Abstract: Articles and devices comprising fluorinated elastomers, as well as methods of preparing fluorinated elastomers, are generally described. In some cases, such fluorinated elastomers can be used for sensing neural activity, e.g., by encapsulating electronic circuits, or other applications. Furthermore, according to certain embodiments, polymers can, surprisingly, be directly deposited onto layers comprising low molecular weight fluorinated elastomers, e.g., without swelling in the presence of certain solvents. Some embodiments are generally directed to devices and methods for treating fluorinated elastomers and subsequently depositing material onto the treated fluorinated elastomers. This may allow the fabrication and patterning of multilayered articles comprising fluorinated elastomers.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to microfluidics and labeled nucleic acids. For example, certain aspects are generally directed to systems and methods for labeling nucleic acids within microfluidic droplets or other compartments, for instance, arising from a cell. In one set of embodiments, particles may be prepared containing oligonucleotides that can be used to determine target nucleic acids, e.g., attached to the surface of the particles. The oligonucleotides may include “barcodes” or unique sequences that can be used to distinguish nucleic acids in a droplet from those in another droplet, for instance, even after the nucleic acids are pooled together or removed from the droplets. Certain embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems and methods for attaching additional or arbitrary sequences to the nucleic acids within microfluidic droplets or other compartments, e.g.

Abstract: Modified viral genomes are able to reduce induction of inflammatory and immune antiviral responses. This manifests itself in reduced NF-kB activity, increased viral transduction rates, and increased expression of transgenes. Viral genomes are modified by incorporating one or more oligonucleotide sequences which are able to bind to TLR9 but not induce activation of it. The oligonucleotide sequences may be synthetic, bacterial, human, or from any other source.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides fusion proteins comprising a nanobody and a split glycosyl hydrolase enzyme. Also provided herein are split glycosyl hydrolase enzymes and fusion proteins comprising such enzymes. Further provided herein are polynucleotides, vectors, and cells. The present disclosure also provides methods of deglycosylating a protein and methods of studying the effects of glycosylation on protein function in cells. Also provided herein are methods of treating diseases.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods for detecting nucleic acid sequences (e.g., coding and non-coding RNAs; nuclear/genomic DNA; mtDNA; pathogen nucleic acids, etc.) in a tissue sample, specifically providing improved matrices and matrix-employing methods for performance of nucleic acid capture and amplification in a tissue sample in situ and/or in a manner that retains spatial location information for captured nucleic acids (including nucleic acid-associated macromolecules).

Abstract: A sensing probe may be formed of a diamond material comprising one or more spin defects that are configured to emit fluorescent light and are located no more than 50 nm from a sensing surface of the sensing probe. The sensing probe may include an optical outcoupling structure formed by the diamond material and configured to optically guide the fluorescent light toward an output end of the optical outcoupling structure. An optical detector may detect the fluorescent light that is emitted from the spin defects and that exits through the output end of the optical outcoupling structure after being optically guided therethrough. A mounting system may hold the sensing probe and control a distance between the sensing surface of the sensing probe and a surface of a sample while permitting relative motion between the sensing surface and the sample surface.

Abstract: The invention includes a thioamide-modified peptide, wherein the thioamide modification increases the in vivo half-life of the peptide. The invention further includes methods of treating or preventing a disease or disorder in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject a thioamide-modified peptide of the invention.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a means to prevent and/or ameliorate age, disease and obesity associated metabolic diseases, such as diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance. Also disclosed are compositions and methods that relate to the findings that GDF11 prevents weight gain, improves glucose tolerance and reduces hepatosteatosis in aged mice administered a high fat diet. In particular, the methods and compositions described herein relate to increasing the level of GDF11 in a subject, thereby treating or preventing the development of obesity in the subject, reducing the metabolic consequences of obesity and improving the subject's metabolic health.

Abstract: The present invention provides glycated Amadori products of the CD59 peptide and fragments thereof to be used as tools and among methods for the diagnosis and prognosis of pre-diabetes and diabetes. Certain aspects of the invention include glycated Amadori products of CD59 and fragments thereof to be used for the generation of antibodies and antibody fragments. Still other aspects of the invention include methodologies for the preparation of glycated Amadori products of CD59, fragments thereof, the inventive antibodies, and antibody fragments.

