Abstract: The present invention provides a method for rapid identification of Bacillus Cereus comprising utilizing an antibody specific to a certain surface antigen of B. cereus, and the kit for performing the method.

Abstract: A method of determining the efficacy of a compound in treating a subject infected with a microbe, or a method of determining the minimum inhibitory concentration of an antimicrobial agent against a microbe. The method involves the measurement of an electrical parameter of a culture of the microbe.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for rapid identification of Bacillus Cereus comprising utilizing an antibody specific to a certain surface antigen of B. cereus, and the kit for performing the method.

Abstract: A method of determining whether a test microorganism is a known microorganism, involving use of an agent that specifically affects the growth of the known microorganism. The invention also features a method of identifying E. coli O157:H7 that are based on following criteria: a test microorganism is E. coli O157:H7 if the microorganism is (i) E. coli, (ii) incapable of fermenting sorbitol, and (iii) susceptible to infection by AR1 phage.

Abstract: A method of determining whether a test microorganism is a known microorganism, involving use of an agent that specifically affects the growth of the known microorganism. The invention also features a method of identifying E. coli O157:H7 that are based on the following criteria: a test microorganism is E. coli O157:H7 if the microorganism is (i) E. coli, (ii) incapable of fermenting sorbitol, and (iii) susceptible to infection by AR1 phage.

Abstract: An enzyme-capture assay (ECA) for rapid identification of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in clinical samples comprising contacting a clinical sample which is suspected to contain E. coli with an immobilized antibody against .beta.-D-glucuronidase which then catalyzes an enzyme substrate to produce a fluorescent product is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for determining the possible presence of an antimicrobial compound in a sample. The method includes the steps of: (i) adding the sample to a culture medium; (ii) growing a microorganism in the culture medium, the growth of the microorganism being susceptible to inhibition by the compound; (iii) measuring an electrical parameter of the culture medium over a period of time; (iv) determining a first time point at which an accelerating change of the electrical parameter occurs, the change resulting from the growth of the microorganism; and (v) comparing the first time point with a plurality of time points to determine the possible presence of the compound. Each of the plurality of time points is determined in a manner identical to that in which the first time point is determined except that the compound is present in the culture medium at a known concentration, and, further, a relationship exists between the plurality of time points and their corresponding concentrations.

Abstract: A method for rapid identification of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in a sample containing suspect colonies which includes the steps of:(i) coating latex particles with a solution of antibodies or antisera against outer membrane proteins of V. parahaemolyticus at an appropriate concentration to obtain a latex reagent, and(ii) mixing the sample with the latex reagent obtained in the (i) under conditions appropriate to complete agglutination; and a kit for accomplishing the method are disclosed.