Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining the inflammatory disorder status of a subject comprising detecting the presence or absence, or the level, of (i) citrullinated tenascin-C and/or one or more fragments of citrullinated tenascin-C; and/or (ii) autoantibodies with specificity for citrullinated tenascin-C and/or one or more fragments of citrullinated tenascin-C, in a sample from said subject.

Abstract: An imaging system for an object such as human or animal tissue applies acoustic vibrations localized in two or three dimensions and simultaneously illuminates the object with an illuminating electromagnetic wave. The acoustic vibration comprises a carrier wave that is amplitude modulated by an AM waveform. The carrier wave is selected to provide the localization of the acoustic vibration, whereas the AM waveform includes a frequency component selected to provide a vibration of the object of greater magnitude than the carrier wave. To detect a Doppler component shifted by the frequency of said frequency component of the AM waveform, a signal processing apparatus comprises a phase locked-loop locked to the EM frequency, producing a frequency-demodulated signal comprising the set of the Doppler components, and a lock-in amplifier configured to extract a signal at a reference frequency equal to the frequency of a frequency component of the AM waveform.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a molecular adjuvant to generate an improved immune response in a host. Over recent years extensive research and development has been undertaken in the development of “vectored vaccines” which can be used as vaccine delivery systems. Vectored vaccines include DNA vectors and recombinant viral and bacterial vectors, which are engineered to express an antigen of interest. The invention provides a nucleic acid construct encoding a protein fusion between an antigen and an invariant chain molecule.

Abstract: A carrier to which is attached a peptide and DNA encoding the peptide, wherein the peptide includes at least one non-natural amino acid and/or wherein the peptide has a constrained secondary structure; or a carrier to which is attached ?2 micro-globulin, a peptide, and DNA encoding the peptide, said carrier not bearing an MHC or MHC-like molecule.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to a nanoparticle comprising: a cup having a cavity, and a gas pocket present in the cavity, wherein the gas pocket is partially encapsulated by the cup. Typical uses of the nanocups include initiating inertial cavitation during simultaneous exposure to ultrasound, and/or as drug carriers to achieve targeted drug delivery in response to ultrasound excitation.

Abstract: Musculoskeletal fibroproliferative disorders, such as Dupuytren's disease may be treated by administering locally a TNF-? antagonist. TNF-? antagonists find particular utility in inhibiting the progression of early disease state Dupuytren's disease and other musculoskeletal fibroproliferative disorders and, in combination with extracellular matrix degradation agents (such as collagenase or matrix metalloproteinase I), treating advanced disease state Dupuytren's disease and, in particular inhibiting recurrence.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to a method of cavitation-induced delivery of a therapeutic or diagnostic agent to a human or animal subject. In particular the invention provides an agent for use in a method of diagnosis or treatment of a human or animal subject, the method comprising exposing the subject to ultrasound, wherein the agent comprises a therapeutic or diagnostic component which is covalently bound to a dense component, the dense component having a density greater than that of the therapeutic or diagnostic component, and wherein either the dense component is a cavitation initiator or the method comprises administering to the subject a further agent which is a cavitation initiator. Binding of the dense component enhances cavitation-induced transport of the therapeutic or diagnostic component.

Abstract: A process for the production of a glycoconjugate by N-glycosylation of a protein or peptide comprising the sequence D/E-X—N—X—S/T, wherein each X is the same or different and is any natural amino acid other than proline, wherein the process comprises reacting the protein or peptide with a polyisoprenyl pyrophosphate of formula (I), or a salt thereof, in the presence of PglB: (I) to produce the glycoconjugate comprising the protein or peptide having a saccharide [SI] linked to the asparagine in the sequence D/E-X—N—X—S/T. Polyisoprenylpyrophosphates used as substrates in the biocatalytic process are also provided, as well as certain glycoconjugates.

Abstract: The present invention provides a shielded biologic therapeutic comprising a biologic therapeutic which is covalently and cleavably bound to one or more nanoparticle, with a plurality of polymer chains bound to the or each nanoparticle.

