Sepsis biomarkers in unselected patients on admission to intensive or high-dependency care.

Introduction: Although many sepsis biomarkers have shown promise in selected patient groups, only C-reactive protein and procalcitonin (PCT) have entered clinical practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate three promising novel sepsis biomarkers in unselected patients at admission to intensive care. We assessed the performance of pancreatic stone protein (PSP), soluble CD25 (sCD25) and heparin binding protein (HBP) in distinguishing patients with sepsis from those with a non-infective systemic inflammatory response and the ability of these markers to indicate severity of illness.

Development of fully automated determination of marker-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) avidity based on the avidity competition assay format: application for Abbott Architect cytomegalovirus and Toxo IgG Avidity assays.

Determination of the avidity of immunoglobulin G (IgG) directed against a specific marker has become an established diagnostic tool for identifying or excluding acute infections with pathogens. A novel assay format termed AVIcomp (avidity competition based on mass action) circumventing the conventional chaotropic format has been developed for determination of the avidity of marker-specific IgG in patient specimens. Its applications for cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Toxoplasma gondii are presented.

Serum glial fibrillary acidic protein as a biomarker for intracerebral haemorrhage in patients with acute stroke.

Background: Biomarkers of stroke are an evolving field of clinical research. A serum marker which can differentiate between haemorrhagic and ischaemic stroke in the very early phase would help to optimise acute stroke management.

Objective: To examine whether serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) identifies intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) in acute stroke patients.

Valine 77 of heterocystous ferredoxin FdxH2 in Anabaena variabilis strain ATCC 29413 is critical for its oxygen sensitivity.

Ferredoxins are small iron sulfur proteins necessary for electron donation. FdxH1 and FdxH2 are associated with two different nif gene clusters where they transfer electrons for the reduction of nitrogenase complex. FdxH1 was observed to be stable towards oxygen, whereas, FdxH2 was relatively unstable.

Identification of amino acid residues of nitrite reductase from Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 involved in ferredoxin binding.

The nitrite reductase gene (nirA) from the filamentous, heterocyst-forming cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 (A. PCC 7120) was expressed in Escherichia coli using the pET-system.