Abstract: Provided herein are immunization regimens for inducing an immune response (e.g., an antibody response) against influenza virus. In specific aspects, the immunization regimens involve the administration of a chimeric hemagglutinin (HA), a headless HA or another influenza virus stem domain based construct (e.g., the HA stem domain or a fragment thereof) to a subject. In certain aspects, the immunization regimens also involve the administration of an influenza virus neuraminidase immunogen.

Abstract: A method for identifying a kidney transplant recipient at an increased risk of developing interstitial fibrosis or tubular atrophy which comprises obtaining a post-transplant urine sample from the kidney transplant recipient; measuring the level of clusterin in the urine sample; comparing the level of clusterin in the patient sample to the level of clusterin in a control sample from the urine of a non-fibrotic kidney transplant recipient; diagnosing a kidney transplant recipient with a clusterin level that is significantly higher than the clusterin level in the control as being at an increased risk of developing interstitial fibrosis or tubular atrophy.

Abstract: Provided herein are antibodies that bind to neuraminidase (NA) of different strains of influenza B virus, host cells for producing such antibodies, and kits comprising such antibodies. Also provided herein are compositions comprising antibodies that bind to NA of different strains of influenza B virus and methods of using such antibodies to diagnose, prevent or treat influenza virus disease.

Abstract: A method of treating a disease, condition or state characterized by an exacerbated immune response is disclosed. The method of treatment can include topoisomerase I inhibitors and pharmaceutical compositions comprising topoisomerase I inhibitors, which can be administered alone or in combination with another therapeutic agent. The method can be used to treat a range of diseases, disorders, conditions and states, including but not limited to sepsis, acute liver failure, and endotoxic and/or exotoxic shock. These diseases, disorders, conditions and states can be caused by a variety of microorganisms and/or portions of microorganisms including but not limited to Ebola virus, Lassa virus, Influenza virus, Legionella, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and bacterial endotoxins/exotoxins.

Abstract: Asthma is a common, under-diagnosed disease affecting all ages. Mild to moderate asthma is particularly difficult to diagnose given currently available tools. A nasal biomarker of asthma is of high interest given the accessibility of the nose and shared airway biology between the upper and lower respiratory tract. A machine learning pipeline identified an asthma gene panel of 275 unique nasally-expressed genes interpreted via different classification models. This asthma gene panel can be utilized to reliably diagnose asthma in patients, including mild to moderate asthma, in a non-invasive manner and to distinguish asthma from other respiratory disorders, allowing appropriate treatment of the patient's asthma.

Abstract: A bioreactor system for preparing a cardiac organoid chamber and for subsequent testing thereof is described herein and shown in the exemplary drawing figures. The bioreactor system includes a first vessel having a hollow interior and an open top. A first cover is mated with the open top of the first vessel. The first cover has a first opening formed therein. The system further includes a cannula having a lumen that extends from an open first end to an open second end. The cannula is disposed within the first opening of the first cover such that a portion of the cannula lies below the first cover and for insertion into the hollow interior of the first vessel. A porous ring is coupled to the cannula at or proximate the open second end thereof. The system also includes a balloon catheter having an inflatable balloon at a distal end of a catheter shaft. The balloon catheter is adapted to pass through the lumen of the cannula when the balloon is in a deflated state.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for the treatment of sarcoidosis. In certain aspects and embodiments, the disclosure provides compositions containing 1,3-propanedisulfonic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and/or the use of such compositions for the treatment of Sarcoidosis. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to compositions containing 1,3-propanedisulfonic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof plus a second active agent. In yet another aspect, the disclosure relates to kits containing agents useful for the treatment of sarcoidosis.

Abstract: Tetrahydronaphthyridines of formula are disclosed. These compounds selectively inhibit ?V?3 without activating the ?V?3 receptor. They are useful for treating osteoporosis, acute myelogenous leukemia, sickle cell disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, fibrosis, supravalvular aortic stenosis associated with Williams syndrome, tumors expressing ?V?3, tumor metastasis, bone resorption, T-cell lymphoma, retinal disease, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinitis, and herpes simplex virus infection. They may also be used for inhibiting tumor angiogenesis.

Abstract: Compounds that are selective inhibitors of Smad3 activation are disclosed. The compounds have the following structure: in which Z is an oxadiazole. The compounds disclosed are useful in treatment of fibrotic disease, particularly renal fibrosis, and similar diseases associated with the dysregulation of the HIPK2/Smad3 signaling pathway.

