Rapid microbial protease assay
US5741659A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 4, 1996 |
| Grant date | Apr 21, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 4, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC12Q2337/12
- WIPO fieldBiotechnology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
An assay for detecting microbial protease activity in clinical and laboray samples is described which comprises gathering a sample suspected of containing certain microorganisms having the desired protease activity; immobilizing the microorganisms in the sample on a solid phase substrate; contacting the immobilized microorganisms with an enzymatic substrate producing an enzymatic substrate end-product; contacting the enzymatic substrate end-product with a chemical enhancing reagent producing a detectable chromogenic reaction which varies in intensity with the level of protease activity in the sample; and detecting the chromogenic reaction whereby the semi-quantitative presence of the protease activity in the sample is determined. The device for conducting these assays is a frame or support which holds a solid phase substrate capable of binding the sought microorganisms of interest while permitting drainage of other materials or fluids, which may contain host proteases, away from the immobilized microorganisms.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.