The Provost Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth, Near Dublin

Dermot P Kelleher

Yuri Volkov

Igor V Shvets

Vivienne Williams

Dmitriy Kashanin

Anthony Davies

Slobhan Mitchell

William Byrne

Henry Windle

Ross McManus

Michael O'dwyer

Thomas Ryan

Owen Ross Mcmanus

A device () for housing a scientific sample comprising at least one sample well () and an on-board buffering substance () wherein the onboard buffering substance () at least partly surrounds the sample well (). The on-board buffering substance () may be in the form of a matrix, such as a gel-like matrix. The device () may further comprise an insulating means. Also described is a substance for use in culturing and/or assaying a sample whereby the substance provides atmospheric and thermal buffering. The invention further provides a lid for a single-well or multi-well sample plate, the lid being configured to facilitate delivery of a sample through the lid into a well, and for sealing the well. The lid comprises moveable portions () that have at least one orifice () formed through the moveable portions () such that a conduit is formed by alignment of the orifices () of both the lid portions ().

Substance and a device

A nucleic acid sequence encoding all or part of an 18-19 kDaprotein is described to which immunoreactivity is detected innegative individuals. A process for the production of a recombinant form of this protein and its use, particularly as a vaccine to provide immunological protection againstinfection are also described.

[object Object]

Biological assays using various constructions of biochips are disclosed to mirror in vivo situations. The biochipcomprises a microchannelhaving a liquid outlet port, bubble release portand a liquid outlet portwith an associated bubble release port. A multiplicity of tests can be performed often by coating the bore of the microchannelwhich various adhesion mediating proteins or the use of chemoattractants. The assay assemblycomprises a syringe pump feeding the biochip. An inverted microscope, digital cameraand recorderare provided. A sample liquid containing cells in suspension is injected slowly through the biochip and the effect of the assay recorded over a long period.

Method of assaying cellular adhesion with a coated biochip

Biological assays using various constructions of biochips are disclosed to mirror in vivo situations. The biochip comprises a microchannel having a liquid outlet port , bubble release port and a liquid outlet port with an associated bubble release port . A multiplicity of tests can be performed often by coating the bore of the microchannel which various adhesion mediating proteins or the use of chemoattractants. The assay assembly comprises a syringe pump feeding the biochip . An inverted microscope , digital camera and recorder are provided. A sample liquid containing cells in suspension is injected slowly through the biochip and the effect of the assay recorded over a long period.

Biological assay method

Growing community of inventors

Dun Laoghaire, Ireland

Dermot P Kelleher