Abstract: The compositions and methods of the invention described herein provide pre- or post-exposure treatments against filovirus or arenavirus infection by expressing one or more genes (e.g., two ore more genes) from filoviruses or arenaviruses in a delivery vehicle (e.g., a recombinant viral vector or a liposome).

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present invention provides a method of elevating lipid content in vegetative (non-seed) plant or algae cells, plant tissues, or whole plants by genetically modifying the plant or algae to express a lipid droplet-associated protein or polypeptide (such as fat-specific protein 27) of mammalian origin. Also provided are genetically-modified plant or algae cells, plant tissues, or whole plants with elevated cellular lipid content, expressing a lipid droplet-associated protein or polypeptide (such as fat-specific protein 27) of mammalian (e.g. human) origin.

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.

Abstract: The invention provides immunoassays for detecting serum auto-antibodies reactive against a phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) and uses thereof for diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (MN).

Abstract: The methods and compositions described herein are based, in part, on the discovery of a polypeptide of soluble CD23 (sCD23) that binds and sequesters IgE. Thus, the sCD23 peptides, polypeptides and derivatives described herein are useful for treating conditions or disorders involving increased IgE levels such as e.g., allergy, anaphylaxis, inflammation, lymphoma, and certain cancers.

Abstract: The invention is directed to protein or nucleic acid assays for diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of lung cancers, in particular small cell lung cancer using biomarkers comprising haptoglobin isoforms, or fragments or variants thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a therapeutic peptide useful in the treatment or prevention of infection caused by Gram-positive bacteria such as Bacillus anthracis.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the discovery that a single lentiviral vector expressing multiple individual transcription factor proteins from a single multi-cistronic mRNA can reprogram a fibroblast cell to a stem cell-like cell. These reprogrammed induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are pluripotent. Additions of the Cre-LoxP sequences into the single lentiviral vector facilitate excision of the vector after reprogramming in achieved. Addition of a maker gene into the single lentiviral vector facilitates detection of the presence of the vector in an iPS. The invention provides compositions and methods of producing iPS cells using a single multi-cistronic lentiviral vector.

Abstract: The invention relates to immunoassays, reagents, therapeutics and methods of diagnosing and prognosis evaluation of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (MN). Immunoassays comprise enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assays and nephelometric immunoassays for serum auto-antibodies reactive against a phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R). Therapeutic methods include removal of the auto-antibodies by absorbance or administration of soluble PLA2R or fragments to sequester the auto-antibodies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an endoscopic biopsy forceps (10) with an open central channel. The forceps include a sheath (20) having a proximal end and a distal end, a housing (50) connected with the distal end of the outer sheath, an open channel actuator control means (30) having a proximal end and a distal end and passing through the sheath, an operating means attached to the proximal end of the open channel actuator means, an open channel actuator (60.) attached to a distal end of the open channel actuator control means and having a first projection and second projection, a first jaw (40) having an actuator engagement projection and having a first position and a second position, and a second jaw having an actuator engagement projection and a first position and a second position.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the fields of cancer therapy and cancer prevention. More particularly, the present invention generally relates to a diagnostic marker for predicting the efficacy of topoisomerase I (topo I) inhibitors in the treatment of cancers. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods, machines, computer systems, computable readable media and kits which can be used to identify and determine the effectiveness of topoisomerase I (topo I) inhibitors in the treatment of cancers, and in some embodiments, the level of sensitivity or resistance of a tumor cell to a topoisomerase I inhibitor, such as camptothecin (CPT), or CTP analogues such as topotecan and irinotecan and derivatives thereof.

Abstract: The compositions and methods of the invention described herein provide pre- or post-exposure treatments against filovirus or arenavirus infection by expressing one or more genes (e.g., two ore more genes) from filoviruses or arenaviruses in a delivery vehicle (e.g., a recombinant viral vector or a liposome).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a microfluidic device for lysis of cells, such as bacteria and microorganisms. In particular, the present invention relates to microfluidic devices and methods of manufacture of such microfluidic devices comprising a substrate with at least one channel packed with a polymer monolith embedded with carbon particles, for example carbon nanotubes. The microfluidic devices and methods of the present invention are useful for cell lysis of cells within a biological sample, such as a untreated biological sample comprising microorganisms, such as but not limited to gram positive and gram negative bacteria.

Abstract: Biopsy instruments are integrated with a multi-fiber optical probe adapted to perform diagnostic measurements. In addition to being able to analyze, treat or remove tissue, such integrated devices characterize tissue by measuring the amount of scattering and absorption of light transmitted into the tissue. Each fiberoptic probe has an illuminating fiber that provides a broadband light source for transmission into tissue, and a collecting fiber that collects the light scattered by the tissue and transmits the collected light to a spectrometer. One embodiment is an endoscope-mediated tool with a jaw-type biopsy forceps and a multi-fiber optical probe which is conveyed through a hollow central channel. Another embodiment is an endoscope-mediated tool with a jaw-type biopsy forceps and a plurality of multi-fiber optical probes. Yet another embodiment is an endoscopic polypectomy-type snare catheter with a multi-fiber optical probe located at the tip.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for the treatment and prevention of neoplasia by administering an effective amount of a NSAID in combination with an effective amount of an immunosuppressant agent. In particular, the present invention provides methods and compositions for the treatment and prevention of neoplasia by administering an effective amount of COX-2 inhibitor in combination with an effective amount of an immunosuppressant agent.

Abstract: In vitro delivery of the diphtheria toxin (DT) catalytic (C) domain from the lumen of purified early endosomes to the external milieu requires the addition of both ATP and a cytosolic translocation factor (CTF) complex. The results presented here demonstrate that ?-COP plays an essential role in the cytosolic release of the C-domain and is mediated by a consensus peptide sequence found on several bacterial toxins and in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. The invention features methods for inhibiting cell death that include the administration of compounds based on this consensus sequence that inhibit the translocation of the catalytic domain of toxins or transcription factors. Also featured are methods for identifying compounds that inhibit cell death, and methods for identifying compounds that promote cell death by blocking or accelerating, respectively, the rate of toxin/factor endosomal translocation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a therapeutic peptide useful in the treatment or prevention of infection caused by Gram-positive bacteria such as Bacillus anthracis.

Abstract: In one embodiment, this invention provides an antagonist of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) consisting essentially of a 24 amino acid polypeptide corresponding to positions 7–30 of the sequence of GIP. In another embodiment, this invention provides a method of preventing and treating obesity and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (Type II) in a patient comprising administering to the patient an antagonist of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). In yet another embodiment, this invention provides a method of improving glucose tolerance in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal an antagonist of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP).

Abstract: Disclosed are nucleic acid circuits and methods of using same to make proteins.

Abstract: The invention consists of three image-postprocessing phases for the purposes of generating high-quality quantitative MR images (proton density (PD), T1, and T2) as well as high-quality virtual MR images with continuously adjustable computer-synthesized contrast weightings, from source images acquired directly with an MRI scanner. Each of the image-postprocessing phases uses one or several new computer algorithms that improve image quality with respect to prior art, including linear-combination-of source-images (LCSI) algorithms for generating PD images and model-conforming algorithms for generating Q-MR images of tissue properties that influence NMR relaxation.