Abstract: The invention relates to a laser assembly (100) having a laser (L) for generating primary laser pulses (1), beam splitting optics (15) for splitting a primary laser pulse into a plurality of temporally staggered sub-pulses, and having focusing optics (17-19) for focusing the sub-pulses in or on an object (20) so that every sub-pulse is focused in a separate focus volume (F). The invention is characterized in that the mutual spatial and/or temporal relationship of the focus volumes (F) of the sub-pulses originating from a common primary laser pulse is variably adjustable. The invention also relates to a corresponding method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a humanized antibody or fragment thereof specific for the antigen CD45R0, wherein said antibody or fragment thereof comprises a humanized heavy chain variable domain comprising a CDR1 region of SEQ ID NO:1, a CDR2 region of SEQ ID NO:2, and a CDR3 region of SEQ ID NO:3, and a humanized light chain variable domain comprising a CDR1 region of SEQ ID NO:4, a CDR2 region of SEQ ID NO:5, and a CDR3 region of SEQ ID NO:6. It is also provided the use of the present antibody or fragment thereof for enrichment or depletion of CD45R0-expressing cells from a sample comprising CD45R0-expressing cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of analyzing airborne nucleic acid molecules using a device for the filtering and/or collecting of said molecules using an air sampling system, isolating the nucleic acids, and subsequent analysis thereof.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a fluorescent dye according to the general formula I: with C is a core moiety comprising 20 to 200 atoms; S same or different ether residues comprising 1 to 10 carbon atoms; n is an integer ranging from 2 to 500; m is an integer ranging from 0 to 500; x is an integer ranging from 2 to 50; y is an integer ranging from 1 to 50; R same or different residue comprising a reactive group capable of forming a covalent bond with a biomolecule; F same or different fluorophores covalently bound to (S)n. The fluorescent dyes can be conjugated to a biomolecule and used for flow cytometry and/or by fluorescence microscopy.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a Perfusion device for biological tissues comprising a casing having two parts, a first part (1) and a second part (9), a holder (7) for a plurality of hollow penetration structures (8), wherein the hollow penetration structures (8) are provided with at least one orifice having fluid communication through the holder (7) a support (5) for the biological tissue (6) characterized in that the support (5) for the biological tissue (6) is positioned in the casing at a distance to the holder (7) that by joining the first part (1) and the second part (9) to form the casing, the hollow penetration structures (8) are in proximity to the holder (7). Use of the perfusion device in a process for disaggregation of a biological tissue to yield target cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for analyzing simultaneously multiple human antigen-specific cell populations of a sample, the sample comprising B cells and antigen-specific cells, the method comprising a) separation of B cells from said sample, b) dividing the B cells into n sub-samples, c) differentially labeling the B cells of said sub-samples, wherein at least n-1sub-samples are labeled, d) pulsing of the B cells of each sub-sample with single or multiple peptides, e) pooling of the labeled and peptide-pulsed B cells with cells of said sample comprising said antigen-specific cells, f) co-cultivation of the cells of step e), g) flow cytometry analysis of the B cells with regard to their cell number and CD83 expression, thereby determining the potency of said antigen-specific cells in said sample.

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 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 directed to disposable for electroporation of cells, comprising a fluid compartment in an interior of the disposable; a first fluid port for providing cell suspension to the fluid compartment, and a second fluid port for delivering a fluid comprising at least one compound to be electroporated into the cells to the fluid compartment; a first electrode and a second electrode disposed in the fluid compartment; at least one exit port which delivers the fluid from the fluid compartment wherein the first and second fluid port have a fluid communication to a mixing channel which has a fluid communication to the fluid compartment.

Abstract: A centrifuge chamber for separating a sample into at least two components, including a cylinder having a base plate and a cover plate, and a rotational axis assembly having at least one port for input and/or output of the sample, the port being connected to a tube located on or in the base plate and/or cover plate, and the tube having one or more openings into the centrifuge chamber, where at least one opening of the tube is provided with at least one flat-shaped deflector having a surface lying substantially parallel with the cylinder, and a width at its base of at most 1/10 of the inner circumference of the cylinder.

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: The present invention relates to a method of identifying and separating non-regulatory T-cells (conventional T-cells) from a mixture comprising regulatory T-cells by using of the CD154 molecule (CD40 ligand) through depletion of CD154+ T-cells from the mixture or in combination with additional positive selection of Treg using markers that are specific for regulatory T-cells, such as for example, CD25, GITR, CTLA4 or markers which are specific for activated regulatory T-cells, such as, for example, CD137, “latent TGF-beta (LAP)”, GARP (LRRC32), CD121a/b, thereby generating a cell composition of activated Treg cells. The invention relates also to a kit comprising an antibody for detecting CD154 and at least one additional antibody for detecting markers for activated or non-activated regulatory T-cells. The antibodies can be coupled to a fluorescent dye or magnetic microparticles.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a fluorescent dye according to the general formula I: with C is a core moiety comprising 20 to 200 atoms; S same or different ether residues comprising 1 to 10 carbon atoms; n is an integer ranging from 2 to 500; m is an integer ranging from 0 to 500; x is an integer ranging from 2 to 50; y is an integer ranging from 1 to 50; R same or different residue comprising a reactive group capable of forming a covalent bond with a biomolecule; F same or different fluorophores covalently bound to (S)n. The fluorescent dyes can be conjugated to a biomolecule and used for flow cytometry and/or by fluorescence microscopy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for generation of genetically modified stem cells comprising the steps a) providing a cell sample in suspension comprising stem cells in a centrifugation chamber comprising a base plate and cover plate connected by a cylinder b) adjusting the volumetric concentration of stem cells in the cell sample to at least 1×105 stem cells per mL cell sample by centrifugation c) introducing viral and/or non-viral vectors to the centrifugation chamber for genetically modifying the stem cells d) adjusting the spatial concentration of stem cells in the centrifugation chamber by rotating the centrifugation chamber at a speed where the cell sample is located at the outermost 35% of the radius of the base plate of the centrifugation chamber, thereby inducing gene modification of the stem cells.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a releasable conjugate comprising a biotinylated ligand having a biotin moiety, a ligand moiety (Ligand1) and a biotin-binding molecule (bbm) bound to the biotin moiety of the biotinylated ligand. The ligand moiety of the biotinylated ligand may be separated by a spacer group consisting of polyethylene glycol. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for cleaving the releasable conjugate by providing biotin or streptavidin and an auxiliary release agent in a sufficient concentration to displace the biotin-binding molecule (bbm) from the biotin moiety of the biotinylated ligand and a method for separation of target cells from a cell sample utilizing the conjugate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new, highly efficient synergistic compositions comprising mixtures of essential oils, metal ions, detergents and organic acids in combination with plant protection agents. That is, applied as an adjuvans or additive, said mixtures significantly increase the efficacy and biocompatibility of conventional plant protection agents for plant protection products. The new synergistic composition thereby allows significant reduction of active ingredients of conventional plant protection agents.

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: An N-terminally protected peptide having the sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1) X-Glu-Cys-Lys-Ile-Lys-Gln-Ile-Ile-Asn-Met-Trp-Gln, wherein X is a group protecting the N-terminal of the peptide.

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 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.