Development of a Cryptosporidium oocyst assay using an automated fiber optic-based biosensor

An intestinal protozoan parasite, Cryptosporidium parvum, is a major cause of waterborne gastrointestinal disease worldwide. Detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts in potable water is a high priority for the water treatment industry to reduce potential outbreaks among the consumer populace. Anti-Cryptosporidium oocyst polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies were tested as capture and detection reagents for use in a fiber optic biosensor assay for the detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts. Antibodies were validated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, flow cytometry, Western blotting and fluorescent microscopy. Oocysts could be detected at a concentration of 105 oocysts/ml when the polyclonal antibodies were used as the capture and detection reagents. When oocysts were boiled prior to detection, a ten-fold increase in sensitivity was achieved using the polyclonal antibody. Western blotting and immunofluorescence revealed that both the monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies recognize a large (>300 kDa) molecular weight mucin-like antigen present on the surface of the oocyst wall. The polyclonal antibody also reacted with a small (105 kDa) molecular weight antigen that was present in boiled samples of oocysts. Preliminary steps to design an in-line biosensor assay system have shown that oocysts would have to be concentrated from water samples and heat treated to allow detection by a biosensor assay

Study of the ηπo\eta\pi^o system in the mass range up to 1200 MeV

The reaction $\pi^-p \to \eta\pi^o n$ has been studied with GAMS-2000 spectrometer in the secondary 38 GeV/c $\pi^-$-beam of the IHEP U-70 accelerator. Partial wave analysis of the reaction has been performed in the $\eta\pi^o$ mass range up to 1200 MeV. The $a_0(980)$-meson is seen as a sharp peak in S-wave. The $t$-dependence of $a_0(980)$ production cross section has been studied. Dominant production of the $a_0(980)$ at a small transfer momentum $t$ confirms the hypothesis of Achasov and Shestakov about significant contribution of the $\rho_2$ exchange ($I^GJ^{PC}=1^+2^{--}$) in the mechanism of $a_0(980)$ meson production in $t$-channel of the reaction.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, talk given at HADRON'9

A study of the etapipi channel produced in central pp interactions at 450 GeV/c

The reaction pp -> pf (eta pi pi) ps has been studied at 450 GeV/c. There is clear evidence for an a2(1320)pi decay mode of the eta2(1645) and eta2(1870). In addition, there is evidence for an a0(980)pi$ decay mode of both resonances and an f2(1270)eta decay mode of the eta2(1870). No evidence is found for a JPC = 2++ a2(1320)pi wave.Comment: 15 pages, Latex, 4 Figures Branching ratio a2pi /f2 eta correcte

A study of the centrally produced pi0pi0pi0 channel in pp interactions at 450 GeV/c

The reaction pp -> pf (pi0pi0pi0) ps has been studied at 450 GeV/c. The pi0pi0pi0 effective mass spectrum shows clear eta(547) and pi2(1670) signals. Branching ratios for the eta(547) and pi_2(1670) are given as well as upper limits for the decays of the omega(782), a1(1260) and a2(1320) into 3pi0.Comment: 10 pages, Latex, 4 Figure

A study of the f0(1370), f0(1500), f0(2000) and f2(1950) observed in the centrally produced 4pi final states

The production and decay properties of the f0(1370), f0(1500), f0(2000) and f2(1950) have been studied in central pp interactions at 450 GeV/c. The dPT, phi and |t| distributions of these resonances are presented. For the J = 0 states, the f0(1370) and f0(2000) have similar dPT and phi dependences. These are different to the dPT and phi dependences of the f0(980), f0(1500) and f0(1710). For the J = 2 states the f2(1950) has different dependences to the f2(1270) and f2'(1520). This shows that the dPT and phi dependences are not just J phenomena.Comment: 14 pages, Latex, 4 Figure

A search for charmonium states produced in central pp interactions at 450 GeV/c

A search for centrally produced charmonium states has been presented. There is no significant evidence for any charmonium production. An upper limit of 2 nb is found for the cross section of chic production using the decay chic(1P)-> J/psi gamma.Comment: 10 pages, Latex, 4 Figure

A coupled channel analysis of the centrally produced K+K- and pi+pi- final states in pp interactions at 450 GeV/c

A coupled channel analysis of the centrally produced K+K- and pi+pi- final states has been performed in pp collisions at an incident beam momentum of 450 GeV/c. The pole positions and branching ratios to pipi and KK of the f0(980), f0(1370), f0(1500) and f0(1710) have been determined. A systematic study of the production properties of all the resonances observed in the pi+pi- and K+K- channels has been performed.Comment: 16 pages, Latex, 5 Figure

Experimental evidence for a vector-like behaviour of Pomeron exchange

Evidence is presented that the Pomeron act as a non-conserved vector current. A study has been made of the azimuthal angle phi, which is defined as the angle between the pT vectors of the two outgoing protons, in the reaction pp -> pp(X0) for those resonances (X0) which are compatible with being produced by double Pomeron exchange. These distributions have been compared with a model which describes the Pomeron as a non-conserved vector current and a qualitative agreement is found. In addition, when one of the particles exchanged is known to have spin 0, namely pi-Pomeron exchange, the phi distribution is flat.Comment: 13 pages, Latex, 4 Figure

A study of the centrally produced baryon-antibaryon systems in pp interactions at 450 GeV/c

A study of the centrally produced ppbar, ppbarpi, ppbarpipi and lambda lambda channels has been performed in pp collisions using an incident beam momentum of 450 GeV/c. No significant new structures are observed in the mass spectra, however, important new information on the production dynamics is obtained. A systematic study of the production properties of these systems has been performed and it is found that these systems are not produced dominantly by double Pomeron exchange.Comment: 13 pages, Latex, 4 Figure

A study of pseudoscalar states produced centrally in pp interactions at 450 GeV/c

A study has been made of pseudoscalar mesons produced centrally in pp interactions. The results show that the eta and etaprime appear to have a similar production mechanism which differs from that of the pi0. The production properties of the eta and etaprime are not consistent with what is expected from double Pomeron exchange. In addition the production mechanism for the eta and etaprime is such that the production cross section are greatest when the azimuthal angle between the pT vectors of the two protons is 90 degrees.Comment: 11 pages, Latex, 3 Figure