Abstract: This invention provides methods and materials for measuring telomere abundance from chromosomes in a sample having telomeres within a pre-determined length range, e.g., short telomeres up to a certain length. The methods can involve a first step of performing a time-limited extension reaction calibrated to produce extension products from a double-stranded chromosomal DNA template of no more than a defined length, and a second step of amplifying, from the extension products, sequences bounded by a sub-telomeric sequence and the anchor sequence, to produce a length-limited telomere sequence product. The abundance of telomeric sequences in this product can be measured, and the measures can be correlated to a variety of indices.

Abstract: This invention provides methods and materials for measuring telomere abundance from chromosomes in a sample having telomeres within a pre-determined length range, e.g., short telomeres up to a certain length. The methods can involve a first step of performing a time-limited extension reaction calibrated to produce extension products from a double-stranded chromosomal DNA template of no more than a defined length, and a second step of amplifying, from the extension products, sequences bounded by a sub-telomeric sequence and the anchor sequence, to produce a length-limited telomere sequence product. The abundance of telomeric sequences in this product can be measured, and the measures can be correlated to a variety of indices.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions for determining the average length or abundance of a first target nucleic by calculating the abundance of a first target nucleic acid (T) relative to the average abundance (S) of a second and a third target nucleic acid, in a single well using a separate detection label for each target nucleic acid. In various aspects, the first target nucleic acid is a telomere. In exemplary aspects, the disclosed methods and compositions can be used to determine the average telomere length in a biological sample. The average telomere length determined using the disclosed methods and compositions can be correlated to a variety of clinically important conditions and indices. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions for determining the average length or abundance of a first target nucleic by calculating the abundance of a first target nucleic acid (T) relative to the average abundance (S) of a second and a third target nucleic acid, in a single well using a separate detection label for each target nucleic acid. In various aspects, the first target nucleic acid is a telomere. In exemplary aspects, the disclosed methods and compositions can be used to determine the average telomere length in a biological sample. The average telomere length determined using the disclosed methods and compositions can be correlated to a variety of clinically important conditions and indices. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Abstract: This invention provides devices and methods for sample collection. Devices can include (a) a container having an opening and adapted to receive a liquid sample through the opening; (b) a cover configured to reversibly seal the opening; and (c) a capture device configured to be introduced into the container, wherein the capture device is configured to selectively bind cells of a first type and not to substantially bind cells of a second cell type. The sample can be analyzed to make a measure of telomere abundance and the abundance can be correlated to a measure of health.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions for determining the average length or abundance of a first target nucleic by calculating the abundance of a first target nucleic acid (T) relative to the average abundance (S) of a second and a third target nucleic acid, in a single well using a separate detection label for each target nucleic acid. In various aspects, the first target nucleic acid is a telomere. In exemplary aspects, the disclosed methods and compositions can be used to determine the average telomere length in a biological sample. The average telomere length determined using the disclosed methods and compositions can be correlated to a variety of clinically important conditions and indices. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Abstract: This invention provides methods and materials for measuring telomere abundance from chromosomes in a sample having telomeres within a pre-determined length range, e.g., short telomeres up to a certain length. The methods can involve a first step of performing a time-limited extension reaction calibrated to produce extension products from a double-stranded chromosomal DNA template of no more than a defined length, and a second step of amplifying, from the extension products, sequences bounded by a sub-telomeric sequence and the anchor sequence, to produce a length-limited telomere sequence product. The abundance of telomeric sequences in this product can be measured, and the measures can be correlated to a variety of indices.

Abstract: This invention provides devices and methods for sample collection. Devices can include (a) a container having an opening and adapted to receive a liquid sample through the opening; (b) a cover configured to reversibly seal the opening; and (c) a capture device configured to be introduced into the container, wherein the capture device is configured to selectively bind cells of a first type and not to substantially bind cells of a second cell type. The sample can be analyzed to make a measure of telomere abundance and the abundance can be correlated to a measure of health.

Abstract: Methods and cosmetic compositions for conditioning the skin, utilizing as active ingredients selected compounds structurally related to astragenols, cycloastragenols, and/or protopanaxatriols, are provided. Such compounds include those of formulas (I), (II) and (III) described herein.

Abstract: Formulations containing plant extracts, in particular Astragalus extracts, and their use in inducing telomerase activity in cells, are described. Such compositions include pharmaceutical, including topical, and nutraceutical formulations. The methods and compositions are useful for treating diseases subject to treatment by an increase in telomerase activity in selected cells, such as, for example, HIV infection, various degenerative diseases, and acute or chronic skin ailments. They are also useful for enhancing replicative capacity of cells in culture, as in ex vivo cell therapy and proliferation of stem cells. Also described are cosmetic formulations of such extracts for conditioning the skin.

Abstract: It has been discovered that increasing telomerase activity in cells surrounding a wound promotes wound healing. Replication capacity is enhanced, and the mobility of the epithelial cells can be increased by 3-fold or more. Particular aspects of the invention described in this disclosure include the use of agents that increase telomerase activity in cells at the site of the wound, promoting cells to move to the site and restore an epithelial layer and the underlying stratum.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods related to human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTRT), the catalytic protein subunit of human telomerase. The polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of human diseases, for changing the proliferative capacity of cells and organisms, and for identification and screening of compounds and treatments useful for treatment of diseases such as cancers.

Abstract: This disclosure provides TRT antisense oligonucleotides, methods of detecting TRT, methods of diagnosing telomerase-related conditions, methods of diagnosing and providing a prognosis for cancer, and methods of treating telomerase-related conditions, including cancer.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods related to human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTRT), the catalytic protein subunit of human telomerase. The polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of human diseases, for changing the proliferative capacity of cells and organisms, and for identification and screening of compounds and treatments useful for treatment of diseases such as cancers.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel telomerase nucleic acids and amino acids. In particular, the present invention is directed to nucleic acid and amino acid sequences encoding various telomerase protein subunits and motifs, including the 123 kDa and 43 kDa telomerase protein subunits of Euplotes aediculatus, and related sequences from Schizosaccharomyces, Saccharomyces sequences, and human telomerase. The present invention is also directed to polypeptides comprising these telomerase protein subunits, as well as functional polypeptides and ribonucleoproteins that contain these subunits.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel telomerase nucleic acids and amino acids. In particular, the present invention is directed to nucleic acid and amino acid sequences encoding various telomerase protein subunits and motifs, including the 123 kDa and 43 kDa telomerase protein subunits of Euplotes aediculatus, and related sequences from Schizosaccharomyces, Saccharomyces sequences, and human telomerase. The present invention is also directed to polypeptides comprising these telomerase protein subunits, as well as functional polypeptides and ribonucleoproteins that contain these subunits.

Abstract: Telomerase reporter constructs suitable for use in reporting transcriptional activity of a mammalian telomerase gene transcription regulatory region contain a transcription regulatory region of a mammalian telomerase gene operably linked to a reporter polynucleotide sequence.