Abstract: The present invention relates to cell-based assays involving HER2. The assays use assay cells that are transfected with cassettes containing the HER2 gene of interest and measure the effect of mutations on the activity of HER2, and on their response to inhibitors.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of determining activity of CDK4 and CDK6 variants upon exposure to CDK inhibitors, methods for determining activity of a Rb variant, methods for determining the activity of a p16 variant in a cell, and methods for determining the sensitivity of a CDK4 variant or a CDK6 variant to p16 in a cell. Stable cell lines for determining activity of CDK4 variants, CDK6 variants, Rb variants, and p16 variants are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of determining activity of CDK4 and CDK6 variants upon exposure to CDK inhibitors, methods for determining activity of a Rb variant, methods for determining the activity of a p16 variant in a cell, and methods for determining the sensitivity of a CDK4 variant or a CDK6 variant to p16 in a cell. Stable cell lines for determining activity of CDK4 variants, CDK6 variants, Rb variants, and p16 variants are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of determining activity of mTOR variants upon exposure to mTOR inhibitors, such a rapamycin or rapalogs thereof, methods for determining kinase activity of a mTOR variant, and methods for determining tumor cell response to treatment with rapamycin or rapalogs thereof. A method for determining whether a compound inhibits mTOR activity in a cell is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cell-based assays involving HER2. The assays use assay cells that are transfected with cassettes containing the HER2 gene of interest and measure the effect of mutations on the activity of HER2, and on their response to inhibitors.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of determining activity of CDK4 and CDK6 variants upon exposure to CDK inhibitors, methods for determining activity of a Rb variant, methods for determining the activity of a p16 variant in a cell, and methods for determining the sensitivity of a CDK4 variant or a CDK6 variant to p16 in a cell. Stable cell lines for determining activity of CDK4 variants, CDK6 variants, Rb variants, and p16 variants are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of determining activity of CDK4 and CDK6 variants upon exposure to CDK inhibitors, methods for determining activity of a Rb variant, methods for determining the activity of a p16 variant in a cell, and methods for determining the sensitivity of a CDK4 variant or a CDK6 variant to p16 in a cell. Stable cell lines for determining activity of CDK4 variants, CDK6 variants, Rb variants, and p16 variants are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of determining activity of CDK4 and CDK6 variants upon exposure to CDK inhibitors, methods for determining activity of a Rb variant, methods for determining the activity of a p16 variant in a cell, and methods for determining the sensitivity of a CDK4 variant or a CDK6 variant to p16 in a cell. Stable cell lines for determining activity of CDK4 variants, CDK6 variants, Rb variants, and p16 variants are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of detecting a DEK protein in a human urine sample using an ELISA assay. Methods and compositions for detection of DEK using mAb 260-6F9F6 (as detection antibody) and mAb 16-2C9C3 (as capture antibody) in human urine are provided herein. Specifically, the ELISA assay utilizes a capture mAb and a detection mAb to yield a high sensitivity of <50 ng/mL. The presence of DEK in urine is useful in predicting or diagnosing the occurrence of bladder cancer in humans.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated naturally-occurring soluble truncated IL-23R? protein, which is a translated protein resulting from a mRNA splice variant of IL-23R?. The soluble IL-23R? proteins (e.g., ?9 and ?8,9) represents a novel soluble IL-23R? protein, which is lacking a transmembrane domain and has a unique eight (8) amino acids (GLKEGSYC) at its C-terminus end (due to frame-shift). ELISA reveals that ?9 is present in blood and can serve as a diagnostic tool for auto-immune diseases including Crohn's disease. There is also provided a method of recombinant production for this soluble truncated form of IL-23R? protein. More importantly, the present invention provides an utility application of the ?9 and ?8,9 protein in inhibit IL-23R-mediated cell signaling. More particularly, ?9 and ?8,9 blocks STAT3 formation as well as Th17 maturation. There is provided a therapeutic application of ?9 and ?8,9 in treating a human patient inflicted with Crohn's disease.