Abstract: Isolated peptides comprising one or more antigenic sites of filovirus glycoprotein and methods of their use and production are disclosed. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the peptides are also provided. In several embodiments, the peptides can be used to induce an immune response to filovirus glycoprotein, such as Zaire ebolavirus glycoprotein, in a subject, for example, to treat or prevent infection of the subject with the virus.

Abstract: Isotropic generalized diffusion tensor imaging methods and apparatus are configured to obtain signal attenuations using selected sets of applied magnetic field gradient directions whose averages produce mean apparent diffusion constants (mADCs) over a wide range of b-values, associated with higher order diffusion tensors (HOT). These sets are selected based on analytical descriptions of isotropic HOTs and the associated averaged signal attenuations are combined to produce mADCs, or probability density functions of intravoxel mADC distributions. Estimates of biologically-specific rotation-invariant parameters for quantifying tissue water mobilities or other tissue characteristics can be obtained such as Traces of HOTs associated with diffusion and mean t-kurtosis.

Abstract: Recombinant Norovirus Virus-Like Particles (VLPs) formed from recombinant Norovirus VP1 proteins, and methods of their use and production are disclosed. In several embodiments, the Recombinant Norovirus VLPs can be used to generate an immune response to Norovirus VP1 protein in a subject. In additional embodiments, an effective amount of the recombinant Norovirus VLPs can be administered to a subject in a method of inhibiting a Norovirus infection.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides adeno-associated viral vectors, recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) and methods of using such vectors and viruses in gene therapy for treating methylmalonic acidemia in patients with methylmalonyl-coA mutase (MVMUT) deficiency. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.

Abstract: Heptamethine cyanines for use as fluorescent markers of the biliary system are disclosed. Certain heptamethine cyanines exhibit biliary system specificity and methods for in vivo visualization of a biliary system of a subject are provided. The methods may be for diagnostic purposes and/or for visualization of biliary systems during surgery.

Abstract: Disclosed devices for recovering cryopreserved tissue can comprise a receptacle that receives a sealed, frozen tissue container containing cryopreserved tissue and cryopreservation media, with at least one recovery media chamber and a waste material chamber fluidly coupled to the tissue container receptacle. The recovery device can be inserted into a regulator apparatus that facilitates thawing and warming of the media and tissue, and regulation of the flow of recovery media through the tissue container to flush out the thawed cryopreservation media into the waste chamber. The regulator can identify the tissue based on an ID tag on the tissue container and automatically apply an appropriate algorithm for thawing, culturing, and maintaining the tissue in a viable state.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods of treating or preventing a Rhabdoviridae virus infection in a mammal comprising administering griffithsin, or a fragment or mutant thereof, to the mammal.

Abstract: Provided is a method of treating cancer, particularly cancers associated with an overexpression of polo-like kinase (Plk1), comprising administering a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in which ring A, X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, R2, R3, R4, n, bond a, and bond b are described herein. Exemplary compounds of formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, especially those that selectively inhibit the polo box domain of Plk1, also are provided.

Abstract: Methods for the rapid amplification of extremely low quantity nucleic acids in a sample are provided. The disclosed methods are capable of amplifying less than 1 pg of DNA and/or RNA from a biological sample using a single tube and one-step or two-step preparation.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to antibodies binding to Glypican 2 and methods of using such antibodies to treat cancers that express or overexpress the Glypican 2 antigen.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a more efficient lentiviral vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a human ?-globin protein or a human ?-globin protein, which is oriented from 5? to 3? relative to the lentiviral genome. The invention also provides a composition and method utilizing the lentiviral vector.

Abstract: Disclosed are nucleic acids and polypeptides which provide the co-expression of interleukin (IL)-21 and IL-15 by a host cell, each interleukin being bound to the cell membrane by a cell membrane anchor moiety. Also disclosed are related recombinant expression vectors, host cells, populations of cells, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of treating or preventing cancer.

Abstract: Multidimensional MRI-based methods permit identification and categorization of brain specimens to identify sub-voxel tissue components that are specific to traumatic axon injury or other lesions. Lower dimensional MR spectral data is acquired and processed to provide multidimensional MR data of higher dimensions. One or more spectral ranges are selected that define signatures for brain injury and evaluation of the multidimensional MR data in these ranges is used to locate voxels associated with brain injury. For example, partial one dimensional data sets such as T1, T2, and mean diffusion coefficient (MD) data sets can be combined to provide two dimensional data sets such as T1-T2, MD-T2, and MD-T1 data sets. Using the spectral signatures, a specimen image can be produced showing areas of lesser or greater injury.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods and compositions for the diagnosis and/or treatment of tumors, such as ocular tumors, using virus-like particles conjugated to photosensitive molecules.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed herein for treating glaucoma in a subject. In some embodiments, the methods increase retinal ganglion cell survival. The disclosed methods use exosomes and/or miRNA.

Abstract: Disclosed are inhibitors of the plasmodial surface anion channel (PSAC) inhibitors and the use thereof in treating or preventing malaria in an animal such as a human, comprising administering an effective amount of an inhibitor or a combination of inhibitors. An example of such an inhibitor is a compound of formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1 to R7 are as described herein.

Abstract: Featured are methods, apparatus and devices for detecting a hematoma in tissue of a patient. In one aspect, such a method includes emitting near infrared light continuously into the tissue from a non-stationary near infrared light emitter and continuously monitoring the tissue using a non-stationary probe so as to continuously detect reflected light. The near infrared light is emitted at two distances from a brain of the patient, so the emitted light penetrates to two different depths. Such a method also includes applying a ratiometric analysis to the reflected light to distinguish a border between normal tissue and tissue exhibiting blood accumulation.

Abstract: Disclosed are powered gait assistance systems that include a controller, sensors, and a motor coupled to a patient's thigh and lower leg and operable to apply assistive torque to the patient's knee joint to assist the patient's volitional knee pivoting muscle output during selected stages of the patient's gait cycle, such that the assistive torque applied by the motor improves the patient's leg posture, muscle output, range of motion, and/or other parameters over the gait cycle. The sensors can include a torque sensor that measures torque applied by the motor, a knee angle sensor, a foot sensor that measures ground contact of the patient's foot, and/or other sensors. The controller can determine what stage of the patient's gait cycle the patient's leg is in based on sensor signals and cause the motor to apply corresponding assistive torque to the knee based on the gait cycle stage, sensor inputs, and known patient characteristics.

Abstract: Disclosed is a T cell receptor (TCR) having antigenic specificity for an HLA-A2-restricted epitope of human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 E6, E629-38. Related polypeptides and proteins, as well as related nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, and populations of cells are also provided. Antibodies, or an antigen binding portion thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions relating to the TCRs of the invention are also provided. Also disclosed are methods of detecting the presence of a condition in a mammal and methods of treating or preventing a condition in a mammal, wherein the condition is cancer, HPV 16 infection, or HPV-positive premalignancy.

Abstract: Vaccines that elicit broadly protective anti-influenza antibodies. The vaccines comprise nanoparticles that display HA trimers from Group 2 influenza virus on their surface. The nanoparticles are fusion proteins comprising a monomeric subunit (e.g., ferritin) joined to stabilized stem regions of Group 2 influenza virus HA proteins. The fusion proteins self-assemble to form the HA-displaying nanoparticles. Also provided are fusion proteins, and nucleic acid molecules encoding such proteins, and assays using nanoparticles of the invention to detect anti-influenza antibodies.