Method and Composition for Analyzing A Carbohydrate Polymer

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for characterizing carbohydrate polymer by identifying at least two binding agents that bind to the carbohydrate polymer. Binding is preferably determined by contacting the carbohydrate polymer with substrate that contains a plurality of first saccharide-binding agents affixed at predetermined locations on the substrate. The carbohydrate polymer is allowed to contact the substrate under conditions that allow for formation of a first complex between the first saccharide-binding agent and the carbohydrate polymer. A second saccharide-binding agent, which preferably includes a label, is also contacted with the carbohydrate polymer under conditions that allow for formation of a second complex between the second binding agent and the first complex. Identification of the first and second binding agent allows for characterization of the polysaccharide.

1 .- 40 . (canceled) 
   
   
       41 . A diagnostic kit for diagnosing a disease, the kit comprising
 a substrate,   at least one essentially sequence- and/or site-specific binding agent attached to said substrate for binding a carbohydrate polymer in a sample, and   a plurality of saccharide-binding agents having different binding specificities, such that said saccharide-binding agents are identified if bound in a complex with said carbohydrate polymer and if said carbohydrate polymer is bound in a complex with said at least one sequence- and/or site-specific binding agent for diagnosing said disease.   
   
   
       42 . The kit of  claim 41 , wherein said disease is selected from the group consisting of a viral disease, an autoimmune disease, a bacterial infection and cancer. 
   
   
       43 . The kit of  claim 42 , wherein said viral disease comprises HIV infection. 
   
   
       44 . The kit of  claim 42 , wherein said autoimmune disease is insulin-dependent diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis. 
   
   
       45 . The kit of  claim 42 , further comprising a capture reagent. 
   
   
       46 . The kit of  claim 42 , further comprising a label. 
   
   
       47 . The kit of  claim 42 , wherein said essentially sequence- and/or site-specific binding agent is attached to a pre-determined location on said substrate. 
   
   
       48 . A method of diagnosing a disease in a subject, the method comprising
 a) providing a substrate comprising at least one first saccharide-binding agent attached to a predetermined location on a surface of said substrate;   b) contacting said substrate with a carbohydrate polymer from a biological sample from said subject under conditions allowing for the formation of a first complex between said first saccharide-binding agent and said carbohydrate polymer;   c) contacting said substrate with at least one second saccharide-binding agent under conditions allowing for formation of a second complex between said first complex and said second saccharide-binding agent in a second complex, wherein at least one of said first and second saccharide-binding agents comprises a plurality of different saccharide-binding agents;   d) identifying said first saccharide-binding agent and second saccharide-binding agent in said second complex;   e) determining a fingerprint of binding of said first saccharide-binding agent and said second saccharide-binding agent, wherein said fingerprint is a compilation of the binding status of the carbohydrate polymer and the plurality of first saccharide-binding agents and second saccharide-binding agents, and   correlating said fingerprint to a disease, thereby diagnosing a disease in said subject.   
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said disease is selected from the group consisting of a viral disease, an autoimmune disease, a bacterial infection and cancer. 
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said viral disease comprises HIV infection. 
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said autoimmune disease is insulin dependent diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis. 
   
   
       52 . A method for diagnosing a disease in a subject, the method comprising
 correlating a fingerprint of a carbohydrate polymer to a disease, wherein said fingerprint is obtained by
 providing a carbohydrate polymer sample from said subject, 
 contacting said carbohydrate polymer with a plurality of different essentially sequence- and/or site-specific binding agents; 
 determining whether said carbohydrate polymer binds to at least one of said plurality of different essentially sequence- and/or site-specific binding agents; 
 contacting said carbohydrate polymer with a saccharide-binding agent, wherein at least one of the carbohydrate polymer sample or saccharide-binding agent comprise a detectable label; 
 detecting said label; and 
 determining whether said carbohydrate polymer binds to said saccharide-binding reagent, thereby generating said fingerprint.