Abstract: Provided are a three-dimensional (3D) fibroblast cluster, a method of preparing the same, an in vitro 3D skin dermis model including a fibroblast cluster cultured from a fibroblast, and a method of screening a drug by using the in vitro 3D skin dermis model.

Abstract: Disclosed is a composition including: an isolated in vitro pre-conditioned population of adult bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), wherein the BMSCs express neuronal markers, and wherein the neuronal markers are PGP9.5, NSE, Tuj1, HuC/D and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). Methods of preparing the BMSCs are also provided. In addition, the present disclosure is directed to a method of treating an enteric nervous system-related disorder including: administering to a subject in need thereof a pharmaceutical composition including the in vitro pre-conditioned BMSC population and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for culturing a cell population including pluripotent stem cells and differentiated cells derived from pluripotent stem cells at a temperature of 40.5° C. or higher and reducing the pluripotent stem cells included in the cell population. The present invention also pertains to a method for reducing pluripotent stem cells from a cell population including pluripotent stem cells and differentiated cells derived from pluripotent stem cells, wherein the method includes a step for activating the TRPV-1 expressed in the pluripotent stem cells included in the cell population. The present invention makes it possible to reduce the pluripotent stem cells remaining in an undifferentiated state when inducing the differentiation of a pluripotent stem cell population.

Abstract: A Bacillus strain characterized by (i): sensitivity for ampicillin, vancomycin, gentamicin, kanamycin, streptomycin, erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracycline and chloramphenicol antimicrobial activity against E. coli and Clostridium perfringens; and (iii) a sporulation percentage of at least 80 when measured after 2 days of incubation. The invention further relates to a method for selecting such strains. Many of the identified strains according to the invention are of the species Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. Some of the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens were further identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. amyloliquefaciens whereas others were identified as amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum. A Bacillus strain of the invention may be used as a feed additive to animal feed where it has a probiotic effect.

Abstract: A feed additive composition comprising a direct fed microbial in combination with a protease, a xylanase, an amylase and a phytase, and a method for improving the performance of a subject or for improving digestibility of a raw material in a feed (e.g. nutrient digestibility, such as amino acid digestibility), or for improving nitrogen retention, or for avoiding the negative effects of necrotic enteritis or for improving feed conversion ratio (FCR) or for improving weight gain in a subject or for improving feed efficiency in a subject or for modulating (e.g. improving) the immune response of the subject or for promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract of a subject, which method comprising administering to a subject a direct fed microbial in combination with a protease, a xylanase, an amylase and a phytase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising at least about 8% ?-glucans and/or at least about 8% ?-fucans, which has a prebiotic effect and act as a replacement for in-feed antibiotics. The present invention also relates to extraction methods to obtain such extracts and various uses for the compositions comprising ?-glucans and/or ?-fucans.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a non-expanded tissue derivative, that is not subjected to cell proliferation in vitro, comprising a vascular-stromal fraction enriched in stem and multipotent elements, such as pericytes and/or mesenchymal stem cells, or for preparing non-embryonic stem cells obtained from a tissue sample or from said derivative, wherein said tissue derivatives or said cells are subjected to vibrations derived from a heart sound such to control the degree of differentiation or possible differentiation of said stem and multipotent elements into several other types of cells that is to optimize their potency. The invention relates also to a device for carrying out said process, to stem cells obtainable by the process as well as a drug for the regeneration of an animal tissue.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, systems, compositions, and kits to address the need for microbiome-related treatment of health conditions and disease. The present disclosure provides for treatment of metabolic conditions using microbial compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to treatment of pulmonary fibrosis with umbilical mesenchymal stem cell.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing vascular endothelial cells from pluripotent stem cells, the method comprising the following steps (i) to (iii): (i) a step of culturing pluripotent stem cells in a culture medium comprising a BMP, on a culture vessel coated with a first matrix, to produce mesodermal progenitor cells; (ii) a step of dissociating the resulting cells into single cells; and (iii) a step of culturing the resulting cells in a culture medium comprising VEGF, on a culture vessel coated with a second matrix selected from the group consisting of laminin-411 or a fragment thereof, laminin-511 or a fragment thereof, Matrigel, type IV collagen and fibronectin.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, systems, compositions, and kits to address the need for microbiome-related treatment of health conditions and disease. The present disclosure provides for treatment of metabolic conditions using microbial compositions.

