Abstract: Isolated peptides comprising one or more antigenic sites of filovirus glycoprotein and methods of their use and production are disclosed. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the peptides are also provided. In several embodiments, the peptides can be used to induce an immune response to filovirus glycoprotein, such as Zaire ebolavirus glycoprotein, in a subject, for example, to treat or prevent infection of the subject with the virus.

Abstract: Isotropic generalized diffusion tensor imaging methods and apparatus are configured to obtain signal attenuations using selected sets of applied magnetic field gradient directions whose averages produce mean apparent diffusion constants (mADCs) over a wide range of b-values, associated with higher order diffusion tensors (HOT). These sets are selected based on analytical descriptions of isotropic HOTs and the associated averaged signal attenuations are combined to produce mADCs, or probability density functions of intravoxel mADC distributions. Estimates of biologically-specific rotation-invariant parameters for quantifying tissue water mobilities or other tissue characteristics can be obtained such as Traces of HOTs associated with diffusion and mean t-kurtosis.

Abstract: The invention provides a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) comprising an antigen binding domain specific for TSLPR, a transmembrane domain, and an intracellular T cell signaling domain. Nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, populations of cells, antibodies, or antigen binding portions thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions relating to the CARs are disclosed. Methods of detecting the presence of a proliferative disorder, e.g., cancer, in a mammal and methods of treating or preventing a proliferative disorder, e.g., cancer, in a mammal are also disclosed.

Abstract: Heptamethine cyanines for use as fluorescent markers of the biliary system are disclosed. Certain heptamethine cyanines exhibit biliary system specificity and methods for in vivo visualization of a biliary system of a subject are provided. The methods may be for diagnostic purposes and/or for visualization of biliary systems during surgery.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides adeno-associated viral vectors, recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) and methods of using such vectors and viruses in gene therapy for treating methylmalonic acidemia in patients with methylmalonyl-coA mutase (MVMUT) deficiency. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.

Abstract: Disclosed devices for recovering cryopreserved tissue can comprise a receptacle that receives a sealed, frozen tissue container containing cryopreserved tissue and cryopreservation media, with at least one recovery media chamber and a waste material chamber fluidly coupled to the tissue container receptacle. The recovery device can be inserted into a regulator apparatus that facilitates thawing and warming of the media and tissue, and regulation of the flow of recovery media through the tissue container to flush out the thawed cryopreservation media into the waste chamber. The regulator can identify the tissue based on an ID tag on the tissue container and automatically apply an appropriate algorithm for thawing, culturing, and maintaining the tissue in a viable state.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods of treating or preventing a Rhabdoviridae virus infection in a mammal comprising administering griffithsin, or a fragment or mutant thereof, to the mammal.

Abstract: Provided is a method of treating cancer, particularly cancers associated with an overexpression of polo-like kinase (Plk1), comprising administering a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in which ring A, X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, R2, R3, R4, n, bond a, and bond b are described herein. Exemplary compounds of formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, especially those that selectively inhibit the polo box domain of Plk1, also are provided.

Abstract: Methods for the rapid amplification of extremely low quantity nucleic acids in a sample are provided. The disclosed methods are capable of amplifying less than 1 pg of DNA and/or RNA from a biological sample using a single tube and one-step or two-step preparation.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to antibodies binding to Glypican 2 and methods of using such antibodies to treat cancers that express or overexpress the Glypican 2 antigen.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a more efficient lentiviral vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a human ?-globin protein or a human ?-globin protein, which is oriented from 5? to 3? relative to the lentiviral genome. The invention also provides a composition and method utilizing the lentiviral vector.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods and compositions for the diagnosis and/or treatment of tumors, such as ocular tumors, using virus-like particles conjugated to photosensitive molecules.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed herein for treating glaucoma in a subject. In some embodiments, the methods increase retinal ganglion cell survival. The disclosed methods use exosomes and/or miRNA.

Abstract: Disclosed are inhibitors of the plasmodial surface anion channel (PSAC) inhibitors and the use thereof in treating or preventing malaria in an animal such as a human, comprising administering an effective amount of an inhibitor or a combination of inhibitors. An example of such an inhibitor is a compound of formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1 to R7 are as described herein.

Abstract: Featured are methods, apparatus and devices for detecting a hematoma in tissue of a patient. In one aspect, such a method includes emitting near infrared light continuously into the tissue from a non-stationary near infrared light emitter and continuously monitoring the tissue using a non-stationary probe so as to continuously detect reflected light. The near infrared light is emitted at two distances from a brain of the patient, so the emitted light penetrates to two different depths. Such a method also includes applying a ratiometric analysis to the reflected light to distinguish a border between normal tissue and tissue exhibiting blood accumulation.

Abstract: Disclosed are powered gait assistance systems that include a controller, sensors, and a motor coupled to a patient's thigh and lower leg and operable to apply assistive torque to the patient's knee joint to assist the patient's volitional knee pivoting muscle output during selected stages of the patient's gait cycle, such that the assistive torque applied by the motor improves the patient's leg posture, muscle output, range of motion, and/or other parameters over the gait cycle. The sensors can include a torque sensor that measures torque applied by the motor, a knee angle sensor, a foot sensor that measures ground contact of the patient's foot, and/or other sensors. The controller can determine what stage of the patient's gait cycle the patient's leg is in based on sensor signals and cause the motor to apply corresponding assistive torque to the knee based on the gait cycle stage, sensor inputs, and known patient characteristics.

Abstract: Vaccines that elicit broadly protective anti-influenza antibodies. The vaccines comprise nanoparticles that display HA trimers from Group 2 influenza virus on their surface. The nanoparticles are fusion proteins comprising a monomeric subunit (e.g., ferritin) joined to stabilized stem regions of Group 2 influenza virus HA proteins. The fusion proteins self-assemble to form the HA-displaying nanoparticles. Also provided are fusion proteins, and nucleic acid molecules encoding such proteins, and assays using nanoparticles of the invention to detect anti-influenza antibodies.

Abstract: The disclosure provides compounds of Formula I, which may be useful as aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitors and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The variables, J, R4, G, Q, and ring A are defined herein. Aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitors of Formula I are useful for treating a variety of conditions including cancer and inflammation. The disclosure includes methods for using compounds and salts of Formula I to treat colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, thyroid cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, leukemia, brain tumors breast cancer, atherosclerosis, ischaemic heart disease, acne vulgaris, asthma, autoimmune diseases, autoinflammatory diseases, chronic prostatitis, glomerulonephritis, inflammatory bowel disease, pelvic inflammatory disease, reperfusion injury, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, transplant rejection, vasculitis, and interstitial cystitis.

Abstract: Disclosed is a molecule comprising: (a) a first domain, which comprises a targeting moiety; (b) a second domain, which comprises an albumin binding domain (ABD), (c) a third domain, which comprises a furin cleavage sequence (“FCS”), which FCS is cleavable by furin; and (d) a fourth domain, which comprises an optionally substituted Domain III from Pseudomonas exotoxin A (“PE”). Related nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, populations of cells, pharmaceutical compositions, methods of producing the molecule, methods of treating or preventing cancer in a mammal, and methods of inhibiting the growth of a target cell are also disclosed.

Abstract: A vaccine composition and method of vaccination are provided useful for immunizing a subject against a rotavirus. The vaccines include rotavirus strains CDC-9 and CDC-66, fragments thereof, homologues thereof, or combinations thereof. Inventive vaccines may include a fragment of CDC-9, CDC-66, homologues thereof, or combinations thereof. Methods of inducing an immunological response are provided by administering an inventive vaccine.