Abstract: This invention generally relates to methods, devices and kits for screening a plurality of single secreting cells for functional activity of the secreted molecules by measuring the amount of reporter gene mRNA produced in one or more reporter cells in response to the secreted molecules.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, including a diagnostic method, for characterising platelets. More particularly, the invention relates to methods for characterising platelets by immobilising platelets on a substrate for detection and subsequent characterisation, and to devices on which such a method may be practiced. The method comprises the steps of:—a. contacting a substrate that includes a plurality of discrete platelet-binding zones having a surface area of 7850 ?m2 orless with a fluid composition comprising platelets; and b. detecting platelets bound to the platelet-binding zones and thereby characterising platelets.

Abstract: Provided are methods for identifying the presence or absence of a chromosome abnormality by which a cell-free sample nucleic acid from a subject is analyzed. In certain embodiments, provided are methods for identifying the presence or absence of a fetal chromosome abnormality in a nucleic acid from cell-free maternal blood.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for constructing a high-throughput sequencing library, which comprises: fragmenting genomic DNA; end-repairing the DNA fragments; adding a base A to the 3? end of the end-repaired DNA fragments; connecting the DNA fragments having cohesive end A with a methylated adapter; carrying out hybrid capture on the connection products by using specific probes to obtain object fragments; treating the object fragments with bisulfite, to convert non-methylated cytosines to uracils; PCR amplifying the converted object fragments; and separating and purifying the amplification products, wherein the amplification products constitute the high-throughput sequencing library. The present invention also provides a method and an apparatus for identifying methylation information in specified genome regions of a sample.

Abstract: Technology provided herein relates in part to methods, processes, compositions and apparatuses for analyzing nucleic acid.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for diagnosing the presence or the risk of development, or for the therapy control of vasculitis, in particular of large vessel vasculitis, like giant-cell arteritis (GCA), polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), and Takayasu's arteritis, in a subject analyzing for the presence of antibodies against ferritin, in particular heavy chain ferritin or immunoreactive peptides thereof or ferritin analog protein, preferably bacterial ferritin analog protein, or immunoreactive peptides thereof, in a subject. In addition, test kits for use in the diagnosis of the presence or the risk of development, or for the therapy control of vasculitis, in particular of large vessel vasculitis, like GCA, PMR and Takayasu's arteritis, in a subject are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of characterizing one or more microorganisms and kits for characterizing at least one microorganism. Exemplary methods include preparing an amplicon library, sequencing a characteristic gene sequence to obtain a gene sequence, and characterizing the one or more microorganisms based on the gene sequence using a computer-based genomic analysis of the gene sequence. Exemplary kits include at least one forward primer including an adapter sequence and a priming sequence, for a target sequence, and at least one reverse primer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for determining the sequence bias of a sequencing technique. Furthermore, the invention relates to methods to reduce or enhance sequence bias during sequencing of nucleic acids via techniques involving adaptor ligations. Specifically the method relates to use of a degenerate RNA sequence to analyze sequence bias when generating small RNA libraries, and to the use of modified adaptors for cloning of small RNAs with degenerate or specific sequences to reduce or enhance sequencing bias, as well as various nucleic acid molecules relating thereto or derived therefrom.

Abstract: The invention relates to a kit, a device and a method for detecting the copy number of fetal chromosomes and tumor cell chromosomes.

Abstract: A method for the generation of DNA fragmentation library based on a transposition reaction in the presence of a transposon end with an engineered cleaveage site providing facilitated downstream handling of the produced DNA fragments, e.g., in the generation of sequencing templates. Transposon nucleic acids comprising a transposon end sequence and an engineered cleaveage site located in the sequence, e.g., in Mu transposon end sequence, are disclosed.

Abstract: Provided herein are nucleic acids and methods for selectively amplifying in parallel tens of thousands of high quality oligonucleotides without common sequences. The resultant oligonucleotides can be used for a variety of purposes and applications including but not limited to DNA nano structure synthesis.

