Abstract: The present disclosure provides use of a transmembrane emp24 domain 8 (TMED8) gene in preparation of a drug and a diagnostic kit for pancreatic cancer, and belongs to the technical field of precision tumor medicine. In the present disclosure, it is found that up-regulating an expression level of the TMED8 gene has significantly inhibited migration and proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells, and then promoted apoptosis of the pancreatic cancer cells; the TMED8 gene is further found to be related to a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Therefore, the TMED8 gene may be used as an effective target for gene diagnosis and treatment of the pancreatic cancer.

Abstract: Methods for the in vitro production of enucleated red blood cells and the enucleated red blood cells thus prepared are provided. Such enucleated red blood cells may express a sortaggable surface protein, which allows for surface modification in the presence of a sortase. Also described herein are surface modified enucleated red blood cells, e.g., conjugated with an agent of interest such as a peptide, a detectable label, or a chemotherapeutic agent, and uses thereof in delivering the agent to a subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods modifying cell surface markers of red blood cells (RBCs) and uses of the same. In particular, the method comprises contacting an RBC with a peptide in the presence of a ligase, under suitable conditions and for sufficient time to allow ligation of the peptide to the RBC to form an RBC-peptide conjugate. In one embodiment, the ligase is OaAEPI ligase. The RBC-peptide conjugate may be further contacted with an effector molecule under suitable conditions and for sufficient time for conjugation of the effector molecule to the RBC-peptide to form an RBC-peptide-effector molecule conjugate.

Abstract: An underwater vehicle for performing a variety of linear motions and turning motions with better stability and agility is disclosed. The underwater vehicle includes a main body, a front-drive mechanism, a rear-drive mechanism, and a steering assembly. The main body has a front end and a rear end, which defines a longitudinal axis extending from the front end to the rear end of the main body. The front-drive mechanism is connected to the main body to provide a forward propelling force in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. The steering assembly is fixed to the rear end and coupled to the rear-drive mechanism. The steering assembly is configured to rotate the rear-drive mechanism with respect to the longitudinal axis by a body angle for providing a lateral force on the main body.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hetero-stiffness robotic device with a central body portion having a head end and a tail end. A rigid rotatable head propeller extends from the head end while a flexible rotatable tail propeller extends from the tail end. A head motor positioned in the central body portion rotates the rigid rotatable head propeller and a tail motor positioned in the central body portion rotates the flexible rotatable tail propeller. A controller independently controls a rotational speed of the head motor and the tail motor. The head and tail propellers may have helical shapes. The hetero-stiffness propulsion gives the robotic device a high level of environmental adaptivity over a wide range of viscosities. The device demonstrates advantages in linearity, straightness, bi-directional locomotion ability, and efficiency, which provides a critical competence for moving in low Reynolds number environments.

Abstract: An underwater vehicle for performing a variety of linear motions and turning motions with better stability and agility is disclosed. The underwater vehicle includes a main body, a front-drive mechanism, a rear-drive mechanism, and a steering assembly. The main body has a front end and a rear end, which defines a longitudinal axis extending from the front end to the rear end of the main body. The front-drive mechanism is connected to the main body to provide a forward propelling force in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. The steering assembly is fixed to the rear end and coupled to the rear-drive mechanism. The steering assembly is configured to rotate the rear-drive mechanism with respect to the longitudinal axis by a body angle for providing a lateral force on the main body.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hetero-stiffness robotic device with a central body portion having a head end and a tail end. A rigid rotatable head propeller extends from the head end while a flexible rotatable tail propeller extends from the tail end. A head motor positioned in the central body portion rotates the rigid rotatable head propeller and a tail motor positioned in the central body portion rotates the flexible rotatable tail propeller. A controller independently controls a rotational speed of the head motor and the tail motor. The head and tail propellers may have helical shapes. The hetero-stiffness propulsion gives the robotic device a high level of environmental adaptivity over a wide range of viscosities. The device demonstrates advantages in linearity, straightness, bi-directional locomotion ability, and efficiency, which provides a critical competence for moving in low Reynolds number environments.

Abstract: Methods for the in vitro production of enucleated red blood cells and the enucleated red blood cells thus prepared are provided. Such enucleated red blood cells may express a sortaggable surface protein, which allows for surface modification in the presence of a sortase. Also described herein are surface modified enucleated red blood cells, e.g., conjugated with an agent of interest such as a peptide, a detectable label, or a chemotherapeutic agent, and uses thereof in delivering the agent to a subject.

