Abstract: The present invention concerns non-human animals with cells having a genome that is lacking the entire E3 ubiquitin ligase (Ube3a) gene (including all isoforms and alternative promoters). These animals are useful for modeling Angelman Syndrome. The invention also includes methods for assessing the effect of an agent, such as potential therapeutics, on an animal model by exposing the animal or cells, tissues, or organs isolated therefrom, to an agent of interest.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are described herein for transdifferentiation of multipotent stromal cells into cells that can express insulin.

Abstract: A mammalian cell comprising at least four distinct recombination target sites (RTS), an adenovirus (Ad) gene comprising E1A, E1B or a combination thereof, and a promoter operatively linked to the Ad gene, wherein the RTS, the Ad gene, and the promoter are chromosomally-integrated; methods for using the cell for generating a recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) producer host cell; and methods for using the AAV producer host cell to produce, package and purify rAAV.

Abstract: Genetically modified non-human animals are provided that may be used to model human hematopoietic cell development, function, or disease. The genetically modified non-human animals comprise a nucleic acid encoding human IL-6 operably linked to an IL-6 promoter. In some instances, the genetically modified non-human animal expressing human IL-6 also expresses at least one of human M-CSF, human IL-3, human GM-CSF, human SIRPa or human TPO. In some instances, the genetically modified non-human animal is immunodeficient. In some such instances, the genetically modified non-human animal is engrafted with healthy or diseased human hematopoietic cells. Also provided are methods for using the subject genetically modified non-human animals in modeling human hematopoietic cell development, function, and/or disease, as well as reagents and kits thereof that find use in making the subject genetically modified non-human animals and/or practicing the subject methods.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition comprising dendritic cells loaded with hHsp60sp, which dendritic cells are from a subject and have been fixed with paraformaldehyde (PFA). The subject may suffer from an autoimmune disease. Also provided are a method for preparing the composition; recombinant human cells comprising a heterologous gene encoding a fusion protein of HLA-E and hHsp60sp or B7sp, and expressing the fusion protein on the surface of the cells; a method for determining a percentage of maximum inhibition of testing the function of the HLA-E restricted CD8+ Treg cells from a subject, determining whether HLA-E restricted CD8+ Treg cells freshly isolated from a subject are defective, or determining whether defective HLA-E restricted CD8+ Treg cells from a subject are correctable; and a method for correcting defective HLA-E restricted CD8+ Treg cells, treating type 1 diabetes (T1D), or treating multiple sclerosis (MS).

Abstract: Spinal cord neural stem cells (NSCs) have great potential to reconstitute damaged spinal neural circuitry. In some embodiments, derivation of spinal cord NSCs from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) is described. These spinal cord NSCs can differentiate into a diverse population of spinal cord neurons comprising multiple positions in the dorso-ventral axis, and can be maintained for prolonged time periods. After grafting into injured spinal cords, grafts may be rich with excitatory neurons, extend large numbers of axons over long distances, innervate their target structures, and enable robust corticospinal regeneration. In some embodiments, hPSC-derived spinal cord NSCs enable a broad range of biomedical applications for in vitro disease modeling, and can provide a clinically-translatable cell source for spinal cord “replacement” strategies in several spinal cord disorders.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gene therapy vector which is useful in the treatment or prevention of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in a subject in need thereof. The gene therapy vector of the invention comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a cardiac sarcomeric protein and a cardiomyocyte-specific promoter which is operably linked to said nucleic acid sequence. The invention furthermore relates to a cell which comprises the gene therapy vector. Pharmaceutical compositions which comprise the gene therapy vector and/or a cell comprising said vector are also provided. In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for treating or preventing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in a subject by introducing the gene therapy vector of the invention into a subject in need of treatment.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for the in vitro differentiation of a precursor cell into definitive endoderm, which may further be differentiated into a human colonic organoid (HCO), via modulation of signaling pathways. Further disclosed are HCOs and methods of using HCOs, which may be used, for example, for the HCOs may be used to determine the efficacy and/or toxicity of a potential therapeutic agent for a disease selected from colitis, colon cancer, polyposis syndromes, and/or irritable bowel syndrome.

