COMPOSITIONS AND METHOD FOR ISOLATING MID-LOG PHASE BACTERIA
The invention generally relates to compositions and methods for isolating mid-log phase bacteria. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a magnetic particle conjugated to an antibody that includes an epitope specific for mid-log phase bacteria.
1 . A magnetic particle conjugated to an antibody that comprises an epitope specific for mid-log phase bacteria.
2 . The particle of claim 1 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.
3 . The particle of claim 1 , wherein the antibody is a polyclonal antibody.
4 . The particle of claim 1 , further comprising a detectable label.
5 . The particle of claim 4 , wherein the detectable label is an optical label.
6 . The particle of claim 5 , wherein the optical label is a fluorescent label.
7 . The particle of claim 1 , wherein the bacteria is a bacteria found in human blood.
8 . A method for isolating bacteria from a sample, the method comprising:
obtaining a sample comprising bacteria;
introducing a plurality of magnetic particles to the sample, each particle conjugated to an antibody that comprises an epitope specific for mid-log phase bacteria; and
separating particle bound bacteria from the sample.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the sample is a human blood sample.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the bacteria is a bacteria found in human blood.
11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein separating comprises exposing the sample to a magnetic field to separate particle bound bacteria from unbound components of the sample.
12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the bacteria is viable bacteria.
13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.
14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the antibody is a polyclonal antibody.
15 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising a detectable label.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the detectable label is an optical label.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the optical label is a fluorescent label.
18 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising diagnosing a disease based upon the bacteria isolated from the sample.
19 . A method for isolating viable bacteria from blood, the method comprising:
obtaining a blood sample comprising viable bacteria;
introducing a plurality of magnetic particles to the sample, each particle conjugated to an antibody that comprises an epitope specific for mid-log phase bacteria; and
separating particle bound bacteria from the sample.
20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising, eluting the bacteria from the particles.
21 . A method for preparing antibodies for separation of pathogen in a biological sample, the method comprising the steps of:
growing a population of bacteria to mid-log phase;
inactivating said bacteria while preserving antigenicity;
immunizing a mammalian subject with said bacteria;
isolating antigen against said bacteria; and
conjugating said antigen to a magnetic particle.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the bacteria is a bacteria found in human blood.