Abstract: The invention generally provides a sieve valve including: a substrate defining a channel; a flexible membrane adapted and configured for deployment at an intersection with the channel; and one or more protrusions extending into the channel from the substrate or the flexible membrane. The one or more protrusions define a plurality of recesses extending beyond the intersection between the channel and the flexible membrane; A microfluidic circuit including one or more sieve valves. In particular embodiments, the circuit comprises one or more input/output valves. The one or one or more input/output valves can include one or more input valves and one or more output valves. The microfluidic circuit can further include a mixing circuit. At least one of the sieve valves can be positioned between the one or more input/output valves and the mixing circuit. The invention further provides methods of using the device for the analysis of samples comprising cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions which may comprise a non-naturally occurring or engineered artificial transcription factor, wherein the transcription factor may comprise a sequence specific DNA binding domain, a sliding domain, and one or more linkers, wherein the DNA binding domain and the sliding domain are operably connected by the one or more linkers, and uses thereof. Methods involving the use of a non-naturally occurring or engineered artificial transcription factors and pharmaceutical compositions, methods for treating cancer, a degenerative disease, a genetic disease or an infectious disease as well as diagnostic methods are also contemplated by the present invention.

Abstract: The invention generally provides a sieve valve including: a substrate defining a channel; a flexible membrane adapted and configured for deployment at an intersection with the channel; and one or more protrusions extending into the channel from the substrate or the flexible membrane. The one or more protrusions define a plurality of recesses extending beyond the intersection between the channel and the flexible membrane; A microfluidic circuit including one or more sieve valves. In particular embodiments, the circuit comprises one or more input/output valves. The one or one or more input/output valves can include one or more input valves and one or more output valves. The microfluidic circuit can further include a mixing circuit. At least one of the sieve valves can be positioned between the one or more input/output valves and the mixing circuit. The invention further provides methods of using the device for the analysis of samples comprising cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel hybridization probes useful for rapid hybridization to realize a practicable and affordable pathogen diagnostic based on RNA signature detection, technology and hardware. In particular, the present invention relates to a nucleic acid structure which may comprise nucleic acid tiles, wherein each nucleic acid tile comprises nucleic acid oligomers, wherein each nucleic acid oligomer hybridizes to each other thereby forming a nucleic acid tile.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved methods for detecting contamination in WGA reagents as well as improved methods for quantitating nucleic acids, such as DNA. The present invention relates to novel methods of quantifying nucleic acids involving whole-genome amplification (WGA) reaction components and a dye molecule to detects nucleic acids and partitioning reactions to quantify nucleic acids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions which may comprise a molecular sled linked to cargo and uses thereof. In particular, the present invention relates to a non-naturally occurring or engineered composition which may comprise a molecular sled, linkers and a molecular cargo connected to the sled via the linkers. Methods involving the use of molecular sleds and their cargoes and pharmaceutical compositions, methods for treating treating cancer, a degenerative disease, a genetic disease or an infectious disease as well as diagnostic methods are also contemplated by the present invention.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for accurately determining the number of template molecules in a library of nucleic acids (e.g., DNA) to be sequenced. The method does not require large amounts of the DNA sample, nor does it require the preparation of a standard curve. The method is especially applicable to methodologies for “sequencing by synthesis,” where quantitation of the starting library is important. The method uses quantitative real time PCR, especially digital PCR, which measures the number of individual molecules in a sample. The present method particularly may use a microfluidic device for running large numbers of PCR reactions. Each PCR reaction is monitored in real time by a primer/probe combination. The forward primer is adapted to contain a sequence not on the adapter but which corresponds to a probe sequence. A short probe which generates fluorescence during the PCR process is used.