Abstract: The browsable database can allow for high-throughput analysis of protein sequences. One helpful feature may be a simplified ontology of protein function, which allows browsing of the database by biological functions. Biologist curators may have associated the ontology terms with Hidden Markov Models (HMMs), rather than individual sequences, so that they can be applied to additional sequences. To ensure accurate functional classification, HMMs may be constructed not only for families, but for curator-defined subfamilies, whenever family members have divergent functions or nomenclature. Multiple sequence alignments and phylogenetic trees, including curator-assigned information, can be available for each family. Various versions of the browsable database may include training sequences from all organisms in the GenBank non-redundant protein database, and the HMMs can be used to classify gene products across the entire genomes of human, and Drosophila melanogaster.

Abstract: A method is provided for obtaining a cell population enriched in microglial cells by contacting a composition containing microglial cells with immunoglobulin immobilized on a matrix such as a polystyrene matrix before or after contact with the cells, allowing the cells to bind to the with immunoglobulin, and removing non-adherent cells to obtain a cell population containing preferably at least 95% microglial cells. The immunoglobulin may be Fc domain-containing immunoglobulin G, and Fc receptors of the microglial cells bind to the Fc domain of immunoglobulin G. Purified Fc fragments from immunoglobulin G may be used in place of immunoglobulin G. The microglial cells may be from brain tissue, and from tissue of a normal animal or tissue of an animal having a neurological disorder.