Abstract: This disclosure provides an improved system for culturing human pluripotent stem cells. Traditionally, pluripotent stem cells are cultured on a layer of feeder cells (such as mouse embryonic fibroblasts) to prevent them from differentiating. In the system described here, the role of feeder cells is replaced by components added to the culture environment that support rapid proliferation without differentiation. Effective features are a suitable support structure for the cells, and an effective medium that can be added fresh to the culture without being preconditioned by another cell type. Culturing human embryonic stem cells in fresh medium according to this invention causes the cells to expand surprisingly rapidly, while retaining the ability to differentiate into cells representing all three embryonic germ layers. This new culture system allows for bulk proliferation of pPS cells for commercial production of important products for use in drug screening and human therapy.

Abstract: It has been discovered that when pluripotent stem cells are cultured in the presence of a hepatocyte differentiation agent, a population of cells is derived that has a remarkably high proportion of cells with phenotypic characteristics of liver cells. In one example, human embryonic stem cells are allowed to form embryoid bodies, and then combined with the differentiation agent n-butyrate, optionally supplemented with maturation factors. In another example, n-butyrate is added to human embryonic stem cells in feeder-free culture. Either way, a remarkably uniform cell population is obtained, which is predominated by cells with morphological features of hepatocytes, expressing surface markers characteristic of hepatocytes, and having enzymatic and biosynthetic activity important for liver function.

Abstract: This invention provides populations of neural progenitor cells and differentiated neurons, obtained by culturing pluripotent cells in special growth cocktails. The technology can be used to produce progenitors that proliferate through at least ˜40 doublings, while maintaining the ability to differentiate into a variety of different neural phenotypes, including dopaminergic neurons. The neural progenitors and terminally differentiated neurons of this invention can be generated in large quantities for use in drug screening and the treatment of neurological disorders.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a system for qualifying embryonic stem cells intended for human therapy. A large-scale sequencing project has identified important markers that are characteristic of undifferentiated pluripotent cells. Combinations of these markers can be used to validate the self-renewing capacity of ES cells, and their ability to differentiate into tissue types suitable for regenerative medicine. The marker system of this invention has been used to screen feeder cells, media additives, and culture conditions that promote proliferation of stem cells without differentiation. A culture system optimized by following these markers is suitable for rapid expansion of undifferentiated cells from existing lines, or the derivation of new lines that are equally apposite for clinical use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an in vitro method for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and/or the susceptibility to multiple sclerosis comprising the steps of a) obtaining a biological sample; and b) detecting and/or measuring the increase, decrease and/or absence of (a) specific marker gene(s) as disclosed herein.

Abstract: A purified human papillomavirus gene selected from the group consisting of E1, E6-E7, L1, and L2, wherein said human papillomavirus is selected from the group consisting of HPV-2d, HPV-10b, HPV-14a, HPV-14b, HPV-15, HPV-17a, HPV-17b, HPV-19, HPV-20, HPV-21, HPV-22, HPV-23, HPV-24, HPV-28, HPV-29, HPV-31, HPV-32, HPV-IP2 and HPV-IP4. Polypeptides encoded by these genes. The polypeptides can be used in immunogenic compositions.

Abstract: A device for receiving a chip shaped carrier having an active surface, e.g. a surface which carries an array of DNA oligonucleids and which is adapted to be read by an electro-optical reading device. The device comprises: a cartridge having an opening for receiving a liquid sample and including casing parts (14, 15); a casing part having an inner surface and outer surface, a first cavity for receiving a chip shaped carrier, and means which provide access to that first cavity and thereby to the active surface of the chip shaped carrier; a sealing material which is at least once reversibly liquidifiable; the shape and dimensions of first cavity, chip shaped carrier, and sealing material, being chosen that the chip shaped carrier fits into the space delimited by the sealing material. The process for mounting the carrier in the cartridge essentially consists in placing the carrier in the first cavity and liquidifying the sealing material.