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 provides a method polyclonal stimulation of T cells, the method comprising contacting a population of T cells with a nanomatrix, the nanomatrix comprising a) a flexible matrix, wherein said matrix is of polymeric material; and b) attached to said polymeric flexible matrix one or more polyclonal stimulatory agents which provide activation signals to the T cells; thereby activating and inducing the T cells to proliferate; wherein the nanomatrix is 1 to 500 nm in size. At least one first and one second stimulatory agents are attached to the same or to separate flexible matrices. If the stimulatory agents are attached to separate beads, fine-tuning of nanomatrices for the stimulation of the T cells is possible.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polynucleotide and a method for screening and enriching a recombinant protein expressed in a eukaryotic cell, the polynucleotide comprising a tricistronic expression cassette comprising a) a promoter, b) a gene of interest (GOI), c) a reporter gene, d) a selection marker gene, e) an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) element, and f) a 2A element. Said method comprises a) transfecting or transducing suitable eukaryotic host cells with the polynucleotides of the present invention, b) culturing the eukaryotic host cells under conditions so as to express the protein of interest, the reporter protein and the selection marker protein in a cell culture selection medium suitable for selecting positively-transfected/transduced cells by means of said selection marker, and c) screening, sorting and/or enriching the cells expressing high levels of protein of interest by means of the reporter protein.

Abstract: An anchoring/capturing system for selecting or analyzing a CHO cell according to a product secreted by the CHO cell is described. The anchoring/capturing system comprises a first antibody or a first antigen-binding fragment for anchoring to the extracellular surface of the CHO cell, and a second antibody or a second antigen-binding fragment for binding the secreted product. Uses and methods involving the anchoring/capturing system are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides the use of the cell surface antigen CD51 as a negative selection marker for neuronal cells and a method for enrichment, isolation and/or detection of neuronal cells comprising the steps a) contacting a sample containing neuronal cells with an antigen-binding fragment specific for the CD51 antigen coupled to a solid phase, thereby labeling the CD51 positive cells of said sample and b) isolating the non-labeled cells of said sample.

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: A cell strainer for separating particles from a cell suspension, having an upper portion with at least one filter area lying essentially perpendicular to the direction of flow of the suspension and a lower portion adapted to fit into the openings of at least two sample tubes with different sized openings. The lower portion has a first section with shoulders or flanges having the diameter of the opening of a first tube and a second section having an inner and outer wall serving as a receptacle for the neck of a second tube, where the diameter of the first section is larger than the diameter of the second section.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new, highly efficient anti-microbial compositions comprising essential oils, metal ions, organic acids and detergents. Bacteria-containing samples treated with the complete synergistic disinfecting composition according to the invention (A or B or C or D+O) do not show any living cell colonies, indicating that under these conditions all microorganisms were killed. Thus it is proven that the synergistic mixtures of the compounds according to the invention show a very effective antimicrobial effect.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for the treatment of cancer. In particular, the present invention identifies and characterizes the FANCI polypeptide as a vital component of the Fanconi anemia pathway and discloses inhibitors of FANCI and methods of using same. Such inhibitors are useful in inhibiting DNA damage repair and can be useful, for example, in the treatment of cancer.

Abstract: The invention concerns a three component system comprising surface-active substances, vitamins and metal ions for efficient destruction and removal of contaminating proteins, nucleic acids and microorganisms from surfaces like for example laboratory benches, floors, equipment and instruments. These non-corrosive and non-toxic solutions for removal of proteins, nucleic acids and microorganisms are applied by spraying, rubbing or immersion of contaminated surfaces thereby destroying, solubilizing inactivating and removing proteins and nucleic acids. In that way also microorganisms are killed with high efficiency and at the same time all genetic information is inactivated.

Abstract: A heating device for single cylindrical laboratory vessels (e.g., laboratory test tubes), the heating device including a clamp-like element using a force-fit to encompass at least a part of each cylindrical laboratory vessel, one or more electrical resistance heating circuits located at the interior of the clamp-like element, and grab handles to open and close the clamp-like element, thereby to insert or release the cylindrical laboratory vessel from the heating device.

Abstract: A method and associated device for enrichment of Neél-magnetic particles from a dispersion of Brown-magnetic particles and Neél-magnetic particles. The device and method use ferromagnetic separation particles having a mean diameter of 100 to 250 ?m located in a alternating magnetic field. The ferromagnetic separation particles have a magnetically and chemically inert coating.

Abstract: The application describes, inter alia, a method for isolating or enriching for dendritic cells from a mixture of human cells involving contacting cells in the mixture with an antibody that binds BDCA-4, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, under conditions in which the antibody or antigen-binding fragment binds BDCA-4+ dendritic cells, and separating dendritic cells bound by the antibody or antigen-binding fragment from other cells in the mixture.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of the 4-1BB receptor for identifying and/or separating specific regulatory Th cells after activation with an antigen, polyclonal regulatory Th cells after polyclonal activation and to a method for the identification and/or separation of regulatory Th cells, the regulatory T cells being detected on the basis of the expression of the 4-1BB receptor by an antibody, an antigen or ligands which are coupled to a fluorescent substance, haptenes or magnetic microparticles. The invention also relates to a kit comprising an antibody, an antigen or ligands for detecting the 4-1BB receptor for the identification and/or separation of a regulatory Th cell, the antibody being coupled to a fluorescent substance, haptenes or magnetic microparticles.

Abstract: Polypeptide with an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID No. 1 or a variant in which up to 10% of the amino acids have been altered by insertions, deletions or substitution.

Abstract: An anchoring/capturing system for selecting or analyzing a CHO cell according to a product secreted by the CHO cell is described. The anchoring/capturing system comprises a first antibody or a first antigen-binding fragment for anchoring to the extracellular surface of the CHO cell, and a second antibody or a second antigen-binding fragment for binding the secreted product. Uses and methods involving the anchoring/capturing system are provided.

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 pertains to a device (1) for removal of biological material from an organism. The device (1) comprises: a removal means (2) for removing biological material from an organism with a redirection means (3) for selecting luminal connection of a removal means (2) with a) a penetration means (6) for penetrating into the organism, b) a reception means (4) for receiving the material from the organism, and c) a reservoir means (12) for storage of a substance. The direction means (3) is configured such that the removals means (2) can form a luminal connection with the reservoir means (12) and with the reception means (4), or with the penetration means (6).

Abstract: The invention relates to a cell containing a gene encoding a conditional transgenic surface marker that is detectable upon expression on the surface of the cell, wherein the gene encoding a conditional transgenic surface marker comprises: (i) a promoter, operably linked to (ii) a first transcription sequence, and (iii) a second transcription sequence encoding the surface marker, whereby the first transcription sequence prevents the transcription of the second transcription sequence, whereby the first transcription sequence is conditionally removable such that the second transcription sequence is transcribable, and whereby the surface marker renders the cell sortable through the detection of the conditional transgenic surface marker. Furthermore, the invention relates to a construct for generating such a cell, and to a method for separating such a cell from a population of cells.

Abstract: Process for the tanning of hides and skins, characterized in that hides and skins are treated with tanning agents containing deglycosylated iridoids and/or deglycosylated secoiridoids, excluding tanning agents containing genipin.