Abstract: The invention provides modified griffithsin polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, as well as corresponding nucleic acids, vectors, cells, fusion proteins, constructs, conjugates, and methods of inhibiting viral infection.

Abstract: Embodiments of a novel system for delivering an expression vector encoding an antigen to a subject that allows for spatiotemporal control over stimulation of the subject's immune response to the antigen are provided. In some embodiments, the expression vector delivery system includes a polymer linked to an adjuvant in prodrug form that can form polymer nanoparticles and enter a cell (such as an immune cell) under physiological conditions. In some embodiments, the adjuvant is linked to the polymer by an enzyme degradable labile bond, the cleavage of which activates the adjuvant to stimulate an immune response.

Abstract: Disclosed are compounds of the formulas (I), (II), and (II): which are A1 adenosine receptor agonists, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and a method of use of these compounds, wherein Y, R1-R6, R10-R15, and R20-R22 are as defined in the specification. These compounds are selective to the A1 adenosine receptor, and are contemplated for use in the treatment or prevention of a number of diseases or conditions, for example, for inducing and/or maintaining a hypothermic and/or hypometabolic state for treatment of a mammal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sterile MRI probe infusion device for preparing and administering a hyperpolarized MRI probe to a patient in need thereof. The device includes one or more reaction chambers, where a hyperpolarized MRI probe is prepared, separated from the reaction mixture, concentrated, and a solution of suitable concentration for administration to a patient is prepared. Also disclosed is a method of preparing and administering a hyperpolarized MRI probe by the use of the device to a patient in need thereof for diagnosing stages of a disease or an adverse condition or monitoring progress of a treatment of the patient having a disease or an adverse condition.

Abstract: Antibodies and antigen binding fragments that specifically bind to IL-7R? are disclosed. Nucleic acids encoding the antibodies and antigen binding fragments, and vectors including the nucleic acid molecules are also provided. Methods for detecting a ca cancer or a cell that expresses IL-7R? using the antibodies and antigen binding fragments are disclosed, as is the use of the antibodies and antigen binding fragments to prevent and/or treat a subject with a cancer that expresses IL-7R?, such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Abstract: The invention is related to a dengue virus or chimeric dengue virus that contains a mutation in the 3? untranslated region (3?-UTR) comprising a ?30 mutation that removes the TL-2 homologous structure in each of the dengue virus serotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4, and nucleotides additional to the ?30 mutation deleted from the 3?-UTR that removes sequence in the 5? direction as far as the 5? boundary of the TL-3 homologous structure in each of the dengue serotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4, or a replacement of the 3?-UTR of a dengue virus of a first serotype with the 3?-UTR of a dengue virus of a second serotype, optionally containing the ?30 mutation and nucleotides additional to the ?30 mutation deleted from the 3?-UTR; and immunogenic compositions, methods of inducing an immune response, and methods of producing a dengue virus or chimeric dengue virus.

Abstract: Disclosed monopolar and bipolar tissue lacerators can comprise a wire partially covered by electrical insulation, wherein the wire has a kink defining an inner curvature, wherein the wire is exposed through the insulation at one or two exposed regions along or near the inner curvature of the kink, wherein the wire is configured to conduct electrical energy through the one or two exposed regions and through a tissue target positioned adjacent the inner curvature to lacerate the tissue target via the electrical energy. The tissue target can be a native or prosthetic heart valve leaflet in a patient's heart.

Abstract: Antibodies and antigen binding fragments that specifically bind to gp120 and neutralize HIV-1 are disclosed. Nucleic acids encoding these antibodies, vectors and host cells are also provided. Methods for detecting HIV-1 using these antibodies are disclosed. In addition, the use of these antibodies, antigen binding fragment, nucleic acids and vectors to prevent and/or treat an HIV-1 infection is disclosed.

Abstract: Multidimensional MRI-based methods permit identification and categorization of brain specimens to identify sub-voxel tissue components that are specific to traumatic axon injury or other lesions. Lower dimensional MR spectral data is acquired and processed to provide multidimensional MR data of higher dimensions. One or more spectral ranges are selected that define signatures for brain injury and evaluation of the multidimensional MR data in these ranges is used to locate voxels associated with brain injury. For example, partial one dimensional data sets such as T1, T2, and mean diffusion coefficient (MD) data sets can be combined to provide two dimensional data sets such as T1-T2, MD-T2, and MD-T1 data sets. Using the spectral signatures, a specimen image can be produced showing areas of lesser or greater injury.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for treating macular degeneration are disclosed. The methods utilize IL17 inhibitors, such as IL17 receptors, as well as fusion proteins including an IL17 receptor fused with a multimerization domain, and recombinant viral vectors encoding such fusions.

