Abstract: Adenomyosis is a highly prevalent yet enigmatic disease that can be diagnosed only via histopathology among women undergoing hysterectomy, thus, leading to underdiagnosis. Unfortunately, research on adenomyosis has been limited due to a variety of challenges, and little work has been done on non-invasive diagnostics for adenomyosis. Currently, there is no FDA-approved non-invasive method for early detection of adenomyosis. By integrating immunoassays and metabolomics analyses, candidate biomarkers for the non-invasive diagnosis of adenomyosis in cervicovaginal lavages have been identified. Thus, methods for non-invasive diagnostic, screening, and early detection of adenomyosis in patients are described herein.

Abstract: Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecologic cancer in developed countries and the fourth most common cancer affecting women in the US. In contrast to other cancers, rates of EC continue to rise, and there are indications that social determinants of health and race and/or ethnicity contribute to risk. Thus, the methods described herein provide a non-invasive means of measuring protein biomarkers in the local cervicovaginal microenvironment. These novel biomarkers may be used for diagnosing and/or predicting women that are “at risk” for the development and progression of endometrial cancer (EC; e.g., EC type 1). Specifically, the methods herein may include obtaining a sample (e.g., CVL, vaginal swabs, or secretions) from a patient and producing a profile of at least five or more protein biomarkers from the collected sample.

Abstract: Non-invasive methods of evaluating a broad range of immune checkpoint biomarkers as well as other characteristics such as disease status, pH, Laciohacillm abundance, inflammation, etc., in the local cervicovaginal microenvironment. The immune checkpoint biomarkers and other characteristics may be used to monitor disease status and responses to therapies, stratify patients into groups of predicted non responders and responders with respect to a particular therapy, predicting whether a patient may have toxicity issues with a particular therapy, etc. The methods herein may also help distinguish between different biological processes, such as cancer and dysplasia.

Abstract: We constructed S. Gallinarum strains deleted for the global regulatory gene fur (FIG. 1) and evaluated their virulence and protective efficacy in Rhode Island Red chicks and Brown Leghorn layers. The fur deletion mutant was a virulent and, when delivered orally to chicks, elicited excellent protection against lethal S. Gallinarum challenge. We also examined the effect of a pmi mutant and a combination of fur deletions with mutations in the pmi and rfaH genes, which affect O-antigen synthesis, and ansB, whose product inhibits host T cell responses. The ?Afur ?pmi and ?fur ?ansB double mutants were attenuated, but not protective when delivered orally to chicks. However, a ?pmi ?fur strain was substantially immunogenic when administrated intramuscularly. Altogether our results show that the fur gene is essential for virulence of S. Gallinarum and the fur mutant is effective as a live recombinant vaccine against fowl typhoid.