Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for detecting a target moiety in a sample of biological specimens by: a) providing at least one conjugate with the general formula (I) Xn—P—Ym, with X is an detection moiety, P an enzymatically degradable spacer and Y an antigen recognizing moiety and n, m are integers between 1 and 100 and wherein X and Y are covalently bound to P; b) contacting the sample of biological specimens with at least one conjugate, thereby labeling the target moiety recognized by the antigen recognizing moiety Y; c) detecting the target moiety labeled with the conjugate with the detecting moiety X; and d) enzymatically degrading spacer P, thereby cleaving the detection moiety X from the conjugate. The method is useful to identify target moieties on the biological specimens. The biological specimens detected by the conjugate can be subsequently removed from the sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for generation of genetically modified T cells, T cell subsets and/or T cell progenitors comprising the steps: a) providing a cell sample comprising T cells, T cell subsets and/or T cell progenitors b) preparation of the cell sample by centrifugation c) magnetic separation of the T cells, T cell subsets and/or T cell progenitors d) activation of the enriched T cells, T cell subsets and/or T cell progenitors using modulatory agents e) genetic modification of the T cells, T cell subsets and/or T cell progenitors f) expansion of the genetically modified T cells, T cell subsets and/or T cell progenitors in a cultivation chamber g) washing of the cultured T cells, T cell subsets and/or T cell progenitors characterized in that all steps are performed in a closed and sterile cell culture system.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a column system for separation of particles comprising a reservoir section with a input opening; a filter section provided with a filter matrix and an output opening and a plunger having a first and a second end, the first end fitting into the reservoir section characterized in that the plunger is provided with at least one channel providing gaseous communication from the first end to the second end. The column system may be used for magnetic cell separation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system, comprising: a) a sample processing unit, comprising an input port and an output port coupled to a rotating container having at least one sample chamber, the sample processing unit configured provide a first processing step to a sample or to rotate the container so as to apply a centrifugal force to a sample deposited in the chamber and separate at least a first component and a second component of the deposited sample; and b) a sample separation unit coupled to the output port of the sample processing unit, the cell separation unit comprising separation column holder (42), a pump (64) and a plurality of valves (1-11) configured to at least partially control fluid flow through a fluid circuitry and a separation column (40) positioned in the holder, the separation column configured to separate labeled and unlabeled components of sample flowed through the column.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for generation of a cell composition of mesencephalic dopaminergic progenitor cells from a starting cell composition comprising pluripotent and/or multipotent stem cells, the method comprising the steps of a) differentiating said pluripotent and/or multipotent stem cells into mesencephalic dopaminergic progenitor cells, thereby generating a cell population comprising mesencephalic dopaminergic progenitor cells and other cells, b) dissociating the differentiated cells of step a) into a single cell suspension, and c) enriching said mesencephalic dopaminergic progenitor cells by using an antigen binding molecule specific for the CD47 antigen for positive selection of said mesencephalic dopaminergic progenitor cells in said single cell suspension. Said method may be performed in a closed cell sample processing system and may be performed in an automated manner.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a centrifuge chamber comprising a cylinder having a base plate and a cover plate, a rotational axis with at least one port for input and/or output of liquids, at least one port for input of gases and at least one layer for cell culturing, wherein the layer for cell culturing comprises a gas-permeable membrane on which cells can be cultured and wherein the at least one port for input and/or output of gases is connected to the gas-permeable membrane.

Abstract: A cell strainer for separating particles from a cell suspension, having an upper portion with at least one filter area lying essentially perpendicular to the direction of flow of the suspension and a lower portion adapted to fit into the openings of at least two sample tubes with different sized openings. The lower portion has a first section with shoulders or flanges having the diameter of the opening of a first tube and a second section having an inner and outer wall serving as a receptacle for the neck of a second tube, where the diameter of the first section is larger than the diameter of the second section.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for sorting target cells and non-target cells from a sample by a cell sorting valve microfabricated on a surface of a silicon substrate, with microfabricated channels leading from the cell sorting valve, wherein the cell sorting valve separates the target particles from non-target material; a disposable cartridge containing a sample reservoir, a sort reservoir and a waste reservoir; wherein the sample is provided in a buffer comprising nuclease.

Abstract: A process for depleting host cells from a xenograft of human cells on a murine host is disclosed. The process includes fragmenting the xenograft, subjecting the sample to antibodies specific for a murine CD9 epitope coupled to a detection means, depleting the cell suspension from cells bound by the CD9-antibodies using the detection means, and collecting the cells not bound by the CD9-antibodies as target cells.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for the preparation of a cell population from a sample originating from bone marrow or blood, comprising the steps a) dividing the sample into a first fraction containing 50 to 99% of the cells of the sample and a second fraction containing 50 to 1% of the cells of the sample, b) labeling the cells of the first fraction with a first marker against TCR alpha/beta, c) labeling the cells of the second fraction with a second marker against CD45RA, d) removing the labeled cells from the first and second fraction and combining the remaining cells to a cell population.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for separating cells from a sample containing erythrocytes. The method is for recovering desired cells from a sample containing the desired cells, erythrocytes and undesired cells comprising: a) contacting the sample with a composition, said composition comprising: i) an erythrocytes aggregation reagent ii) at least one antigen recognizing moiety coupled to a magnetic particle, wherein said particle with said at least one antigen recognizing moiety specifically binds to at least one antigen specific for one or more undesired cellular components; b) applying simultaneously i) gravity sedimentation for sedimentation of erythrocytes and ii) a magnetic field gradient to said sample for immobilizing said magnetic particle generating a pellet and a supernatant phase, and c) recovering the desired cells from the supernatant phase. Compositions for the use within the present method are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a Method for detecting a target moiety in a sample of biological specimens by: a) providing at least one conjugate with the general formula (I) An-P-Bm-Cq-Xo??(I) ?with A: antigen recognizing moiety; P: enzymatically degradable spacer; B: first binding moiety C second binding moiety X: detection moiety; n, m, q, o integers between 1 and 100, wherein B and C are non-covalently bound to each other and A and B are covalently bound to P b) labelling the target moiety recognized by the antigen recognizing moiety A with at least one conjugate c) detecting the labelled target moiety via detecting moiety X d) cleaving Cq-Xo by disrupting the non-covalent bond between Bm and Cq from the labelled target moiety e) cleaving the binding moiety Bm from the labelled target moiety by enzymatically degrading spacer P. The method is useful to identify target moieties on the biological specimens.

