Abstract: The use of gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) modulators in the treatment or prevention of diabetic eye disease is disclosed, and more particularly to their use for the treatment or prevention of early stage diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema by inhibiting apoptosis of retinal endothelial cells and inhibiting pericyte loss.

Abstract: One aspect of the technology relates to methods, assays and kits to identify ischemia and ischemic injury, including kidney injury, and are useful in determining efficacy of cancer treatments. In particular, differential phosphorylation of the nucleophosmin (NPM) polypeptide is an early marker of ischemic injuries such as kidney injury, AKI and ischemic renal cell injury. Another aspect of the technology relates to compositions and methods for the treatment of ischemia and kidney injury, including NPM inhibitory agents, including, but not limited to NPM inhibitory peptides for the treatment of ischemia and kidney injury.

Abstract: One aspect of the technology relates to methods, assays and kits to identify ischemia and ischemic injury, including kidney injury, and are useful in determining efficacy of cancer treatments. In particular, differential phosphorylation of the nucleophosmin (NPM) polypeptide is an early marker of ischemic injuries such as kidney injury, AKI and ischemic renal cell injury. Another aspect of the technology relates to compositions and methods for the treatment of ischemia and kidney injury, including NPM inhibitory agents, including, but not limited to NPM inhibitory peptides for the treatment of ischemia and kidney injury.

Abstract: This disclosure provides methods of making a megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitor cell (MEP), comprising differentiating a MEP precursor cell into a MEP in culture in the presence of an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) modulator. In some embodiments the AhR modulator is an AhR antagonist. In some embodiments the AhR modulator is an AhR agonist. In some embodiments the methods comprise culturing MEP precursor cells in the presence of an AHR antagonist and then culturing MEP precursor cells in the presence of an AHR agonist. In some embodiments the stem cell is a pluripotent stem cell. In some embodiments the MEP co-expresses CD41 and CD235. In some embodiments the number of MEPs produced in the culture increases exponentially. Methods of making a red blood cell (RBC) by culturing a MEP in the presence of an AhR modulator are also provided. Methods of making a megakaryocyte and/or a platelet, comprising culturing a MEP in the presence of an AhR modulator are also provided.

Abstract: This application provides a novel mouse model (PLA2g6 KOEx2) in which genetic deletion of the N terminus of PLA2g6 results in a loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in substantia nigra (SN), and development of PD-like motor deficits that can be significantly improved by L-DOPA. Based in part on experimental results demonstrated with this model, this disclosure provides genetically modified animals and genetically modified animal cells that comprise a mutant allele of PLA2g6 and in which store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) is impaired and ER Ca2+ stores are depleted. This disclosure also provides methods of screening a compound for an effect on the SOCE pathway and/or ER Ca2+ by administering the compound to such a genetically modified animal or genetically modified animal cell.

Abstract: The technology described herein relates to compositions and methods for the generation of a primordial NK/T cell, where the produced NK/T primordial cell can subsequently differentiate into T cells or NK cells at an extremely high efficiency and reproducibility. Other aspects relate to genetically modified iPSC cell lines, and method of their use to generate iPSC-derived NK/T primordial cells with a very high yield and high efficiency.

Abstract: The inventions provided herein relate to tissue markers and uses thereof, e.g., to mark a target tissue site (e.g., a biopsy site in a breast tissue) or to produce a cell scaffold. The tissue markers described herein are designed to be resistant to fast migration (e.g., immediate migration after implantation through a needle track) and slow migration (e.g., over an extended period of time) upon implantation at a target tissue site (e.g., a biopsy site in a breast tissue), without using an adhesive. Additionally or alternatively, the tissue markers described herein can be readily detectable by at least one imaging modality, e.g., but not limited to magnetic resonance imaging, X-ray imaging, ultrasound imaging, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides recombinant Roundabout Receptor 2 (ROBO2) proteins designed to bind SLIT ligands and prevent their binding to ROBO2 cell surface receptors. Also provided are methods for use of these recombinant ROBO2 proteins.

Abstract: The technology described herein relates, at least in part, to compositions comprising and methods for isolating and enriching natural IgM-producing phagocytic B (NIMPAB) cells and methods of producing IgM antibodies using such cells, as well as uses of the antibodies produced by the methods for the prevention and treatment of diseases wherein immunotherapy with such natural IgM antibodies and their derivatives can be useful.

Abstract: A system for analyzing a tissue sample includes two wavelength-division multiplexers and a fiber coupler. The first wavelength-division multiplexer combines visible and near infrared electromagnetic radiation and directs the combined electromagnetic radiation to the fiber coupler. The fiber coupler emits a sample beam of visible and near infrared electromagnetic radiation toward a tissue sample, and a reference beam of visible and near infrared electromagnetic radiation toward a reference mirror. The sample beam reflects off the tissue sample back to the fiber coupler. The reference beam reflects off the reference mirror back to the fiber coupler. The fiber coupler combines the reflected sample and reference beams and directs the combined electromagnetic radiation to the second wavelength-division multiplexer.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods comprising the use of a macroinitiator and application protocols to apply a hydrophilic coating to latex, or natural rubber, and compositions resulting from such methods. This coating results in e.g., an increased sense of lubrication when in contact with water or an aqueous solution.

