Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for confirming that a multiple sclerosis (MS) patient is suffering from a relapse. In particular, methods comprising: comparing a concentration of one or more metabolite(s) present in a sample obtained from the patient with the concentration of the same one or more metabolite(s) in a reference standard, wherein the one or more metabolite(s) are selected from: leucine, lysine, asparagine, phenylalanine, glucose, ?-hydroxybutyrate, myo-inositol, a lipoprotein having a —CH3 group of an HDL and/or LDL, a lipoprotein having a —CH3 group of a VLDL, a lipoprotein having a —(CH2)n group of an HDL and/or LDL, a lipoprotein having a ?CH2 group, and an N-acetylated glycoprotein; and confirming or not that the patient is suffering from a relapse.

Abstract: A process for analysing chromosome interactions relating to muscular atrophy.

Abstract: Devices for improved nanopore sensing are described. An example device has a structure arranged to separate an analyte reservoir and an outlet chamber. An example device has a structure arranged to separate an analyte reservoir and an outlet chamber. The structure can include an array of nanopore structures, each nanopore structure comprising a passage for fluid connection through the structure between the analyte reservoir and outlet chamber. Control terminals can be arranged for applying a control signal to alter the electrical potential difference across that nanopore structure. Some embodiments include an electronic circuit configured to detect a signal from an electrical transduction element at each nanopore structure. Additional structural features and methods of operating and making the devices are described.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting an array of layers of amphiphilic molecules, the apparatus comprising: a body, formed in a surface of the body, an array of sensor wells capable of supporting a layer of amphiphilic molecules across the sensor wells, the sensor wells each containing an electrode for connection to an electrical circuit, and formed in the surface of the body between the sensor wells, flow control wells capable of smoothing the flow of a fluid across the surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to improving the movement of a target polynucleotide with respect to a transmembrane pore when the movement is controlled by a polynucleotide binding protein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining the presence or absence of a target analyte in a sample. The method comprises immobilising any target analyte present in the sample on a surface; contacting the surface with: (i) a first detection agent that binds specifically to the target analyte; and (ii) a reporter polynucleotide, wherein the reporter polynucleotide is bound to, or binds to, the first detection agent; and contacting a transmembrane pore with any reporter polynucleotide that has been immobilised on the surface, wherein the reporter polynucleotide is immobilised on the surface by binding of the first agent to the target analyte, and using the transmembrane pore to detect the reporter polynucleotide, thereby determining the presence or absence of the target analyte in the sample.

Abstract: A deployable membrane structure for an antenna comprises a membrane comprising a plurality of first regions of higher-stiffness material integrally connected via one or more second regions of lower-stiffness material, wherein the one or more second regions are formed from compliant material configured to permit the membrane to be folded into a collapsed configuration and subsequently unfolded into a deployed configuration, and are arranged so as to allow adjacent ones of the plurality of first regions to be folded so as to lie against one another. In some embodiments the membrane is formed of a composite material comprising a plurality of fibres in a compliant matrix, and the plurality of first regions comprise material with a higher fibre density than the one or more second regions. A deployable antenna comprising the deployable membrane structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides an optoelectronic device comprising a porous material, which porous material comprises a semiconductor comprising a perovskite. The porous material may comprise a porous perovskite. Thus, the porous material may be a perovskite material which is itself porous. Additionally or alternatively, the porous material may comprise a porous dielectric scaffold material, such as alumina, and a coating disposed on a surface thereof, which coating comprises the semiconductor comprising the perovskite. Thus, in some embodiments the porosity arises from the dielectric scaffold rather than from the perovskite itself. The porous material is usually infiltrated by a charge transporting material such as a hole conductor, a liquid electrolyte, or an electron conductor. The invention further provides the use of the porous material as a semiconductor in an optoelectronic device. Further provided is the use of the porous material as a photosensitizing, semiconducting material in an optoelectronic device.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of characterising a target polypeptide as it moves with respect to a nanopore. Also provided are related kits, systems and apparatuses for carrying out such methods.

Abstract: The described invention relates to tick chemokine binding polypeptides (tick CKBPs, typically tick Evasins) including hybrid CKBPs based on sequences from two or more tick CKBPs, and the uses of such polypeptides in inhibition of chemokines or detection of chemokine expression and inflammation.

Abstract: The invention relates to new methods for synthesising polynucleotide molecules according to a predefined nucleotide sequence. The invention also relates to methods for the assembly of synthetic polynucleotides following synthesis, as well as systems and kits for performing the synthesis and/or assembly methods.

