Abstract: A composition for treating a disease or condition responsive to human growth hormone receptor antagonists, comprising a modified human growth hormone receptor antagonist; and an anti-cancer composition. A method for treating cancer using human growth hormone antagonists, comprising pre-screening a patient by analyzing a tumor biopsy to confirm the presence of cancer and the presence of certain predetermined factors indicative of responsiveness to human growth hormone antagonists; and treating the patient with an effective amount of a composition that includes a modified human growth hormone receptor antagonist and an anti-cancer composition.

Abstract: A composition for treating a disease or condition responsive to human growth hormone receptor antagonists, comprising a modified human growth hormone receptor antagonist; and an anti-cancer composition. A method for treating cancer using human growth hormone antagonists, comprising pre-screening a patient by analyzing a tumor biopsy to confirm the presence of cancer and the presence of certain predetermined factors indicative of responsiveness to human growth hormone antagonists; and treating the patient with an effective amount of a composition that includes a modified human growth hormone receptor antagonist and an anti-cancer composition.

Abstract: Growth hormone receptor antagonists, comprising human growth hormone receptor antagonist G120K, wherein one amino acid of human growth hormone receptor antagonist G120K has been mutated to cysteine or wherein two amino acids of human growth hormone receptor antagonist G120K have been mutated to cysteine, and wherein the one amino acid mutated to cysteine is T142, and wherein the two amino acids mutated to cysteine are T142 and H151; and a polyethylene glycol molecule conjugated to each substituted cysteine in the human growth hormone receptor antagonist G120K mutant. These growth hormone receptor antagonists are useful in treating diseases or conditions, such as cancer and acromegaly, that are responsive to human growth hormone receptor antagonists.

Abstract: A composition for treating a disease or condition responsive to human growth hormone receptor antagonists, comprising a modified human growth hormone receptor antagonist; and an anti-cancer composition. A method for treating cancer using human growth hormone antagonists, comprising pre-screening a patient by analyzing a tumor biopsy to confirm the presence of cancer and the presence of certain predetermined factors indicative of responsiveness to human growth hormone antagonists; and treating the patient with an effective amount of a composition that includes a modified human growth hormone receptor antagonist and an anti-cancer composition.

Abstract: Growth hormone receptor antagonists, comprising human growth hormone receptor antagonist G120K, wherein one amino acid of human growth hormone receptor antagonist G120K has been mutated to cysteine or wherein two amino acids of human growth hormone receptor antagonist G120K have been mutated to cysteine, and wherein the one amino acid mutated to cysteine is T142, and wherein the two amino acids mutated to cysteine are T142 and H151; and a polyethylene glycol molecule conjugated to each substituted cysteine in the human growth hormone receptor antagonist G120K mutant. These growth hormone receptor antagonists are useful in treating diseases or conditions, such as cancer and acromegaly, that are responsive to human growth hormone receptor antagonists.

Abstract: A biosensor system for the detection of target analytes that includes a living biological cell of a predetermined type; a signal-generating reporter associated with the living biological cell; a signal transduction pathway or other activator mechanism or means associated with the signal-generating reporter; a universal detector element associated with the activator mechanism; and an analyte binding element associated with the universal detector element, wherein the analyte binding element is specific to both the universal detector element and a target analyte.

Abstract: A system for use in rapid sample analysis that includes a biosensor reagent, wherein the biosensor reagent includes living biological cells; a reservoir card, wherein the reservoir card stores the biosensor reagent; and a test cartridge base, wherein the test cartridge base is configured to accept the reservoir card, and wherein the test cartridge base further includes a contoured reaction chamber; and an inlet channel connected to and entering the reaction chamber at a predetermined angle thereto.

Abstract: A system for use in rapid sample analysis that includes a biosensor reagent, wherein the biosensor reagent includes living biological cells; a reservoir card, wherein the reservoir card stores the biosensor reagent; and a test cartridge base, wherein the test cartridge base is configured to accept the reservoir card, and wherein the test cartridge base further includes a reaction chamber having a central axis, wherein the reaction chamber has the shape of a revolved half ellipse; and an inlet channel connected to the reaction chamber, wherein the inlet channel is positioned above the reaction chamber at an angle of 15-60 degrees above the horizontal, and wherein the inlet channel is offset from the central axis of the reaction chamber.

