Abstract: To form a layer separating two volumes of aqueous solution, there is used an apparatus comprising elements defining a chamber, the elements including a body of non-conductive material having formed therein at least one recess opening into the chamber, the recess containing an electrode. A pre-treatment coating of a hydrophobic fluid is applied to the body across the recess. Aqueous solution, having amphiphilic molecules added thereto, is flowed across the body to cover the recess so that aqueous solution is introduced into the recess from the chamber and a layer of the amphiphilic molecules forms across the recess separating a volume of aqueous solution introduced into the recess from the remaining volume of aqueous solution.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new method of determining the presence, absence or characteristics of an analyte. The analyte is coupled to a membrane. The invention also relates to nucleic acid sequencing.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof that specifically bind to human PAR-2 and compositions comprising such antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof. In a particular aspect, the antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof that specifically bind to human PAR-2 block the interaction between a PAR-2 activating ligand and an extracellular domain of PAR-2, and/or blocks PAR-2 activation by a PAR-2 activating ligand, In further aspects, the antibodies or antigen-binding fragments can be used to treat diseases or conditions associated with increased expression of PAR-2 and/or diseases or conditions that can be alleviated by antagonizing activation of PAR-2 by a PAR-2 activating ligand (e.g., airway diseases, skin diseases, cancer, orofacial granulomatosis, inflammatory conditions, and pain associated with various diseases or conditions).

Abstract: The disclosure provides TNF-like ligand 1a (TL1a)-binding proteins comprising an antigen binding domain of an antibody which binds specifically to TL1a and inhibits interaction of TL1a and Death Receptor 3 (DR3) and which does not inhibit the interaction of TL1a and Decoy Receptor 3 (DcR3). The disclosure also provides uses of the TL1a-binding proteins.

Abstract: A time-ordered series of measurements of a polymer made during translocation of the polymer through a Nanopore are analysed. The measurements are dependent on the identity of k-mers in the Nanopore, a k-mer bring k polymer units of the polymer, where k is a positive integer. The method involves deriving, from the series of measurements, a feature vector of time-ordered features representing characteristics of the measurements; and determining similarity between the derived feature vector and at least one other feature vector.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new method of determining the presence, absence or characteristics of an analyte. The analyte is coupled to a membrane. The invention also relates to nucleic acid sequencing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new method of determining the presence, absence or characteristics of an analyte. The analyte is coupled to a membrane. The invention also relates to nucleic acid sequencing.

Abstract: A sequence of polymer units in a polymer (3), eg. DNA, is estimated from at least one series of measurements related to the polymer, eg. ion current as a function of translocation through a nanopore (1), wherein the value of each measurement is dependent on a k-mer being a group of k polymer units (4). A probabilistic model, especially a hidden Markov model (HMM), is provided, comprising, for a set of possible k-mers: transition weightings representing the chances of transitions from origin k-mers to destination k-mers; and emission weightings in respect of each k-mer that represent the chances of observing given values of measurements for that k-mer. The series of measurements is analysed using an analytical technique, eg. Viterbi decoding, that refers to the model and estimates at least one estimated sequence of polymer units in the polymer based on the likelihood predicted by the model of the series of measurements being produced by sequences of polymer units.

Abstract: Methods of characterizing an analyte using a detector such as a nanopore and an enzyme are provided. One aspect features methods for characterizing a double-stranded polynucleotide using a detector, e.g., without using a hairpin connecting a template and a complement of the double-stranded polynucleotide. Another aspect features methods for characterizing an analyte using a tag-modified nanopore with increased sensitivity and/or higher throughput. Compositions and systems including, e.g., adaptors for attachment to double-stranded polynucleotides and tag-modified nanopores, which can be used in the methods are also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting an array of layers of amphiphilic molecules, the apparatus comprising: a body, formed in a surface of the body, an array of sensor wells capable of supporting a layer of amphiphilic molecules across the sensor wells, the sensor wells each containing an electrode for connection to an electrical circuit, and formed in the surface of the body between the sensor wells, flow control wells capable of smoothing the flow of a fluid across the surface.

Abstract: To form a layer separating two volumes of aqueous solution, there is used an apparatus comprising elements defining a chamber, the elements including a body of non-conductive material having formed therein at least one recess opening into the chamber, the recess containing an electrode. A pre-treatment coating of a hydrophobic fluid is applied to the body across the recess. Aqueous solution, having amphiphilic molecules added thereto, is flowed across the body to cover the recess so that aqueous solution is introduced into the recess from the chamber and a layer of the amphiphilic molecules forms across the recess separating a volume of aqueous solution introduced into the recess from the remaining volume of aqueous solution.

Abstract: The invention relates to mutant forms of lysenin. The invention also relates to analyte characterisation using lysenin.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new method of determining in a sample the presence or absence of one or more analyte members of a group of two or more analytes. The invention therefore relates to a multiplex assay for determining the presence or absence of each analyte in a group of multiple analytes. The assay uses aptamers and transmembrane pores.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new method of determining the presence, absence or one or more characteristics of multiple analytes. The invention concerns coupling a first analyte to a membrane containing a detector and investigating the first analyte using the detector. The invention also concerns coupling a second analyte to the membrane and investigating the second analyte. The first analyte is uncoupled form the membrane prior to investigating the second analyte. The invention also relates to polynucleotide sequencing.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved method for characterising a template polynucleotide. The method involves using a polymerase to prepare a modified polynucleotide which makes it easier to characterise than the template polynucleotide.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting an array of layers of amphiphilic molecules, the apparatus comprising: a body, formed in a surface of the body, an array of sensor wells capable of supporting a layer of amphiphilic molecules across the sensor wells, the sensor wells each containing an electrode for connection to an electrical circuit, and formed in the surface of the body between the sensor wells, flow control wells capable of smoothing the flow of a fluid across the surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to modified helicases with reduced unbinding from polynucleotides. The helicases can be used to control the movement of polynucleotides and are particularly useful for sequencing polynucleotides.

Abstract: There is disclosed a nanopore support structure comprising a wall layer comprising walls defining a plurality of wells, and overhangs extending from the walls across each of the wells, the overhang defining an aperture configured to support a membrane suitable for insertion of a nanopore. There is further disclosed a nanopore sensing device comprising a nanopore support structure, and methods of manufacturing the nanopore support structure and the nanopore sensing device.

Abstract: The invention relates to new methods of moving helicases past spacers on polynucleotides and controlling the loading of helicases on polynucleotides. The invention also relates to new methods of characterising target polynucleotides using helicases.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new method of determining in a sample the presence or absence of one or more analyte members of a group of two or more analytes. The invention therefore relates to a multiplex assay for determining the presence or absence of each analyte in a group of multiple analytes. The assay uses aptamers and transmembrane pores.