Abstract: Anti-BK virus antibody molecules or binding fragments thereof are disclosed. These Anti-BK virus antibody molecules or binding fragments can be used in the treatment or prevention of BK virus infection and/or BK virus associated disorder.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for selecting an expressed sequence from a library, comprising the following steps: Each of a plurality of eukaryotic cells comprising a cell wall comprises a nucleic acid sequence member of a library, which is expressed as a target membrane protein in said eukaryotic cells. The cell wall of the cells is permeabilized. The penneabilized cells are labeled with a ligand capable of binding to the target membrane protein. The ligand bears a detectable label. A subset of the labelled cells is selected as a function of detectable label present. Finally, an expressed nucleic acid sequence is isolated from said selection of cells in an isolation step.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antibodies binding to human interleukin-2 (hIL-2). The invention more specifically relates to humanized antibodies specifically binding a particular epitope of hIL-2 and, when bound to this epitope, displaying a unique capability of inhibiting binding of hIL-2 to CD25.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved Helminthosporium turcicum-resistant plant, in particular a maize plant which comprises a polynucleotide with one or more resistance-conferring genes, for example on a truncated chromosome fragment from the accession Pepitilla, as well as a cell, a tissue, a part, grain and seeds thereof, an isolated polynucleotide which comprises one or more resistance-conferring genes against Helminthosporium turcicum, a vector, a transgenic plant cell and a transgenic plant containing this polynucleotide. Furthermore, the invention encompasses suitable markers and their use in introducing resistance or the transgene into a plant, as well as the identification of improved maize plants which comprise a truncated chromosome fragment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of antibodies useful in therapy and diagnosis. It specifically discloses bioconjugates comprising one or more antibodies bound to functionalized, magnetic nanoparticles. These bioconjugates are useful in cancer therapy, particularly for removing circulating tumor cells. The invention further pertains to specific functionalized, magnetic nanoparticles and to the manufacturing of such bioconjugates and such functionalized, magnetic nanoparticles.

Abstract: The invention relates to MHC-Ia open conformers as immunomodulatory agents, particularly in the treatment or prevention of cancer. The open conformer comprises or consists of a first and a second monomer, and each monomer comprises a HLA-heavy chain from the MHC-Ia molecules. The open conformer further comprises a protein stabilizing polypeptide sequence and optionally an amino acid linker. Further aspects of the invention provide combination medicaments comprising the MHC-Ia open conformers and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of MHC-Ia open conformers as immunomodulators, particularly in diseases where the interaction to diverse immunoregulatory receptors such as KIR3DL1, KIR3DL2, KIR3DL3, LILRB1, LILRB2, and PTPRJ modulates an immune response, and in diseases were the negative modulation of Tregs is a therapeutic strategy, e.g. infectious diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a perfusion loop assembly for an ex vivo liver perfusion including: a pump for providing a fluid flow of a perfusion fluid through a first branch line and a second branch line; the first branch line being configured to provide a first portion of the perfusion fluid to the hepatic artery of the liver; the first branch line being coupled with a first gas exchanger, the second branch line being configured to provide a second portion of the perfusion fluid to the portal vein of the liver; the second branch line further including a first valve for controlling the flow of the perfusion fluid into the portal vein of the liver, a liver chamber assembly configured to hold the liver ex vivo, a liver outlet line attached to the vena cava of the ex vivo liver, at least one reservoir connected to the liver outlet and upstream from the pump.

