Abstract: A use of vivapain-4 (VX-4), which is a cysteine protease of Plasmodium vivax, showing pH-dependent switching of substrate specificity, is provided. More specifically, a method of treating a parasitic disease caused by Plasmodium vivax by inhibiting VX-4; a method of screening a protease inhibitor acting on VX-4, wherein the protease inhibitor is useful as an anti-malarial agent acting on Plasmodium species, for example, Plasmodium vivax; and a method of identifying the activity of VX-4, are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for measuring the concentration of an analyte in a test solution wherein the analyte is mevalonic acid and/or 3-hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A, comprising the following steps (p) and (q): (p) a step of allowing an enzyme that catalyzes a reaction represented by Reaction Formula 1 and an enzyme that catalyzes a reaction represented by Reaction Formula 2 to act on a test solution containing mevalonic acid and/or 3 -hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A in the presence of a hydrogen acceptor X, a hydrogen donor Y, and coenzyme A; and (q) a step of measuring an amount of: a reduced hydrogen acceptor X that is produced; or an oxidized hydrogen donor Y that is produced; or a hydrogen acceptor X that is decreased; or a hydrogen donor Y that is decreased, wherein the hydrogen donor Y and the reduced hydrogen acceptor X are not the same.

Abstract: Provided are a photosensitizer-metal nanoparticle complex and a composition for photodynamic therapy or diagnosis having the same. The complex includes a photosensitizer, a metal nanoparticle, and a backbone linking the photosensitizer with the metal nanoparticle. The backbone has a polypeptide substrate capable of being specifically degraded by a protease. When the complex is administered to a patient, fluorescence and production of reactive oxygen species from the conjugated photosensitizers are inhibited in normal tissues due to the resonance energy transfer between the photosensitizer and metal nanoparticles, but in tumor tissues, fluorescence and production of reactive oxygen species from the released photosensitizers are activated, thereby effectively destroying the tumor tissues. In addition, the selective fluorescence in the tumor tissues can further improve accuracy of tumor diagnosis using the protease-activatable photosensitizer-metal nanoparticle complex.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of isotopically labeling glycans and in facilitating high throughput quantitative/comparative analysis of glycomic compositions of biological cells. The method is applicable inter alia for identifying differentiated cells and their glycomic characteristics, differentiation conditions, disease and/or therapeutic progression, diagnosing disease states, determining drug activity, establishing manufacturing efficiencies and for determining the half-life of glycans in cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to an additive which can be added to buffers used in nucleotide detection processes and improved methods of nucleic acid sequencing using this additive. In particular the invention relates to use of the additive to improve the efficiency of fluorescence-based multiple cycle nucleic acid sequencing reactions.

Abstract: Methods and composition of induction of pluripotent stem cells are disclosed. For example, in certain aspects methods for generating essentially vector-free induced pluripotent stem cells with cell signaling regulators are described. Furthermore, certain aspects of the invention provide novel compositions comprising induced pluripotent stem cells essentially free of exogenous retroviral vector elements in the presence of a medium comprising signaling inhibitors. In certain aspects, feeder-free episomal reprogramming methods may be provided.

Abstract: Genetically-engineered fluorophore molecules with increased fluorescence are provided. These fluorophores are derived from the domains of phytochromes, and in particular bacterial phytochromes. Methods for generating these fluorophores and various applications of these fluorophores are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to an additive which can be added to buffers used in nucleotide detection processes and improved methods of nucleic acid sequencing using the additive. In particular the invention relates to use of the additive to improve the efficiency of fluorescence-based multiple cycle nucleic acid sequencing reactions.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to programming of biomolecular self-assembly pathways and related methods and constructs. A versatile nucleic acid hairpin motif for programming biomolecular self-assembly pathways for a wide variety of dynamic functions, reaction graphs for specifying pathways, and methods of using the hairpin motif are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a screening technology that allows the isolation of peptides able to bind to target protein, the binding of which being sensitive to the protein conformation. The invention further provides a method to identify compounds that specifically and precisely modify the protein conformation and its biological activity. Finally, the invention relates to certain peptides obtained by the method of screening of the present invention and their use as therapeutic agent for the prevention or treatment of diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the fields of microbiology, molecular biology and protein biochemistry. More particularly, it relates to compositions and methods for analyzing and altering (e.g., enhancing or inhibiting) protein folding and solubility.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of joining two or more double-stranded (ds) or single-stranded (ss) DNA molecules of interest in vitro, wherein the distal region of the first DNA molecule and the proximal region of the second DNA molecule of each pair share a region of sequence identity. The method allows the joining of a large number of DNA fragments, in a predetermined order and orientation, without the use of restriction enzymes. It can be used, e.g., to join synthetically produced sub-fragments of a gene or genome of interest. Kits for performing the method are also disclosed. The methods of joining DNA molecules may be used to generate combinatorial libraries useful to generate, for example, optimal protein expression through codon optimization, gene optimization, and pathway optimization.

