Abstract: The present invention provides a method of detecting Staphylococcus aureus in a subject, by contacting a sample obtained from the subject with at least one detectably labeled probe of the invention or detecting in the sample identity to a sequence of the invention. The invention is also directed to kits, microarrays and detectable Staphylococcus aureus polynucleotide probes useful in detecting the presence of Staphylococcus aureus.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of maturing a peptide library and of identifying peptides having increased specific binding to a target molecule and/or differential specific binding to target molecules. The present invention also provide methods of developing diagnostic assays, detection kits and therapeutic agents with the peptides.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of detecting Staphylococcus aureus in a subject, by contacting a sample obtained from the subject with at least one detectably labeled probe of the invention or detecting in the sample identity to a sequence of the invention. The invention is also directed to kits, microarrays and detectable Staphylococcus aureus polynucleotide probes useful in detecting the presence of Staphylococcus aureus.

Abstract: An Amplicon Sequencing Analysis Pipeline (ASAP) system (120, 600) characterizes a genetic sample. The ASAP system (120, 600) receives assay configuration data individually associating reference sequences and genetic characteristics. The ASAP system (120, 600) processes amplicon sequencing data and the reference sequences to characterize the genetic sample based on the individual associations between the reference sequences and the genetic characteristics in the assay configuration data. The ASAP (120, 600) system transfers genetic data indicating the genetic characteristics for the genetic sample and indicating interpretation metrics for amplicon sequencing read depth and quality related to the genetic characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method of detecting and characterizing one or more Borrelia species causing Lyme Disease or tick-borne relapsing fever within a sample from a subject, the method comprising: a) subjecting DNA and/or RNA from the sample to a PCR amplification reaction using primer pairs targeting at least one region of Borrelia 16S rRNA and at least one region of flaB, ospA, ospB, ospC, glpQ, 16S-23S intergenic spacer (IGS1), 5S-23S intergenic spacer (IGS2), bbk32, dbpA, dbpB, and/or p66; and b) analyzing amplification products resulting from the PCR amplification reaction to detect the one or more Borrelia species.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods of treating an infection using a pharmaceutical composition comprising an active ingredient selected from Table 1. In some aspects, the infection can be caused by one or more pathogens, including fungal pathogens. For example, the infection may be Valley Fever.

Abstract: An Amplicon Sequencing Analysis Pipeline (ASAP) system (120, 600) characterizes a genetic sample. The ASAP system (120, 600) receives assay configuration data individually associating reference sequences and genetic characteristics. The ASAP system (120, 600) processes amplicon sequencing data and the reference sequences to characterize the genetic sample based on the individual associations between the reference sequences and the genetic characteristics in the assay configuration data. The ASAP (120, 600) system transfers genetic data indicating the genetic characteristics for the genetic sample and indicating interpretation metrics for amplicon sequencing read depth and quality related to the genetic characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of detecting one or more Klebsiella species within a sample from a subject, the method comprising: subjecting DNA and/or RNA from the sample to a PCR amplification reaction using primer pairs targeting species-specific canonical single nucleotide polymorphisms (canSNPs); and analyzing amplification products resulting from the PCR amplification reaction to detect the one or more Klebsiella species. The present invention also provides a kit for detection of one or more Klebsiella species, Klebsiella clonal groups, AMR genes, and/or virulence genes, the kit comprising primer pairs targeting species-specific canSNPs, K. pneumoniae genes M1 and M2, clonal group-specific canSNPs, AMR genes, and/or virulence genes.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of detecting a biothreat agent in a sample, comprising detecting at least one biothreat-specific amplicon in the sample. The methods also encompass confirming the absence of the biothreat agent by detecting Near Neighbor specific amplicons to avoid false positive results.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of detecting one or more Klebsiella species within a sample from a subject, the method comprising: subjecting DNA and/or RNA from the sample to a PCR amplification reaction using primer pairs targeting species-specific canonical single nucleotide polymorphisms (canSNPs); and analyzing amplification products resulting from the PCR amplification reaction to detect the one or more Klebsiella species. The present invention also provides a kit for detection of one or more Klebsiella species, Klebsiella clonal groups, AMR genes, and/or virulence genes, the kit comprising primer pairs targeting species-specific canSNPs, K. pneumoniae genes M1 and M2, clonal group-specific canSNPs, AMR genes, and/or virulence genes.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods of identifying microorganisms and/or diagnosing infections in subjects cause by microorganisms. Embodiments of the invention may also include further characterizing (e.g., determining the presence of one or more antibiotic resistance markers) the microorganisms and determining a strain identity of the microorganisms.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method of detecting one or more strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae. The method may include forming a plurality of mixtures for nucleic amplification. The method can include amplification of specific sequences within the K. pneumonia genome that can provide definitive information to distinguish between one or more types or strains of K. pneumonia.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods of identifying microorganisms and/or diagnosing infections in subjects cause by microorganisms. Embodiments of the invention may also include further characterizing (e.g., determining the presence of one or more antibiotic resistance markers) the microorganisms and determining a strain identity of the microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods of treating an infection using a pharmaceutical composition comprising an active ingredient selected from Table 1. In some aspects, the infection can be caused by one or more pathogens, including fungal pathogens.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method of genotyping a C. gattii sample, which can include forming a plurality of mixtures for nucleic amplification. The method can include amplification of specific sequences within the C. gattii genome that can provide definitive genotype information to distinguish between one or more types or subtypes of C. gattii.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods of treating an infection using a pharmaceutical composition comprising an active ingredient selected from Table 1. In some aspects, the infection can be caused by one or more pathogens, including fungal pathogens. For example, the infection may be Valley Fever.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of detecting Staphylococcus aureus in a subject, by contacting a sample obtained from the subject with at least one detectably labeled probe of the invention or detecting in the sample identity to a sequence of the invention. The invention is also directed to kits, microarrays and detectable Staphylococcus aureus polynucleotide probes useful in detecting the presence of Staphylococcus aureus.

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: 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: Embodiments of the invention provide a method of detecting one or more strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae. The method may include forming a plurality of mixtures for nucleic amplification. The method can include amplification of specific sequences within the K. pneumonia genome that can provide definitive information to distinguish between one or more types or strains of K. pneumonia.