Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of generating neural stem cells from differentiated somatic cells. The present disclosure also provides induced neural stem cells generated using a subject method, as well as differentiated cells generated from a subject induced neural stem cell. A subject neural stem cell, as well as differentiated cells derived from a subject neural stem cell, is useful in various applications, which are also provided in the present disclosure.

Abstract: The present inventors discovered that genes could be introduced specifically into trophectodermal cells with high efficiency, by infecting blastocysts with viral vectors carrying an arbitrary polynucleotide, or by using a nucleic acid transfection reagent in blastocysts, from which zona pellucida (extracellular matrix covering preimplantation early embryos to protect them from infection of viruses and the like) is removed. This method has no risk of infecting cells of the inner cell mass, which develops into a fetus in the future, with the introduced polynucleotide because the trophectoderm serves as a barrier. The present invention provides methods for introducing foreign genes into only placenta but not fetus, which enables rescue of genetically mutant animals from embryonic lethality due to placental abnormality and allows their birth. Furthermore, it is possible to analyze expression and effect of genes that regulate placental formation or placental function by using these methods.

Abstract: A homogenous, symmetrically dividing population of adherent neural stem cells is obtained from ES cells or foetal or adult brain isolates, using an activator of a signalling pathway downstream of a receptor of the EGF receptor family, optionally in combination with an activator of a signalling pathway downstream of an FGF receptor. The neural stem cell population is highly pure and retains the ability to differentiate into neurons after in excess of 100 passages.

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: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for tissue regeneration, particularly for treating skin lesions such as wounds. In one aspect, the invention provides wound healing composition characterized by the higher expression levels of phenotypic marker genes such as apolipoprotein D, matrix metalloprotease (2), collagen 3a1 and smooth muscle actin than the housekeeping gene ribosomal protein L32. The compositions and methods of the invention are useful especially for assisting the process of wound healing, particularly chronic open lesions that are slow to heal or resistant to healing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a female germinal cell (egg) extract of pluricellular organisms in M-phase of the cell cycle for a mitotic remodeling of chromosomes of donor cells of pluricellular organisms, wherein the mitotic remodeling confers to the nucleus of the donor cells the ability to adapt themselves to the early embryonic development, in particular to the replication phases, in order to carry out the embryonic development or to obtain stem cells.

Abstract: Methods are provided for producing a human embryo capable of developing to the blastocyst stage. The method includes transferring a human somatic cell genome into a mature human oocyte by nuclear transfer and activating the oocyte, without removing the oocyte genome. Pluripotent human embryonic stem cells, and methods of obtaining these, are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing human mast cells from human pluripotent stem cells. More particularly, the present invention provides a method for producing human mast cells from human pluripotent stem cells, comprising the steps of: (a) culturing human pluripotent stem cells under a condition suitable for promoting differentiation of the human pluripotent stem cells into hematopoietic progenitor cells expressing CD34; and (b) culturing the cells obtained in step (a) in the presence of hematopoietic factors comprising thrombopoietin (TPO) and Flt3 ligand.

Abstract: Methods and compositions relating to the production of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) are disclosed. For example, induced pluripotent stem cells may be generated from CD34+ hematopoietic cells, such as human CD34+ blood progenitor cells, or T cells. Various iPS cell lines are also provided. In certain embodiments, the invention provides novel induced pluripotent stem cells with a genome comprising genetic rearrangement of T cell receptors.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods for increasing genome stability of an embryonic stem (ES) cell or induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell, increasing telomere length in an ES or iPS cell, or both, for example by contacting an ES or iPS cell with an agent that increases expression of Zscan4 in the cell. Methods for increasing the genome stability in a population of ES or iPS cells, increasing telomere length in a population of ES or iPS cells, or both, are provided, for example by selecting Zscan4+ ES or iPS cells from the population of ES or iPS cells (which can include both Zscan4+ and Zscan4? ES or iPS cells). Therapeutic methods of using ES or iPS cells expressing Zscan4 are also provided. Further provided are methods of treating cancer by administering a Zscan4 polynucleotide or Zscan4 polypeptide. Also provided are methods of inducing differentiation of isolated ES or iPS cells into germ cells.

