Disease diagnosis according to saccharide binding

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. In one aspect, the method is used in the diagnosis of a disease, including a viral disease, an autoimmune disease, a bacterial infection, or cancer.

1 - 47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . A method for characterizing a carbohydrate polymer, the method comprising
 adding the carbohydrate polymer to a surface that includes at least one saccharide binding agent attached to a predetermined location on the surface;   incubating the carbohydrate polymer with the surface under conditions allowing for the formation of a complex between the first saccharide-binding agent and the carbohydrate polymer, and   systemically assembling a representation of information describing the binding status of the carbohydrate polymer with respect to the plurality to determine a fingerprint, thereby characterizing the carbohydrate polymer.   
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising washing the surface to remove unbound carbohydrate polymer. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising correlating said representation t to a disease in a subject from whom the carbohydrate polymer is obtained, wherein the disease is selected from the group consisting of a vial disease, an autoimmune disease, a bacterial infection, and cancer. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising contacting the surface with a second saccharide-binding agent under conditions allowing for formation of a second complex between the first complex and the second saccharide-binding agent. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said disease is a viral disease. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said disease is an autoimmune disease. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said disease is a bacterial infection. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said disease is cancer. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the fingerprint is at least partially collapsed to form at least partial sequence information about the carbohydrate polymer sequence.