Cardiolipin Modification for Immunoassay Detection of Syphilis

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that remains a global health threat. Syphilis rates in the United States have also been increasing. Left untreated, syphilis infection can span decades and have serious complications including blindness, dementia and paralysis. Syphilis in pregnancy causes prematurity, low birthweight, neonatal death, and infections in newborns. Improvements in syphilis detection are needed to facilitate early diagnosis of active infections and monitor treatment with antibiotics.

Diagnostic Assay with Modified Cardiolipin for Detecting Active Syphilis Infections

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that remains a global health threat. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 12 million new cases are reported in adults annually worldwide. Syphilis rates are rising domestically as well. The rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test (including automated version) and the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test are commercially available and used to detect/screen active infection.

Monoclonal Antibodies for the Detection of Antiretroviral Integrase Inhibitors

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a critical component in the fight against HIV but is only effective if persons prescribed PrEP are adhering to the regimens to maintain appropriate drug levels. As PrEP regimens have moved from daily pills to longer lasting injections, the ability to quickly measure and monitor the circulating drug levels of PrEP drugs has increased importance.

Detection of Hepatitis C Virus for point of care kit

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major global health problem with an estimated 58 million infections in 2019.  However, most HCV infections go undiagnosed due to the lack of clinical symptoms or for lack of access to simple and affordable diagnostic testing. It is estimated that only 21% and 61% of people with a chronic HCV infection have been diagnosed, worldwide and in the United States, respectively.

Sensitive Method for Detection and Quantification of Anthrax, Bordetella pertussis, Clostridium difficile, Clostridium botulinum and Other Pathogen-Derived Toxins in Human and Animal Plasma

CDC research scientists have developed a method to identify and quantify the activity of pathogenic bacterial adenylate cyclase toxins by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Bacterial protein toxins are among the most potent natural poisons known, causing paralysis, immune system collapse, hemorrhaging and death in some cases.

Exposure and Activity Detection Assays for Anthrax Lethal Factor and Lethal Toxin

This CDC developed invention identifies an assay for extremely fast and sensitive detection of Bacillus anthracis lethal toxin (LTx), the toxin responsible for the lethal effects of anthrax infection. This assay has already been successfully tested in animals and will allow for early detection of anthrax exposure and screening of lethal factors to monitor anthrax toxicity, for example for vaccine trial candidates.

Improved Botulism, Botulinum Neurotoxin Type-E Diagnostics

CDC researchers have improved upon a prior, HHS patented mass spectrometry-based Endopep-MS assay that is able to rapidly detect and differentiate all seven botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) types A to G. This current improvement comprises the addition of two optimized substrate peptides that increases the assay's sensitivity,relative to prior substrates, for botulinum neurotoxin type-E (BoNT/E) by greater than 100 fold.

Use of Mono-Amine Oxidase Inhibitors to Prevent Herpes Virus Infections and Reactivation from Latency

Available for licensing are methods of using Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) to prevent alpha-herpesvirus lytic infections, such as those caused by Herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 or HSV-2) and Varicella zoster virus (VZV), and to possibly prevent the periodic reactivation of these viruses from latency. MAOIs have been historically used to treat depression, hypertension, and related diseases. The invention describes how MAOIs can also inhibit LSD1, a histone/protein demethylase that is required for initiation of alpha-herpesvirus lytic infection.
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