Abstract: This invention relates to the culture of dendritic cells from human embryonic stem (ES) cells. Human ES cells are first cultured into hematopoietic cells by co-culture with stromal cells. The cells now differentiated into the hematopoietic lineage are then cultured with GM-CSF to create a culture of myeloid precursor cells. Culture of the myeloid precursor cells with the cytokines GM-CSF and IL-4 causes functional dendritic cells to be generated. The dendritic cells have a unique phenotype, as indicated by their combination of cell surface markers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are cell cultures and enriched cell populations of endocrine precursor cells, immature pancreatic hormone-expressing cells and mature pancreatic hormone-expressing cells. Also disclosed herein are methods of producing such cell cultures and cell populations.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a cloned dog by enucleating an oocyte of a dog to produce an enucleated oocyte, transferring a somatic cell of the dog into the enucleated oocyte, carrying out electrofusion under optimized conditions to produce a nuclear transfer embryo, and transferring the nuclear transfer embryo into its surrogate mother.

Abstract: Nucleic acid and protein sequences relating to a cation channel which is sperm-specific (CatSper3) are disclosed. The CatSper3 protein is shown to be specifically expressed in sperm. Nucleic acids, vectors, transformed cells, transgenic animals, polypeptides, and antibodies relating to the CatSper3 gene and protein are disclosed. Also provided are methods of in vitro fertilization and contraception, methods of identifying modulators of CatSper3 activity, methods of genotyping subjects with respect to CatSper3, and methods of diagnosing and treating CatSper3-mediated disorders, including infertility. Related business methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to liquid crystalline substrates useful in the culture of cells and methods of their use. In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods and devices for imaging changes (e.g., reorganization) of extracellular matrix components by living cells.

Abstract: Mechanisms regulating cell proliferation stop and differentiation initiation during the development stage of mammalian embryo, and the proteins involved therein, are presented. Differentiation regulators, methods of regulating differentiation, transgenic organisms with loss of expression of the differentiation regulator, and methods of preparing the transgenic organisms, are provided.

Abstract: The invention describes methods and agents for improving cosmetic appearance, for promoting, improving or restoring health of cells and tissues, preferably skin, and more preferably, for restoring aged or damaged skin to a healthy appearance. In some embodiments, the invention relates to compositions of cells, eggs, cell extracts, egg extracts, and extract components such as purified nucleic acids, polypeptides, lipids, carbohydrates or other natural products.

Abstract: A system including: (i) a methodology for targeted cellular ablation in zebrafish; (ii) a methodology for regional cellular ablation in zebrafish. These methodologies are used to identify genetic components that regulate cellular regeneration and to identify drug compounds that influence cellular regeneration for the purpose of developing therapies for degenerative conditions. Transgenic zebrafish disclosed herein contain transgenic constructs composed of: (i) cell and/or tissue-type specific regulatory elements (e.g.

Abstract: The invention relates to viral vectors comprising nucleic acid sequences coding for single chain interleukin-12 (single chain IL-12 or scIL12) and a costimulator protein, and to the use of vectors for gene therapy, especially for the treatment of tumors. The invention further relates to adenoviral vectors containing nucleic acid sequences having a sequence homology of at least 90% in relation to the sequence displayed in FIGS. 19 and 20 (IL-12), in FIG. 21 (4-1BB ligand) and in FIG. 22 (IL-2) and optionally also one of the sequences displayed in FIG. 23A (B7-1) or 23B (B7-2).

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a biopolymer/gene complex for the aerosol delivery of a gene. The biopolymer/gene complex comprises a polyethyleneimine (PEI) having a substitution of glucose for at least a portion of the primary amino groups of the polyethyleneimine, and the content of the polyethyleneimine is 2-4 times the content of the gene. Also, disclosed is a lung cancer therapeutic agent comprising a biopolymer/gene complex including a polyethyleneimine (PEI) having a substitution of glucose for 30-40 mol % of the primary amino groups of the polyethyleneimine, and a gene encoding PTEN, in which the content of the polyethyleneimine is 2-4 times the content of the gene.

