Abstract: The present invention relates to a convenient, flexible and cost-efficient technology for detection and resistance-profiling of bacteria, enabling effective, evidence-based treatment of infections. The invention provides methods and modular kits for the rapid and direct detection of beta-lactam resistant bacteria in a test sample, and optionally for susceptibility profiling of the bacteria, by directly determining hydrolysis product/s of beta-lactam antibiotic substrates in the tested sample. The invention also provides methods and modular kits for the rapid and direct detection of the presence of multidrug resistant bacteria in a test sample.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rapid method for the characterization and identification of prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells present in a test sample, using an enzyme characterizing a specific strain of cells as a dual marker for cell viability in the presence of a cell inhibitory agent, and as a structural marker for cell identification. The method of the invention is based on change in the enzymatic activity of the enzyme in a tested sample in the presence of different cell inhibitory agents and/or different recognition-agents, preferably, antibodies. The invention further provides kits for rapid characterization and identification of prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells present in a test sample.

Abstract: The invention provides a kit for the detection of antibiotic residues comprising inducible bacterial spores which produce an induced enzyme after germination and induction; a germinant that triggers rapid germination of said spores; an inducer that triggers the production of the specific enzyme of interest; a substrate upon which said enzyme acts; and a detector of the activity of said enzyme on said substrate.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for establishing and for direct comparison of liganded protein profiles of biological samples comprising selectively removing potential permeability barriers by disrupting intact membranes present in the samples treating the samples thereafter so as to eliminate unliganded proteins and analyzing the remaining liganded proteins so as to detect any differences between the samples.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the rapid detection of biotoxic contaants in a test material comprising combining a sample of the test material with activated spores essentially devoid of detectable enzymatic activity, which activity becomes manifest and increases measurably following germination of the spores and with at least one germinant capable of triggering germination of the spores and a substrate which is catalytically convertible to a product by the enzymatic activity, incubating the mixture for a period of less than one hour to accelarate germination of the spores, increase of the enzyme activity, and a catalytic conversion of the substrate, and detecting the formation of the product of the catalytic conversion of the substrate and the enzyme, the level of the product being maximal in the absence of any biotoxic contaminants, and decreasing in direct proportion to the toxicity of contaminants in the test sample.

Abstract: A method, reagent mixture and test kit are provided for testing a urine sample for the presence of bacterial or somatic cells, by reacting a urine sample with a catalase-free alkaline protease enzyme and a detergent compatible therewith, so as to disrupt any such cells present in the sample and release active catalase therefrom. The presence of catalase is detected by the formation of foam upon the addition of H.sub.2 O.sub.2. The reaction of the sample with the protease enzyme and the detergent is conducted in the presence of: (a) a buffer providing for a pH of about 8.5 to about 9; and optionally (b) one or more additional solutes; the total concentration of components (a) and (b), when present, being from about 0.02M to about 0.4M.

Abstract: A device for solid phase bacteriological testing is provided having an abbent solid support surface for bacterial culture subdivided into a multiplicity of individual adjacent test areas with lines of an antibacterial composition. The lines may intersect to form a grid may be parallel to form parallel channels, and may be on a sheet of bibulous cellulose which can be impregnated with a bacterial culture. The composition is preferably water-soluble and in the form of an ink containing an aniline dye such as Brilliant Green that is inhibitory to bacteria. The support surface can include a bacterial growth medium or may be supported on a solidifying bacterial growth medium, and the medium may contain agar-agar.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for testing for the presence of catalase in a milk sample comprising combining a milk sample with a substantially catalase-free alkaline protease enzyme enriched detergent to disrupt catalase containing somatic cells present therein and release active catalase therefrom in the present of a pH buffering salt having a concentration of at least 20 mM in the resulting sample solution and providing the solution with a pH in a range of about 7.0-8.0 and thereafter testing the sample for the presence of catalase, as well as providing a test kit for detecting the presence of catalase in milk comprising a substantially catalase-free alkaline protease enzyme enriched detergent and 20 to 400 micromoles of a pH buffer alone or in combination with any other solute capable of reducing the solubility of oxygen in milk and of providing the resulting milk solution with a pH in the range of about 7.0-8.0.

Abstract: The presence of .beta.-lactam antibiotics in test material such as food, infusions, vaccines, blood for transfusion, body fluids, etc. may be determined by:seeding a nutrient medium with a .beta.-lactamase generating bacterium or spores thereof;applying a sample of said test material to a site on the so-called nutrient medium;then incubating the medium under conditions inducive to the generation of .beta.-lactamase by said bacteria; andassaying the .beta.-lactamase thus produced.