Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for preventing or attenuating cancer progression or blocking metastasis in prostate cancer and other cancers (e.g., ovarian carcinoma, endometrial cancer, renal cell carcinoma) that are characterized by overexpression of the type II cell surface serine protease hepsin, based on the discovery of multiple disclosed compounds having activity as specific hepsin inhibitors.

Abstract: A fluid delivery device includes an array of needles, each in fluid communication with a respective reservoir. Respective actuators are coupled so as to be operable to drive fluid from the reservoirs via needle ports. Each needle can have a plurality of ports, and the ports can be arranged to deliver a substantially equal amount of fluid at any given location along its length. A driver is coupled to the actuators to selectively control the rate, volume, and direction of flow of fluid through the needles. The device can simultaneously deliver a plurality of fluid agents along respective axes in solid tissue in vivo. If thereafter resected, the tissue can be sectioned for evaluation of an effect of each agent on the tissue, and based on the evaluation, candidate agents selected or deselected for clinical trials or therapy, and subjects selected or deselected for clinical trials or therapeutic treatment.

Abstract: A method of measuring immunocompetence is described. This method provides a means for assessing the effects of diseases or conditions that compromise the immune system and of therapies aimed to reconstitute it. This method is based on quantifying T-cell diversity by calculating the number of diverse T-cell receptor (TCR) beta chain variable regions from blood cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods of identifying a subject as having an increased risk of developing fragile X-associated tremor and ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) or identifying a subject having an increased risk of developing fragile X syndrome (FXS), comprising analyzing messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts and/or translation products of the antisense gene ASFMR1.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides an intron-modified cap expression cassette useful for generating adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector particles. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of reducing the immune response in a mammalian subject undergoing treatment with an AAV vector.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a method of screening a human subject to determine if said subject has a genetic predisposition to develop, or is suffering from Facioscapulohumeral Dystrophy (FSHD), said method comprising: (a) providing a biological sample comprising genomic DNA from the subject; and (b) analyzing the portion of the genomic DNA in the sample corresponding to the distal D4Z4-pLAM region on chromosome 4 and determining the presence or absence of a polymorphism resulting in a functional polyadenylation sequence operationally linked to exon 3 of the DUX4 gene, wherein a determination of the absence of a functional polyadenylation sequence operationally linked to exon 3 of the DUX4 gene indicates that the subject does not have a genetic predisposition to develop, and is not suffering from FSHD, and/or wherein a determination of the presence of a functional polyadenylation sequence operationally linked to exon 3 of the DUX4 gene indicates that the subject has a genetic predisposition to devel

Abstract: Compositions and methods are described for highly sensitive quantification of the relative representation of DNA from adaptive immune cells (e.g., T and/or B lymphocytes) in DNA extracted from complex mixtures of cells that include cells which are not adaptive immune cells. Included are methods for determining the relative presence in a tumor of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), the relative presence of lymphocytes infiltrating a somatic tissue that is the target of an autoimmune disease, and the relative presence of lymphocytes infiltrating a transplanted organ.

Abstract: A fluid-delivery device includes an array of needles. The needle can deposit a hollow and/or porous tube into a tissue of a subject, and the porous tube can contain one or more fluid agents. The hollow and/or porous tube can control the rate at which the agents diffuse into the tissue. The device can simultaneously deliver a plurality of porous tubes along parallel axes in a tissue in vivo. If thereafter resected, the tissue can be sectioned for evaluation of an effect of each agent on the tissue; based on the evaluation, candidate agents or subjects can be selected or deselected for clinical trials or therapy.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the use of polychalcogenide compositions on cells, tissue, organs, and organisms to enhance their survivability. It includes compositions, compounds, methods, articles of manufacture and apparatuses for enhancing survivability and for protecting them from or treating them for injury or damage. In specific embodiments, there are also therapeutic methods and apparatuses for hypoxic/ischemic injury, organ transplantation, hyperthermia, wound healing, hemorrhagic shock, cardioplegia for bypass surgery, neurodegeneration, hypothermia, and cancer using the polychalcogenide compositions described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to therapeutic compositions for treating or preventing obesity and obesity-related disorders in a subject using immunotherapy to target and eliminate adipocytes.