Abstract: A method for the construction of arrays from self-assembling monolayers is described. The arrays have particular utility for the screening of peptides ligands that can foster the growth of cells in culture. This technique has been used to identify peptide ligands that foster the growth of human stem cells, which otherwise require an extracellular matrix in order to grow in an undifferentiated state. This also makes possible an assay to identify other such peptides.

Abstract: A method for making hepatocytes from extrahepatic somatic stem cells comprises: a) culturing somatic stem cells in a medium comprising hepatic growth factor to cause the stem cells to differentiate toward hepatocytes; b) culturing cells from a) in a medium comprising HGF and oncostatin M to facilitate the cell differentiation toward hepatocytes; and c) culturing cells from b) in a medium comprising oncostatin M to cause the differentiated cells to mature into hepatocytes, thereby producing a cell population that has morphological features of hepatocytes and at least four of the following characteristics: i) antibody-detectable expression of albumin; ii) real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction-detectable expression of ?-fetoprotein, HNF-1?, HNF-3?, HNF-4, HNF-6, ?1-antitrypsin, alkaline phosphatase, tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase, tyrosine aminotransferase, cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily E polypeptide 1, glutamine synthetase, and/or low density lipoprotein receptor; iii) urea secretion; iv) c

Abstract: A nucleic acid construct that includes (i) a first nucleic acid sequence encoding TNF alpha; (ii) a second nucleic acid sequence encoding a Diphtheria toxin; and (iii) at least one additional nucleic acid sequence of a cancer specific promoter. The TNF alpha and Diphtheria toxin encoding sequences are under an expression control of the cancer specific promoter. Also provided are construct systems and methods and uses of same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for production of undifferentiated or differentiated embryonic stem cell aggregate suspension cultures from undifferentiated or differentiated embryonic stem cell single cell suspensions and methods of differentiation thereof.

Abstract: A polypeptide comprising a polypeptide consisting of an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 5 of Sequence Listing or a polypeptide consisting of an amino acid sequence having deletion, addition, insertion or substitution of one to several amino acid residues in the sequence, the polypeptide being capable of constituting an HLA-A24-restricted, MAGE-A4143-151-specific T cell receptor together with a polypeptide consisting of an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 of Sequence Listing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for increasing the production of definitive endoderm cells from pluripotent stem cells. Also disclosed herein are agents capable of increasing definitive endoderm cell production.

Abstract: Methods and constructs for genetic manipulation of one or more of shrimp, shellfish, mollusks, and fish are disclosed. The nucleic acid construct includes a promoter and an internal ribosome entry site of an insect picomavirus, such as a cricket paralysis-like picomavirus. One or more open reading frames can be operably associated with one or both of the promoter and the internal ribosome entry site, and one or more proteins or protein subunits can be expressed upon introduction of the construct into a host cell, such as into a shrimp. Method for producing immortalized crustacean cell lines using enhancer elements derived from shrimp and/or shrimp viruses are also described.

Abstract: The creation of mutant hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3/4A genes encoding proteins with altered protease activity is disclosed. Embodiments include these NS3/4A genes, HCV peptides encoded by these nucleic acids, nucleic acids encoding these HCV peptides, antibodies directed to these peptides, compositions containing these nucleic acids and peptides, as well as methods of making and using these compositions including, but not limited to, diagnostics and medicaments for the treatment and prevention of HCV infection.

Abstract: Methods, compositions and kits for determining the developmental potential of one or more embryos or pluripotent cells and/or the presence of chromosomal abnormalities in one or more embryos or pluripotent cells are provided. These methods, compositions and kits find use in identifying embryos and oocytes in vitro that are most useful in treating infertility in humans.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of screening an agent for activity using teleosts. Methods of screening an agent for angiogenesis activity, toxic activity and an effect cell death activity in teleosts are provided. Methods of screening an agent for an activity in the brain or central nervous system in zebrafish are provided. The invention further provides high throughput methods of screening agents in multi-well plates.