Abstract: A biosensor system for the detection of target analytes that includes a living biological cell of a predetermined type; a signal-generating reporter associated with the living biological cell; a signal transduction pathway or other activator mechanism or means associated with the signal-generating reporter; a universal detector element associated with the activator mechanism; and an analyte binding element associated with the universal detector element, wherein the analyte binding element is specific to both the universal detector element and a target analyte.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the performance of a reaction chamber for use in a sample analysis system that includes providing a reaction chamber, wherein the reaction chamber has a predetermined geometry, wherein the reaction chamber has light collecting properties, and wherein the reaction chamber has an inner surface; and modifying the inner surface of the reaction chamber to include a predetermined degree of reflectivity, wherein the predetermined degree of reflectivity enhances the light collecting properties of the reaction chamber.

Abstract: A system, device, and method for rapid detection of analytes that includes a living, engineered biosensor cell that is typically a component of the mammalian immune system; a reporter protein that is engineered into and expressed by the living, engineered biosensor cell, wherein the reporter protein emits a detectable signal in response to certain predetermined changes in the cytosol of the living, engineered cell; a signal transduction pathway expressed by the living, engineered biosensor cell, wherein the signal transduction pathway controls a biological process within the cytosol of the living, engineered biosensor cell, and wherein the biochemical process, when it occurs, causes the reporter protein to emit a detectable signal; at least one type of detector molecule that is adapted to bind to a specific analyte; at least one analyte that binds to the detector molecule that is specific to that analyte; a plurality of non-antibody signal transducing elements that are either expressed by the living, engineer

Abstract: A system, device, and method for rapid detection of analytes that includes a living, engineered biosensor cell that is typically a component of the mammalian immune system; a reporter protein that is engineered into and expressed by the living, engineered biosensor cell, wherein the reporter protein emits a detectable signal in response to certain predetermined changes in the cytosol of the living, engineered cell; a signal transduction pathway expressed by the living, engineered biosensor cell, wherein the signal transduction pathway controls a biological process within the cytosol of the living, engineered biosensor cell, and wherein the biochemical process, when it occurs, causes the reporter protein to emit a detectable signal; at least one type of detector molecule that is adapted to bind to a specific analyte; at least one analyte that binds to the detector molecule that is specific to that analyte; a plurality of non-antibody signal transducing elements that are either expressed by the living, engineer

Abstract: A system, device, and method for rapid detection of analytes that includes a living, engineered biosensor cell that is typically a component of the mammalian immune system; a reporter protein that is engineered into and expressed by the living, engineered biosensor cell, wherein the reporter protein emits a detectable signal in response to certain predetermined changes in the cytosol of the living, engineered cell; a signal transduction pathway expressed by the living, engineered biosensor cell, wherein the signal transduction pathway controls a biological process within the cytosol of the living, engineered biosensor cell, and wherein the biochemical process, when it occurs, causes the reporter protein to emit a detectable signal; at least one type of detector molecule that is adapted to bind to a specific analyte; at least one analyte that binds to the detector molecule that is specific to that analyte; a plurality of non-antibody signal transducing elements that are either expressed by the living, engineer

Abstract: A system, device, and method for rapid detection of analytes that includes a living, engineered biosensor cell that is typically a component of the mammalian immune system; a reporter protein that is engineered into and expressed by the living, engineered biosensor cell, wherein the reporter protein emits a detectable signal in response to certain predetermined changes in the cytosol of the living, engineered cell; a signal transduction pathway expressed by the living, engineered biosensor cell, wherein the signal transduction pathway controls a biological process within the cytosol of the living, engineered biosensor cell, and wherein the biochemical process, when it occurs, causes the reporter protein to emit a detectable signal; at least one type of detector molecule that is adapted to bind to a specific analyte; at least one analyte that binds to the detector molecule that is specific to that analyte; a plurality of non-antibody signal transducing elements that are either expressed by the living, engineer

