Abstract: Provided is a method of detecting infection in a wound caused by an infecting organism at a wound site. Also provided is a system for detecting an infection in a wound at a wound site. Additionally, a porous pad comprising luciferase is provided.

Abstract: Sequential reporter enzyme luminescence (SRL) methods are provided. In the subject methods, the activity of a reporter enzyme is evaluated using a secondary reporter system that employs a product of a reporter enzyme mediated reaction as a luminescent substrate, e.g., luciferase substrate. Also provided are kits and other compositions that find use in practicing the subject methods.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel cis-acting regulatory element that is required for maximal induction of the human low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor gene following depletion of cellular sterols in HepG2 cells. In vivo dimethyl sulfate footprinting of the human LDL receptor promoter before and after transcriptional induction in HepG2 cells revealed protection of the sequence 5'-GAGCTTCACGGGTTAAAAAG-3' (SEQ ID NO.1), corresponding to nucleotides -126 to -145, (referred to as FP1). Further, presence of the FP1 sequence resulted in significant enhancement of luciferase reporter gene expression (approximately 375%) in response to low levels of sterols in HepG2 cells using promoter luciferase constructs. In addition, the enhancement was markedly attenuated on nucleotide substitutions within the FP1 site. Thus, the present invention discloses a novel regulatory element, FP1, in the human LDL receptor promoter and a vector containing this element.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a combination of enzyme activities comprising an ATP-degrading enzyme and one or more enzymes capable of degrading substances, other than ATP, that are substrates for the light-emitting reaction of firefly luciferase. These activities can be used to treat a growth medium in order to reduce background to negligible amounts, in a subsequent bioluminescence assay.

Abstract: A method of preparing an extract of an intracellular component, wherein cells are contacted with an extractant to generate an extract solution, which comprises contacting the solution with a cyclodextrin to neutralize the extractant. preferred extractants are cationic or other kinds of surfactants. The cyclodextrin is preferably used in solution. Preferred intracellular components are ATP which can, after neutralization of the extractant, be assayed by a firefly luciferase assay; and DNA or RNA which can, after neutralization of the surfactant, be amplified or further processed in other ways.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence and/or mount of microorganisms is described by adding adenosine diphosphate (ADP) to a sample suspected of containing microorganisms and/or their intracellular material, determining the amount of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) generated by adenylate kinase present, for example using a bioluminescent assay involving luciferase and luciferin, and relating the results to the presence and/or amount of microorganism. Test kits and apparatus for use in the method are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to bacterial luciferase transposon cassettes suitable for conferring bioluminescence properties on a Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and other organisms of interest. The invention further includes cells transformed with vectors carrying the transposon cassettes, cells whose genomes have been modified by introduction of such cassettes, and methods of making and using such transposon cassettes, transposon cassette vectors, and cells containing the transposons.

Abstract: The invention relates to transgenic aquatic animals, particularly the clawed frog and the zebra fish and cells derived therefrom, characterized in comprising at least one expression cassette with a regulatory DNA sequence selected from the response elements to nuclear hormone receptors, particularly TRE, connected in a functional manner downstream of a DNA segment coding for a marker protein such as luciferase or GFP. The invention further relates to methods using the transgenic cells and animals according to the invention for the identification of endocrine disrupters in the environment.

Abstract: The present invention presents a method for using DNA repair capacity (DRC) as a blood biomarker to calculate the risk of a female subject developing breast cancer obtained from a blood sample by using a luciferase reporter gene method that permits calculating a percent DRC for the subject. A subject with a percent DRC below 3.1% is considered as being at risk for breast cancer and a subject with a percent DRC above 3.1% as being at low risk for breast cancer. This method comprises a further estimation of an adjusted risk of the subject to develop breast cancer using a logistic regression equation in which the DRC value is included as one of the variables.

Abstract: A method for the use of a phage associated lysing enzyme for the detecting the presence and determining the quantity of bacteria present in or on a wide variety of substances is described. The total concentration of microbes is determined by adding or incorporating a phage associated lytic agent to a disposable test system device with the luminescent reagents luciferin and luciferase, and introducing the disposable test system into a luminometer that can read the luminescence. Other systems can be used with the lytic enzymes for the quantitative and qualitative determination for the presence of bacteria.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for determining nucleic acid sequences that encode components of signal transduction pathways in higher plants. The method comprises combining a portion of an AOX promoter linked in operable fashion to a reporter gene to detect nucleic acid sequences of components of the signal transduction pathways between mitochondria function and metabolic status and nuclear gene expression and the signal transduction pathways between branched chain amino acid biosynthetic pathways and nuclear gene expression. A polynucleotide that encodes a portion of an AOX promoter, AOX1a, operably linked to a luciferase reporter gene is provided. A recombinant vector, transformed cells, and transformed organisms containing this polynucleotide are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention intends to provide an assay system using split luciferase that has a remarkably high detection sensitivity. In an embodiment, binding of mutually binding first and second proteins is detected by preparing a first fusion protein comprising the first protein fused with a peptide having the amino acid sequence of amino acid SEQ ID NO: 1 and a second fusion protein comprising the second protein fused with a peptide having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of amino acid SEQ ID NOS: 2 to 6, and allowing the first fusion protein to bind with the second fusion protein to form a complex, and detecting luminescence emitted from the complex.

Abstract: A method which utilize chemiluminescence for analyte detection and the detection of bacteria on surfaces. The method uses a device comprising a sampling portion made of a first adsorbent material, a container, and a second adsorbent material located within the container. The sampling portion collects analytes from a test sample which includes a surface or volume of a liquid. The second adsorbent material holds one or more chemiluminescent components including luciferase enzyme and cofactors in a dry state. In a preferred embodiment, the sampling portion is swabbed over a suspected contaminated surface. A bacteriolytic solution is then added to the adsorbent and releases ATP from any bacteria present. The ATP diffuses into the second adsorbent and mixes with the reagents therein to produce detectable light.

Abstract: A method for the rapid and sensitive determination of organophosphate and carbamate pesticides is disclosed. The method employs an insect brain preparation having a mixture of receptors or enzymes with sites that interact with the organophosphate and carbamate pesticides. The pesticides alter or reduce brain activities of the insect brain preparation which are inversely correlated with pesticide concentration in a test sample. The activity is measured by employing substrates which upon exposure to the insect brain preparation are structurally altered and a light emission reaction is observed. The substrates used are 6-substituted D-Luciferin esters wherein the D-Luciferin ester in the presence of the insect brain preparation is inhibited during hydrolysis while in the presence of the pesticide to be determined.