Abstract: An evaporative cooling system includes a porous ceramic body with a plurality of dry channels and a plurality of wet channels. The plurality of dry channels are configured to inhibit transfer of water vapor into the dry channels and include a barrier layer that includes a roughened layer with a features size less than 1000 nm and a hydrophobic chemical modification disposed on the roughened layer. The plurality of wet channels are configured to allow transfer of water vapor.

Abstract: The technology described herein is directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising at least one Scg2 neuropeptide, as well as cell culture media or kits comprising such Scg2 neuropeptides. Also described herein are nucleic acids, vectors, or viral vectors encoding at least one Scg2 neuropeptide. In further aspects, described herein are methods of treating a memory-associated disorder, a learning disability, a neurodegenerative disease or disorder, or epilepsy with a pharmaceutical composition, nucleic acid, vector, or viral vector as described herein. In further aspects, described herein are detection methods of memory-associated analytes, such as Scg2 neuropeptides.

Abstract: Some aspects of this disclosure provide compositions, strategies, systems, reagents, methods, and kits that are useful for the targeted editing of nucleic acids, including editing a single site within the genome of a cell or subject, e.g., within the human genome. In some embodiments, fusion proteins capable of inducing a cytosine (C) to guanine (G) change in a nucleic acid (e.g., genomic DNA) are provided. In some embodiments, fusion proteins of a nucleic acid programmable DNA binding protein (e.g., Cas9) and nucleic acid editing proteins or protein domains, e.g., deaminase domains, polymerase domains, and/or base excision enzymes are provided. In some embodiments, methods for targeted nucleic acid editing are provided. In some embodiments, reagents and kits for the generation of targeted nucleic acid editing proteins, e.g., fusion proteins of a nucleic acid programmable DNA binding protein (e.g., Cas9), and nucleic acid editing proteins or domains, are provided.

Abstract: The invention provides for systems, methods, and compositions for altering expression of target gene sequences and related gene products. Provided are structural information on the Cas protein of the CRISPR-Cas system, use of this information in generating modified components of the CRISPR complex, vectors and vector systems which encode one or more components or modified components of a CRISPR complex, as well as methods for the design and use of such vectors and components. Also provided are methods of directing CRISPR complex formation in eukaryotic cells and methods for utilizing the CRISPR-Cas system. In particular the present invention comprehends optimized functional CRISPR-Cas enzyme systems.

Abstract: The embodiments of the invention described herein relate to systems and methods for culturing and/or maintaining intestinal cells, tissues and/or organoids in vitro. The cells, tissues and/or organoids cultured according to the methods and systems described herein can mimic or reproduce natural intestinal epithelial structures and behavior as well as support co-culture of intestinal microflora.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods comprising engineered microorganisms and their use for locally degrading an antibiotic in the gastrointestinal tract to prevent or limit death of beneficial flora.

Abstract: The present invention provides capsules having a shell of material that comprises an assembly of a protein, and the capsule is optionally provided with a network of material within the shell that is an assembly of the protein. The assembly of the protein is obtained or obtainable by the aggregation of the protein, optionally together with another protein. The assembly is a non-covalent assembly of a protein.

Abstract: The present disclosure, at least in part, provides a dual-AAV vector system and compositions thereof for expression full-length PCDH15 in target cells. The present disclosure also provides the method of using the dual rAAV system for delivering full-length PCDH15 to a target cell (e.g., inner cells or cells in the eye) for treating deafness and/or blindness (e.g., Usher syndrome 1F).

Abstract: The technology described herein is directed to ionic liquids and methods of drug delivery.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for correlating continuous physiological processes (e.g., electrophysiological activity) and biomolecular processes (e.g., gene expression) in cells within a tissue. Also disclosed herein are methods for preparing a tissue for continuous electrophysiological recording. Further disclosed herein are systems comprising nanoelectronic devices within cells in a tissue, wherein each nanoelectronic device comprises a unique electronic barcode. The methods and systems described herein comprise any tissue with electrical activity (e.g., brain tissue, heart tissue, nervous system tissue, muscle tissue, pancreas tissue, or gastrointestinal tract tissue). Additionally disclosed herein are methods for disease modeling, methods for discovering a target for treating a disease, and methods for drug screening.

Abstract: Provided herein are compounds useful for the treatment of various parasitic diseases. These compounds, as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof may be formulated in pharmaceutical compostions, veterinary compositions and may be used in methods of treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases spread by parasites, including malaria and cryptosporidiosis.