Abstract: Described herein is a genetically modified plant or non-human animal having reduced expression of an endogenous target gene.

Abstract: Devices and methods for mass spectroscopic analysis of particles are disclosed herein. An example device includes: a first irradiation unit configured to irradiate a particle with electromagnetic radiation to cause components of the particle to detach from the particle. The example device further includes a second irradiation unit configured to irradiate substantially simultaneously i) at least a part of the detached components, and optionally a residual core of the particle, with a first beam of electromagnetic radiation the first beam of electromagnetic radiation exhibiting a first intensity, and ii) at least a part of the residual core, of the particle with a second beam of electromagnetic radiation. The second beam of electromagnetic radiation exhibiting a second intensity, which is preferably larger than the first intensity. The example device further includes a mass spectrometer comprising an ion source region, a first detection channel, and optionally a second detection channel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for endoscopic optoacoustic imaging comprising an imaging unit (2) configured to be at least partially inserted into an object (5), said imaging unit (2) comprising an irradiation unit (6) configured to irradiate a region of interest (7) inside the object (5) with electromagnetic radiation and a detection unit (8) comprising at least one ultrasound transducer configured to detect ultrasound waves generated in the region of interest (7) in response to irradiating the region of interest (7) with the electromagnetic radiation and to generate according detection signals, wherein the at least one ultrasound transducer exhibits a field of view (8b) being at least partially located in the irradiated region of interest (7).

Abstract: An apparatus for photo-acoustic measurement of a measurement target in a fluid flow comprises:—an ellipsoidal measurement chamber (3) having a first focal point and a second focal point; —a duct (6, 7, 8) configured to guide a fluid flow through the measurement chamber (3) along a first axis (X) through the first focal point; —light source means for generating an excitation light beam of modulated intensity; —means configured to pass the excitation light beam through the measurement chamber (3) along a second axis (Y), which is different from the first axis (X), such that the excitation light beam crosses the fluid flow at the first focal point and that the crossing of the fluid flow and the excitation light beam defines an excitation volume (4) within which the fluid flow is excited by the excitation light beam to generate acoustic waves; and —detecting means (5) arranged at the second focal point and configured to detect said acoustic waves, wherein the detecting means has no direct contact with the fluid f

Abstract: The present invention relates to a kit-of-parts comprising at least one mitochondrial uncoupler and at least one cationic amphiphilic drug and its use in medicine. The invention further relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one mitochondrial uncoupler and at least one cationic amphiphilic drug for use in medicine. Moreover, the invention is directed to the kit-of-parts and the pharmaceutical composition for use in the treatment of cancer, in particular glioma, pancreatic cancer, small cell lung cancer, metastatic prostate cancer, liver cancer and triple-negative breast cancer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting a nucleic acid construct or part thereof and/or for detecting the expression product of the nucleic acid construct or part thereof, wherein the method comprises inserting a nucleic acid construct or part thereof into an intron or a synthetic intron, wherein the nucleic acid construct comprises certain defined structures according to the present invention. The present invention also relates to the various uses of the method described herein, to the nucleic acid construct, a vector comprising said nucleic acid construct, a cell comprising said nucleic acid construct and/or said vector, and a respective kit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of producing axial stem cells (AxSCs) as well to axial stem cells (AxSCs) produced by such methods and uses thereof. The present invention further relates to axial stem cells (AxSCs), wherein said axial stem cells are not pluripotent cells, but are, for example, region-specific multipotent stem cells capable of indefinitely renewing themselves.

