Infectious

Latest Innovations
Novel Toll-Like Receptor Inhibitors for Treatment of Inflammatory Disease Dr. Katzenellenbogen from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a novel class of inhibitors capable of inhibiting Toll-like Receptor signaling.... Read More Dr. Katzenellenbogen from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a novel class of inhibitors capable of inhibiting Toll-like Receptor signaling. These compounds will allow treatment of inflammatory diseases such as sepsis. Currently there are no TLR inhibitors on the market and this novel set of compounds show higher affinity than currently published compounds. In addition to high specificity for TLRs these compounds are also able to be derivatized for specificity to specific classes of TLRs.
HIV-1 Vaccine Immunogens Dr. Procko from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a novel set of HIV-1 immunogens for use as a HIV-1 vaccine. If effective these immunogens will... Read More Dr. Procko from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a novel set of HIV-1 immunogens for use as a HIV-1 vaccine. If effective these immunogens will allow creation of the first viable HIV-1 vaccine.
Novel Toll-like Receptor Inhibitors for the Treatment of Inflammatory Diseases Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have been shown to play a vital role in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including inflammatory diseases. Exaggerated or prolonged TLR... Read More Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have been shown to play a vital role in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including inflammatory diseases. Exaggerated or prolonged TLR activation leads to pathological inflammation and other diseases. Despite the need, there are no small-molecule drugs clinically available against TLR pathways. This may be due to the significant signaling complexity of TLR signaling mechanisms. Dr. John Katzenellenbogen and a team of researchers have developed a novel class of inhibitors capable of inhibiting TLR signaling. These compounds have the potential to treat various inflammatory diseases.
Converting Gram-Positive Antibiotics to Gram-Negative Bacteria Dr. Hergenrother from the University of IL has developed a method to convert compounds of Gram-positive antibiotics to Gram-negative antibiotics. This method and... Read More Dr. Hergenrother from the University of IL has developed a method to convert compounds of Gram-positive antibiotics to Gram-negative antibiotics. This method and compound of matter are assisted by machine learning algorithm used for finding the characteristics of successful Gram-negative antibiotics. This invention offers wide-variety of Gram-negative antibiotic compounds for patients.
Rapid detection of intact viruses Professor Yi Lu from the University of Illinois has developed an aptamer-based method for virus detection that is able to distinguish infective viruses from non-infective... Read More Professor Yi Lu from the University of Illinois has developed an aptamer-based method for virus detection that is able to distinguish infective viruses from non-infective virions at concentrations as low as 1 pfu/mL. This technology has been developed on human adenovirus but can be generalized to any virus of interest. Since it is not based on the sequencing of genetic information, it requires no sample preparation and can be completed in ~30 minutes. This technology has great potential utility for diagnostics and environmental testing, specifically water quality testing, for the identification and mitigation of water-borne illnesses including adenovirus.
