USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Lloyd Grant Simonson

Malford E Cullum

Stephen Alden Ralls

Sylvia Zottu Schade

Linda A Lininger

Alan L McArthur

Burton L Lamberts

James C Ragain, Jr

John R Kelly

Sukjoon Park

Paul Hine

Chun N Shih

Diane R Bienek

The inventive subject matter relates to a method for detecting the presence of a biological substance of interest in a test sample of saliva or oral fluid, comprising combining said test sample with a fluorescence-labeled ligand to said biological substance and detecting a change in the fluorescence polarization of said test sample produced by binding of said fluorescence-labeled ligand to said biological substance. In one aspect of the inventive subject matter, said method comprises additional steps for comparing the fluorescence polarization of said test sample with the fluorescence polarization of a control solution. Also provided is a miniaturized, portable apparatus for measuring the fluorescence polarization of a liquid sample.

Fluorescence polarization instruments and methods for detection of exposure to biological materials by fluorescence polarization immunoassay of saliva, oral or bodily fluids

The inventive subject matter relates to a competitive method for estimating the concentration in a sample of aprotein or antibody thereof selected from the group consisting of protective antigen (PA), lethal factor (LF) and edema factor (EF). The method may employ the use of Fluorescence Polarization, FLT or FRET. The competitive methods are capable of detecting a target protein within 5 minutes within the range of 0.1 to 10.0 nM. The methods provide for the rapid detection and quantitation of bacteria, bacterial antigen or antibody in culture media or broth of growing cultures of bacteria, includingby fluorescent methods.

Rapid immunoassay of anthrax protective antigen in vaccine cultures and bodily fluids by fluorescence polarization

An assay method and kit for detecting the presence of a predesignated, target IgG antibody in a sample selected from one or more patient bodily fluids. The method comprises the following steps: (a) contacting the sample of one or more patient bodily fluids with a membrane-bound recombinant protective antigen to bind to the target IgG antibody in the sample; (b) previously, simultaneously or subsequently to step (a), binding the protective antigen (PA) with a conjugated label producing a detectable signal; and (c) detecting the signal whereby the presence of the target IgG antibody is determined in the sample by the intensity of the signal. The method can further comprise the step of evaluating immunization status of the patient from whom the sample came by comparing the signal or lack thereof with immunizations previously received by the patient. In a preferred embodiment, the recombinant protective antigen (PA) specifically binds to anthrax protective antigen-specific IgG antibodies. Preferably, the immunoassay of the present invention comprises a lateral-flow assay comprising a membrane, a conjugated label pad, and a recombinant protective antigen (PA) bound to the membrane.

Rapid and non-invasive method to evaluate immunization status of a patient

An assay method and kit is disclosed for detecting the presence of at least one predesignated, target antibody to a mycobacterium in a sample selected from one or more patient bodily fluids. The method comprises the following steps: (a) contacting the sample of one or more patient bodily fluids with at least one mycobacterium antigen on a lateral-flow assay membrane to bind to the target antibody in the sample; (b) previously, simultaneously or subsequently to step (a), binding the at least one mycobacterium antigen with a conjugated label producing a detectable signal; and (c) detecting the signal whereby the presence of the target antibody is determined in the sample by the intensity or presence of the signal. The method can further comprise the step of evaluating immunization status of the patient from whom the sample came by comparing the signal or lack thereof with immunizations previously received by the patient and in comparison to a known standard control. In a preferred embodiment, the mycobacterium antigen specifically binds tospecific antibodies. Preferably, the immunoassay of the present invention comprises a lateral-flow assay comprising a membrane, a conjugated label pad, and at least one mycobacterium antigen bound to the membrane. In a preferred embodiment, the at least one mycobacterium antigen is selected from the group consisting of 38 kDa and 16 kDa antigens.

