University of Kentucky Research Foundation

Other

Sapna Kamlakar Deo

Patrizia Pasini

Leonidas G Bachas

Laura Rowe

Anjali Kumari Struss

Harohalli Shashidhar

Deborah R Auer Flomenhoft

Nilesh Raut

Amol Date

Michael Poon

Urvee Desai

Jason Douglas Ehrick

Tyler William Browning

Emre Dikici

The presently-disclosed subject matter provides systems, methods, and kits for diagnosing and/or monitoring a bacteria-related condition of interest in a subject by providing a cell sensing system, each system containing a reporter molecule capable of detecting binding of a quorum sensing molecule and capable of generating a detectable signal.

Systems and methods for diagnosis and monitoring of bacteria-related conditions

The presently-disclosed subject matter is directed to biosensors comprising spore-forming bacterial cells and/or spores generated therefrom, a recognition unit within each spore-forming cell for binding an analyte of interest, and a reporter molecule within each spore-forming cell for detecting binding of the analyte of interest, wherein the reporter molecule generates a detectable signal upon binding of the analyte by the recognition element. The presently-disclosed subject matter further provides methods of using the biosensors and systems and kits including the biosensors.

Spores for the stabilization and on-site application of bacterial whole-cell biosensing systems

A solid-phase immunoassay for 6-keto-Prostaglandin F, the stable hydrolysis product of prostacyclin (Prostaglandin I) is disclosed. Prostacyclin, a potent vasodilator with anti-platelet and anti-proliferative properties is an effective treatment for primary pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with scleroderma and scleroderma-like syndrome. Levels of 6-keto-Prostaglandin Fcan be directly correlated with levels of prostacyclin. Therefore, 6-keto-Prostaglandin Fhas become the indicator of choice to measure prostacyclin levels. The single step immunoassay for 6-keto-Prostaglandin Fuses the bioluminescent protein, aequorin as a label. Analyte-label conjugates were constructed by linking the carboxyl group of 6-keto-Prostaglandin Fand lysine residues of aequorin by chemical conjugation methods. The binding properties of 6-keto-Prostaglandin Ftowards its antibody and the bioluminescent properties of aequorin are retained in the conjugate. The concentration of 6-keto-Prostaglandin Fafter extraction from plasma shows good correlation with the concentration of 6-keto-Prostaglandin Fobtained without prior extraction of the same plasma sample. The assay allows the measurement of 6-keto-Prostaglandin Fdirectly in plasma without any pre-treatment of the samples, which results in a much simpler method with a faster assay time.

Method and kit for determination of prostacyclin in plasma

A hydrogel microdome that can swell in response to a stimuli or target molecule is formed by polymerizing a mixture comprising a monomer capable of forming a hydrogel with a biopolymer. An array of hydrogel microdomes can be formed on a substrate by microspotting the mixture and polymerizing. The array can be used for high-throughput screening of analytes as well as for use as an actuator and biosensor using the swelling property of the hydrogel.

Stimuli-responsive hydrogel microdomes integrated with genetically engineered proteins for high-throughput screening of pharmaceuticals

The invention relates to aequorin and obelin mutants whose emission is shifted with respect to wild type. The shift in emission is accomplished using a combination of mutations of amino acids within aequorin or obelin that affect bioluminescence; use of different types of chromophores, i.e., coelenterazines with variable emission characteristics; and modifications of the photoprotein with fluorophores that will allow for emission of light at longer wavelengths as a result of energy transfer. Additionally, an assay employing aequorin mutants to test for HIV-1 protease inhibitors is disclosed.

Aequorin and obelin mutants with differing wavelengths and bioluminescence

Growing community of inventors

Lexington, KY, United States of America

Sapna Kamlakar Deo