Abstract: Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a lethal complication of allograft transplantation. The current strategy of using immunosuppressive agents to control GVHD may cause general immune suppression and limit the effectiveness of allograft transplantation. Adoptive transfer of regulatory T cells (Treg) can prevent GVHD in rodents, indicating the therapeutic potential of Treg for GVHD in humans. However, the clinical application of Treg-based therapy is hampered by the low frequency of human Treg and the lack of a reliable model to test their therapeutic effects in vivo. Human alloantigen-specific Treg are generated from antigenically-naïve precursors in a large scale ex vivo using allogeneic activated B cells as stimulators. Here, a human allogeneic GVHD model is established in humanized mice to mimic GVHD after allograft transplantation in humans.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition for use in the treatment and/or prevention of a gastrointestinal condition, comprising at least one Lactobacillus strain, wherein the Lactobacillus strain is chosen from the group consisting of one L. salivarius strain, three L. plantarum strains and one L. brevis strain, wherein the L. salivarius strain is L. salivarius CW30 (LMG P-28887), wherein the L. plantarum strains are L. plantarum Y1An734 (LMG P-28886), L. plantarum SH1313 (LMG P-28884), and L. plantarum KS1 1 (LMG P-28885), and wherein the L. brevis strain is L. brevis SH1 1 1 (LMG P-28888). The present invention also relates to an enema comprising a composition according to the present invention. The present invention also relates to an isolated strain chosen from the group L. salivarius CW30 (LMG P-28887), L. plantarum Y1An734 (LMG P-28886), L. plantarum SH1313 (LMG P-28884), L. plantarum KS11 (LMG P-28885) and L. brevis SH111 (LMG P-28888).

Abstract: The present invention provides a new method for producing Engineered Heart Muscle (EHM) under chemically fully defined conditions and compounds all compatible with GMP regulations. The resulting human myocardium generates force and shows typical heart muscle properties.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to stem cells which express high levels of Angeopoetin-1 (Ang1) and uses thereof in inhibiting M1-type macrophage production and treating inflammatory disease such as diabetes.

Abstract: The growth factor profile, connective tissue matrix constituents, and immunoprivileged status of urodele extracellular matrix (ECM) and accompanying cutaneous tissue, plus the presence of antimicrobial peptides there, render urodele-derived tissue an ideal source for biological scaffolds for xenotransplantation. In particular, a biological scaffold biomaterial can be obtained by a process that entails (A) obtaining a tissue sample from a urodele, where the tissue comprises ECM, inclusive of the basement membrane, and (B) subjecting the tissue sample to a decellularization process that maintains the structural and functional integrity of the extracellular matrix, by virtue of retaining its fibrous and non-fibrous proteins, glycoaminoglycans (GAGs) and proteoglycans, while removing sufficient cellular components of the sample to reduce or eliminate antigenicity and immunogenicity for xenograft purposes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for fermentation based on a microbial asexual reproduction. The method comprises the steps of adding plural silica sands, a medium and a microorganism into a tank; and stirring for separating a cluster of the microorganism by a shear force generated from the plural silica sands and returning the microorganism to a logarithmic growth phase without undergoing a spore phase to increase a fermentation rate of the microorganism. The device comprises a tank, a speed control motor disposed outside the tank, a stirring component connected to the speed control motor, a refluxing mechanism for high pressure air and water connected to the tank, a heating unit disposed in the tank and a pumping motor connected to the tank.

Abstract: A method of preparing metal nanoparticles using a fungal extract includes providing an aqueous solution including a metal salt; and combining the fungal extract with the aqueous metal salt solution to produce the metal nanoparticles. The fungal extract can be an aqueous extract of the manglicolous fungi The metal salt can be copper sulfate (CuSO4) and the metal nanoparticles can be copper nanoparticles. The metal nanoparticles can have a mean diameter in the range of from about 5 nm to about 100 nm. The copper nanoparticles can be used as an antimicrobial agent.

Abstract: Systems and methods for cooling and processing materials are disclosed.

Abstract: Provided are methods for quantifying and/or detecting sub-visible particulates in cell cultures. Specifically, the methods comprise a step of breaking down, e.g., lysing, cells in a cell culture. The methods can further comprising filtering the cell culture through a filter. Further provided are methods of quantifying sub-visible particulates that do not pass through the filter using a microscope.