Abstract: A compound for detecting the presence of specific microorganisms wherein the compound is made of two molecule fragments connected with a peptide bond, one compound fragment being enzyme-specific in that the presence of an enzyme specific to the microorganisms being detected will cause the peptide bond to hydrolyze, and the other molecule fragment being 6-aminoquinalone, wherein the organism is detected by exposing the compound to fluid suspected to contain the microorganism and irradiating the thus-exposed compound with ultraviolet radiation whereby fluorescence is observed if the microorganism is present.

Abstract: A method for determining the presence of bacteria in a body fluid specimen containing bacterial inhibitors is provided wherein a body fluid specimen containing bacterial inhibitors is procured, and growth media for the bacteria and antibodies specific to the bacterial inhibitors are added to neutralize the effectiveness of the bacterial inhibitors, and after incubation of the reactive mixture the presence of bacteria in the body fluid specimen is determined. An apparatus for accomplishing the foregoing is also provided.

Abstract: The grouping of a sample of a streptococcus is identified by treating the sample with achromopeptidase prior to contacting the sample with a group-specific antibody bound to minute, insoluble carrier particles. A positive identification is indicated by agglutination of the carrier particles.

Abstract: A test kit and method is disclosed for the semi-quantitative detection of Streptococcus mutans from the oral cavity of a patient. Saliva from a patient is introduced into a diluent solution to which has been added just before the saliva a predetermined powdered amount of bacitracin. Then the diluent solution is contacted with a sterile media-coated paddle, the media-coated paddle containing the diluent and test saliva is incubated, and Streptococcus mutans in the test saliva is semi-quantitively determined by comparing the percent of colony density with a standard Streptococcus mutan colony density chart.

Abstract: The present invention is a ready-to-use microtube and method for the simple and accurate identification of beta-hemolytic streptococci from inoculated swabs. Non-volatile reagents are selected and affixed to two separate loci within the microtube by means of a stable, water-soluble or -dispersible binder. At the time of patient examination, the patient site (pharynx, etc.) is swabbed and the swab is placed, tip down, in the prepared microtube. Four to six drops of distilled water are added, the swab is rotated and, after a brief incubation period, an agglutination agent is used to verify the presence or absence of a specific streptococcus group antigen by the presence or absence of a visible agglutination. The test is suitable for use in identifying any streptococcus group which bears antigens susceptible to extraction by nitrous acid, including in particular the clinically significant group A, B, C, F, and G beta-hemolytic streptococci.

Abstract: A method to determine the Gram sign of microorganisms includes staining the microorganisms with a plurality of fluorescent dyes, applying excitation energy to the stained microorganisms, and observing the color of the fluorescence emission of the stained microorganisms. Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms stain different colors, and assignment of the Gram sign may be made on the basis of the color of the stained microorganisms.

Abstract: A method to determine the Gram sign of microorganisms includes staining the microorganisms with a plurality of fluorescent dyes in the presence of a staining buffer, applying excitation energy to the stained microorganisms, observing the color of the fluorescence emission of the stained microorganisms, and assigning the positive Gram sign to microorganisms which fluoresce substantially green and the negative Gram sign to microorganisms which fluoresce substantially orange.

Abstract: The use of achromopeptidase to expose bacterial antigen in an improved assay for the antigen in a test sample is disclosed.

Abstract: The presence of Group A Streptococcus in a biological specimen is determined from the presence of Streptococcus A antigen. A biological specimen is collected with an applicator having a plastic stick with a rayon swab. The swab is placed in an extraction reagent containing enzymes produced by the bacterium Streptomyces albus, wherein the enzymes release the antigen from the fiber. An aliquot of the extraction medium is mixed with an indicator reagent containing an antibody reactive with the antigen. The occurrence or non-occurrence of an antibody-antigen reaction is noted which indicates the presence or absence of Group A Streptococcus in the biological specimen.

Abstract: A liquid .beta.-streptococcus selective medium for the growth and detection of .beta.-hemolytic streptococci without allowing the growth of enterococci and other non-.beta.-hemolytic streptococci, consisting essentially of 0.2-0.4 gm. pullulan as carbohydrate source based on 93-72 ml water, a protein source such as a combination of Proteose Peptone #3, (a dried meat digest) and Biosate (pancreatic digest of casein combined with yeast autolysate), an inhibitor of the growth of Pseudomonas, such as thallous acetate, an inhibitor of the growth of gram negative organisms other than Pseudomonas, such as nalidixic acid, an inhibitor of the growth of staphylococci such as Gentamycin, and reduced aniline blue indicator.

Abstract: A novel analyte-cytolysin conjugate and its use in a lipid vesicle mediated measurement process is described for a wide variety of analytes present at very low concentration. The method involves forming a reaction system consisting of analyte, analyte specific binding agent, analyte-cytolysin conjugate, and vesicles containing detectable marker material in such proportions that uncombined conjugate alters the permeability of the vesicles resulting in the release and quantitative detection of marker material which can be correlated with the amount of analyte initially present.