Abstract: Systems and methods for three-dimensional dose prediction and treatment planning using a deep learning fully convolutional neural network are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods are presented for binning metagenomic sequences that leverage long reads from a single-molecule long-read sequencing technology and utilize DNA methylation signatures inferred from these reads to resolve individual reads and assembled contigs into species- and strain-level clusters. Methods for deconvoluting prokaryotic organisms in a microbiome sample are presented. Methods for mapping mobile genetic elements to their host organisms in a microbiome sample are also presented.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for diagnosing a renal allograft recipient's risk for developing fibrosis of the allograft and allograft loss. The method includes determining the expression levels of certain microRNAs, which have been determined to be predictive of an allograft recipient's risk. Also disclosed herein is a method of treating a renal allograft recipient to inhibit fibrosis of the allograft and allograft loss, as well as kits for use in the methods disclosed herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for treating or preventing diseases and disorders caused by iron-dependent pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and parasites, by applying a gallium compound to an affected area. In particular, the present invention provides methods for treating or preventing dental caries, vaginal infections, skin infections, and so forth. Gallium compounds can be formulated as toothpaste, mouthwash, cream, ointment, gel, solution, eye drops, suppository, and the like. Furthermore, the invention provides methods for controlling microbial growth on environmental surfaces, including those of toothbrush, denture, dental retainer, contact lens, catheter, food stuff, and so forth. In addition, the present invention provides animal feeds which contain gallium compounds that promote the animal growth and prevent the animals from infections as well as protect consumers from post processing infections.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of predicting the risk of reoccurrence of melanoma in a patient from whom melanoma tissue was previously removed which comprises the following: a. obtaining a RNA-containing sample of the previously removed melanoma tissue containing RNA from the patient; b. treating the sample to determine from the RNA contained in the sample the level of expression of a plurality of preselected genes; and c. comparing the level of expression of each gene of the plurality of pre-selected genes to a predetermined reference level of expression for each such gene; wherein a higher level of expression of the plurality of pre-selected genes in the sample as compared with the predetermined reference level of expression of such genes indicates that the patient has a reduced risk of reoccurrence of melanoma.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, software, and methods for calculating a pulse deficit value of a subject, such as a subject afflicted with a hemodynamic disorder. The devices and apparatuses described herein can include a monitor, at least one ECG sensor, and at least one pulse sensor, where the at least one ECG sensor and the at least one pulse sensor are connected to the monitor, where the monitor converts data collected from the at least one ECG sensor into a value representing depolarization cycle rate, where the monitor is configured to calculate the pulse deficit value based on a number of measured points in time where a difference between the value representing depolarization cycle rate and the value representing pulsation rate exceeds a threshold value, which threshold value is calculated as a fraction of a total number of measured points in time, and where the threshold value is indicative of unacceptable pulse deficit.

Abstract: Provided herein are chimeric influenza hemagglutinin (HA) polypeptides, compositions comprising the same, vaccines comprising the same, and methods of their use.

Abstract: Described herein are chimeric Newcastle disease viruses comprising a packaged genome comprising a transgene encoding interleukin-12. The chimeric Newcastle disease viruses and compositions thereof are useful in combination with an antagonist of programmed cell death protein 1 (“PD-1”) or a ligand thereof in the treatment of cancer. In particular, described herein are methods for treating cancer comprising administering the chimeric Newcastle disease viruses in combination with an antagonist of PD-1 or a ligand thereof, wherein the chimeric Newcastle disease virus comprises a packaged genome comprising a transgene encoding interleukin-12.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated immunogenic polypeptides and their use. In one aspect, the isolated immunogenic polypeptide includes a scaffold polypeptide having a hairpin loop modified to include one or more epitopes heterologous to the scaffold polypeptide and from an amino acid loop linked by a disulfide bond. The scaffold polypeptide directs self-assembly with two other of the scaffold polypeptides to form a trimeric structure, which constrains the one or more epitopes to a conformation that is (i) substantially similar to one or more native pathogen epitopes in trimeric conformation and (ii) capable of binding an antibody reactive to the one or more native pathogen epitopes in trimeric conformation. Another aspect relates to an isolated immunogenic polypeptide that includes a scaffold polypeptide having a native loop modified to include one or more epitopes heterologous to the scaffold polypeptide and from an amino acid loop linked by a disulfide bond.

Abstract: This invention relates to antagonists of Kinase Suppressor of Ras (KSR). Pharmaceutical compositions comprising KSR inhibitors and methods of treating cancer are also provided.

Abstract: Provided herein are antibodies that cross-react with hemagglutinin from strains of influenza virus of the same subtype or different subtypes, host cells for producing such antibodies, and kits comprising such antibodies. Also provided herein are compositions comprising antibodies that cross-react with hemagglutinin from strains of influenza virus of the same subtype or different subtypes and methods of using such antibodies to diagnose, prevent or treat influenza virus disease.