Abstract: A method of producing an antibody fragment for a target antigen includes administering an immunizing mixture containing the target antigen to a cartilaginous fish for at least two times; collecting a blood sample from the cartilaginous fish; extracting RNAs from the blood sample; subjecting said RNAs to reverse transcription to obtain a complementary DNA, and optionally amplifying the cDNA to obtain a mixture of amplified cDNAs followed by purification. Also covered are methods of producing an antibody fragment from a shark; antibody fragments obtained from the method; a kit comprising antibody fragments; and methods of determining the presence and/or amount of a target antigen in a sample.

Abstract: The application relates to extracellular vesicles derived from red blood cells and particularly, although not exclusively, extracellular vesicles derived from red blood cells containing a cargo. The cargo may comprise small molecules, proteins, nucleic acids or components of the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system. The extracellular vesicles derived from red blood cells may be used in the treatment of medical disorders such as a genetic disorder, inflammatory disease, cancer, autoimmune disorder, cardiovascular disease or a gastrointestinal disease. Also provided is a method for loading the cargo into the extracellular vesicles derived from red blood cells by electroporation.

Abstract: The invention relates to surface modified extracellular vesicles, wherein the extracellular vesicles comprise an exogenous polypeptide tag that is covalently linked to a membrane protein of the extracellular vesicles. In a particular embodiment, the tag is covalently linked to the membrane protein of microvesicles by sortase-mediated ligation. Methods of preparing said extracellular vesicles and methods of using said extracellular vesicles loaded with therapeutic molecules for treating a disease are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A modified Streptococcus aureus Cas9 (SaCas9) protein with a mutation at an N413 position, and optionally one or more of a nuclear localization sequence, a cell penetrating peptide sequence, an affinity tag and/or a fusion base editor protein, and a kit that comprises said modified protein. A method for altering the genome of a cell, the method including the step of using the modified protein of the invention.

Abstract: A modified Streptococcus aureus Cas9 (SaCas9) protein with a mutation at an N413 position, and optionally one or more of a nuclear localization sequence, a cell penetrating peptide sequence, an affinity tag and/or a fusion base editor protein, and a kit that comprises said modified protein. A method for altering the genome of a cell, the method including the step of using the modified protein of the invention.

Abstract: A method of RNA delivery using extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from red blood cells (RBCs). The method comprises the purification and electroporation of the EVs and applying the RNA-loaded EVs to target cells. The method further comprises the treatment of cancer using the RNA-loaded EVs.

Abstract: A method of RNA delivery using extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from red blood cells (RBCs). The method comprises the purification and electroporation of the EVs and applying the RNA-loaded EVs to target cells. The method further comprises the treatment of cancer using the RNA-loaded EVs.

Abstract: Methods for the in vitro production of enucleated red blood cells and the enucleated red blood cells thus prepared are provided. Such enucleated red blood cells may express a sortaggable surface protein, which allows for surface modification in the presence of a sortase. Also described herein are surface modified enucleated red blood cells, e.g., conjugated with an agent of interest such as a peptide, a detectable label, or a chemotherapeutic agent, and uses thereof in delivering the agent to a subject.

Abstract: Methods for the in vitro production of enucleated red blood cells and the enucleated red blood cells thus prepared are provided. Such enucleated red blood cells may express a sortaggable surface protein, which allows for surface modification in the presence of a sortase. Also described herein are surface modified enucleated red blood cells, e.g., conjugated with an agent of interest such as a peptide, a detectable label, or a chemotherapeutic agent, and uses thereof in delivering the agent to a subject.

Abstract: A method of producing an antibody fragment for a target antigen includes administering an immunizing mixture containing the target antigen to a cartilaginous fish for at least two times; collecting a blood sample from the cartilaginous fish; extracting RNAs from the blood sample; subjecting said RNAs to reverse transcription to obtain a complementary DNA, and optionally amplifying the cDNA to obtain a mixture of amplified cDNAs followed by purification. Also covered are methods of producing an antibody fragment from a shark; antibody fragments obtained from the method; a kit comprising antibody fragments; and methods of determining the presence and/or amount of a target antigen in a sample.

Abstract: A method of RNA delivery using extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from red blood cells (RBCs). The method comprises the purification and electroporation of the EVs and applying the RNA-loaded EVs to target cells. The method further comprises the treatment of cancer using the RNA-loaded EVs.

Abstract: Methods for the in vitro production of enucleated red blood cells and the enucleated red blood cells thus prepared are provided. Such enucleated red blood cells may express a sortaggable surface protein, which allows for surface modification in the presence of a sortase. Also described herein are surface modified enucleated red blood cells, e.g., conjugated with an agent of interest such as a peptide, a detectable label, or a chemotherapeutic agent, and uses thereof in delivering the agent to a subject.