Abstract: The present invention comprises rugged, inexpensive, reliable, and sensitive laboratory assays of antibody-based viral neutralization activity and antibody-based viral adherence inhibition activity. The assays use inactivated, fluorescently-labeled virus, allowing the tests to be performed without extensive safety precautions. The interaction of the labeled virus with target cells is monitored using flow cytometric methods. A preferred embodiment uses simple and inexpensive flow cytometry methodologies and equipment, such as bead array readers used as simplified flow cytometers. The assays are rapid, taking no longer than a few hours and are readily conducted by a trained technician. The assays are sensitive because they use labeled viruses at low concentrations and determine neutralizing and blocking capacity of sera and antibody at low concentrations. The methods are appropriate for high-throughput screening of large panels of samples.

Abstract: The present invention comprises rugged, inexpensive, reliable, and sensitive laboratory assays of antibody-based viral neutralization activity and antibody-based viral adherence inhibition activity. The assays use inactivated, fluorescently-labeled virus, allowing the tests to be performed without extensive safety precautions. The interaction of the labeled virus with target cells is monitored using flow cytometric methods. A preferred embodiment uses simple and inexpensive flow cytometry methodologies and equipment, such as bead array readers used as simplified flow cytometers. The assays are rapid, taking no longer than a few hours and are readily conducted by a trained technician. The assays are sensitive because they use labeled viruses at low concentrations and determine neutralizing and blocking capacity of sera and antibody at low concentrations. The methods are appropriate for high-throughput screening of large panels of samples.

Abstract: Hemagglutination (HA) and hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) functional assays remain important instruments of analysis of virus-cell interaction and protecting efficacy of virus-specific antibodies and sera. However, they demonstrate limited sensitivity towards many viruses, and require significant volumes of viruses, erythrocytes, sera, and antibodies. The present invention comprises new and significantly more sensitive versions of the HA and HAI assays based on observing agglutination on activated surfaces of specifically opsonized plates and ELISA plates rather than in solution. A version of the new assay that uses ELISA plates additionally allows characterizing the affinity of functional antibodies in the tested sera and fluids, which is not possible in the classical HAI assay. The methods of the present invention can also be used to improve the sensitivity of agglutination methods based on latex beads and to develop agglutination methods using target cells other than erythrocytes.

Abstract: The present invention comprises rugged, inexpensive, reliable, and sensitive laboratory assays of antibody-based viral neutralization activity and antibody-based viral adherence inhibition activity. The assays use inactivated, fluorescently-labeled virus, allowing the tests to be performed without extensive safety precautions. The interaction of the labeled virus with target cells is monitored using flow cytometric methods. A preferred embodiment uses simple and inexpensive flow cytometry methodologies and equipment, such as bead array readers used as simplified flow cytometers. The assays are rapid, taking no longer than a few hours and are readily conducted by a trained technician. The assays are sensitive because they use labeled viruses at low concentrations and determine neutralizing and blocking capacity of sera and antibody at low concentrations. The methods are appropriate for high-throughput screening of large panels of samples.

Abstract: Hemagglutination (HA) and hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) functional assays remain important instruments of analysis of virus-cell interaction and protecting efficacy of virus-specific antibodies and sera. However, they demonstrate limited sensitivity towards many viruses, and require significant volumes of viruses, erythrocytes, sera, and antibodies. The present invention comprises new and significantly more sensitive versions of the HA and HAI assays based on observing agglutination on activated surfaces of specifically opsonized plates and ELISA plates rather than in solution. A version of the new assay that uses ELISA plates additionally allows characterizing the affinity of functional antibodies in the tested sera and fluids, which is not possible in the classical HAI assay. The methods of the present invention can also be used to improve the sensitivity of agglutination methods based on latex beads and to develop agglutination methods using target cells other than erythrocytes.

Abstract: The present invention comprises rugged, inexpensive, reliable, and sensitive laboratory assays of antibody-based viral neutralization activity and antibody-based viral adherence inhibition activity. The assays use inactivated, fluorescently-labeled virus, allowing the tests to be performed without extensive safety precautions. The interaction of the labeled virus with target cells is monitored using flow cytometric methods. A preferred embodiment uses simple and inexpensive flow cytometry methodologies and equipment, such as bead array readers used as simplified flow cytometers. The assays are rapid, taking no longer than a few hours and are readily conducted by a trained technician. The assays are sensitive because they use labeled viruses at low concentrations and determine neutralizing and blocking capacity of sera and antibody at low concentrations. The methods are appropriate for high-throughput screening of large panels of samples.