Abstract: Chlorotoxin variants, chlorotoxin variant conjugates, compositions that include the chlorotoxin variants or conjugates, and methods for using the chlorotoxin variants, conjugates, and compositions.

Abstract: Provided are quantitative PCR-based compositions and methods for the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in a patient sample, such as bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. The methods presented herein involve isolating a patient sample, optionally extracting DNA from the sample, carrying out a quantitative PCR (qPCR) reaction on the sample to generate an amplicon that includes a region of an Aspergillus spp. ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene, and detecting the PCR amplicon. The present disclosure also provides primers and primer sets for specifically detecting an Aspergillus spp. fungal pathogen in the presence of human ribosomal DNA (rDNA).

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for preventing or attenuating cancer progression or blocking metastasis in prostate cancer and other cancers (e.g., ovarian carcinoma, endometrial cancer, renal cell carcinoma) that are characterized by overexpression of the type II cell surface serine protease hepsin, based on the discovery of multiple disclosed compounds having activity as specific hepsin inhibitors.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a method for inhibiting the growth and/or proliferation of a myc-driven tumor cell comprising the step of contacting the tumor cells with a CSNK1? inhibitor. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of treating a subject suffering from a tumor comprising myc-driven tumor cells, comprising administering to the subject an amount of a composition comprising a CSNK1? inhibitor effective to inhibit the growth and/or proliferation of the tumor cells.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to the development of methods for detecting or predicting graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and for detecting or predicting response to treatment for GVHD. More particularly, the disclosure provides new biomarkers and combinations of biomarkers for detecting or predicting gastrointestinal GI GVHD and for predicting and analyzing response to treatment for acute GVHD.

Abstract: What is described is a novel genetic screen, involving recombinant technology and class I antigen cross-presentation, to search for supraoptimal superagonists of the 27L MART-1 mutant selecting for single amino acid substitution mutants of 27L that activate human antigen-specific CTL clones recognizing the wild-type MART-126-35 epitope. Three novel mutant epitopes are identified with superagonist properties that are functionally superior to 27L. The ability of a given analog to act as superagonist varies among patients. Also described is the use of methods to establish panels of potential superagonist APLs to individualize tumor peptide vaccines among patients. The methodology is replicated to identify APL to NY-ESO-1157-165 and NY-ESO-1157-170 tumor epitopes. A general method is described that is useful to produce a tumor vaccine to any tumor epitope.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for providing hematopoietic function in immunodeficient human patients, by selecting an expanded human umbilical cord blood stem/progenitor cell sample without taking into account the HLA-type of the expanded human cord blood stem/progenitor sample or the HLA-type of the patient; and administering the selected expanded human cord blood stem/progenitor cell sample to the patient. Methods for obtaining the expanded human cord blood stem/progenitor cell samples, banks of frozen expanded human cord blood stem/progenitor cell samples, and methods for producing such banks are also provided herein.

Abstract: A fluid delivery device includes an array of needles, each in fluid communication with a respective reservoir. Respective actuators are coupled so as to be operable to drive fluid from the reservoirs via needle ports. Each needle can have a plurality of ports, and the ports can be arranged to deliver a substantially equal amount of fluid at any given location along its length. A driver is coupled to the actuators to selectively control the rate, volume, and direction of flow of fluid through the needles. The device can simultaneously deliver a plurality of fluid agents along respective axes in solid tissue in vivo. If thereafter resected, the tissue can be sectioned for evaluation of an effect of each agent on the tissue, and based on the evaluation, candidate agents selected or deselected for clinical trials or therapy, and subjects selected or deselected for clinical trials or therapeutic treatment.

Abstract: In a wide variety of human solid tumors, an aggressive, metastatic phenotype and poor clinical prognosis are associated with expression of the receptor tyrosine kinase Met. Disclosed herein are (a) a monoclonal antibody named Met4, which antibody is specific for Met, and (b) a hybridoma cell line that produces Met4. The Met4 antibody is particularly useful for detecting Met in formalin-fixed tissue. Methods of using the Met4 antibody for detection, diagnosis, prognosis, and evaluating therapeutic efficacy are provided.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the modulation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) using the compounds and methods disclosed herein. These compounds and methods can be applied to the prevention, pretreatment, and/or treatment of conditions or states associated with HIF, such as hypoxia- and ischemia-related conditions and the induction of stasis.