Abstract: Aggregating proteins such as IgG, are bound selectively in the presence of the non-aggregated protein using a polyionic binding agent such as dextran sulphate or pentosan (anionic), or polyamine compounds such as pDADMAC (cationic) under selective binding conditions including the use of n-lauroylsarcosine at mildly alkaline pH, and may then be assayed.

Abstract: Micro-organisms, including fungi, viruses and bacteria such as Mycobacteria and/or fragments of micro-organisms such as cell wall components present in an aqueous liquid are captured to a solid surface by adding to the liquid a sufficient quantity of a water soluble polymer in the presence of the solid surface to displace the micro-organisms and/or fragments from the liquid to the solid surface. The surface may be provided by a bead. The water soluble polymer may be polyethyleneglycol or polyvinylpyrrolidone.

Abstract: Micro-organisms, including fungi, viruses and bacteria such as Mycobacteria and/or fragments of micro-organisms such as cell wall components present in an aqueous liquid are captured to a solid surface by adding to the liquid a sufficient quantity of a water soluble polymer in the presence of the solid surface to displace the micro-organisms and/or fragments from the liquid to the solid surface. The surface may be provided by a bead. The water soluble polymer may be polyethyleneglycol or polyvinylpyrrolidone.

Abstract: A process for the selective binding of an aggregating abnormal form of a protein in the presence of the nonaggregating normal form of the protein, including contacting under selective binding conditions a material containing both the abnormal and normal forms with a binding agent which is a polyionic material having a binding avidity for the aggregating form of the protein as present in the sample.

Abstract: A method of treatment for the prevention or therapy of a protein aggregation disease includes the administration in combination of a first active medicament and a second active medicament, wherein the first active medicament is active to impede aggregation of amyloid protein and the second active medicament is active to disaggregate previously formed aggregates of amyloid protein.

Abstract: Aggregating proteins such as IgG, are bound selectively in the presence of the non-aggregated protein using a polyionic binding agent such as dextran sulphate or pentosan (anionic), or polyamine compounds such as pDADMAC (cationic) under selective binding conditions including the use of n-lauroylsarcosine at mildly alkaline pH, and may then be assayed.

Abstract: A method for the capture from a sample of micro-organisms having a hydrophobic surface, which method includes contacting the micro-organisms with a capture reagent, which capture reagent has both a hydrophobic character whereby the capture reagent binds the micro-organisms by hydrophobic interaction therewith and a polar character, the capture reagent either being present on a surface and capturing the micro-organisms thereto, or being present in solution, the method then further including capturing the micro-organisms to a surface by binding the capture reagent to the surface by polar interaction between the surface and the capture reagent.

Abstract: A method of treatment for the prevention or therapy of a protein aggregation disease includes the administration in combination of a first active medicament and a second active medicament, wherein the first active medicament is active to impede aggregation of amyloid protein and the second active medicament is active to disaggregate previously formed aggregates of amyloid protein.

Abstract: A method for detecting aggregation or polymerization of molecules in a sample, which method comprises the steps of: a) exposing a sample containing the molecules to at least two labelling moieties which will bind to only a single mutually exclusive site on each of the said molecules; and b) determining whether multiply-bound labelling moieties are present. The method is particularly of use in differentiating pathogenic aggregated protein molecules from non-pathogenic, non-aggregated protein molecules.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting a target material in a sample, which method comprises the steps of: a) exposing a sample, expected to contain that target material, to at least two viruses which are capable of binding directly or indirectly with that target material so as to form a virally bound target material and to endow the virally bound target material with a distinctive property; and b) cultivating the product from stage a in the presence of an indicator material to which the viruses carried by the virally bound target material attach so as to cause the indicator material to adopt the distinctive property of the virally bound target material; and c) monitoring the presence or otherwise of virally attached indicator material. The invention also provides a kit for use in the method of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for enhancing the time of response of an assay for a first bacterium, wherein: a) the first bacterium is exposed to infection by phage particles to which the first bacterium is permissive; b) the infected bacterium is treated to inactivate exogenous phage particles; c) the treated bacterium is cultivated in the presence of a second bacterium which is permissive to infection by the phage or its replicand and which has a doubling rate greater than the effective doubling rate of the first bacterium; and d) assessing the extent of plaque formation and/or of second bacterium growth in the cultivated second bacterium cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for enhancing the time of response of an assay for a first bacterium, wherein: a) the first bacterium is exposed to infection by phage particles to which the first bacterium is permissive; b) the infected bacterium is treated to inactivate exogenous phage particles; c) the treated bacterium is cultivated in the presence of a second bacterium which is permissive to infection by the phage or its replicand and which has a doubling rate greater than the effective doubling rate of the first bacterium; and d) assessing the extent of plaque formation and/or of second bacterium growth in the cultivated second bacterium cells.