Johns Hopkins University

Veridian Erim International, Inc.

Peter F Scholl

Wayne A Bryden

Andrew B Feldman

Plamen A Demirev

David J Sullivan

Rengaswamy Srinivasan

Harvey Wayne Ko

Michael P McLoughlin

Micah A Carlson

Scott A Ecelberger

Charles W Anderson

Hassan M Saffarian

Charles E Daitch

Nirbhay Kumar

Darin Kongkasuriyachai

Ronald G Chappell

Eric Black

This invention relates to assays for aanalyte in a liquid sample such as a body fluid. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for the detection of a ligand in a body fluid such as urine or blood, which can diagnose malarial infection.

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Mass spectrometric techniques are provided for detecting the presence of parasites that accumulate unbound heme in red blood cells (including malaria parasites), based on the discovery that unbound heme can be detected and quantified using mass spectrometry. In one aspect of the invention, the method includes the steps of: obtaining a blood sample from the animal; preparing a test sample on a support from the blood sample, and inserting the support into a mass spectrometer for analysis. Next one obtains a mass spectrum of the test sample and determines whether the mass spectrum contains a mass/charge signature of unbound heme. If it is determined that the mass spectrum of the test sample shows the mass/charge signature of unbound heme, the animal is diagnosed as infected with malaria parasites.

Detection of malaria parasites by mass spectrometry

A method and apparatus for particle collection () that is characterized by co-aerosolizing fluids () into an air stream () containing the particles to be analyzed to significantly enhance their collection and identification efficiency is provided.

Method and apparatus for enhanced particle collection efficiency

Methods are described for detecting and quantifying occult blood in a biological sample using laser desorption mass spectrometry (LD MS). Biological samples that can be analyzed using various embodiments of the present invention include stool (fecal occult blood, FOB), and any bodily fluid including urine, cerebrospinal fluid and other bodily fluids. If the heme or heme metabolite is bound to protein, the sample is treated with acid before analysis to release the porphyrin. Some of the methods use LD MS with a time of flight analyzer (TOF) to detect and measure unbound heme, other hemoglobin metabolites and other molecules that have a porphyrin-based structure, e.g., bilirubin, biliverdin, protoporphyrin IX, and Zinc protoporphyrin in the biological sample. In other methods, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI MS) is used to detect and quantify the individual &#x3b1;- and &#x3b2;-polypeptide chains of hemoglobin.

Occult blood detection in biological samples by laser desorption and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry for biomedical applications

Provided are methods of producing an electrode capable of binding an analyte thereto comprising: providing a substrate capable of binding a dithiol molecule thereto; electrochemically treating the substrate using cyclic voltammetry to provide a treated substrate having a fractal dimension of greater than about 2; and contacting the treated substrate with dithiol molecules to produce an electrode having dithiol groups attached thereto and capable of binding an analyte to be detected thereto. Also provided are methods of accumulating and detecting analytes using the electrodes produced via the methods of the present invention.

Methods of producing electrodes and methods of using such electrodes to accumulate and detect analytes

A field portable mass spectrometer system comprising a sample collector and a sample transporter. The sample transporter interfaces with the sample collector to receive sample deposits thereon. The system further comprises a time of flight (TOF) mass spectrometer. The time of flight mass spectrometer has a sealable opening that receives the sample transported via the sample transporter in an extraction region of the mass spectrometer. The system further comprises a control unit that processes a time series output by the mass spectrometer for a received sample and identifies one or more agents contained in the sample.

Sample collection preparation methods for time-of flight miniature mass spectrometer

Techniques to modify and apply aerogel coatings are described, including the application of spray-coated aerogels. The approach eliminates several of the wet chemical techniques previously needed for processes such as MALDI processing, and simplifies the automation of processes such as continuous monitoring in a sensor based format. With respect to MALDI processing, the preferred embodiment uses an acid-doped silica aerogel coated tape as the collection media as well as the matrix support. Although aerogels are disclosed as a preferred matrix material, other materials may alternatively be used, including linoleic acids, oleic acids, PEG (polyelthylene glycol), preferably in tape format.

Growing community of inventors

Silver Spring, MD, United States of America

Peter F Scholl