Rapid detection of target DNA using gFET and LAMP Researchers from the University of Illinois have developed a highly sensitive, graphene field effect transistor (gFET) that can detect DNA in samples. This technology uses... Read More Researchers from the University of Illinois have developed a highly sensitive, graphene field effect transistor (gFET) that can detect DNA in samples. This technology uses Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) and crumpled graphene in order to detect the presence of a target segment of DNA within a provided sample. By using crumpled graphene, gFET, and LAMP Dr. Ganguli's technology is able rapidly detect pathogens using entirely electronic means bringing diagnostics directly to point of care medical practice, all while being less expensive, more sensitive, and quicker than other traditional, gold-standard pathogen diagnostics methods. This technology is even able to detect molecular concentrations down to 8 zeptomolar. Publication: Ganguli, A., Faramarzi, V., Mostafa, A., Hwang, M. T., You, S., & Bashir, R. (2020). High Sensitivity Graphene Field Effect Transistor-Based Detection of DNA Amplification. Advanced Functional Materials, 30(28), [2001031]. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202001031
Activate Capture + Digital Counting (AC+DC) for ultrasensitive label-free detection of miRNA Professor Brian Cunningham's research group at the University of Illinois has created a technology for ultrasensitive detection of gold nanoparticles, allowing different... Read More Professor Brian Cunningham's research group at the University of Illinois has created a technology for ultrasensitive detection of gold nanoparticles, allowing different assays and applications. These single step, isothermal, room temperature, one-pot assays can process a sample volume as low as ~20 ul. These assays are performed with an inexpensive, small device based on a low intensity LED (no laser), that allows for simple data quantification by counting (no fancy imaging sensor needed) and multiplexing by sample splitting. Applications of this technology include: Activate Capture and Digital Counting (AC+DC) for detection of miRNA, based on gold nanoparticles tags prepared with DNA toehold probes (DNA-AuNPs). (LOD = 100 aM, 2h; no purification and amplification required) Activate Capture and Digital Counting (AC+DC) for detection of proteins, based on secondary antibody-functionalized gold nanoparticles (2oAb-AuNPs) within 15 min (LOD = 10pg/ml) (pictured below) Targeting Recycling Amplification Process (TRAP) for miRNA detection, based on strand displacement reactions (LOD = 0.1aM, 20 min) Activate Cleve and Count (ACC) for ctDNA detection based on gold nanoparticles released after target recognition by CRISPR/Cas (LOD = 1zM, 60 min) (pictured below Related Technology: Photonic Resonator Absorption Microscopy (PRAM) Recent scientific publications include: A compact photonic resonator absorption microscope for point of care digital resolution nucleic acid molecular diagnostics Single-step, wash-free digital immunoassay for rapid quantitative analysis of serological antibody against SARS-CoV-2 by photonic resonator absorption microscopy Digital-resolution and highly sensitive detection of multiple exosomal small RNAs by DNA toehold probe-based photonic resonator absorption microscopy Other articles: Cancer Center at Illinois program leader develops fast, low-cost blood test for detecting early-stage liver cancer Acceleration of cancer biomarker detection for point of care diagnostics
SPOT (Rapid, Accurate, Scalable and Portable Testing) for COVID-Diagnosis Researchers from the University of Illinois have developed a COVID-19 testing system named SPOT that consists of a rapid, highly sensitive and accurate assay and a battery... Read More Researchers from the University of Illinois have developed a COVID-19 testing system named SPOT that consists of a rapid, highly sensitive and accurate assay and a battery-powered portable device. The assay combines RT-LAMP with an Argonaute protein from hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus for a precise recognition and cleavage of target DNA in saliva samples. The simplicity of the SPOT system enables rapid diagnosis of COVID-19 without a trained personnel and minimal sample handling.
A Multivalent Cholera Multiepitope Fusion Antigen (MEFA) and Application for Development of Effective Vaccines for Cholera Dr. Zhang from the University of Illinois has developed a promising candidate protein for a vaccine against cholera. Cholera is an acute, diarrheal illness caused... Read More Dr. Zhang from the University of Illinois has developed a promising candidate protein for a vaccine against cholera. Cholera is an acute, diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with the toxigenic bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The protein is a multiepitope fusion antigen (MEFA), incorporating virulence factors which are conserved across multiple Vibrio serotypes. When administered to animals, the cholera MEFA is broadly immunogenic and induces protective antibodies against Vibrio. Since virulence factors from multiple serotypes are included in the fusion protein, this protection can be extended to the various Vibrio serotypes.
Chimeric Secretory IgA Professor Beth Stadtmueller and Sonya Kumar Bharathkar have created a chimeric secretory immunoglobulin A (cSIgA) with a modified secretory component (SC) that can be used... Read More Professor Beth Stadtmueller and Sonya Kumar Bharathkar have created a chimeric secretory immunoglobulin A (cSIgA) with a modified secretory component (SC) that can be used in therapeutic treatment. The bispecific cSIgA can bind its target antigen and additional ligands by an engineered SC portion, such as toxins or surface antigens. This can be applied to treatment for mucosal infections such as Clostridium difficile.