Abstract: Described herein are monoclonal antibodies that bind to VSIG-4 including antibodies that block the binding of VSIG-4 to SIGLEC-7, compositions including the monoclonal antibodies, and methods of making and using those antibodies and compositions.

Abstract: Described herein are polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies that binds to VSIG3, compounds that modulate the interaction of VISTA and VSIG3, and methods of making and using the polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies and compounds. Also described herein are methods that include modulating the interaction of VISTA and VSIG3 by introducing a compound that modulates the interaction of VISTA and SIG3.

Abstract: The ligand for VISTA is identified (VSIG3) as well as the use of this ligand and receptor interaction in the identification or synthesis of a VSIG3 agonist or antagonist compounds, preferably antibodies, polypeptides and fusion proteins which agonize or antagonize the effects of VSIG3 and/or VISTA and/or the VSIG3/VISTA interaction. These antagonists may be used to suppress VSIG3/VISTA's suppressive effects on T cell immunity, and more particularly used in the treatment of cancer, or infectious disease. These agonist compounds may be used to potentiate or enhance VSIG3/VISTA's suppressive effects on T cell immunity and thereby suppress T cell immunity, such as in the treatment of autoimmunity, allergy or inflammatory conditions. Screening assays for identifying these agonists and antagonist compounds are also provided.

Abstract: The disclosure provides interleukin 37 (IL-37) fusion proteins, methods of making IL-37 fusion proteins including constructs used to express IL-37 fusion proteins, and methods of using IL-37 fusion proteins. In some embodiments, the IL-37 fusion protein includes amino acids 46-206 of isoform B of IL-37 and a heavy chain portion of an antibody.

Abstract: A method for characterizing stem cell differentiation includes harvesting differentiation media supernatant containing secreted analytes from key time points during a stem cell differentiation, performing at least one of a qualitative and a quantitative analysis of the differentiation media supernatant with respect to at least one secreted analyte, and identifying trends in analyte expression based on at least one of the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the differentiation media supernatant.

Abstract: This disclosure describes isolated protein complexes including a Wnt and a sFRP; compositions including a Wnt; a cell overexpressing a Wnt and a sFRP; compositions including a cell overexpressing a Wnt and a cell overexpressing a sFRP; methods of making the protein complexes, compositions, and cells; and methods of using the isolated protein complexes, compositions, and cells. This disclosure further describes methods of forming a complex including a Wnt and a sFRP and methods for isolating a Wnt. Also described herein are methods that may be used to purify a Wnt without the use of a detergent.

Abstract: A method for assaying endoglycosidase activity includes providing a proteoglycan having a glycosaminoglycan chain with a non-reducing end; treating the proteoglycan with a glycosyltransferase to incorporate a carbohydrate into the non-reducing end of the glycosaminoglycan chain, wherein the carbohydrate includes a click chemistry moiety; adding a label to the proteoglycan, wherein the label includes a click chemistry moiety that reacts to the click chemistry moiety of the carbohydrate such that the label attaches to the carbohydrate to form a labeled proteoglycan; immobilizing the labeled proteoglycan on a multi-well plate, wherein the multi-well plate includes a specific anti-proteoglycan antibody for binding the labeled proteoglycan; treating the labeled proteoglycan with an endoglycosidase specific to the glycosaminoglycan chain; and detecting the labeled proteoglycan.

Abstract: Described herein are monoclonal antibodies that bind to VSIG-4 including antibodies that block the binding of VSIG-4 to SIGLEC-7, compositions including the monoclonal antibodies, and methods of making and using those antibodies and compositions.

Abstract: A dual chamber storage device includes a first chamber having a base and a hollow body for storing a first material. A second chamber within the hollow body of the first chamber has a base, a hollow body for storing a second material, and a neck portion. A dispenser housed within the second chamber has a hollow body, a dispensing tip, and a cutting edge. A cap surrounds the end of the dispenser with the cutting edge, is rotatingly connectable with the second chamber neck portion, and is non-rotatingly connectable with the first end of the dispenser. When the cap is rotated relative to the second chamber neck portion, the second end of the dispenser moves toward the base of the second chamber and the cutting edge pierces the base of the second chamber thereby allowing the second material to enter the hollow body of the first chamber.