Abstract: The present invention provides herpesviruses, such as EBV, which lack at least one viral miRNA. Such herpesviruses lacking at least one viral miRNA are advantageously not capable of packaging their genome into the capsid, thereby producing HVLPs, which are substantially free of their herpesvirus genome or the nucleic acid molecule encoding the proteinaceous part of the HVLP and viral miRNA. Such HVLPs may be used as vaccine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) and an according method for optoacoustic imaging of an object. The device (1) comprising an irradiation unit for irradiating a region of interest (3) of the object with electromagnetic radiation (6), in particular light, and a detection unit (9) for detecting acoustic, in particular ultrasonic, waves generated in the region of interest (3) of the object upon irradiation with the electromagnetic radiation (6), wherein the detection unit (9) is configured to detect the acoustic waves at one or more point-like detection locations, which are located outside of the region of interest (3) of the object. The point-like detection locations can be given by, e.g., focus points (19) of acoustic detection elements (23), point-like detection elements or point-like or pinhole apertures. The invention allows for improved and reliable optoacoustic imaging, in particular in view of dermatology applications.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for assessing the capacity of a substance to treat or prevent hepadnavirus infection. A reporter virus carrying genetic information for a first fragment of a recombinase and a reporter cell expressing a second fragment of the recombinase are used. When the reporter virus infects the reporter cell, the two fragments of the recombinase associate and excise a stop cassette that is flanked by two recombination sites and blocks the expression of a reporter gene. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a method of assessing the capacity of a substance to treat or prevent hepadnavirus infection, a hepadnavirus comprising a nucleic acid encoding a first fragment of a recombinase and a mammalian hepatocyte or hepatoma cell comprising a nucleic acid encoding a second fragment of a recombinase and a nucleic acid comprising a stop cassette flanked by two recombination sites fused to a reporter gene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a bactericidal phage vector, (pharmaceutical) compositions comprising such phage vectors, also for use in treating diseases, particularly those caused by (antimicrobial resistance) bacterial cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems, methods and fluorescent polypeptide for real-time multicolor shortwave infrared fluorescence imaging. The systems and methods of the present invention further relate to real-time multi-color in vivo SWIR imaging systems employing high-power excitation sources in combination with state of the art InGaAs SWIR detectors and SWIR illuminated fluorescent polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems, methods and fluorophores for real-time multicolor shortwave infrared fluorescence imaging. The systems and methods of the present invention further relate to real-time multi-color in vivo SWIR imaging systems employing high-power excitation sources in combination with state of the art InGaAs SWIR detectors and SWIR illuminated fluorophores.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates methods for the generation of human antigen-specific T lymphocytes. The methods employ MHC class-II targeting signals fused to an antigen or fragment thereof to obtain MHC class presentation of RNA coded proteins. Accordingly, the present invention concerns expression vectors comprising MHC class-II targeting signal and at least one antigen or fragment thereof and its use for the in vitro generation of antigen-specific T lymphocytes. T cell clones and T cell receptors (TCRs) specific for tumor antigens or viral antigens are also described.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for the enrichment of pancreatic progenitor cells from cell populations derived from pluripotent stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells and embryonic stem cells. Disclosed herein are the markers CD51 and CD177 for the enrichment of pancreatic progenitors and CD275 for the enrichment or depletion of liver progenitors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of immunotherapy, in particular, to adoptive T cell therapy, T cell receptor (TCR) gene therapy and vaccination. The invention provides a method for preparing a nucleic acid encoding the TCR alpha chain construct (TRA) and TCR beta chain construct (TRB) of a TCR construct specific for an epitope from an antigen presented on major histocompatibility complex (MHC), comprising contacting T cells isolated from a donor with a library of artificial antigen presenting cells (APC) comprising cells expressing all MHC I or MHC II alleles present in the donor, preferably, in K562 cells. The TCR construct can be expressed in a T cell, which is useful for adoptive T cell therapy, e.g., of cancer, viral infections or autoimmune diseases. The invention further provides a method for identifying the epitope recognized by said TCR. Immunogenic epitopes recognized by said TCRs can be used to develop vaccine formulations to induce antigen-specific T cell immunity in patients.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates dendritic cell compositions. The dentritic cell compositions employ MHC class-II targeting signals fused to an antigen or fragment thereof to obtain MHC II presentation of the antigen or fragment thereof. In particular, the invention refers to a dendritic cell vaccine comprising dendritic cells expressing a MHC class-II targeting signal fused to an antigen or fragment thereof. Dendritic cell vaccines for the stimulation of an immune response against melanoma-associated antigen are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a food composition and a pharmaceutical comprising D-tryptophan. The present invention further relates to D-tryptophan for use in the treatment, prevention or amelioration of a diseases associated with Treg or TH2 cells, such as allergy and in particular asthma.

Abstract: 15?-substituted derivatives of estrone of general formula I wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 are independently selected from the group consisting of: C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkoxy, C1-C4 halogenalkyl, halogen, COOR6 wherein R6 is C1-C4 alkyl; H, OH; optionally, R3, R4 and R5 are each formed by a hydrogen atom, while R1 and R2 together form an aryl group, preferably naphthyl, in which the aromatic ring in position C-15 can be mono-, di-, tri-, tetra- and penta-substituted with substituents R1-R5. Compounds of the invention may be used for diagnosis and possibly also for the treatment of estrogen-dependent diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds which are inhibitors of non-apoptotic regulated cell death, and to pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of such compounds and pharmaceutical compositions in therapy, in particular in the treatment of a condition, disorder or disease that is characterised by non-apoptotic regulated cell-death or where non-apoptotic regulated cell-death is likely to play or plays a substantial role.