Novel microarrays and methods of use thereof

Abstract

This invention provides novel nitrocellulose-based or Hydrogel-based microarrays and methods of making and using them (1) to detect the presence of one or more agents in a sample, (2) to determine the amount of one or more agents in a sample, (3) to determine whether a subject is afflicted with a disorder, and (4) to determine whether an agent known to specifically bind to a first compound also specifically binds to a second compound. This invention also provides kits which comprise the instant microarrays. This invention further provides antibodies capable of specifically binding to a glycomer present both on the surface of a mammalian macrophage or intestinal epithelial cell, and on a bacterial cell. Finally, this invention provides diagnostic methods using the instant antibodies.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A microarray comprising a nitrocellulose or Hydrogel support having affixed to its surface at discrete loci a plurality of compounds, wherein (a) at at least one discrete locus is affixed a compound associated with  Bacillus anthracis  and selected from the group consisting of a glycomer and a protein, and (b) the composition of compounds at each discrete locus differs from the composition of compounds at at least one other discrete locus.  
     
     
         2 . A microarray comprising a plurality of nitrocellulose or Hydrogel or Hydrogel supports, each support having one or a plurality of compounds affixed to its surface at a single discrete locus or a plurality of compounds affixed to its surface at discrete loci, wherein (a) at at least one discrete locus is affixed a compound associated with  Bacillus anthracis  and selected from the group consisting of a glycomer and a protein, and (b) the composition of compounds at each discrete locus differs from the composition of compounds at at least one other discrete locus.  
     
     
         3 . A method of detecting in a sample the presence of one or more agents associated with  Bacillus anthracis  which specifically bind to one or more glycomers, which method comprises: 
 (a) contacting the sample with the microarray of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein each glycomer is affixed at at least one discrete locus and wherein the contacting is performed under conditions which would permit an agent, if present in the sample, to specifically bind to its corresponding glycomer in the microarray; and    (b) determining whether any glycomer in the microarray has an agent specifically bound thereto,    thereby detecting the presence of the one or more agents in the sample.    
     
     
         4 . A method of detecting in a sample the presence of one or more agents associated with  Bacillus anthracis  which specifically bind to one or more proteins, which method comprises: 
 (a) contacting the sample with the microarray of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein each protein is affixed at at least one discrete locus and wherein the contacting is performed under conditions which would permit an agent, if present in the sample, to specifically bind to its corresponding protein in the microarray; and    (b) determining whether any known protein in the microarray has an agent specifically bound thereto,    thereby detecting the presence of the one or more agents in the sample.    
     
     
         5 . A method of detecting in a sample the presence of one or more glycomers or proteins which specifically bind to one or more antibodies or lectins associated with  Bacillus anthracis,  which method comprises: 
 (a) contacting the sample with the microarray of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein each antibody or lectin is affixed at at least one discrete locus and wherein the contacting is performed under conditions which would permit an agent, if present in the sample, to specifically bind to its corresponding antibody or lectin in the microarray; and    (b) determining whether any antibody or lectin in the microarray has an agent specifically bound thereto,    thereby detecting the presence of the one or more agents in the sample.