Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for the treatment of cancer.

Abstract: An assay method includes providing a luminescent nanocrystal; combining a solution having an adenosine triphosphate molecule; and displaying a light emission by the luminescent nanocrystal and the solution combined.

Abstract: An assay system (300) comprising providing a platform (102) having a contact surface (104); immobilizing an amino acid group (108), having an amine side group (109), on the contact surface (104); transforming the amine side group (109), in the amino acid group (108) to a ketone group (120); and reacting an indicator (122) with the ketone group (120) for displaying a light emission (128) from the indicator (122).

Abstract: Provided herein are imaging methods for detecting, diagnosing and imaging pathogenic bacteria or a pathophysiological condition associated therewith using fluorescent, luminescent or colorimetric detection agents, e.g., fluorogenic substrates for bacterial enzymes, caged luciferins and fluorescent proteins, luciferases and enzymes expressed by recombinant bacteria. Signals emitted by the fluorescent, luminescent or colorimetric detection agents in the presence of the bacteria are compared to controls to detect and locate the pathogenic bacteria. Also provided is a method for screening therapeutic agents to treat the pathophysiological conditions by measuring fluorescence or luminescence emitted from the detection agents in the presence and absence of the potential therapeutic agent. In addition, a method for detecting a pathogenic bacteria via PET or SPECT imaging using a positron-emitting or gamma-emitting substrate for a beta-lactamase or other enzyme or protein of the pathogenic bacteria.

Abstract: An enzyme detection method includes forming a caged substrate; releasing an uncaged substrate by cleaving a caging molecules from the caged substrate; and emitting a light emission from a Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer luminescent nanocrystal conjugate reacting with the uncaged substrate.

Abstract: A bioluminogenic assay system including: providing a bioluminogenic substrate incorporating a beta-lactam antibiotic, a bioluminescence initiating compound, and a chemical linkage joining the beta-lactam antibiotic to the bioluminescence initiating compound; exposing the bioluminogenic substrate to a beta-lactamase enzyme that catalyzes the release of the bioluminescence initiating compound from the bioluminogenic substrate; co-exposing the bioluminogenic substrate to a bioluminescence indicator reaction that employs the bioluminescence initiating compound as a substrate; and detecting a light from the bioluminescence indicator reaction as a measure of the activity of the beta-lactamase enzyme.

Abstract: Generally, aspects of the present disclosure are directed to conjugate systems, self-illuminating quantum dot conjugates, methods of detecting a target in a host, methods of treating a disease in a host, and the like.

Abstract: Fluorescent substrates for beta-lactamases having the general formula shown above are provided. Z includes a fluorophore or chromophore and includes a group that may link to the lactam-containing group; R1 and R2 are independently selected from H, aliphatic, aromatic, alkyl, and acyl; R4 may be H and lower alkyl; B may be H, physiologically acceptable salts or metal, ester groups, ammonium cations, —CHR5OCO(CH2)nCH3, —CHR5OCOC(CH3)3, acylthiomethyl, acyloxy-alpha-benz, deltabutyrolactonyl, methoxycarbonyloxymethyl, phenyl, methylsulphinylmethyl, beta-morpholinoethyl, dialkylaminoethyl, and dialkylaminocarbonyloxymethyl, in which R5 is selected from the group consisting of H and lower alkyl; n is an integer between 0 and 10, inclusive; and A may be S, O, SO, SO2 or CH2. In embodiments, the beta-lactam ring may be cleaved by a beta-lactamase enzyme effective to free a fluorophore.

Abstract: Provided are fluorescent substrates for ?-lactamases having the general formula I: in which R is a benzyl, 2-thienylmethyl, or cyanomethyl group; R? is selected from the group consisting of H, physiologically acceptable salts or metal, ester groups, ammonium cations, —CHR2OCO(CH2)nCH3, —CHR2OCOC(CH3)3, acylthiomethyl, acyloxy-alpha-benzyl, deltabutyrolactonyl, methoxycarbonyloxymethyl, phenyl, methylsulphinylmethyl, ?-morpholinoethyl, dialkylaminoethyl, and dialkylaminocarbonyloxymethyl, in which R2 is selected from the group consisting of H and lower alkyl; A is selected from the group consisting of S, O, SO, SO2 and CH2; and Z is a donor fluorescent moiety. Also provided are methods of use of the compound of general formula I.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for the treatment of cancer.

Abstract: Provided are fluorescent substrates ?-lactamases and methods of using substrates having the general formulas: or in which where R1 is H or A is S, O, SO, SO2 or CH2; X is O; L is a linker; R2 is hydrogen; R3 is hydrogen; R4 is hydrogen; R5 is hydrogen; R6 is hydrogen; R7 is hydrogen; R8 is hydrogen; R9 is in which W is a hydrogen, alkyl, substituted heteroalkyl, aryl, a heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl or a CN; and, S is an integer from 0 to 5; W? and W? are independently hydrogen, alkyl, substituted heteroalkyl, aryl, substituted heteroaryl, (?O) or OR10; wherein R10 is hydrogen, substituted alkyl, heteroalkyl, substituted heteroalkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl; or substituted heteroaryl; and, Y is a dye moiety or a quencher moiety.

Abstract: Provided are fluorescent substrates for ?-lactamases having the general formula I: in which R is a benzyl, 2-thienylmethyl, or cyanomethyl group; R? is selected from the group consisting of H, physiologically acceptable salts or metal, ester groups, ammonium cations, —CHR2OCO(CH2)nCH3, —CHR2OCOC(CH3)3, acylthiomethyl, acyloxy-alpha-benzyl, deltabutyrolactonyl, methoxycarbonyloxymethyl, phenyl, methylsulphinylmethyl, ?-morpholinoethyl, dialkylaminoethyl, and dialkylaminocarbonyloxymethyl, in which R2 is selected from the group consisting of H and lower alkyl; A is selected from the group consisting of S, O, SO, SO2 and CH2; and Z is a donor fluorescent moiety. Also provided are methods of use of the compound of general formula I.

Abstract: Fluorescent substrates for beta-lactamases having the general formula shown above are provided. Z includes a fluorophore or chromophore and includes a group that may link to the lactam-containing group; R1 and R2 are independently selected from H, aliphatic, aromatic, alkyl, and acyl; R4 may be H and lower alkyl; B may be H, physiologically acceptable salts or metal, ester groups, ammonium cations, —CHR5OCO(CH2)nCH3, —CHR5OCOC(CH3)3, acylthiomethyl, acyloxy-alpha-benz, deltabutyrolactonyl, methoxycarbonyloxymethyl, phenyl, methylsulphinylmethyl, beta-morpholinoethyl, dialkylaminoethyl, and dialkylaminocarbonyloxymethyl, in which R5 is selected from the group consisting of H and lower alkyl; n is an integer between 0 and 10, inclusive; and A may be S, O, SO, SO2 or CH2. In embodiments, the beta-lactam ring may be cleaved by a beta-lactamase enzyme effective to free a fluorophore.

Abstract: Provided are fluorescent substrates for &bgr;-lactamases having the general formula I: 1