Abstract: The invention is related to a device for suspending particles in a fluid, wherein the mixing device includes a first magnet (1) rotating around a longitudinal axis (2), a mixing rod (4) attached to a mount (6), the mount including a second magnet (3), wherein the mount (6) moves in a substantially orthogonal motion to the longitudinal axis of the mixing rod (4) by the interaction of the rotating first magnet with the second magnet (3).

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for analyzing a plurality of biological samples with a plurality of fluorescent reagents in an automated fashion. The system may include two optical systems, a fluorescence imaging system and an optical quenching system. These two systems may be placed laterally adjacent to one another, and generally beneath one of the wells of sample-containing microtiter plate. The biological sample contained therein may be stained with a series of fluorescent reagents, with the fluorescence quenched between stainings. By precise positioning of the sample with respect to the imaging system, the sample may be imaged with a plurality of serially applied reagents.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for enriching target cells from a sample of cells characterized by: a) contacting the sample with a cell aggregation agent and first magnetic particles having an iron content of 0.1 pg to 5000 pg, coupled to a first antigen recognizing moiety; and second magnetic particles having an iron content of 0.05 fg to 100 fg and coupled to a second antigen recognizing moiety to obtain mixture a) b) applying a first magnetic field gradient to the mixture a) thereby removing the cells bound to the first antigen recognizing moiety coupled to the first magnetic particles, to obtain a mixture b) and obtaining an agglomerate comprising the cells of mixture a) bound to the cell aggregation agent c) applying a second magnetic field gradient to the mixture b) thereby immobilizing the cells bound to the second antigen recognizing moiety d) recovering the immobilized cells from the second magnetic field gradient as target cells.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a homogenization device for cell suspensions, comprising a first rotating magnet; a shaft on which a propeller mixer is attached which rotates around the longitudinal axis of the shaft and is movable in lateral direction of the axis of the shaft; the propeller mixer being provided with at least two propeller blades of which at least one is provided with a second magnet; wherein the propeller mixer is rotated by magnetic interaction of the second magnet with the first rotating magnet.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system, comprising: a) a sample processing unit, comprising an input port and an output port coupled to a rotating container having at least one sample chamber, the sample processing unit configured provide a first processing step to a sample or to rotate the container so as to apply a centrifugal force to a sample deposited in the chamber and separate at least a first component and a second component of the deposited sample; and b) a sample separation unit coupled to the output port of the sample processing unit, the cell separation unit comprising separation column holder (42), a pump (64) and a plurality of valves (1-11) configured to at least partially control fluid flow through a fluid circuitry and a separation column (40) positioned in the holder, the separation column configured to separate labeled and unlabeled components of sample flowed through the column.

Abstract: The invention is related to a device for suspending particles in a fluid, wherein the mixing device includes a first magnet (1) rotating around a longitudinal axis (2), a mixing rod (4) attached to a mount (6), the mount including a second magnet (3), wherein the mount (6) moves in a substantially orthogonal motion to the longitudinal axis of the mixing rod (4) by the interaction of the rotating first magnet with the second magnet (3).

Abstract: Lipophilic oligonucleotide comprising a phosphate glycerol unit containing at least one aliphatic unsaturated carbon bond according to formula (I), with Oligonucleotide an unmodified or modified nucleic acid of 2-1000 nucleotides in length R=a bond or a linker unit Y=OH, SH or NHR3 X and Z=independently O, S or NR3 R3=hydrogen or branched or unbranched and/or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl and/or alkyl aryl residue with 10 to 30 carbon atoms R1. R2 branched or unbranched and/or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl and/or alkylaryl residue with 10 to 30 carbon atoms, with the provisio that at least one of the residues R1 or R2 comprises at least one aliphatic carbon-carbon double bond Use of lipophilic oligonucleotide according to Formula I for drug discovery or for transfection of cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides the in-vitro use of at least one in-vivo-target antigen of Aspergillus fumigatus for selective activation, detection and/or analysis of Aspergillus fumigatus specific CD4+ T cells in a sample comprising cells, wherein said at least one in-vivo-target antigen reveals an immune reactivity characterized by i) the in vivo existence of antigen-specific T cells comprising more than 60% memory T cells and ii) said antigen-specific T cells further comprise T cells able to produce IFN-gamma upon stimulation at a frequency between 15% and 80% and/or IL17 upon stimulation at a frequency between 5% and 30%. Said at least one in-vivo-target antigen may be selected from the group consisting of antigens Scw4, Pst1, Shm2, GliT and TpiA or fragments thereof. Also provided are a method, a composition, and a kit thereof.