Abstract: A method is provided, including obtaining a population of antigen-presenting cells, enriching a population of stem/progenitor cells within a larger population of cells, activating the population of antigen-presenting cells and, following the activating, inducing at least one process selected from the group consisting of: differentiation, expansion, activation, secretion of a molecule, and expression of a marker, by exposing the enriched stem/progenitor cell population to the population of antigen-presenting cells. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a (first) method for producing inducible and/or repressible expression active linear RNA interference constructs comprising a PCR amplification of a source polynucleotide comprising the inhibitory RNA coding sequence of interest or comprising a PCR amplification of a DNA source comprising a promoter using a reverse primer comprising the inhibitory RNA coding sequence of interest. The present invention furthermore relates to a (second) method for producing inducible and/or repressible expression active linear gene constructs comprising a PCR amplification of a source expression polynucleotide comprising a promoter sequence and the DNA sequence of interest or comprising a PCR amplification using the DNA sequence as a template.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the expression and subsequent screening of DNA libraries, particularly synthetic, genomic, and cDNA libraries, in filamentous fungal hosts. In particular, the invention provides vectors, host strains, and a method for the expression and screening of complex DNA libraries, including, but not limited to, combinatory (combinatorial) libraries expressing one, two or more variable constituents and/or prepared from two or more sublibraries (e.g., for the expression and screening of immunoglobulin (including fragments and derivatives of whole immunoglobulin proteins) and other receptor or complex DNA libraries or libraries of libraries). The invention is useful for the expression and screening for a large variety of proteins and protein complexes, including human proteins. The present invention also relates to novel fungal protease sequences.

Abstract: The object is to provide a transformant which can produce a heterologous protein having a structurally controlled O-linked sugar chain having an O-Man-Gal disaccharide structure, a method for producing the transformant by using Schizosaccharomyces pombe as the host, and provide a host for producing the transformant and a method for producing an O-glycosylated heterologous protein. An Schizosaccharomyces pombe host having no omh1 gene or an inactivated omh1 gene in its chromosomes for producing an O-glycosylated heterologous protein having an O-linked sugar chain having an O-Man-Gal disaccharide structure by expression of the heterologous protein by a genetic engineering technique and subsequent glycosylation of the expressed heterologous protein. A transformant from the host, a method for producing the transformant and a method for producing an O-glycosylated heterologous protein by using the transformant.

Abstract: The present inventors successfully constructed expression vectors that enable high-level production of foreign gene-derived proteins in mammalian host cells, which comprise a translation-impaired drug resistance gene cistron whose expression has been attenuated by altering the codons to the least frequently used codons in mammals; and a gene cassette which has a cloning site for incorporation of a foreign gene between a highly transcriptionally active promoter and a highly stable polyadenylation signal.

Abstract: Methods and compositions according to embodiments of the present invention are provided that specifically and sensitively detect alcohol consumption and whether alcohol consumption is moderate or high in a subject. Aspects of the present invention relate to assays of panels of proteins for detecting non-consumption, moderate consumption and high consumption of ethanol by a subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated polypeptide having PepC inhibitory activity as well as to a method for producing a heterologous polypeptide of interest in an Aspergillus host cell comprising: (a) cultivating the Aspergillus host cell comprising a first and a second nucleic acid sequences under conditions conducive for the expression of the polypeptides encoded by the said first and second nucleic acid sequences, and wherein the first nucleic acid sequence encodes a heterologous polypeptide of interest and the second nucleic acid encodes the inhibitor polypeptide of the invention, and wherein the inhibitor polypeptide is expressed from a recombinant nucleic acid construct resulting in an increased level of the inhibitor polypeptide compared to an Aspergillus host cell not comprising the recombinant nucleic acid construct; and (b) recovering the heterologous polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acid constructs, methods for identifying and validating compounds that increase the inclusion of exon 7 of SMN2 into mRNA transcribed from the SMN2 gene, compounds and pharmaceutical compositions that increase levels of SMN protein produced from the SMN2 gene, and methods for use thereof in treating of SMA.

Abstract: Fourteen markers not previously known to be associated with liver injury have been identified. Methods to diagnose a subject for liver injury using these markers are described.

Abstract: The methods described herein provide nucleic acid constructs and screening methods for identifying and validating compounds for use in the treatment of cancer, wherein the compounds down-regulate the post-transcriptional expression of Bmi-1.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel, modified pokeweed antiviral proteins, nucleic acids that encode the proteins, conjugates that incorporate the proteins, and methods to make and use the proteins. The present invention also provides methods to administer the conjugates to animals, for the purpose of directing toxin to particular cells.