Abstract: Techniques for differentiating isobaric species are described. An isobaric species may be substituted with a tagging species identified using mass spectrometry. The isobaric species may be a subunit of a first polymer having a defined sequence, e.g., the isobaric species may be an amino acid in a protein or a peptide sequence. A tagging species may be substituted for the isobaric species in a second polymer having an otherwise identical sequence as the first polymer. The second polymer may have the same number of sequences as the first polymer, and substantially the same sequence of subunits, with a few exceptions such as the tagging species for the isobaric species. The first polymer and the second polymer may be prepared in the same reaction vessel. A polymer/protein of defined subunit sequence containing an isobaric species or a tagging species may be analyzed by mass spectrometry to determine the sequence.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and arrays for use in high resolution imaging of individual nucleic acid molecules and chromatin fragments, including native chromatin fragments. In one aspect, the present invention relates to a chromatin array that includes a transfer platform having a support and a transfer surface layered on the support. The chromatin array also includes a plurality of elongated individual native chromatin fragments coupled to the transfer surface in an orderly pattern suitable for high resolution imaging of the plurality of native chromatin fragments. The native chromatin fragments of the chromatin array include both DNA and histones.

Abstract: Methods, compositions, and kits comprising target-specific oligonucleotides (TSOs) are disclosed herein. Methods, compositions, and kits comprising target-specific oligonucleotides (TSOs) can be used to attach adapters and/or linkers to target RNAs. Methods, compositions, and kits comprising target-specific oligonucleotides (TSOs) can be used in reactions, including, but not limited to, ligation reactions, amplification reactions, and sequencing reactions. Additionally, methods, compositions, and kits comprising target-specific oligonucleotides (TSOs) can be used for reducing and/or preventing the formation of secondary structures in target RNAs. These methods, compositions, and kits can also find use in a number of applications, for example, any application that benefits from stabilizing primary RNA structure, such as detecting and quantifying target RNAs in a sample, in the construction of small RNA libraries, in microarray and RT-qPCR applications, etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods useful for analyzing lariat RNA, which plays a role in the regulation of gene expression. A sample of RNA is specifically treated to remove linear mRNA and enrich for lariat RNA. The enriched lariat RNA sample may be analyzed further to identify introns, branch point sequences, alternative splicing patters, and gene transcription levels. The enriched lariat RNA sample may also be exploited as a detection or compound screening tool, as well as other uses.

Abstract: Filtering small nucleic acids using permeabilized cells and methods for using the filtering to detect genomic DNA accessibility are described.

Abstract: Provided are methods for identifying differentially represented genes, the method comprising the steps of generating a pool of mutant bacteria by transposon mutagenesis with an activating transposon (TnA), wherein the TnA comprises a promoter such that transposon insertion into bacterial DNA increases the transcription of a gene at or near the insertion site; growing bacteria from the mutant pool in the presence of different amounts of said antibiotic to produce two or more test cultures; and comparing the distribution of TnA insertions between test cultures.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses can determine and use methylation profiles of various tissues and samples. Examples are provided. A methylation profile can be deduced for fetal/tumor tissue based on a comparison of plasma methylation (or other sample with cell-free DNA) to a methylation profile of the mother/patient. A methylation profile can be determined for fetal/tumor tissue using tissue-specific alleles to identify DNA from the fetus/tumor when the sample has a mixture of DNA. A methylation profile can be used to determine copy number variations in genome of a fetus/tumor. Methylation markers for a fetus have been identified via various techniques. The methylation profile can be determined by determining a size parameter of a size distribution of DNA fragments, where reference values for the size parameter can be used to determine methylation levels. Additionally, a methylation level can be used to determine a level of cancer.

Abstract: An array of methods for assessing vaginal atrophy are disclosed. The methods may be used alone or in combination with a treatment or as part of a kit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a peptide library comprising a plurality of mutant peptides based on the extracellular binding domain of the TACI protein. The mutant peptides of the library have the capacity to bind to target molecules other than the endogenous TACI ligands. The present invention further provides a peptide library comprising a plurality of mutant peptides each comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 in the Sequence Listing.