent of tuberculosum.