Abstract: Methods and assays for oversulfated glycosaminoglycans are provided. In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for detecting oversulfated glycosaminoglycan (OS-GAG) in a heparin sample. The method comprises placing the heparin sample onto a support comprising immobilized heparin and contacting the heparin sample on the support with a binding compound that attaches to the heparin and forms a heparin-binding compound complex. The binding compound also has a greater affinity for attaching to the OS-GAG than to the heparin in the heparin sample and forms an OS-GAG-binding compound complex. The method can further comprise detecting an amount of the heparin-binding compound complex on the support, and determining an amount of OS-GAG in the heparin sample based on the amount of the heparin-binding compound complex on the support.

Abstract: Methods for performing a hybridization assay between a target biomolecule and an array comprising a surface to which are attached biomolecular probes with different, known sequences, at discrete, known locations, the method comprising: providing a container holding a hybridization mixture comprising the target biomolecule and also holding the array; and creating a temperature gradient in the hybridization mixture oriented within the container such that at least a portion of the target biomolecule is driven onto the surface of the array.

Abstract: A new blood unit cooling system was designed to cool blood rapidly to about 22° C. and maintain it at about that temperature, even in ambient temperature extremes, for several hours. The system incorporating a preferred eutectic solution including 98% 1-dodecanol 1.5% myristyl alcohol and 0.5% 1-decanol (having a melting point of about 23° C.) contained in a sealed flexible polymer layer, was used to cool whole blood-filled bags. The preferred design uses inner and outer containers, each made of transparent polyethylene sheets, where the inner compartments are filled with the solution and sealed, and then placed into each compartment in an outer container, wherein two compartments in the outer container are separated by a flattened and sealed portion of the polyethylene.

Abstract: An article such as a biomolecular detector or biosensor having a nonfouling surface thereon includes: (a) a substrate having a surface portion; (b) a linking layer on the surface portion; and (c) a polymer layer formed on the linking layer; and (d) a first member of a specific binding pair (e.g., a protein, peptide, antibody, nucleic acid, etc.) bound to the polymer layer. Methods of making and using the articles are also described.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a protein mixture comprising at least a first fusion protein comprising a protein or protein fragment, and an interaction domain and a protein translocation sequence, which effects that the fusion protein upon expression in a bacterium is translocated through the cytoplasmic membrane in an essentially unfolded state and at least a second fusion protein comprising a protein or protein fragment, and an interaction domain and a protein translocation sequence which effects that the fusion protein is translocated through the cytoplasmic membrane upon expression in a bacterium in an essentially folded state, wherein the interaction domain of the first protein can bind to those of the second protein.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of the maize Ac/Ds transposable elements in vertebrates.

Abstract: A new blood unit cooling system was designed to cool blood rapidly to about 22° C. and maintain it at about that temperature, even in ambient temperature extremes, for several hours. The system incorporating a preferred eutectic solution including 98% 1-dodecanol, 1.5% myristyl alcohol and 0.5% 1-decanol (having, a melting point of about 23° C.) contained in a sealed flexible polymer layer, was used to cool whole blood-filled bags. The preferred design uses inner and outer containers, each made of transparent polyethylene sheets, where the inner compartments are filled with the solution and sealed, and then placed into each compartment in an outer container, wherein two compartments in the outer container are separated by a flattened and sealed portion of the polyethylene.

Abstract: This invention relates to a number of bird sex-identification oligonucleotides and their use in determining the sex of birds in various families.