Abstract: Microbiota restoration therapy compositions and methods for manufacturing, processing, and/or delivering microbiota restoration therapy compositions are disclosed. An example method for manufacturing a microbiota restoration therapy composition may include collecting a human fecal sample and adding a diluent to the human fecal sample to form a diluted sample. The diluent may include a cryoprotectant. The method may also include mixing the diluted sample with a mixing apparatus and filtering the diluted sample. Filtering may form a filtrate. The method may also include transferring the filtrate to a sample bag and sealing the sample bag.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of producing oils with reduced saturated fatty acids. The methods include culturing oil-producing microorganisms in a fermentation medium in the presence of one or more antifoaming agents under a controlled carbon consumption rate, wherein the culturing produces oils comprising fatty acids and wherein less than 35% of the fatty acids in the oil are saturated fatty acids.

Abstract: The invention provides for a device, system, and methods for using the same with kidney progenitor cells, specifically ureteric bud (UB) cells, metanephric mesenchymal (MM) cells, and the stromal cell (SC) subpopulation of the metanephric mesenchyme, to generate an embryonic kidney organoid that can be implanted into a mammalian subject to create a living, functional kidney.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel melanocytes and melanoblasts. In addition, the present invention relates to a novel method for producing melanocytes and melanoblasts. Specifically, provided is novel melanocytes of which gene expression, melanin content, and tyrosinase activity are different from those of conventional melanocytes. Even more specifically, provided is novel melanoblasts of which the gene expression, the melanin content the tyrosinase activity, and the protein expression are different from those of conventional melanocytes. Additionally, provided is a novel method for producing melanocytes or melanoblasts by culturing keratinocytes.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method of freeze-drying encapsulated cells, the method comprising at least two consecutive incubation steps, wherein the encapsulated cells are incubated in each incubation step in an incubation solution containing cryoprotectant over a suitable period of time, wherein the concentration of cryoprotectant in the incubation solution is increased with each subsequent incubation step. The disclosure also provides freeze dried cells that are obtained by this method as well as various uses of these cells as pharmaceutical, food additive or additive in cosmetics. The disclosure also provides a composition that contains skim milk, glycerol and a carbohydrate.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for producing bioengineered heart muscle (BHM) from pluripotent stem cells, generally comprising the steps of inducing mesoderm differentiation, cardiac differentiation, and cardiac maturation by directed tissue formation. The method is a robust, serum-free and reproducible way to produce BHM for multiple applications, and is applicable to multiple pluripotent stem cell lines. The present invention is also directed to the BHM produced by the method disclosed herein, as well as to uses of said BHM in pharmacologic and toxicity screenings, and its use in medicine.

Abstract: A substrate for culturing cells that includes at least one fiber scaffold adapted to be contained within a disposable or non-disposable bioreactor, wherein the fiber scaffold further includes polymer fibers that have been created by electrospinning, and wherein the orientation of the fibers in the scaffold relative to one another is generally parallel, random, or both.

Abstract: Methods and processes for cryopreservation and direct cell thawing and seeding or suspension after cryopreservation, including methods that eliminate the necessity of post-thaw wash, spin, and frequent practice of performing a cell count. Cell compositions and no-spin cell products produced using the methods are also described.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for utilizing synthetic human milk oligosaccharides as prebiotics.

Abstract: There is provided a method for culturing a stem cell in vitro. The method comprises providing a substrate surface coated with a coating comprising a molecule having a catechol moiety or a polymer thereof; and growing a stem cell on said coated substrate surface in a growth medium.

Abstract: The present invention features, inter alia, biocompatible compositions that include a poloxamer and one or more additives such as hyaluronic acid, gelatin, fibronectin, or a peptide fragment of fibronectin. The compositions are useful in tissue repair or remodeling, including repair of an injured spinal disc, in drug delivery, in cell culture, and in inhibiting the formation of adhesions.

Abstract: A protein crosslinker delivery device includes a body and a protein crosslinker held in a synthetic or natural biodegradable polymer. The body, a coating on the body, or an attachment to the body can contain the protein crosslinker holding biodegradable polymer. The release rate of the crosslinker and total amount of crosslinker released can be controlled by varying the concentration of the crosslinker and by varying the composition and structural characteristics of the degradable polymer. Surface eroding, bulk eroding and naturally occurring biodegradable polymers can be used in conjunction with a variety of nontoxic or minimally-toxic protein crosslinking agents. The devices can be used to treat mechanically damaged, deformed, and nutritionally deficient connective or soft tissues such as the knee meniscus, the spinal disc, the cornea, ligaments and tendons, the soft palate, and skin.

Abstract: A method of modifying cells includes removing fluid including cells from a patient, contacting the removed fluid from the patient with at least one surface upon which at least one agent to interact at least one cell receptor is immobilized to modify cells in the fluid, and returning the fluid to the patient. The agent can, for example, be immobilized via covalent bonding or ionic bonding to the at least one surface. The fluid can, for example, be blood or a blood fraction. The agent can, for example, be an agonist, an antagonist or an inverse agonist.

Abstract: There is provided an isolated E. coli strain deposited at the International Depositary Authority of Canada (IDAC) on Jun. 20, 2013 and attributed accession number 200613-01. There is also provided methods of using this strain for preventing edema disease or diarrhea caused by an F18 pathogenic E. coli infection in an animal.

Abstract: The methods disclosed herein relate to an improved tool incorporating platelet count into a multi-biomarker based outcome risk stratification model for evaluating mortality risk in pediatric patients having sepsis. The methods described here are useful for treating sepsis, for point of care clinical decision support, for stratifying septic shock patients based on baseline mortality risk, and for clinical trial design, among other uses.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are stable and versatile protein nanoparticles having a range of tunable fluorescent properties. Such nanoparticles may find utility in biological imaging. Methods of synthesis of such nanoparticles are also disclosed.

Abstract: A peanut food product with reduced levels of allergenic proteins such as Ala h1/h2/h3 is produced by initiating the germination process in raw peanuts, holding the peanuts in moist conditions to initiate germination, and then treating with bromelain.

Abstract: Methods and systems for automatically identifying and enumerating early granulated cells (EGC) in blood samples are disclosed. In one embodiment a method for identifying EGC in a blood sample includes analyzing white blood cells of the blood sample using a low angle light scatter (LALS) parameter, separating the EGCs from the other white blood cells using the LALS parameter, and enumerating the separated EGCs.

Abstract: A method for performing a photopheresis procedure is provided comprising collecting MNCs in a suspension comprising RBCs and plasma and lysing the red blood cells in the solution, preferably by combining the suspension with a solution to cause lysis. In one example, the solution for causing lysis of the red blood cells comprises ammonium chloride, and the suspension including the ammonium chloride is incubated to cause lysing. After lysing, the suspension may be washed to remove plasma and hemoglobin freed by the lysis of the red blood cells, and an ultraviolet light activated substance is added to the suspension. The suspension is then irradiated with ultraviolet light.

Abstract: This present invention provides rapid, reproducible, biomarker-based screening methods for the developmental toxicity testing of compounds. The methods are designed to identify the exposure level at which a test compound perturbs metabolism in a manner predictive of developmental toxicity. In particular, the perturbation of two metabolites, ornithine and cystine, is measured, wherein a ratio of the fold change in ornithine to the fold change in cystine of less than or equal to about 0.88 is indicative of the teratogenicity of a test compound.