Abstract: A method comprises magnetically holding a bead carrying biological material (e.g., nucleic acid, which may be in the form of DNA fragments or amplified DNA) in a specific location of a substrate, and applying an electric field local to the bead to isolate the biological material or products or byproducts of reactions of the biological material. For example, the bead is isolated from other beads having associated biological material. The electric field in various embodiments concentrates reagents for an amplification or sequencing reaction, and/or concentrates and isolates detectable reaction by-products. For example, by isolating nucleic acids around individual beads, the electric field can allow for clonal amplification, as an alternative to emulsion PCR. In other embodiments, the electric field isolates a nanosensor proximate to the bead, to facilitate detection of at least one of local pH change, local conductivity change, local charge concentration change and local heat.

Abstract: Microfluidic devices and methods that use cells such as cancer cells, stem cells, blood cells for preprocessing, sorting for various biodiagnostics or therapeutical applications are described. Microfluidics electrical sensing such as measurement of field potential or current and phenomena such as immiscible fluidics, inertial fluidics are used as the basis for cell and molecular processing (e.g., characterizing, sorting, isolation, processing, amplification) of different particles, chemical compositions or biospecies (e.g., different cells, cells containing different substances, different particles, different biochemical compositions, proteins, enzymes etc.). Specifically this invention discloses a few sorting schemes for stem cells, whole blood and circulating tumor cells and also extracting serum from whole blood. Further medical diagnostics technology utilizing high throughput single cell PCR is described using immiscible fluidics couple with single or multi cells trapping technology.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for separating, characterizing and/or identifying microorganisms in a test sample. The method of the invention comprises an optional lysis step for lysing non-microorganism cells that may be present in a test sample, followed by a subsequent separation step. The method may be useful for the separation, characterization and/or identification of microorganisms from complex samples such as blood-containing culture media. The invention further provides for the use of one or more identifier agents and interrogating the microorganism sample and/or said one or more identifier agents to produce measurements which characterizing and/or identifying the microorganism based on the produced measurements and/or the presence or absence of the identifier agent or a metabolized form of the identifier agent in the microorganism sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for measuring compound efficacy and potency on nuclear receptor-co-regulator interaction, comprising the steps of (a) co-incubating at least one nuclear receptor and at least one compound under conditions that allow interaction; (b) co-incubating the nuclear receptor-compound mixture of step (a) with an array of co-regulators, under conditions that allow compound modulated receptor-co-regulator interaction; (c) determination of compound-modulated receptor-co-regulator interaction in function B of co-regulator concentration, and (d) determination of compound-modulated receptor-co-regulator interaction in function of compound concentration; wherein steps (c) and (d) are performed in a single assay.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems and methods for sample processing and data analysis. Sample processing may include nucleic acid sample processing and subsequent sequencing. Some or all of a nucleic acid sample may be sequenced to provide sequence information, which may be stored or otherwise maintained in an electronic storage location. The sequence information may be analyzed with the aid of a computer processor, and the analyzed sequence information may be stored in an electronic storage location that may include a pool or collection of sequence information and analyzed sequence information generated from the nucleic acid sample. Methods and systems of the present disclosure can be used, for example, for the analysis of a nucleic acid sample, for producing one or more libraries, and for producing biomedical reports. Methods and systems of the disclosure can aid in the diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, and prevention of one or more diseases and conditions.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and kits that may be used to detect and quantify the presence of Coccidioides species. The methods include quantification PCR assays, and the kits and compositions include oligonucleotides used as primers and probes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for amplifying a nucleic acid sequence by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The method comprises placing a PCR sample in a container which is heated by only a single heat source that provides a high temperature for denaturation in the bottom of the PCR sample, while annealing and extension automatically occur in different regions of the PCR sample due to the convection induced by a temperature gradient descending from the bottom of the PCR sample to the surface of the PCR sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for reducing cross-contamination in continuous amplification reactions in channels of microfluidic devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of specific materials continuously flowing in the channels to reduce adsorption of MgCl2 and the concomitant adsorption of nucleic acid template to the channel surface, thereby reducing cross-contamination. This reduction of cross-contamination improves the efficiency and reproducibility of the amplification reaction, e.g., PCR.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to methods for analyzing nucleic acids. In certain aspects, methods of the invention involve obtaining a sample including a nucleic acid template. A plurality of molecular inversion probes are tiled across a portion of the template. The probes are designed such that immediately adjacent probes hybridize to opposite strands of the nucleic acid template and probes on the same strand hybridize to the template in an overlapping manner. A region between targeting arms of a plurality of the molecular inversion probes is filled-in with nucleotides, and the filled-in region of a plurality of the probes is analyzed to obtain sequence information about the nucleic acid template.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and materials for diagnosing an autoimmune disease such as SLE, Type 1 diabetes, and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to methods and materials for assessing the frequency of recombination sequence (RS) rearrangement as a novel marker for an autoimmune disease. Such an assay can allow clinicians to diagnose an autoimmune disease based on the RS rearrangement frequency in an autoimmune patient as compared to an otherwise healthy control. In addition, the method includes identifying individuals who are at increased risk of developing autoimmunity. The method may also be helpful in directing the type of therapy and monitoring the effects of therapy in patients with autoimmune or non-autoimmune conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multiwell plate for amplification and a lid with a foil for sealing the multiwell plate, wherein two positions of said lid on said plate exist, one position for storage, one position for sealing of the foil to the plate. The invention also relates to a method for.