Abstract: Disclosed hereing are methods of diagnosing, and treating and/or preventing CD55-deficiency, hyperactivation of complement, angiopathic thrombosis and protein-losing enteropathy (CHAPLE). The method of diagnosing includes: providing a sample from a patient; performing an assay detecting at least one of at least one mutation in a DNA sequence of a CD55 gene, at least one mutation in a RNA sequence of a CD55 transcript, at least one mutation in a DNA sequence of a CD55 complementary-DNA (cDNA), CD55 protein, CD55 protein binding, complement deposition or combination thereof, and diagnosing the patient with CHAPLE. The method of treating and/or preventing at least one symptom of CHAPLE includes: administering an effective amount of a composition comprising at least one complement inhibitor to a subject in need thereof, wherein the composition is effective in treating or preventing at least on symptom of CHAPLE. The disclosure further relates to compositions effective at treating and/or preventing CHAPLE.

Abstract: A method of training an artificial neural network to predict gene expression for a patient having a pathological condition is provided. The method comprises obtaining a set of histopathological images from a database of patients having the pathological condition, collecting from the database a set of gene expression profiles corresponding to the histopathological images, identifying in the set of gene expression profiles a set of considered genes, selecting a training subset of the considered genes comprising genes characterized by similar median gene expression values, and training the neural network to predict a gene expression value of an input histopathological image, using gene expression profiles of the genes in the training subset simultaneously.

Abstract: Compounds having useful cannabinoid receptor modulating properties. The compounds may be useful in treating complications arising from metabolic, inflammatory and fibrotic disorders.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of producing an RPE cell population from a starting cell suspension, such as a single cell suspension, of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). Such a method may comprise culturing the starting single cell suspension of PSCs in differentiation media to produce human RPE cells.

Abstract: Antibodies and antigen binding fragments that specifically bind to HIV-1 Env and neutralize HIV-1 are disclosed. Nucleic acids encoding these antibodies, vectors and host cells are also provided. Methods for detecting HIV-1 using these antibodies are disclosed. In addition, the use of these antibodies, antigen binding fragment, nucleic acids and vectors to prevent and/or treat an HIV-1 infection is disclosed.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of using the anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody atezolizumab to treat alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS).

Abstract: Engineered TCR molecules specific to retroviral peptide/HLA complexes guide direct killing and/or enable robust immune responses against HIV infected cells. In a first aspect, a TCR fusion polypeptide comprises a TCR variable alpha (V?) domain, a TCR variable beta domain (V?) and a TCR constant region domain (C), wherein the TCR fusion polypeptide is specific for HIV peptides.

Abstract: The invention provides a human cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) agonist epitope from the C-terminal subunit of mucin 1 (MUC1-C), which can be used as a peptide, polypeptide (protein), and/or in vaccine or other composition for the prevention or therapy of cancer. The invention further provides a nucleic acid encoding the peptide, protein, or polypeptide, a vector comprising the nucleic acid, a cell comprising the peptide, polypeptide, nucleic acid, or vector, and compositions thereof.

Abstract: Antibodies and antigen binding fragments that specifically bind to gp120 and neutralize HIV-1 are disclosed. Nucleic acids encoding these antibodies, vectors and host cells are also provided. Methods for detecting HIV-1 using these antibodies are disclosed. In addition, the use of these antibodies, antigen binding fragment, nucleic acids and vectors to prevent and/or treat an HIV-1 infection is disclosed.

Abstract: An instrument tracker includes a case having an interior and exterior with a plurality of instrument seats, an inertial measurement unit (IMU), and a controller. The IMU and controller are arranged within the interior of the case and the controller is disposed in communication with the IMU and is responsive to instructions recorded on a memory to receive position information from the IMU, determine at least one of position and orientation of an instrument fixed relative to the case by the plurality of instrument seats using the position information received from the IMU, and transmit the at least one of position and orientation to a display device for displaying position and orientation of the instrument relative to a predetermined insertion path through a subject between an entry point on the surface of the subject and a region of interest within the interior of the subject. Instrument tracking systems and methods tracking position of instruments are also described.