Abstract: A system for performing biological reactions is provided. The system includes a chip including a substrate and a plurality of reaction sites. The plurality of reaction sites are each configured to include a liquid sample of at most one nanoliter. Further, the system includes a control system configured to initiate biological reactions within the liquid samples. The system further includes a detection system configured to detect biological reactions on the chip. According to various embodiments, the chip includes at least 20000 reaction sites. In other embodiments, the chip includes at least 30000 reaction sites.

Abstract: A cerebral vessel access device having a base tube comprising an inner lumen, a shapeable element disposed to one side of the base tube, and an outer jacket covering the base tube and a portion of the shapable element. The shapable element can be configured to deflect from an axis line causing the base tube and outer jacket to deflect along with the shapable element.

Abstract: A biological analysis system is provided. The system comprises an interchangeable assembly configured to accommodate any one of a plurality of sample holders, each respective sample holder configured to receive a plurality of samples. The system also includes a control system configured to cycle the plurality of samples through a series of temperatures. The system further includes an optical system configured to detect fluorescent signals emitted from the plurality of samples. The optical system, in particular, can comprise a single field lens, an excitation source, an optical sensor, and a plurality of filter components. The excitation source can be one or more light emitting diodes. The field lends can be a bi-convex lens.

Abstract: The invention provides peptides derived from a ubiquitous protein, and nucleic acids encoding such peptides. The invention extends to various uses of these peptides and nucleic acids, for example, as antigens for use in vaccines per se and in the generation of antibodies for use in therapeutic drugs for the prevention, amelioration or treatment of infections caused by sepsis-inducing bacteria. The invention particularly benefits immunocompromised hosts such as neonates, babies, children, women of fertile age, pregnant women, foetuses, the elderly and diabetics.

Abstract: The invention provides peptides derived from a ubiquitous protein, and nucleic acids encoding such peptides. The invention extends to various uses of these peptides and nucleic acids, for example, as antigens for use in vaccines per se and in the generation of antibodies for use in therapeutic drugs for the prevention, amelioration or treatment of infections caused by sepsis-inducing bacteria. The invention particularly benefits immunocompromised hosts such as neonates, babies, children, women of fertile age, pregnant women, foetuses, the elderly and diabetics.

Abstract: A system for processing a plurality of biological samples contains a support and a temperature controller. The suppose is configured to hold a case that includes an inner chamber and a substrate located within the inner chamber, the substrate containing a plurality of isolated reaction sites containing one or more biological samples. The temperature controller is configured to maintain or control a temperature of at least one of the support, the case, or the one or more biological samples during an assay or reaction on the one or more biological samples. The support is also configured to maintain at least one of the surfaces of substrate at a positive angle relative to a horizontal plane during the assay or reaction.

Abstract: A system for preparing biological sample contains a body including a proximal side and a distal side, a plurality of mandrels, a plurality of resilient elements, a plurality of fluid dispensers, and one or more samples. The mandrels are moveably positioned within the body, where each resilient element engages a respective one of the mandrels. Each of the fluid dispensers is configured to engage a distal end of a corresponding one of the mandrels. Each sample comprises a solution containing one or more nucleic acid sequences contained within at least one of the fluid dispensers.

Abstract: Various methods are disclosed for amplifying nucleic acid sequences in a nucleic acid sample. The methods involve forming at least five amplification reaction mixes each including an aliquot from a sample source that includes nucleic acid sequences, using at least five different assays each including a pair of amplification primers, the assays selected from the group of assays in Table 1 and/or targeting the sequences specified in Table 1.

Abstract: A system for performing biological reactions is provided. The system includes a chip including a substrate and a plurality of reaction sites. The plurality of reaction sites are each configured to include a liquid sample of at most one nanoliter. Further, the system includes a control system configured to initiate biological reactions within the liquid samples. The system further includes a detection system configured to detect biological reactions on the chip. According to various embodiments, the chip includes at least 20000 reaction sites. In other embodiments, the chip includes at least 30000 reaction sites.

Abstract: A biological analysis system is provided. The system comprises an interchangeable assembly configured to accommodate any one of a plurality of sample holders, each respective sample holder configured to receive a plurality of samples. The system also includes a control system configured to cycle the plurality of samples through a series of temperatures. The system further includes an optical system configured to detect fluorescent signals emitted from the plurality of samples. The optical system, in particular, can comprise a single field lens, an excitation source, an optical sensor, and a plurality of filter components. The excitation source can be one or more light emitting diodes. The field lends can be a bi-convex lens.