Abstract: A method of detecting a membrane protein by mass spectrometry comprises: (a) providing a solution comprising a native membrane vesicle having a lipid bilayer to which said membrane protein is attached; (b) sonicating the vesicle in the presence of a mass spectrometry-compatible buffer; (c) providing a mass spectrometer comprising a nanoelectrospray ionisation source, a mass analyser and a detector; (d) vaporising the sonicated solution using the nanoelectrospray ionisation source under conditions such that the membrane protein is released from the vesicle; (e) ionising the membrane protein; (f) resolving the ionised membrane protein using the mass analyser; and (g) detecting the resolved membrane protein using the detector. Also provided are solutions comprising sonicated vesicles for use in mass spectrometry methods.

Abstract: The invention relates to new methods of attaching one or more polynucleotide binding proteins to a target polynucleotide. The invention also related to new methods of characterising target polynucleotides.

Abstract: The present application discloses a method of identifying and characterising intact pathogens in a sample using a fluorescence imaging system, in particular for characterising bacteria and viruses, and associated systems and kits for implementing the imethod. The method involves incubating a sample with fluorescent probes from at least two of the following categories: a fluorescent probe for binding to a pathogen surface carbohydrate; a nucleic acid stain; and a membrane stain. The sample is then imaged using fluorescence imaging apparatus to detect candidate objects, and the fluorescence characteristics of the candidate objects used to identify whether the object is a pathogen and, if so, the type of pathogen. Particularly preferred implementations employ flow to improve data acquisition, and machine learning classification algorithms to distinguish different pathogen types.

Abstract: The present invention describes a new functional biomarker of vascular inflammation and its use in predicting all-cause or cardiac mortality. The invention also provides a method for stratifying patients according to their risk of all-cause or cardiac mortality using data gathered from a computer tomography scans of a blood vessel to determine a specific combination of structural and functional biomarkers of vascular inflammation and disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a two-part linker comprising a peptide tag (peptide) and a polypeptide (protein) that is capable of spontaneously forming an isopeptide bond, particularly wherein: a) said peptide comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein: (i) X at position 1 is arginine or no amino acid; (ii) X at position 2 is glycine or no amino acid; (iii) X at position 5 is histidine or threonine; (iv) X at position 11 is alanine, glycine or valine; and (v) X at position 14 is arginine or lysine, wherein when X at position 1 is no amino acid, X at position 2 is no amino acid; and b) said polypeptide comprises: i) an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2; ii) a portion of (i) comprising an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 101; iii) an amino acid sequence with at least 80% sequence identity to a sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein said amino acid sequence comprises a lysine at position 34, a glutamic acid at position 80 and one or more of the

Abstract: A system for diagnosing a heart condition comprises an imaging system (102) arranged to acquire two images of the heart at respective points in the cardiac cycle, and locating means, which may be manually operated or automatic, for locating a series of pairs of points on the images. Each pair of points indicates the respective positions of a single part of the heart in the two images. The system further comprises a processor (108) arranged to calculate from the positions of said pairs of points a value of at least one parameter of the deformation of the heart. It may further be arranged to compare the value of the at least one parameter with reference data to generate a diagnostic output.

Abstract: The invention relates to constructs comprising a transmembrane protein pore subunit and a nucleic acid handling enzyme. The pore subunit is covalently attached to the enzyme such that both the subunit and enzyme retain their activity. The constructs can be used to generate transmembrane protein pores having a nucleic acid handling enzyme attached thereto. Such pores are particularly useful for sequencing nucleic acids. The enzyme handles the nucleic acid in such a way that the pore can detect its component nucleotides by stochastic sensing.

Abstract: A device (100) for speckle reduction, comprising an optical cell (110) and a controller (130). The optical cell (110) comprises a first and second cell wall (121, 122) spaced apart by a gap, and a liquid crystal composition (114) in the gap. The controller (130) is configured to cause fluid turbulence in the liquid crystal composition. The fluid turbulence in the liquid crystal composition (114) results in time varying spatially random scattering of light (102) transmitted through the liquid crystal composition (114). The liquid crystal composition (114) has a chiral nematic phase.

Abstract: A sensing method is described. The sensing method comprises providing a time-dependent electrical signal across a conductive connection between first and second terminals of a sensor, the conductive connection capacitively coupled to an environment via a mesoscopic probe element having an electroactive surface for exposure to the environment, the conductive connection having an associated relaxation time. The method further comprises receiving a time-dependent response signal from the sensor. The method further comprises analysing the time-dependent response signal with respect to the time-dependent electrical signal. The method further comprises determining, based on the analysis, a change in the relaxation time, the change in the relaxation time being correlated with an interaction between the electroactive surface and a measurand of the environment. A computer-readable medium, a sensing system and a sensor are also described.