Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for identifying flavivirus cross-reactive epitopes. Also provided are flavivirus E-glycoprotein cross-reactive epitopes and flavivirus E-glycoprotein cross-reactive epitopes having reduced or ablated cross-reactivity (and polypeptides comprising such epitopes), as well as methods of using these molecules to elicit an immune response against a flavivirus and to detect a flaviviral infection.

Abstract: A motorized surgical instrument that may be held by the surgeon or be attached to the surgeon's limb via a special adapter that includes an interface between the surgeon and the surgical tool is provided. The motorized surgical instrument includes mechanism, motors, gears, interface and power source that enable the surgeon to easily control the motorized surgical tools in order perform the surgical procedure.

Abstract: LAT (Linker for Activation of T-cells) is a protein involved in signaling through the T-cell receptor (TCR). The invention provides a LAT protein including mutations at ubiquitylation sites that result in an increase in stability of LAT in stimulated and unstimulated cells, and enhanced signaling through the TCR. The invention further provides use for a LAT protein including mutations at ubiquitylation sites for therapeutic and laboratory methods.

Abstract: The disclosure provides pharmaceutical preparations containing (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine, or (R)- or (S)-dehydronorketamine, or other stereoisomeric dehydro or hydroxylated ketamine metabolite. (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine The disclosure also provides novel ketamine metabolite prodrugs. The disclosure provides methods of treating, bipolar depression, major depressive disorder, neuropathic and chronic pain, including complex regional pain disorder (CRPS) by administering a purified ketamine metabolite or a ketamine metabolite prodrug directly to patients in need of such treatment.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of promoting the host defense of a patient to a bacterial infection comprising administering to a patient suffering or at risk of a bacterial infection, a pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of the pleiotropic cytokine, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) protein or polypeptide in an amount and at a location sufficient to promote the host defense of the patient to the bacterial infection. In a preferred embodiment, the bacterial infection is the infection of the patient with MRSA. The invention also provides a method of treating blood product, which comprises introducing a TSLP protein or polypeptide into such blood product, wherein the blood product is extracorporeal and comprises at least one neutrophil.

Abstract: This disclosure provides compositions that include a mixture of viral like particles (VLPs), expressing different individual influenza hemagglutinin (HA) proteins that elicit broadly reactive immune responses to a wide variety of influenza viruses. For example, the composition can include at least two different influenza VLPs, a first VLP comprising a first HA polypeptide and a second VLP comprising a second influenza HA polypeptide, wherein the first and the second HA polypeptide are different subtypes and/or are from different influenza viruses, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or an adjuvant. Methods of using the disclosed polymeric influenza VLP compositions to stimulate an immune response against influenza viruses, for example as a pre-pandemic or a seasonal vaccine, are provided.

Abstract: Monoclonal antibodies that specifically bind ataxia telangiectasia-mutated and RAD3-related kinase phosphorylated at position 1989 (pT1989 ATR), antigen binding fragments, conjugates thereof, and the use of these antibodies, antigen binding fragments and conjugates are disclosed herein. Also disclosed are nucleic acids encoding these antibodies, vectors including these antibodies, and isolated host cells transformed with these nucleic acids and vectors. Methods are also disclosed for using these antibodies, such as to detect pT1989 ATR, or to determine the dose of an agent of use to treat a subject. The antibodies are also of use for identifying ATR inhibitors.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for converting a T cell into a cell that exhibits at least one regulatory T cell phenotype. The converted T cell is generated by contacting a T cell with a cell that is modified to comprise an agent capable of activating PD1 signaling in a T cell. The converted T cell is useful for preventing, suppressing, blocking or inhibiting an immune response. For example the converted T cell is useful for preventing rejection of a transplanted tissue in a human or other animal host, or protecting against graft versus host disease. The converted T cell can also be used to treat autoimmune diseases.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes improved adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors for gene therapy applications in the treatment of glycogen storage disease, particularly glycogen storage disease type Ia (GSD-Ia). Described are recombinant nucleic acid molecules, vectors and recombinant AAV that include a G6PC promoter/enhancer, a synthetic intron, a G6PC coding sequence (such as a wild-type or codon-optimized G6PC coding sequence), and stuffer nucleic acid sequence situated between the G6PC promoter/enhancer and the intron, as well as between the intron and the G6PC coding sequence. The recombinant AAVs disclosed herein exhibit highly efficient liver transduction and are capable of correcting metabolic abnormalities in an animal model of GSD-Ia.

Abstract: This disclosure provides IR700-molecule conjugates and methods of their use to remove (e.g., separate or isolate) a target from a sample in vivo or from a subject in vitro. It is shown herein that exposure of IR700 to near infrared (NIR) light removes a portion of IR700, changing it from a hydrophilic molecule, to one that is hydrophobic, resulting in aggregation of IR700 and anything bound to it. For example, the disclosed IR700-molecule conjugates and methods provide photo-controlled ways to control the pharmacokinetics of a drug in vivo, and can be used to remove undesired agents from environmental or food samples or to isolate target molecules in a laboratory.