Rapid lateral flow assay for determining exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other mycobacteria

A rapid, non-invasive, semi-quantitative immunoassay of saliva has been developed to aid in the diagnosis of diseases, e.g., using saliva to detect subjects actively or previously infected with , a causative organism of tuberculosis. The semi-quantitative assay comprises spotting disease-related antigens on the surface of a solid substrate; contacting the solid substrate with a saliva sample which, in positive subjects, contains primary antibodies to the disease-related antigens; contacting the primary antibodies with a label capable of being detected; and detecting and reading the label whereby exposure to the antigens is determined. The device for conducting these assays is a frame or support which holds a solid substrate capable of immobilizing the antigens of interest while permitting drainage of other materials or fluids away from the immobilized antigens. A less rapid, quantitative assay has also been developed by adapting the rapid, semi-quantitative assay to an enzyme linked immunosorbant assay thereby providing a quantitative assay capable of assessing multiple saliva samples simultaneously.

Rapid immunoassay to detect infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis

An assay method and kit for detecting specific oral cariogenic bacteria, ., mutans streptococci, Lactobacillus sp. and Actinomyces sp., separately or in combination, comprising gathering a sample suspected of containing cariogenic bacteria; treating the sample with a stripping buffer to remove host antibodies from bacteria present in the sample; retaining the treated bacteria on a blocked solid phase substrate; reacting the retained bacteria with a primary antibody specific for the desired cariogenic bacteria; reacting the primary antibody with a conjugated label producing a detectable signal; and detecting the signal whereby the presence of the desired cariogenic bacteria is determined in the sample. The device for conducting these assays is a frame or support which holds a solid substrate capable of retaining the bacteria of interest while permitting drainage of other materials or fluids away from the retained bacteria.

Rapid immunoassay for cariogenic bacteria

An assay for detecting microbial protease activity in clinical and laboray samples is described which comprises gathering a sample suspected of containing certain microorganisms having the desired protease activity; immobilizing the microorganisms in the sample on a solid phase substrate; contacting the immobilized microorganisms with an enzymatic substrate producing an enzymatic substrate end-product; contacting the enzymatic substrate end-product with a chemical enhancing reagent producing a detectable chromogenic reaction which varies in intensity with the level of protease activity in the sample; and detecting the chromogenic reaction whereby the semi-quantitative presence of the protease activity in the sample is determined. The device for conducting these assays is a frame or support which holds a solid phase substrate capable of binding the sought microorganisms of interest while permitting drainage of other materials or fluids, which may contain host proteases, away from the immobilized microorganisms.

Rapid microbial protease assay

A monoclonal antibody is disclosed which is reactive to Bacteroides gingivalis and produced by the hybridoma deposited under ATCC HB 9968. The invention also discloses diagnostic reagents and methods for detecting Bacteroides gingivalis utilizing the hybridoma deposited under ATCC HB 9968.

Production of monoclonal antibodies to bacteroides gingivalis by

A monoclonal antibody is disclosed which is reactive to Treponema denticola and produced by the hybridoma deposited under ATCC HB 9966. The invention also discloses diagnostic reagents and methods for detecting Treponema denticola utilizing the hybridoma deposited under ATCC HB 9966.

Production of monoclonal antibodies to Treponema denticola by hybridoma

A monoclonal antibody is disclosed which is reactive to Treponema denticola nd produced by the hybridoma deposited under ATCC HB 9967. The invention also disclosed diagnostic reagents and methods for detecting Treponema denticola utilizing the hybridoma deposited under ATCC HB 9967.

Production of monoclonal antibodies to treponema denticola by hybridoma

A method of producing .alpha.-1, 3-glucanase by introducing a bacterial culture such as Pseudomonas sp. isolate NRRL B-12324 into an aqueous medium containing a 'limit glucan' substrate which is greater than 90 percent .alpha.-1, 3-glycosidically linked, then allowing growth to take place to accumulate .alpha.-1, 3-glucanase, and then recovering the enzyme for use as an oral therapeutic agent.

Method of producing a plaque dispersing enzyme

An oral therapeutic substance is formed by modifying a plaque-dispersing enzyme to control and reduce the occurrence of dental caries and periodontal diseases. In one embodiment, the modification is performed by introducing a suitable complexing reagent in combination with carrier and plaque-dispersing glucanohydrolase molecules to molecularly alter the glucanohydrolase. The modification, while having insignificant effects on the catalytic activity of the enzyme, will increase the binding capability of the enzyme to substances of which the tooth surface is formed. The activity of the enzyme on the tooth surface will therefore be maintained for longer periods of time to combat plaque build-up.

Growing community of inventors

Spring Grove, IL, United States of America

Lloyd Grant Simonson