Abstract: A medium for the selective growth and identification of Streptococcus mutans bacteria is disclosed, that includes a tryptone-glucose extract agar, monobasic and dibasic potassium phosphate, yeast extract, agar, a color indicator for the bacteria and a solution of sucrose ranging in concentration from 1% to 15%. Preferably, the concentration of the sucrose may range from about 3% to about 11%. A bacteria culture plate may be prepared comprising the medium, and may include a first basal layer comprised entirely of the medium, and a second overlayer agar coating, including a mixture of the medium with a calcium phosphate suspension. Both the basal layer and the overlayer agar coating are preferably adjusted to a mildly basic pH.The present medium, and bacteria culture plates prepared therewith, offer desired bacterial specificity with no growth inhibition, that is usually the case with specific media of this kind.

Abstract: A simple rapid assay for the determination of antihyaluronidase and a kit for use therein. The assay is based on the precipitation of unreacted hyaluronic acid by a cationic detergent and acid dyestuff. The assay is preferably performed as a dilution series. The dyestuff reagent contains 1 to 10 parts by weight acid dyestuff to 10 parts by weight of cationic detergent.

Abstract: Method and compositions for infectious disease diagnosis and epidemiology involving labeled nucleotide probes complementary to nucleic acid coding for a characteristic pathogen product. Clinical isolates are cultivated, expanding the number of microorganisms, the resulting colonies lysed, the genome normally denatured and then fixed. Alternatively, clinical samples (stool, sputum, pus, etc.) are spotted onto an inert support. The sample is treated in such a way that the DNA is liberated from microbes present in the sample and complexed onto the support. The DNA is normally denatured and fixed in this process. Subsequently, a labelled polynucleotide probe specific for a DNA sequence characteristic of a pathogenic product suspected of being present in the clinical sample is contacted with the fixed genomic single stranded nucleic acid under hybridizing conditions. Hybridization of probes to the single stranded nucleic acid is diagnostic of the presence of the pathogen.

Abstract: A single basal growth medium for receiving various substrates for the purpose of rapid identification of any species of non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli (NFB), wherein the medium is low in organic nitrogen but is supplemented with inorganic nitrogen from an ammonium ion source to enhance NFB growth. The medium also serves to identify members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, cytochrome oxidase positive fermenters, Gram-positive bacilli, Gram-positive cocci, and anaerobes.

Abstract: Reliable and rapid detection of microorganisms is accomplished in an electroanalytical cell using a pulsed voltammetric detection technique employing the growth medium as the electrolyte and analyte and using simple wire electrodes fabricated from readily available materials. Organism detection occurs as a consequence of the depletion of oxygen in the growth medium/electrolyte caused by aerobic metabolism. Times-to-detection vary with inoculum strength in a predictable fashion, permitting quantification of the organism in question when results are compared to those obtained using known inocula of the same organism. The low duty cycle of the pulsed measurement enables the determination of the relative redox potential in the same cell using the same set of electrodes in order to provide information which may be characteristic of the type of organism being studied.

Abstract: Rapid identification of different species of Streptococcus is accomplished by: culturing the bacteria for several hours under unusual conditions which induces the bacteria to create characteristic enzymes by which the bacteria can be identified, and in a medium containing no more than about 1 g of glucose per liter of culture medium to produce a dense culture; distributing the culture onto several supports containing different substrates which are capable of reacting with enzymes so produced by different species of Streptococcus under the unusual conditions; and incubating the culture to produce a distinctly colored or colorable reaction product.

Abstract: A microorganism identification test container comprises a tray member provided with a plurality of integrally formed open wells. A number of the wells are microorganism identification test wells having biochemical test media which in hydrated form permits growth of microorganisms with the generation of a volatile color-forming compound. Another number of wells are negative control wells corresponding to each of the test wells provided and including an inhibitor which in aqueous solution prevents color formation in the negative control wells from the volatile color-forming compound generated in the test wells. The wells are preferably disposed in a number of generally parallel rows or lines wherein one line or row contains a series of biochemical test media and an adjacent line or row contains the corresponding negative control medium for each test.

Abstract: A broth medium for the detection of DNAse-positive microorganisms. The medium contains conventional nutrients for growing the microorganisms, a source of essential divalent cations to insure activity of the DNAse and a biological indicator comprising DNA, toluidine blue and lambda carrageenan in sufficient quantity so that the medium turns from blue to a visually distinguishable reddish-pink or reddish-violet color in the presence of DNAse-positive microorganisms.

Abstract: This disclosure is concerned with providing extractions of oil-based anti-microbial materials, such as essential oil extracts and the like, that can be rendered miscible with water-based culture media with which they are otherwise non-miscible, to enable zone of inhibition testing with such culture media.

Abstract: To select a blend of strains not susceptible to the current bacteriophage in the cheesemaking plant the cheesemaker inoculates each of the test tubes in the kit with filtered when obtained from current production. Each tube contains a genetically distinct starter culture strain or a culture blend in a sterile milk medium and contains a dye which will change color in the desired pH range. After incubation for ten hours the cultures resistant to the prevailing phage will exhibit the desired color change and will have developed a firm curd. A starter culture now known to be resistant to the prevailing phage can now be selected. Tests show success closely approaching 100% as opposed to 96% (or less) with the traditional rotation method of selecting culture blends.

Abstract: Improved hypertonic culture media, employing mannitol, erythritol or sorbitol in place of sucrose to provide high osmolarity, are described for the detection and growth of microorganisms in body fluids, particularly of bacteria in blood specimens.