Abstract: A system, device, and method for rapid detection of analytes that includes a living, engineered biosensor cell that is typically a component of the mammalian immune system; a reporter protein that is engineered into and expressed by the living, engineered biosensor cell, wherein the reporter protein emits a detectable signal in response to certain predetermined changes in the cytosol of the living, engineered cell; a signal transduction pathway expressed by the living, engineered biosensor cell, wherein the signal transduction pathway controls a biological process within the cytosol of the living, engineered biosensor cell, and wherein the biochemical process, when it occurs, causes the reporter protein to emit a detectable signal; at least one type of detector molecule that is adapted to bind to a specific analyte; at least one analyte that binds to the detector molecule that is specific to that analyte; a plurality of non-antibody signal transducing elements that are either expressed by the living, engineer

Abstract: A system, device, and method for rapid detection of analytes that includes a living, engineered biosensor cell that is typically a component of the mammalian immune system; a reporter protein that is engineered into and expressed by the living, engineered biosensor cell, wherein the reporter protein emits a detectable signal in response to certain predetermined changes in the cytosol of the living, engineered cell; a signal transduction pathway expressed by the living, engineered biosensor cell, wherein the signal transduction pathway controls a biological process within the cytosol of the living, engineered biosensor cell, and wherein the biochemical process, when it occurs, causes the reporter protein to emit a detectable signal; at least one type of detector molecule that is adapted to bind to a specific analyte; at least one analyte that binds to the detector molecule that is specific to that analyte; a plurality of non-antibody signal transducing elements that are either expressed by the living, engineer

Abstract: A system, device, and method for rapid detection of analytes that includes a living, engineered biosensor cell that is typically a component of the mammalian immune system; a reporter protein that is engineered into and expressed by the living, engineered biosensor cell, wherein the reporter protein emits a detectable signal in response to certain predetermined changes in the cytosol of the living, engineered cell; a signal transduction pathway expressed by the living, engineered biosensor cell, wherein the signal transduction pathway controls a biological process within the cytosol of the living, engineered biosensor cell, and wherein the biochemical process, when it occurs, causes the reporter protein to emit a detectable signal; at least one type of detector molecule that is adapted to bind to a specific analyte; at least one analyte that binds to the detector molecule that is specific to that analyte; a plurality of non-antibody signal transducing elements that are either expressed by the living, engineer

Abstract: A system for use in rapid sample analysis that includes a biosensor reagent, wherein the biosensor reagent includes living biological cells; a reservoir card, wherein the reservoir card stores the biosensor reagent; and a test cartridge base, wherein the test cartridge base is configured to accept the reservoir card, and wherein the test cartridge base further includes a reaction chamber having a central axis, wherein the reaction chamber has the shape of a revolved half ellipse; and an inlet channel connected to the reaction chamber, wherein the inlet channel is positioned above the reaction chamber at an angle of 15-60 degrees above the horizontal, and wherein the inlet channel is offset from the central axis of the reaction chamber.

Abstract: A test cartridge for use in sample analysis is provided. The test cartridge includes a reservoir card that further includes a reagent that includes living biological cells; and a test cartridge base configured to accept the reservoir card. The reservoir card is configured to interface with a test cartridge base through at least one fluid port. The test cartridge base includes an elliptical reaction chamber having a central axis and an inlet channel connected to the reaction chamber. The inlet channel is positioned above the reaction chamber at an angle of 15-60 degrees above the horizontal and is offset from the central axis of the reaction chamber. Upon introducing a sample to be analyzed into the test cartridge base through the inlet channel, the sample is homogeneously mixed with the reagent while minimizing damage to the living biological cells.

Abstract: A medical device for disrupting biofilms that includes a substrate; and at least one anti-biofilm composition bound to the substrate, wherein the at least one anti-biofilm composition is adapted to bind to DNA binding proteins present in a biofilm, and wherein the binding of the at least one anti-biofilm composition to the DNA binding protein disrupts the biofilm.