Abstract: Disclosed is an agent for improving at least one activity selected from the group consisting of the growth activity, adhesion activity and extension activity of mesenchymal stem cells, which comprises laminin-5 as an active ingredient. A method of culturing mesenchymal stem cells; a method of isolating mesenchymal stem cells; and a medium, vessel or sheet for use in culturing mesenchymal stem cells are also provided.

Abstract: Methods of identifying a xenohormetic induced phenotype in an organism are provided. Also provided are methods if using organisms having a known xenohormetically induced phenotype in a number of different applications, such as the identification of xenohormetic agents and the generation of chemical entities and foodstuffs under specific conditions of production governed by xenohormetic effects.

Abstract: This invention provides a biological selective breeding technique in preparation of a transparent zebrafish, Citrine. The appearance of Citrine is transparent and yellowish, with uniformly pigmented black eyes and its inner organs are observable by eyes. The invention also provides a method for in vivo observation of progression and expansion of various disease stages or physiological processes.

Abstract: Provided are a method of producing canine iPS cells, comprising (a) the step of bringing into contact with each other a canine somatic cell and a nuclear reprogramming factor, and (b) the step of culturing the cell in a medium containing at least one substance selected from the group consisting of a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitor, an activin receptor-like kinase inhibitor, a glycogen synthase kinase inhibitor, a L-type calcium channel agonist and a DNA methylation inhibitor, and a leukemia inhibitory factor, and canine iPS cells that can be obtained by the method.

Abstract: Targeting constructs and methods of using them are provided for differentiation-dependent modification of nucleic acid sequences in cells and in non-human animals. Targeting constructs comprising a promoter operably linked to a recombinase are provided, wherein the promoter drives transcription of the recombinase in an differentiated cell but not an undifferentiated cell. Promoters include Blimp1, Prm1, Gata6, Gata4, Igf2, Lhx2, Lhx5, and Pax3. Targeting constructs with a cassette flanked on both sides by recombinase sites can be removed using a recombinase gene operably linked to a 3?-UTR that comprises a recognition site for an miRNA that is transcribed in undifferentiated cells but not in differentiated cells. The constructs may be included in targeting vectors, and can be used to automatically modify or excise a selection cassette from an ES cell, a non-human embryo, or a non-human animal.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of manufacturing biodiesel and other oil-based compounds using glycerol and combinations of glycerol and other feedstocks as an energy source in fermentation of oil-bearing microorganisms. Methods disclosed herein include processes for manufacturing high nutrition edible oils from non-food feedstock materials such as waste products from industrial waste transesterification processes. Also included are methods of increasing oil yields by temporally separating glycerol and other feedstocks during cultivation processes. Also provided herein are oil-bearing microbes containing exogenous oil production genes and methods of cultivating such microbes on glycerol and other feedstocks.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include methods and compositions related to the production, identification and use of embryonic progenitor cell lines that are capable of undergoing chondrogenesis. A number of exemplary chondrogenic cell lines derived from primordial stem cells are disclosed. The chondrogenic cell lines described herein are robust, can expand for >40 passages, and have site-specific purity, thus providing for compositions and methods of producing diverse cartilage types with unique molecular compositions for use in research and therapy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cell culture methods and compositions that are essentially serum-free and comprise a basal salt nutrient solution and an ErbB3 ligand.

Abstract: Promoters that include a tissue-selective promoter sequence and a second promoter sequence operatively coupled to the tissue-selective promoter sequence, wherein the second promoter sequence includes a minimal viral promoter sequence, are disclosed. Nucleic acids and compositions that include these promoter sequences are also disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of improving the function of a tissue-selective promoter, involving operatively coupling a tissue-selective promoter sequence with a second promoter sequence that includes a minimal viral promoter sequence. Also disclosed are methods of delivering a gene into a cell, methods of treating a subject with a hyperproliferative disease, and methods of imaging a cell that involve use of the novel promoter sequences set forth herein.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a skin permeating compound such as phloretin for controlling transgene expression under control of the Pseudomonas putida DOT-T1E-derived bacterial repressor TtgR, to a vector comprising the genetic code for the repressor TtgR fused to a transactivation or a transrepressor domain, to a vector comprising a TtgR-specific operator sequence (OTtgR), a promoter and a polynucleotide coding for an endogenous or exogenous protein, and to a mammalian cell transiently or constitutively transfected with the mentioned vectors, and to mammals comprising such cells in nano- or microcontainers.