Abstract: Hemagglutination assays and hemagglutination inhibition assays were introduced in medical and virology practice more than 60 years ago. Since then, these assays have become important tools for measuring concentrations and strengths of viral cultures, the efficacy of the anti-viral immunization, and for studying the neutralizing capacity of virus-specific antibodies. The present invention comprises an improved hemagglutination inhibition assay (HAI), with at least about a 10-fold increase in sensitivity versus the traditional the HAI, to provide more accurate measurements of components in, for example, fluids from the in vitro MIMIC® system when assessing the effects of anti-viral vaccines (e.g., for seasonal influenza).

Abstract: The present invention directs to compositions and methods for modulating immune system. One aspect of the present invention relates to a composition comprising FADD-dependent signaling pathway modulators. Another aspect of the present invention relates to biodegradable microparticles, such as a chitosan microparticle, or PLGA/PEI microparticle, designed to deliver nucleic acids and/or proteins, such as FADD-dependent signaling pathway modulators, to boost different pathways of an immune response. Another aspect of the present invention relates to the method of making biodegradable microparticles. The further aspect of the present invention relates to the use of the chitosan and other polycationic microparticles to deliver FADD-dependent signaling pathway modulators to modulate immune system for the prevention and/or treatment infectious diseases and cancers.

Abstract: An Ormosil composite coating that provides good corrosion and abrasion resistance of the underlying substrate. The Ormosil composite coating of the present invention is entrapped with a plurality of inorganic particles of a size greater than 1 micron to produce a coating of a sufficient, desired thickness. The coating of the present invention, generally includes an ormosil composite including a plurality of entrapped inorganic particles wherein each of the plurality of inorganic particles is at least one (1) micron in its maximum dimension but not greater than 75 microns (however, a maximum dimension of 5 microns is preferred).

Abstract: A process for chemical removal of organically-modified silicate (Ormosil) coatings from aluminum alloy substrates without degradation of the underlying metal. An Ormosil film is treated with a zincate solution. The zincate solution dissolves the Ormosil film and deposits a thin, easily-removed layer of zinc onto the aluminum alloy surface, which prevents base-activated dissolution of the underlying metal. The zinc layer may be removed using dilute phosphoric acid, leaving the surface of the aluminum alloy intact. Consequently, the sol-gel coating may be removed while the integrity of the aluminum alloy substrate is maintained.

Abstract: A process for chemical removal of organically-modified silicate (Ormosil) coatings from aluminum alloy substrates without degradation of the underlying metal. An Ormosil film is treated with a zincate solution. The zincate solution dissolves the Ormosil film and deposits a thin, easily-removed layer of zinc onto the aluminum alloy surface, which prevents base-activated dissolution of the underlying metal. The zinc layer may be removed using dilute phosphoric acid, leaving the surface of the aluminum alloy intact. Consequently, the sol-gel coating may be removed while the integrity of the aluminum alloy substrate is maintained.

Abstract: The invention described herein provides an organic-inorganic multilayer coating system comprising an advanced nanostructured layer-by-layer hybrid coating for the corrosion inhibition of metals. Electrochemically-active corrosion inhibitors are adsorbed onto a layer-by-layer assembled organic-inorganic multilayer coating, preferably used in combination with a topcoat sol-gel barrier layer, to provide enhanced corrosion protection of metal substrates.

Abstract: An Ormosil composite coating that provides good corrosion and abrasion resistance of the underlying substrate. The Ormosil composite coating of the present invention is entrapped with a plurality of inorganic particles of a size greater than 1 micron to produce a coating of a sufficient, desired thickness. The coating of the present invention, generally includes an ormosil composite including a plurality of entrapped inorganic particles wherein each of the plurality of inorganic particles is at least one (1) micron in its maximum dimension but not greater than 75 microns (however, a maximum dimension of 5 microns is preferred).