Abstract: A novel class of hydroxylases is described having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6 and 8, and variants and fragments thereof having HIF hydroxylation activity. The polypeptides of the invention have in particular prolyl hydroxylase activity. An assay method monitors the interaction of the HIF hydroxylase with a substrate. Modulators of HIF hydroxylase are provided for use in the treatment of a condition associated with increased or decreased HIF levels or activity or for the treatment of a condition where it is desirable to modulate HIF levels or activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to assays for monitoring activity of Mina53 and NO66 activities, in particular, to assays for identifying modulators of Mina53 and NO66 activities. The invention also relates to assays to monitor the histidinyl hydroxylase activity of Mina53 and NO66 on their substrates, the human ribosomal protein Rpl27a and Rpl8 respectively. The invention also enables the introduction of S-3-hydroxyhistidinyl residues into peptides and proteins.

Abstract: A method for producing a continuous filament from electrospun fibers includes providing a conducting collection surface that is an elongate three-dimensional surface. An attractive electric field gradient is formed between the collection surface and a source of electrically charged fibers. The collection surface is moved in a longitudinal direction relative to the source of electrically charged fibers. The fibers are collected on the collection surface so as to form a continuous filament.

Abstract: A scaffold for tissue repair or wound dressing comprising: a material layer; a polymer fibre layer; and an adhesive component between the material layer and the polymer fibre layer, wherein the adhesive component comprises material having a lower melting temperature (Tm) than the material layer and the polymer fibre layer.

Abstract: A method of at least partially removing the nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc comprising the nucleus and an annulus surrounding the nucleus is described. The method comprises the steps of: insonating the nucleus with ultrasound thereby to cause at least partial fragmentation of the nucleus; and extracting at least part of the fragmented nucleus. A system for performing the method is also described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are mosaic conserved region HIV polypeptides and immunogenic polypeptides including one or more of the mosaic conserved region polypeptides. In some embodiments, the immunogenic polypeptides are included in an immunogenic composition, such as a polyvalent immunogenic composition. Also disclosed herein are methods for treating or inhibiting HIV in a subject including administering one or more of the disclosed immunogenic polypeptides or compositions to a subject having or at risk of HIV infection. In some embodiments, the methods include inducing an immune response in a subject comprising administering to the subject at least one of the disclosed immunogenic polypeptides or a nucleic acid encoding at least one of the immunogenic polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a two-dimensional nanomaterial by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), the process comprising contacting a substrate in a reaction chamber with a first flow which contains hydrogen and a second flow which contains a precursor for said material, wherein the contacting takes place under conditions such that the precursor reacts in the chamber to form said material on a surface of the substrate, wherein the ratio of the flow rate of the first flow to the flow rate of the second flow is at least 5:1. Two-dimensional nanomaterials obtainable by said process are also provided, as well as devices comprising said nanomaterials.

Abstract: A method of obtaining information about the rate of a periodic physiological process from a time series of measurements obtained from a patient, comprising: obtaining the time series of measurements; fitting a model defining a probability distribution over functions to the time series of measurements, wherein the model is defined by a mean function and a periodic covariance function; and outputting the result of the fitting as information about the rate of the periodic physiological process.

Abstract: The invention relates to treatments of cognitive disorders e.g. Mild Cognitive Disorder comprising the use of agents which are capable of lowering homocysteine levels in a subject, preferably a human subject. Aspects of the invention relate to a method of treating such disorders comprising administering one or more B vitamins e.g. folic acid, Vitamin B6 and/or Vitamin B12 or derivatives thereof.

Abstract: A system for providing locality information to a user is disclosed. The system comprises at least one magnetic field beacon. Each beacon comprises means for generating a magnetic field encoded with information associated with the beacon. A communication device is provided that comprises means for detecting the encoded magnetic field emitted by the beacon and means for extracting the information encoded in the detected magnetic field.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solid-state p-n heterojunction comprising a p-type material in contact with an n-type material wherein said n-type material comprises SnO2 having at least one surface-coating of a surface coating material having a higher band-gap than SnO2 and/or a conduction band edge closer to vacuum level than SnO2, such as MgO. The invention also provides optoelectronic devices such as solar cells or photo sensors comprising such a p-n heterojunction, and methods for the manufacture of such a heterojunction or device.