Abstract: A system for processing a plurality of biological samples contains a support and a temperature controller. The suppose is configured to hold a case that includes an inner chamber and a substrate located within the inner chamber, the substrate containing a plurality of isolated reaction sites containing one or more biological samples. The temperature controller is configured to maintain or control a temperature of at least one of the support, the case, or the one or more biological samples during an assay or reaction on the one or more biological samples. The support is also configured to maintain at least one of the surfaces of substrate at a positive angle relative to a horizontal plane during the assay or reaction.

Abstract: A system for processing a plurality of biological samples contains a support and a temperature controller. The support is configured to hold a case that includes an inner chamber and a substrate located within the inner chamber, the substrate containing a plurality of isolated reaction sites containing one or more biological samples. The temperature controller is configured to maintain or control a temperature of at least one of the support, the case, or the one or more biological samples during an assay or reaction on the one or more biological samples. The support is also configured to maintain at least one of the surfaces of substrate at a positive angle relative to a horizontal plane during the assay or reaction.

Abstract: The invention provides peptides derived from a ubiquitous protein, and nucleic acids encoding such peptides. The invention extends to various uses of these peptides and nucleic acids, for example, as antigens for use in vaccines per se and in the generation of antibodies for use in therapeutic drugs for the prevention, amelioration or treatment of infections caused by sepsis-inducing bacteria. The invention particularly benefits immunocompromised hosts such as neonates, babies, children, women of fertile age, pregnant women, foetuses, the elderly and diabetics.

Abstract: A system for preparing biological sample contains a body including a proximal side and a distal side, a plurality of mandrels, a plurality of resilient elements, a plurality of fluid dispensers, and one or more samples. The mandrels are moveably positioned within the body, where each resilient element engages a respective one of the mandrels. Each of the fluid dispensers is configured to engage a distal end of a corresponding one of the mandrels. Each sample comprises a solution containing one or more nucleic acid sequences contained within at least one of the fluid dispensers.

Abstract: A system for preparing biological sample contains a body including a proximal side and a distal side, a plurality of mandrels, a plurality of resilient elements, a plurality of fluid dispensers, and one or more samples. The mandrels are moveably positioned within the body, where each resilient element engages a respective one of the mandrels. Each of the fluid dispensers is configured to engage a distal end of a corresponding one of the mandrels. Each sample comprises a solution containing one or more nucleic acid sequences contained within at least one of the fluid dispensers.

Abstract: A system for processing a plurality of biological samples contains a support and a temperature controller. The support is configured to hold a case that includes an inner chamber and a substrate located within the inner chamber, the substrate containing a plurality of isolated reaction sites containing one or more biological samples. The temperature controller is configured to maintain or control a temperature of at least one of the support, the case, or the one or more biological samples during an assay or reaction on the one or more biological samples. The support is also configured to maintain at least one of the surfaces of substrate at a positive angle relative to a horizontal plane during the assay or reaction.

Abstract: A case for containing biological samples includes a base, a substrate, and a cover. The substrate includes a plurality of reaction regions disposed along a surface of the substrate and configured to receive one or more biological samples. The cover includes a downward facing surface, is configured to be attached to the base to provide a cavity containing the substrate, and is configured so that the downward facing surface of the cover is parallel or approximately parallel to the substrate surface. The cover may comprise a fill port disposed along the inner surface and is configured for at least partially filling the cavity when the cover is attached to the base. The base may comprise a plurality of tabs located on an upward facing surface thereof, wherein the substrate is attached to the base by physical contact between at least some of the tabs and the substrate.

Abstract: A system for performing biological reactions is provided. The system includes a chip including a substrate and a plurality of reaction sites. The plurality of reaction sites are each configured to include a liquid sample of at most one nanoliter. Further, the system includes a control system configured to initiate biological reactions within the liquid samples. The system further includes a detection system configured to detect biological reactions on the chip. According to various embodiments, the chip includes at least 20000 reaction sites. In other embodiments, the chip includes at least 30000 reaction sites.

Abstract: An article for holding a plurality of biological samples includes a substrate a substrate comprising a first surface and an opposing second surface and a plurality of reaction sites in the substrate. Each of the reaction sites extends from an opening in the first surface to an opening in the second surface. The reaction sites comprise a hexagonal shape and are configured to provide sufficient surface tension by capillary action to hold respective biological samples. The reaction sites have a density over at least a portion of the surfaces that is at least 170 holes per square millimeter. At least one of the surfaces may have a surface roughness characterized by an arithmetic average roughness (Ra) that is less than or equal to 5 nanometers.