Methods for detecting traumatic brain injury

Abstract

The present invention provides detection reagents and method for determining risk of traumatic brain injury (TBI), assessment of the amount of neuronal damage, and/or susceptibility to neurodegenerative disease in a subject.

1 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A designed ankyrin repeat protein (DARPin) comprising the DARPin encoded by SEQ ID NO:22. 
     
     
         6 . The DARPin of  claim 5 , wherein the DARPin is specific for a marker of Parkinson's Disease (PD). 
     
     
         7 . A nucleic acid encoding the DARPin of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         8 . A vector comprising the nucleic acid of  claim 7 . 
     
     
         9 . A phage comprising the vector of  claim 8 . 
     
     
         10 . A method of detecting a biomarker of traumatic brain injury (TBI), neuronal damage, and/or susceptibility to neurodegenerative disease in a subject, which comprises contacting a sample from the subject with the DARPin of  claim 5  and detecting whether the DARPin binds to the sample. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , which comprises contacting the DARPin of  claim 5  with a normal control. 
     
     
         12 . A method of detecting a change in a biomarker of traumatic brain injury (TBI), neuronal damage, and/or susceptibility to Parkinson's disease (PD) in an injured subject, which comprises:
 contacting samples obtained from a subject two or more times post injury with the DARPin of  claim 5 ; and comparing the level of the DARPin bound to the samples.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a sample is obtained from the subject within 6 hours post-injury. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a sample is obtained from the subject about 12 to 36 hours post-injury. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a sample is obtained from the subject about 5 to 10 days post injury. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a sample is obtained from the subject about 2 to 4 weeks days post injury. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a first sample is obtained from the subject within about 6 hours post-injury and a second sample is obtained from the subject about 12 to 36 hours post-injury. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the samples comprise blood product samples or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the blood product samples comprise serum.