Abstract: Methods of making a white matter fibrogram representing the connectome of the brain of a subject, comprising: (a) performing a multispectral multislice magnetic resonance scan on the brain of a subject, (b) storing image data indicative of a plurality of magnetic resonance weightings of each of a plurality of slices of the brain of the subject to provide directly acquired images, (c) processing the directly acquired images to generate a plurality of quantitative maps of the brain indicative of a plurality of qMRI parameters of the subject, (d) constructing a plurality of magnetic resonance images indicative of white matter structure from the quantitative maps, and (e) rendering a white matter fibrogram of the brain of the subject from the plurality of magnetic resonance images.

Abstract: The use of gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) modulators in the treatment or prevention of diabetic eye disease is disclosed, and more particularly to their use for the treatment or prevention of early stage diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema by inhibiting apoptosis of retinal endothelial cells and inhibiting pericyte loss.

Abstract: This disclosure provides methods of making a megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitor cell (MEP), comprising differentiating a stem cell into a MEP in culture in the presence of an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonist. In some embodiments the stem cell is a pluripotent stem cell. In some embodiments the MEP co-expresses CD41 and CD235. In some embodiments the number of MEPs produced in the culture increases exponentially. Methods of making a red blood cell (RBC) by culturing a MEP in the presence of an AhR agonist are also provided. Methods of making a megakaryocyte and/or a platelet, comprising culturing a MEP in the presence of an AhR modulator are also provided. In some embodiments the AhR modulator is an AhR antagonist. This disclosure also provides compositions comprising at least 1 million MEPs per ml and compositions in which at least 50% of the cells are MEPs.

Abstract: Cold spot genes of S. pneumoniae are disclosed that encode surface proteins that are universally conserved among known strains and have exceptionally low incidence of allelic variation. Cold spot polypeptides encoded by the genes that are antigenic on the S. pneumoniae cells on which they are expressed are candidates for immunogenic compositions capable of eliciting antibodies able to react with all or nearly all strains of S. pneumoniae, thus providing an improvement over currently available S. pneumoniae vaccines that protect inoculated individuals against a maximum of about 23 of the 94 or so known serotypes of S. pneumonia.

Abstract: This application provides a novel mouse model (PLA2g6 KOEx2) in which genetic deletion of the N terminus of PLA2g6 results in a loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in substantia nigra (SN), and development of PD-like motor deficits that can be significantly improved by L-DOPA. Based in part on experimental results demonstrated with this model, this disclosure provides genetically modified animals and genetically modified animal cells that comprise a mutant allele of PLA2g6 and in which store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) is impaired and ER Ca2+ stores are depleted. This disclosure also provides methods of screening a compound for an effect on the SOCE pathway and/or ER Ca2+ by administering the compound to such a genetically modified animal or genetically modified animal cell.

Abstract: One aspect of the technology relates to methods, assays and kits to identify ischemia and ischemic injury, including kidney injury, and are useful in determining efficacy of cancer treatments. In particular, differential phosphorylation of the nucleophosmin (NPM) polypeptide is an early marker of ischemic injuries such as kidney injury, AKI and ischemic renal cell injury. Another aspect of the technology relates to compositions and methods for the treatment of ischemia and kidney injury, including NPM inhibitory agents, including, but not limited to NPM inhibitory peptides for the treatment of ischemia and kidney injury.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for the treatment of chronic kidney disease and proteinuria and for the diagnosis of chronic kidney disease and monitoring the effects of treatment on the progression of chronic kidney disease and proteinuria based on unexpected roles for the SLIT-ROBO signaling pathway in the regulation of podocyte F-actin cytoskeleton and foot process structure in the kidney.

Abstract: A method for constructing a three-dimensional image of a sample includes producing electromagnetic radiation and directing the produced electromagnetic radiation such that it is incident on the sample at an oblique angle. The incident electromagnetic radiation is scanned in discrete increments to a plurality of discrete locations along a first direction, and at each discrete location, scanned along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The sample reflects a first portion of the incident electromagnetic radiation and absorbs a second portion of the incident electromagnetic radiation, and emits electromagnetic radiation responsive to the absorption. A plurality of cross-sectional images is produced from the reflected electromagnetic radiation and the emitted electromagnetic radiation, and each cross-sectional image is modified to compensate for the oblique angle. The modified cross-sectional images are then combined to create a three-dimensional image of the sample.

Abstract: Provided herein are novel agents that modulate AhR activity for use in therapeutic compositions and methods thereof for inhibiting cancer cell proliferation and tumor cell invasion and metastasis. The agents comprise AhR inhibitors or non-constitutive AhR agonists of Formula (I) and (II) for the inhibition of cancer cell growth and parameters that characterize tumor metastasis, such as tumor cell invasiveness.