Abstract: The ligand for VISTA is identified (VSIG3) as well as the use of this ligand and receptor interaction in the identification or synthesis of a VSIG3 agonist or antagonist compounds, preferably antibodies, polypeptides and fusion proteins which agonize or antagonize the effects of VSIG3 and/or VISTA and/or the VSIG3/VISTA interaction. These antagonists may be used to suppress VSIG/3/VISTA's suppressive effects on T cell immunity, and more particularly used in the treatment of cancer, or infectious disease. These agonist compounds may be used to potentiate or enhance VSIG3/VISTA's suppressive effects on T cell immunity and thereby suppress T cell immunity, such as in the treatment of autoimmunity, allergy or inflammatory conditions. Screening assays for identifying these agonists and antagonist compounds are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and kits for detecting the presence of GlcNAc modification of a peptide or protein. The steps of detection may include combining the peptide or protein with PAP35S and a sulfotransferase to produce a reaction product including 35S labeled GlcNAc modified protein or peptide, removing background labeling with a glycosidase, separating the 35S labeled GlcNAc modified protein or peptide from PAP35S, free S-35 sulfate and labeled oligosaccharides if present, and detecting isotopic emissions from the 35S labeled GlcNAc modified peptide or protein. The detection may further include, prior to detection, the step of combining the peptide or protein with a GlcNAc transferase and UDP-GlcNAc under appropriate conditions for the GlcNAc transferase to transfer a GlcNAc to the peptide or protein.

Abstract: A kit for detecting or measuring glycosyltransferase activity including a first reagent comprising a phosphatase and a second reagent comprising a free phosphate detector, and method of detecting and measuring glycosyltransferase activity. A sugar donor, an acceptor substrate, a glycosyltransferase enzyme and a phosphatase are combined and the amount of free phosphate present in the product is measured and used to calculate the activity of the glycosyltransferase enzyme.

Abstract: A polypeptide transforming growth factor found in porcine platelets, having activity in the TGF-.beta. assay and a molecular weight of about 25 kDa. The factor is a heterodimer, one chain of which has an N-terminal sequence very different from human platelet TGF-.beta., and the other chain of which has an N-terminal sequence identical to that of human platelet TGF-.beta.. The factor is purified using gel filtration and reverse phase HPLC.

Abstract: A stirrer apparatus for stirring culture medium has a flask with a lid, a floating magnetic stirrer responsive to a moving magnetic field, and a moving field generator including poles and coils. A guide system is provided for the stirrer including a rod which extend upwardly from the stirrer and a tube which extends through the lid, the rod extending into and being rotatable in the tube; the tube has a closed upper end. A stirrer apparatus having a floating magnetic stirrer with a central, downwardly extending, closed end guide tube, and lid with a guide rod extending into the guide tube. The stirrer included one or more continuous impellers extending across the rotational axis of the stirrer; in one embodiment, the impeller is provided by a bar magnet or magnets beneath a float and in another embodiment a bar magnet is within the float, and the impeller is a continuous blade.

Abstract: A magnetic stirrer apparatus for culture medium and other liquids comprises a flask having a floating stirrer in it; a driving guide rod extends downwardly into the flask, and has a sliding drive connection with the floating stirrer. The driving guide rod is suspended from a bearing on the underside of the flask closure, and carries a driven magnet, which is magnetically coupled with a motor-driven magnet on the outside of the closure.

Abstract: A stirrer for stirring liquid in a flask comprises a magnetically attractable member formed by or supported by a buoyancy chamber, the stirrer having less density than the liquid to be stirred; the stirrer may include an impeller. A method of stirring a liquid comprising introducing liquid and a buoyant, magnetically attractable stirrer into a vessel, and causing a rotating magnetic field to rotate the stirrer.

Abstract: A magnetic stirrer apparatus includes a vessel for liquid and a floating stirrer. The floating stirrer is rotated by a magnet driven by a magnetic field generator laterally of the vessel, and a guide rod through the floating stirrer restricts its movement to rotary movement and substantially vertical movement with change in the liquid level. The magnetic field generator is operative at any level of the liquid in the vessel.