Abstract: A system (100) for classifying a biological test sample, including a database (112) populated with reference expression data. The reference expression data includes expression levels of a plurality of molecules (polynucleotides or polypeptides), including a set of marker molecules, in a plurality of reference samples. Each reference sample has a pre-assigned value for each of one or more clinically significant variables. The system includes at least one processor (110) and at least one storage medium containing program instructions for execution by said processor (110). The program instructions cause the processor to accept (122) input expression data including a test vector of expression levels of the marker molecules in the biological test sample; and pass the input expression data to one or more analysis programs (130a, 130b, 35).

Abstract: The present invention relates to beacons for fluorescent in-situ hybridization and chip technology.

Abstract: Provided are methods and compositions for isolating and detecting rare cells from a biological sample containing other types of cells, particularly including debulking that uses a microfabricated filter for filtering samples. The enriched rare cells can be used in a downstream process such as identification, characterization or growth in culture, or in other ways. Also included is a method of determining tumor aggressiveness or the number or proportion of cancer cells in the enriched sample by detecting telomerase activity, nucleic acid or expression after enrichment of rare cells. Also provided is an efficient, rapid method to specifically remove red and white blood cells from a biological sample containing at least one of the cell types, leading to enrichment of rare target cells including circulating tumor (CTC), stromal, mesenchymal, endothelial, fetal, stem, or non-hematopoietic cells et cetera from a blood sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems for cell separation based on cell rolling on surfaces along edges of regions coated with cell adhesion molecules. A variety of designs of coated regions and edges are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods of enriching rare cells, such as cancer cells, from biological samples, such as blood samples. The methods include performing at least one debulking step on a blood sample and selectively removing at least one type undesirable component from the blood sample to obtain a blood sample that is enriched in a rare cell of interest. In some embodiments magnetic beads coupled to specific binding members are used to selectively removed components.

Abstract: The present invention recognizes that diagnosis and prognosis of many conditions can depend on the enrichment of rare cells, especially tumor cells, from a complex fluid sample such as a blood sample. In particular, the present invention is directed to methods and compositions for detecting a non-hematopoietic cell, e.g., a non-hematopoietic tumor cell, in a blood sample via, inter alia, removing red blood cells (RBCs) from a blood sample using a non-centrifugation procedure, removing white blood cells (WBCs) from said blood sample to enrich a non-hematopoietic cell, if any, from said blood sample; and assessing the presence, absence and/or amount of said enriched non-hematopoietic cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of identifying a candidate compound which may inhibit estrogen receptor-dependent transcription or ?9-nAChR overexpression and proliferation of nicotine-derived-compound-induced breast cancer cells by using an activating protein 1 (AP1) polypeptide. The invention found that ?9-nAChR has an activating protein 1 (AP1)-binding site, that the ?9-nAChR promoter is located at the AP1-binding site, and that ERs specifically bind to the ?9-nAChR promoter at the AP1-binding site, indicating that ER-induced ?9-nAChR up-regulation plays a central role in the response to endogenous (E2) or exogenous (nicotine) stimulation.

Abstract: The present invention recognizes that diagnosis and prognosis of many conditions can depend on the enrichment of rare cells, especially tumor cells, from a complex fluid sample such as a blood sample. In particular, the present invention is directed to methods and compositions for detecting a non-hematopoietic cell, e.g., a non-hematopoietic tumor cell, in a blood sample via, inter alia, removing red blood cells (RBCs) from a blood sample using a non-centrifugation procedure, removing white blood cells (WBCs) from said blood sample to enrich a non-hematopoietic cell, if any, from said blood sample; and assessing the presence, absence and/or amount of said enriched non-hematopoietic cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery of a novel restriction/modification system in Caldicellulosiruptor bescii. The discovered restriction enzyme is a HaeIII-like restriction enzyme that possesses a thermophilic activity profile. The restriction/modification system also includes a methyltransferase, M.CbeI, that methylates at least one cytosine residue in the CbeI recognition sequence to m4C. Thus, the invention provides, in various aspects, isolated CbeI or M.CbeI polypeptides, or biologically active fragments thereof; isolated polynucleotides that encode the CbeI or M.CbeI polypeptides or biologically active fragments thereof, including expression vectors that include such polynucleotide sequences; methods of digesting DNA using a CbeI polypeptide; methods of treating a DNA molecule using a M.CbeI polypeptide; and methods of transforming a Caldicellulosiruptor cell.

Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to eukaryotic host cells comprising artificial endosymbionts and methods of introducing artificial endosymbionts into eukaryotic host cells. The invention provides artificial endosymbionts that introduce a phenotype to host cells that is maintained in daughter cells. The invention additionally provides eukaryotic host cells containing magnetotactic bacteria.

Abstract: The invention pertains to certain genetic variants that have been determined to be susceptibility variants of breast cancer. Methods of disease management, including diagnosing increased susceptibility to breast cancer, methods of predicting response to therapy and methods of predicting prognosis using such variants are described. The invention further relates to kits useful in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides trans-complementation systems for expressing gene products in plants. In general, the invention provides systems including a carrier vector and a producer vector, both based on plant viruses. The producer vector is defective for at least one function needed for successful systemic infection of a plant, e.g., replication, cell-to-cell movement, or long distance movement. The carrier vector supplies the missing function in trans. Certain producer vectors lack a functional coat protein coding sequence, in which case the corresponding producer vector supplies coat protein in trans. The invention also provides novel plant viral vectors and methods of use, e.g., to produce polypeptides or active RNAs in plants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of a labeling agent derived from one type of tRNA prepared by in vitro transcription, which is usable for non-radioactive selective labeling of target proteins produced by in vitro translation with fluorophore or biotin; and a method for selective labeling of target proteins produced by in vitro translation using the labeling agent without labeling pre-existing proteins in the reaction mixture.

Abstract: A method of ascertaining the bio-safety of an agent is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel polypeptides and cells comprising the polypeptides. The polypeptides and cells are used in methods to identify and/or isolate cells producing a protein with specific biological functions. In particular, the methods may be used for identifying, selecting, and isolating cells producing antigen-specific monoclonal antibodies.

Abstract: The present invention provides minicircle nucleic acid vector formulations for use in administering to a subject, wherein the minicircle nucleic acid vectors include a polynucleotide of interest, a product hybrid sequence of a unidirectional site-specific recombinase, and are devoid of plasmid backbone bacterial DNA sequences. Also provided are methods of producing the subject formulations as well as methods for administering the minicircle nucleic acid vector formulations to a subject. The subject methods and compositions find use in a variety of different applications, including both research and therapeutic applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a kit for detection of association of a peripheral cellular membrane binding protein with cellular membranes in living cells and methods thereof. The kit includes a first nucleic acid construct comprising a first nucleic acid molecule encoding a first fusion protein comprising a peripheral cellular membrane binding protein or membrane binding domain thereof operatively coupled to DNA binding and transactivation domains of a naturally occurring or chimeric transcription factor and a first promoter operatively associated with the first nucleic acid molecule. A second nucleic acid construct comprises a second nucleic acid molecule encoding a reporter protein and a second promoter responsive to the DNA binding and transactivation domains of the first fusion protein. The second promoter is operatively associated with the second nucleic acid molecule. Activation of the second promoter results in expression of the reporter protein. Also disclosed is a transgenic non-human animal.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for recombinational cloning. The compositions include vectors having multiple recombination sites and/or multiple topoisomerase recognition sites. The methods permit the simultaneous cloning of two or more different nucleic acid molecules. In some embodiments the molecules are fused together while in other embodiments the molecules are inserted into distinct sites in a vector. The invention also generally provides for linking or joining through recombination a number of molecules and/or compounds (e.g., chemical compounds, drugs, proteins or peptides, lipids, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, etc.) which may be the same or different.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to nanocomposite materials. The present invention relates more particularly to hybrid fibers as well as devices including them and methods for making them. Accordingly, one aspect of the invention is a hybrid fiber including a plurality of nanowires, each nanowire having a length, a width, and a thickness, the length being at least 10 times the width and at least 10 times the thickness; and a plurality of binder elements, each binder element having a length, a width, and a thickness, each substantially smaller than the average length of the nanowires and at least one of which is less than about 10 nm in dimension, the binder elements being arranged to intercouple individual nanowires. In certain embodiments, the binder elements are carbon nanotubes, and the nanowires are formed from silicon carbide.

Abstract: This invention relates to protein and/or polypeptide production, particularly improved production of extracellular heterologous polypeptides and proteins. In particular, the invention relates to compositions of cell populations capable of improved levels of extracellular secretion relative to control populations, kits containing such compositions, methods of producing heterologous proteins of interest and recombinant microorganisms capable of improved extracellular heterologous protein production.