Abstract: The invention provides a human IL-2 (hlL-2)-specific monoclonal antibody, wherein a complex of hlL-2 and the monoclonal induces IL-2 signalling preferentially via CD25 and the trimeric IL-2R. The invention further provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising hlL-2 and said hlL-2-mAb for use treating inflammatory disease.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to peptidomimetics having antibacterial activity, especially against Gram-negative bacteria. The peptidomimetics of the invention are compounds of the general formula (I), [X3]t—[X2]S—X1—P1—P2—P3—P4—P5—P6—P7—P8—P9—P10—P11—P12—P13—P14—P15—P16 and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, as described in the description and in the claims. The invention is also directed to therapeutic uses of the peptidomimetics for the treatment or prevention of bacterial infections and diseases related to bacterial infections and to non-therapeutic uses of the peptidomimetics for preserving or disinfecting foodstuffs, cosmetics, medicaments or other nutrient-containing materials. In addition, the present invention provides an efficient synthetic process by which these compounds can, if desired, be made in parallel library-format. Moreover, the peptidomimetics of the invention show improved antimicrobial activity, low or no hemolysis of red blood cells and reduced cytotoxicity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for transducing a target cell, the method comprising the step of contacting a target cell with a retroviral vector and a compound capable of enhancing transduction efficiency or a combination of such compounds, wherein the target cell is pre- and/or co-stimulated by pre- and/or co-incubation with said transduction enhancing compound or a combination of transduction enhancing compounds prior to and/or during contacting the target cell with the retroviral vector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to small-molecule inhibitors of the FRS2-FGFR interaction. The present invention relates the small-molecule inhibitors for use as a medicament and for use in cancer or metastasis treatment or prevention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to small-molecule inhibitors of the FRS2-FGFR interaction. The present invention relates the small-molecule inhibitors for use as a medicament and for use in cancer treatment or prevention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a contrast agent suitable for ex vivo imaging, particularly of vascular structures and renal tubular structures, and a method for ex vivo imaging. The contrast agent is a polymer comprising monomers M. The monomer comprises a backbone having 2 to 6 elements, wherein at least one element is —CH(R)— or —N(R)—. R is a moiety -E-H, -L-(NH2)m or a moiety of formula 1, with E, L, R1 and R2 being defined as described in the present specification. The monomer comprises at least one —I to allow detection via X-ray and at least one —NH2 to allow crosslinking. Furthermore, the monomer comprises polar functional groups that contribute to water solubility. To avoid extravasation and glomerular filtration, the polymers are pre-crosslinked before the vasculature of a tissue, an organ or whole animal is perfused. After perfusion, the pre-crosslinked contrast agent is further crosslinked to be retained within the tissue, organ or animal permanently.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a tissue-engineered medical device, as well as a method for the production said medical device, comprising the following steps: providing a polymer scaffold comprising a mesh comprising polyglycolic acid, and a coating comprising poly-4-hydroxybutyrate; application of a cell suspension containing preferably human cells to the polymer scaffold; placement of the seeded polymer scaffold in a bioreactor and mechanical stimulation by exposure to a pulsatile flux of incremental intensity, thereby forming an extracellular matrix; mounting of the graft on a conduit stabilizer and incubation in cell culture medium; decellularisation of the graft in a washing solution; nuclease treatment of the graft; and rinsing of graft. The invention further comprises and various steps of quality control of the tissue-engineered medical device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cyclic peptide, a conjugate comprising said cyclic peptide and a lipopeptide building block, a bundle of said conjugates, a synthetic virus-like particle comprising at least one bundle of conjugates and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same. The present invention further relates to said cyclic peptide, said conjugate said bundle of conjugates, said synthetic virus-like particle and said pharmaceutical compositions for use as a medicament, preferably for use in a method for preventing of an infectious disease or reducing the risk of an infectious disease, more preferably for use in a method for preventing or reducing the risk of an infectious disease associated with or caused by a respiratory syncytial virus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for selecting a sequence set from a library of expressed nucleic acid sequences, wherein cells are provided, each cell comprises an expressed nucleic acid sequence expressed as a target protein. The cells are encapsulated by treating them with a cationic polysaccharide and subsequently treating them with an anionic polysaccharide, yielding encapsulated cells, perforating the membrane of the encapsulated cells, yielding solubilized compartments, contacting them with a ligand to said target protein, the ligand bearing a detectable label, and selecting a subset of solubilized compartments as a function of detectable label and isolating the expressed nucleic acid sequences from the selection as a selected sequence set.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a non-agonist ligand of ARTC1, which inhibits the ADP-ribosyltransferase activity of ARTC1, or an inhibitor nucleic acid sequence capable of downregulating or inhibiting expression of a target nucleic acid sequence encoding ARTC1, for use in prevention or treatment of cancer. The invention also relates to a method for diagnosis of cancer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an immersion microscope objective (10) for inspecting a sample (S) in an immersion medium (M), comprising: at least one concave minor (3), at least one optical element (1) comprising an aspherical surface (2) facing the at least one concave minor (3), and an internal space (4) arranged between the at least one concave minor (3) and said aspherical surface (2), said internal space (4) being configured to be filled with an immersion medium (M) such that the immersion medium (M) contacts the at least one concave minor (3) and the aspherical surface (2). According to the present invention, the aspherical interface (2) is shaped such that the working distance (7) of the immersion microscope objective (10) varies by less than 1% when the refractive index n of said immersion medium (M) is increased or decreased by at least 0.025.

Abstract: A modular artificial neural sensing system includes a hierarchical network of neural sensing units including a neuromimetic sensor array of artificial sensory synapses and sensory neurons for receiving physicochemical sensed signals and for outputting sensor output signals. An artificial neural network processor is adapted for processing the sensor output signals and includes processor neurons interconnected by processor synapses forming first connections and second connections. The processor outputs processor output signals. A first sensor interface feeds processed or unprocessed sensed signals into the processor. A second sensor interface receives output predicted signals from other neural sensing units and feeds processed or unprocessed output predicted signals into the processor. A signal decoder decodes the processor output signals and outputs decoder output signals.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is used to adapt a first artificial neural network for data classification tasks. The first artificial neural network is characterized by a first number of first weight parameters, and includes a set of first network layers. The method includes freezing at least some of the first weight parameters of the first neural network to obtain frozen first weight parameters and duplicating the frozen first weight parameters to obtain duplicated first weight parameters. A second artificial neural network is applied to the duplicated first weight parameters to obtain modulated first weight parameters. The second artificial neural network is characterized by a second number of second weight parameters, the second number being smaller than the first number. The frozen first weight parameters are replaced in the first neural network with the modulated first weight parameters to obtain a modulated first artificial neural network adapted for a data classification task.