Abstract: Described herein are methods, compositions, and kits for directed differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells, neuromesodermal progenitors, and neural stem cells into biomimetic neural tissues comprising one or more rosette structures. Preferably, the methods provided herein direct differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells, neuromesodermal progenitors, and neural stem cells into biomimetic neural tissues comprising a singular neural rosette structure that is comparable to at least a portion of the developing human neural tube. Also described are engineered neural tissue preparations comprising biomimetic neural tissues comprising a singular rosette structure having regional neural progenitor phenotypes.

Abstract: The invention features pancreatic islet and pancreatic organoids, and cell cultures and methods that are useful for the rapid and reliable generation of pancreatic islet and pancreatic islet organoids. The invention also features methods of treating pancreatic diseases and methods of identifying agents that are useful for treatment of pancreatic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and pancreatic cancer, using the pancreatic islet and pancreatic organoids of the invention.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are cell cultures comprising PDX1-positive endoderm cells and methods of producing the same. Also disclosed herein are cell populations comprising substantially purified PDX1-positive endoderm cells as well as methods for enriching, isolating and purifying PDX1-positive endoderm cells from other cell types. Methods of identifying differentiation factors capable of promoting the differentiation of endoderm cells, such as PDX1-positive foregut endoderm cells and PDX1-negative definitive endoderm cells, are also disclosed.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an endodermal cell population for obtaining optimal somatic cells as cell therapy preparations. The endodermal cell population of the present invention has a reduced content proportion of undifferentiated cells in the cell population and contains endodermal cells differentiable into optimal somatic cells as cell therapy preparations. Further, a somatic cell derived from the endodermal cell population of the present invention has excellent therapeutic effects as a cell therapy preparation.

Abstract: It is an object to provide a culture method which is capable of maintaining and/or culturing iPS cell-derived intestinal stem cells, while maintaining the properties of intestinal stem cells. The induced pluripotent stem cell-derived intestinal stem cell-like cells are cultured in the presence of a GSK-3? inhibitor, a histone deacetylation inhibitor, and a serum replacement, or in the presence of a GSK-3? inhibitor and a serum replacement. Preferably, the culture is carried out under conditions in which one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of an epidermal growth factor, a TGF? receptor inhibitor and a fibroblast growth factor are further present.

Abstract: A cancer detection method characterised in that a nematode is bred in the presence of bio-related material originating from a test subject, or a processed product of same, and cancer is detected using the chemotaxis due to the sense of smell of the nematode as an indicator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and facility for breeding insects. According to the invention, the insect breeding facility comprises a spawning area comprising spawning containers which are adapted to receive adult insects and insect food, wherein at least one spawn structure is provided in each spawning container, in which spawn structures the mother insects will spawn their eggs. Furthermore a hatch area is provided in which the eggs will hatch and which allows periodical harvesting of baby larvae from the hatch area. The hatch area comprises a plurality of hatching chambers corresponding in number with the number of batches of spawning containers.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods to promote the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells. In particular, the present invention provides an improved method for the formation of pancreatic endoderm, pancreatic hormone expressing cells and pancreatic hormone secreting cells. The present invention also provides methods to promote the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells without the use of a feeder cell layer.

Abstract: Methods of generating spinal cord glutamatergic interneurons (V2a interneurons) from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are provided. A method of the present disclosure may include culturing a first population of hPSCs in vitro in a neural induction medium that includes: a retinoic acid signaling pathway activator; a sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway activator; and a Notch signaling pathway inhibitor, wherein the culturing results in generation of a second population of cultured cells containing CHX10+ V2a interneurons. Also provided are non-human animal models that include the hPSC-derived spinal cord glutamatergic interneurons, and methods of producing the non-human animal models.

Abstract: Provide herein are compositions, methods and kits to accelerate pluripotent stem cell differentiation.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to improved supplements, culture media and methods for enhancing the survival or proliferation of mammalian stem cells. In particular, adding a lipid supplement, such as a lipid-enriched carrier (e.g. a lipid-enriched albumin), to the culture medium may enhance the survival and/or proliferation of the stem cells by at least 5% to 65% as compared to a culture medium that does not contain the lipid supplement.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to expansion and activation of T cells. In an aspect, the present disclosure relates to expansion and activation of ?? T cells that may be used for transgene expression. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to expansion and activation of ?? T cells while depleting ?- and/or ?-TCR positive cells. T cell populations comprising expanded ?? T cell and depleted or reduced ?- and/or ?-TCR positive cells are also provided for by the instant disclosure. The disclosure further provides for methods of using the disclosed T cell populations.