Abstract: The present invention aims to synthesize a polypeptide having an unnatural structure at the N-terminus via a biosynthetic process by translation of amino acid sequence information encoded by a nucleic acid. A polypeptide having any amino acid at the N-terminus is synthesized by using an ARS ribozyme that catalyzes the acylation of tRNA with any amino acid to attach any amino acid to an initiator tRNA, thereby initiating a translation with the initiator tRNA.

Abstract: A very safe and useful agent for inhibiting fungal growth and the like are provided by the present invention. Specifically, the present invention provides (1) an agent for inhibiting fungal growth comprising hyaluronic acid or a salt thereof excluding a heavy metal salt as the active ingredient, and a method for inhibiting fungal growth, which comprises at least a step of allowing hyaluronic acid or a salt thereof excluding a heavy metal salt to contact with a fungus, (2) an agent for reinforcing activity of inhibiting fungal growth possessed by a cell, which comprises a DNA encoding a hyaluronic acid synthase as the active ingredient, (3) a method for reinforcing activity of inhibiting fungal growth of a cell, which comprises at least a step of transfecting a DNA encoding a hyaluronic acid synthase into the cell, and (4) a method for inhibiting fungal growth, which comprises at least a step of allowing a cell transfected with a DNA encoding a hyaluronic acid synthase to contact with a fungus.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a reporter gene construct. The reporter gene construct comprises a transcriptional regulatory sequence and a reporter gene that is functionally bound to downstream of the transcriptional regulatory sequence. The reporter gene construct is activated dependently of environment and the reporter gene codes for a protein producible of producing a free radical by the activation of the transcriptional regulatory sequence.

Abstract: The present invention provides soluble single wall nanotube constructs functionalized with a plurality of a targeting moiety and a plurality of one or more payload molecules attached thereto. The targeting moiety and the payload molecules may be attached to the soluble single wall carbon nanotube via a DNA or other oligomer platform attached to the single wall carbon nanotube. These soluble single wall carbon nanotube constructs may comprise a radionuclide or contrast agent and as such are effective as diagnostic and therapeutic agents. Methods provided herein are to diagnosing or locating a cancer, treating a cancer, eliciting an immune response against a cancer or delivering an anticancer drug in situ via an enzymatic nanofactory using the soluble single wall carbon nanotube constructs.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composition for molecular imaging comprising a trans-splicing ribozyme coupled with an imaging reporter gene. The trans-splicing ribozyme targets a specific gene associated with a disease. Also disclosed is a molecular imaging method using the composition.

Abstract: Dinucleotide cap analogs are disclosed, modified at different phosphate positions with a boranophosphate group or a phosphoroselenoate group. The analogs are useful as reagents in the preparation of capped mRNAs and have increased stability both in vitro and in vivo. They may be used as inhibitors of cap-dependent translation. Optionally, the boranophosphate or phosphoroselenoate group has a 2?-O or 3?-O-alkyl group, preferably a methyl group, producing analogs called BH3-ARCAs or Se-ARCAs. ARCAs may be modified with ?-, ?-, or ?-boranophosphate or phosphoroselenoate groups.

Abstract: Disclosed are: a method for using a particular microRNA as a biomarker for head-and-neck tumor; a method for the determination of head-and-neck tumor; a kit for the determination of head-and-neck tumor, and the like. The present invention is characterized in that at least one microRNA selected from the group of microRNAs consisting of miR-455-3p, miR-455-5p, miR-130b, miR-130b*, miR-801, miR-196a, miR-21, miR-31, miR-133b, miR-145 and miR-375 is used as a biomarker for head-and-neck tumor.

Abstract: A method for modulating cell differentiation capabilities using heterologous gene expression. Some embodiments of the invention relate to a method for inducing a cardiac progenitor cell by delivering a reprogramming factor to the cell, wherein the reprogramming factor comprises ETS2 or a combination of ETS2 and Mesp1.

Abstract: The present invention refers to methods for selectively recognizing a base pair in a DNA sequence by a polypeptide, to modified polypeptides which specifically recognize one or more base pairs in a DNA sequence and, to DNA which is modified so that it can be specifically recognized by a polypeptide and to uses of the polypeptide and DNA in specific DNA targeting as well as to methods of modulating expression of target genes in a cell.