Abstract: The human Occludin protein is identified as an essential Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) cell entry factor. Occludin is shown to render murine and other non-human cells infectable with HCV and to be required for HCV-susceptibility of human cells. Associated methods for inhibiting HCV infection, transgenic animal models for HCV pathogenesis, methods of identifying compounds or agents that prevent or mitigate interaction of HCV with Occludin, and HCV inhibitory agents are also disclosed. Kits and cell culture compositions useful for identifying compounds or agents that prevent or mitigate interaction of HCV with Occludin are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention discloses novel agents and methods for diagnosis and treatment of melanoma. Also disclosed are related arrays, kits, and screening methods.

Abstract: An optical system for the detection of skin disease, such as melanoma, acquires images of a lesion on a subject's skin at different wavelengths and utilizes a sweeping arm rotating about the lesion in a clock-like sweep to produce diagnostically relevant metrics and classifiers from the image data so as to enhance detection of the skin disease.

Abstract: The invention relates to isolated anti-microRNA molecules. In another embodiment, the invention relates to an isolated microRNA molecule. In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a method for inhibiting microRNP activity in a cell.

Abstract: The present invention discloses novel agents and methods for diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer. Also disclosed are related arrays, kits, and screening methods.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for purifying RNA molecules interacting with an RNA binding protein (RBP), and the use of such methods to analyze a gene expression profile of a cell. The invention also provides sequences of RNA molecules that mediate binding to an RBP, proteins encoded by the sequences, a method of identifying the sequences, and the use of the sequences in a screen to identify bioactive molecules. The invention also provides RNA motifs found among the sequences and compounds that bind the RNA motifs. In addition, the invention provides methods of treating diseases associated with a function of an RNA binding protein.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for the remote control of cell function based on the use of radiofrequency waves to excite nanoparticles targeted to specific cell types. The nanoparticles may be applied to the target cell extracellularly and/or expressed intracellularly. The cell type of interest expresses a temperature sensitive channel wherein excitation of the nanoparticles results in a localized temperature increase that is transduced into a cellular response. Such cellular responses may include, for example, increases in gene expression resulting in production of one or more physiologically active proteins. The expression of such proteins can be used to treat a variety of different inherited or acquired diseases or disorders in a subject. Accordingly, the invention provides a generic approach for treatment of any disease associated with a protein deficiency.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptide vaccines, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and associated methodologies that promote the immune-mediated regression of tumors expressing an onconeural antigen, e.g. a cdr-2 antigen, HuD antigen. The cancer peptide vaccines of the present invention are antigenic peptides capable of being faithfully presented on the MHC I complex of a target cell or antigen presenting cell. This external cellular presentation of these peptides promotes a specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-mediated immune response against tumor cells expressing these proteins, thereby, inducing immunological reactivity.

Abstract: The invention provides broadly neutralizing antibodies directed to epitopes of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV. The invention further provides compositions containing HIV antibodies used for prophylaxis, and methods for diagnosis and treatment of HIV infection.

Abstract: The invention provides a polypeptide containing at least one IgG Fc region region, said polypeptide having a higher anti-inflammatory activity and a lower cytotoxic activity as compared to an unpurified antibody and methods of production of such polypeptide.

Abstract: An ion trap includes a containment region for containing ions, and a plurality of electrodes positioned on a regular polyhedral structure encompassing the containment region. An electrode is positioned on each vertex of the encompassing structure and at least one of the polygonal surfaces includes additional electrodes configured to form a plurality of quadrupoles on the surface. Alternating RF voltage is applied to the plurality of electrodes, so that directly neighboring electrodes are of equal amplitude and opposite polarity at any point in time. This configuration on the polyhedral structure forms a potential barrier for repelling the ions from each of the regular polygonal surfaces and containing them in the trap. Mass selective filters can be formed from the quadrupoles for parallel mass analysis in different m/z windows. Application of a small DC potential to a plate electrode outside the quadrupoles preferentially depletes single charged ions for enhanced signal-to-noise analysis.

Abstract: The instant invention provides antibodies which recognize new epitope tags. Related kits for detecting these epitope tags or fusion proteins having these epitope tags are also provided.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a DNA molecule. The DNA molecule includes a nucleotide sequence that encodes the receptor-binding domain of Clostridium difficile toxin A or toxin B in which at least about 10% of the in-frame codons for each amino acid residue has a higher percentage use in the human genome than the corresponding in-frame codons of C. difficile toxin A or toxin B having a known sequence. Methods for generating antibodies to Clostridium difficile toxin A or toxin B, methods for reducing the risk of a C. difficile infection, and methods for treating a C. difficile are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to chimeric bacteriophage lysins useful for the identification and/or reduction of staphylococcal populations. For example, a chimeric bacteriophage lysin was engineered and shown to effectively kill all strains of staphylococci tested including antibiotic resistant methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VISA).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for identifying a binding site on an RNA transcript, wherein the binding site binds to one or more binding moieties. The method includes, among other things, introducing a photoreactive nucleoside into living cells wherein the living cells incorporate the photoreactive nucleoside into RNA transcripts during transcription thereby producing modified RNA transcripts; reverse transcribing the RNA of isolated cross-linked segments thereby generating cDNA transcripts with one mutation wherein the photoreactive nucleoside is transcribed to a mismatched deoxynucleoside; amplifying the cDNA transcripts thereby generating amplicons; and analyzing the sequences of the amplicons aligned against the reference sequence so as to identify the binding site, wherein the sequences of each amplicon having a mutation resulting from the introduction of the photoreactive nucleoside is considered to be a valid amplicon comprising at least a portion of a binding site on the RNA transcript.

Abstract: An ion trap includes a containment region for containing ions, and a plurality of electrodes positioned on a regular polyhedral structure encompassing the containment region. An electrode is positioned on each vertex of the encompassing structure and at least one of the polygonal surfaces includes additional electrodes configured to form a plurality of quadrupoles on the surface. Alternating RF voltage is applied to the plurality of electrodes, so that directly neighboring electrodes are of equal amplitude and opposite polarity at any point in time. This configuration on the polyhedral structure forms a potential barrier for repelling the ions from each of the regular polygonal surfaces and containing them in the trap. Mass selective filters can be formed from the quadrupoles for parallel mass analysis in different m/z windows. Application of a small DC potential to a plate electrode outside the quadrupoles preferentially depletes single charged ions for enhanced signal-to-noise analysis.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are glycan-modified anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies with N-linked glycans attached to the variable region. Expression vectors and cell lines useful for the production of such antibodies, and use of such antibodies for HIV prevention and therapy are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is based, in part, on our discovery of immunoglobulins (e.g., immunoglobulin G (IgG)) polypeptides (e.g., murine or human IgG, such as human IgG1) that are aglycosylated yet retain the ability to bind to an Fc receptor, such as an activating Fc receptor (e.g., Fc?RIIA and/or Fc?RIIIA).

Abstract: The invention relates to isolated anti-microRNA molecules. In another embodiment, the invention relates to an isolated microRNA molecule. In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a method for inhibiting microRNP activity in a cell.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel truncated mutated T4 RNA ligase 2. In addition, methods are provided for ligating pre-adenlylated donor molecules to the 3? hydroxyl group of RNA in the absence of ATP using the ligase.