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of determining activity of mTOR variants upon exposure to mTOR inhibitors, such a rapamycin or rapalogs thereof, methods for determining kinase activity of a mTOR variant, and methods for determining tumor cell response to treatment with rapamycin or rapalogs thereof. A method for determining whether a compound inhibits mTOR activity in a cell is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the discovery of novel polymorphisms (SNPs) in the penicillin binding protein (pbp3) gene in Staphylococcus aureus. The presence of G88A and/or G2047A SNPs provides an accurate, reliable biomarker for the presence of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), specifically the community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA). The present invention provides reagents used for detecting the SNPs as well as methods of identifying and using these variants to screen subjects for presence of CA-MRSA. The methods involve isolating a biological sample from a mammal (preferably a human) and testing for the presence of a SNP in the pbp3 gene which is associated with CA-MRSA.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of determining activity of CDK4 and CDK6 variants upon exposure to CDK inhibitors, methods for determining activity of a Rb variant, methods for determining the activity of a p16 variant in a cell, and methods for determining the sensitivity of a CDK4 variant or a CDK6 variant to p16 in a cell. Stable cell lines for determining activity of CDK4 variants, CDK6 variants, Rb variants, and p16 variants are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the discovery of polymorphisms (SNPs) in the penicillin binding protein (pbp3) gene in Staphylococcus aureus. The presence of G88A and/or G2047A SNPs provides an accurate, reliable biomarker for the presence of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), specifically the community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA). The present invention provides reagents used for detecting the SNPs as well as methods of identifying and using these variants to screen subjects for presence of CA-MRSA. The methods involve isolating a biological sample from a mammal (preferably a human) and testing for the presence of a SNP in the pbp3 gene which is associated with CA-MRSA.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cell-based assays involving HER2. The assays use assay cells that are transfected with cassettes containing the HER2 gene of interest and measure the effect of mutations on the activity of HER2, and on their response to inhibitors.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of attenuating activity of the PME-1 gene. siRNAs or shRNAs are used to target against PME-1, thereby reducing the PME-1 mRNA. It is disclosed that the siRNAs or shRNAs targeted against PME-1 attenuate the epithelial to mesenchymal transition, thereby inhibit endometrial cancer development. A kit containing siRNA or shRNA reagents for attenuating the PME-1 gene expression is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of specifically detecting IFN-?2 mRNA or IFN-?3 mRNA. There is provided a qRT-PCR method specifically detecting, discriminating and quantifying IFN-?2 and IFN-?3 mRNA in a biological sample obtained from a human. There is provided qRT-PCR methods and primers and probes that specifically detect IFN-?2 mRNA but not IFN-?3 mRNA and vice versa in humans in order to detect, quantify and discriminate IFN-?2 mRNA and IFN-?3 mRNA.

Abstract: Disclosed are diagnostic methods for determining a subtype of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a biological sample of a mammal. Methods include providing a biological sample of the mammal, performing a PCR analysis of the biological sample, and analyzing the PCR amplicons with respect to their sizes so as to determine for type I, type II, type III, type IV or type V MRSA that may be present in the biological sample. Further example embodiments include using at least one mecA primer pair and/or using at least one Staphylococcus aureus nuc primer pair in the PCR analysis. Further disclosed are methods for screening populations for MRSA, and methods of treating a mammal testing positive for Type IV MRSA. Also disclosed are kits for determining a MRSA subtype in a mammal and isolated primers that may be used in the present methods and kits.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cell-based assays involving the estrogen receptor and/or aromatase. The assays use assay cells that are transfected with linear cassettes containing the ESR1 or the CYP19A1 gene of interest and measure the effect of mutations on the activity of the estrogen receptor and/or aromatase, and on their response to inhibitors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel linear and cyclic polypeptides that bind to IL-23 receptor and inhibit the binding of IL-23 to its corresponding receptor and cell signaling thereof. The novel polypeptides of the present invention has a core structure of WX1X2X3W, where W is tryptophan, and X1, X2 and X3 are amino acids, with the proviso that when one of X1, X2 or X3 is W, the remaining two of X1, X2 or X3 cannot be W. Preferred core structures include WVDYW or WQDYW. The present invention relates a composition containing the novel polypeptides (linear or cyclic), and use of same in inhibiting cell functions including production of IL-22 and IL-17F from immune cells as well as in treating IL-23 associated human diseases including, for example, inflammatory bowel diseases, psoriasis and Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and multiple sclerosis.