Abstract: A curable organopolysiloxane composition and a semiconductor device are described. In a cured state and under conditions that the temperature is 25° C. and the humidity is 60% RH, the composition has the tensile strength of 2 to 8 Mpa, the elongation at break of 35% to 100% and the index of refraction being equal to or greater than 1.45. The composition includes: (A) organopolysiloxane comprising an R13SiO1/2 unit, an R22SiO2/2 unit and an R3SiO3/2 unit; (B) branched polyorganohydrogensiloxane having the viscosity of 300 to 4000 mPa·s, wherein each molecule has on average at least three silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms and at least one aromatic group, and the content of the aromatic group is larger than 10 mol %; and (C) a hydrosilylation catalyst having the content capable of facilitating curing of the composition.

Abstract: Novel phantoms are provided herein that can accurately mimic the optical and/or acoustic properties of living tissue. The disclosed phantoms are constructed of one or more polyvinyl chloride plastisol (PVCP) gels comprising a PVC and a binary plasticizer. The phantoms can be used, for example, to calibrate or test an optical and/or acoustic detection system, such as a photoacoustic imaging system or an ultrasound imaging system.

Abstract: Methods of inhibiting metastasis in cancer patients are provided, wherein the methods comprise reducing TGF? signaling, for example, by reducing TGF? receptor II expression in myeloid cells. Vectors comprising a TGF? receptor II RNAi nucleic acid sequence operably linked to a myeloid specific promoter also are provided. A method of diagnosing cancer in an individual by determining TGF? receptor II expression in myeloid cells in the individual is provided. Additionally, a method of modulating TGF? activity in myeloid cells in a cancer patient comprising administering a regulator of at least one of the GSK3 and PI3K pathways to the patient is provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are chimeric flaviviruses including non-coding regions, non-structural proteins, and at least a portion of a C protein from West Nile virus (WNV), and a prM protein and an E protein from Dengue virus (DENV). The DENV may be DEN1 serotype, DEN2 serotype, DEN3 serotype, or DEN4 serotype. Also disclosed herein are compositions and methods for eliciting an immune response in a subject, such as an immune response to one or more DENV serotypes. In particular embodiments, the compositions include one or more inactivated viruses including a WN/DENV chimeric nucleic acid (such as a tetravalent inactivated vaccine including a WN/DEN1 chimera, a WN/DEN2 chimera, a WN/DEN3 chimera, and a WN/DEN4 chimera). The compositions may be administered to a subject to elicit an immune response.

Abstract: A device for transplanting body fat includes a chamber in the form of a hollow cylinder divided by a plunger guidable on an inner casing surface of the chamber into a proximal portion and a distal portion which is fluidically decoupled from said proximal portion. A piston connected to the plunger has an end which has a fluidic connection extending through the plunger to the chamber, and the plunger is configured as a filter in the region of the fluidic connection, and the distal end of the piston comprises a first closable media connection and means for guiding fluids and/or fatty tissue are connectable to the chamber, wherein fluid and/or fatty tissue can be sucked into the proximal portion of the chamber and/or in through the plunger by supplying the first media connection in the open state with a negative pressure.

Abstract: Disclosed are compounds of formula (I), formula (II), and formula (III): wherein Ar, R1, A, and X are as defined in the specification. These compounds are antiviral agents and are contemplated for use in the treatment of viral infections, for example, hepatitis C. These compounds are also contemplated for use in treating or preventing cancers.

Abstract: Compositions, methods and kits are described for identifying biomolecules (e.g., proteins and nucleic acids) expressed in a biological sample that are associated with the presence, development, or progression of a disease (such as cancer), or more generally determination of the etiology or risk factors associated with a disease. Sample types analyzed by the disclosed methods include but are not limited to archival tissue blocks that have been preserved in a fixative, tissue biopsy samples, tissue microarrays, and so forth. The methods disclosed herein correlate expression profiles of biomolecules with various disease types, and allow for the determination of relative survival rates; in some embodiments, the methods permit determination of survival rates for a subject with cancer. In other embodiments, the disclosure relates to methods for evaluating therapeutic regimes for the treatment, such as treatment of cancer.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods and compositions for detecting the presence of Prototype and/or Archetype JC virus in a biological sample from a subject. In some embodiments, the methods include amplifying and detecting a first nucleic acid sequence unique to Archetype JC virus in a biological sample, and a second nucleic acid sequence common to both Archetype and Prototype JC virus in the biological sample. In several embodiments, the methods can be used to identify JC virus in a biological sample from a subject at risk for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Compositions and kits for use in the disclosed methods are also provided.

Abstract: To provide a method for simply measuring ethanolamine phosphate in a sample, and a reagent, kit, program and the like useful in the method. A measurement method of ethanolamine phosphate includes a first step of adding an enzyme, which can catalyze a reaction that forms acetaldehyde from ethanolamine phosphate, to a sample, and conducting a first enzymatic reaction to form acetaldehyde, phosphoric acid and ammonia; and a second step of quantifying at least one of the resultant acetaldehyde, phosphoric acid and ammonia to determine an amount of the ethanolamine phosphate in the measurement sample.

Abstract: The present invention combines a targeted cargo protein with an active agent for the treatment of a disease or condition.