Abstract: Microfluidic devices and methods of forming cell reactors for performing cell analysis in a microfluidic chip. A microfluidic chip, in one implementation, includes a plurality of trapping sites, each of the plurality of trapping sites having a plurality of micropillars configured to trap one or more cells in an interior space formed by the plurality of micropillars. The plurality of micropillars in each trapping site form a picoreactor for cell and molecular diagnostics, such as characterizing, isolation, processing, and amplification of different cells, cells containing different substances, different particles, different biochemical compositions, proteins, and enzymes.

Abstract: The present disclosure encompasses oligonucleotide aptamers selectively binding a target glycosylated polypeptide or protein, and having biased affinity for the glycan through a boronic acid linked to a nucleosidic base of a nucleotide(s). The disclosure further encompasses methods for isolating an aptamer(s) selectively binding a target glycosylated polypeptide, where, from a population of randomized oligonucleotides that have at least one nucleotide having a boronic acid label linked to a base, is selected a first subpopulation of aptamers binding to the target glycosylated polypeptide or protein. This subpopulation is then amplified without using boronic acid-modified TTP, and amplification products not binding to a target glycosylated polypeptide or protein are selected. The second subpopulation of aptamers is then amplified using boronic acid-modified TTP to provide a population of boronic acid-modified aptamers capable of selectively binding to a glycosylation site of a target polypeptide or protein.

Abstract: Methods of identifying RNA-protein interaction sites are provided. Systems for identifying RNA-protein interaction sites are provided. Systems for identifying secondary structures are provided. Methods of identifying secondary structures are provided. Methods of identifying RNA-binding proteins are provided.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a metal nanoparticle array structure in which metal nanoparticle arrays are firmly bonded to the substrate thereof via chemical bonding or the like and in which the coverage with the metal nanoparticle arrays is high. The problem can be solved by using a metal nanoparticle array structure 10 that comprises a substrate 1, a immobilizing layer 2 formed on one surface 1a of the substrate 1, and metal nanoparticle arrays 3 formed on one surface 2a of the immobilizing layer 2, wherein the metal nanoparticle arrays 3 are so arrayed that multiple metal nanoparticles 4 can be at regular intervals and the metal nanoparticles 4 are bonded to each other via the modifying part 5 arranged on a surface thereof while the metal nanoparticles 4 are immobilized on one surface 2a of the immobilizing layer 2 via chemical bonds.

Abstract: A fluid controlling apparatus including an inlet through which a fluid is introduced, a channel portion connected to the inlet, an outlet that is connected to the channel portion and through which the fluid is discharged, and at least one fluid resisting portion disposed between the inlet and the outlet, as well as a filter and a biochip including the fluid controlling apparatus.

Abstract: A method of enhancing neprilysin activity and/or degrading amyloid-? peptides and/or oligomers in a subject with Alzheimer's disease is disclosed. The method comprises administering to the subject a compound selected from the group consisting of in a therapeutically effective amount to enhance the neprilysin activity and/or degrade the amyloid-? peptides and oligomers in the subject. Methods of improving symptoms and/or retarding progression of Alzheimer's disease and prophylactic treatment and/or treatment of Alzheimer's disease are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides for novel peptoid oligomers that are capable of self-assembling into two-dimensional sheet structures. The peptoid oligomers can have alternately hydrophilic or polar side-chains and hydrophobic or apolar side-chains. The peptoid oligomers, and the two-dimensional sheet structures, can be applied to biological applications where the peptoid plays a role as a biological scaffold or building block. Also, the two-dimensional sheet structures of the present invention can be used as two-dimensional nanostructures in device applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to detection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in a sample. In particular, the invention provides methods, compositions and kits for detecting and analyzing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other methicillin-resistant bacteria in a sample.

Abstract: In the present invention, an amplified DNA fragment having a first substance binding site to which a first substance is specifically bindable is prepared, which amplified DNA fragment amplified by a nucleic acid amplification method. The amplified DNA fragment is concentrated by binding the amplified DNA fragment to the first substance. The concentration makes it possible to detect the DNA highly sensitively. Therefore, with the arrangement, it is possible to detect the amplified DNA fragment amplified by the nucleic acid amplification method, easily and highly accurately without requiring any special device.