Abstract: Compositions of a glycolysis inhibitor and a mitochondrial complex I inhibitor or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase inhibitor are described. Methods of treating metabolic disorders by administration of a composition comprising glycolysis inhibitor and a mitochondrial complex I inhibitor or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase inhibitor are also described. Also described are methods of inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells by administration of a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising a glycolysis inhibitor and a mitochondrial complex I inhibitor or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase inhibitor.

Abstract: Methods for selecting chemotherapeutic agents for treating a cancer are provided that include the steps of providing a cancer cell sample having a population of bulk cancer cells and a population of cancer stem-like cells, culturing a first portion of the cancer cell sample in a hydrodynamic focusing bioreactor under microgravity conditions and for a period of time to selectively enhance the population of cancer stem-like cells and selectively kill the population of bulk cancer cells, contacting the cancer stem-like cells with one or more chemotherapeutic agents, and then selecting the one or more chemotherapeutic agents for treating the cancer if there is an increase in an amount of cytotoxicity. Methods for treating a cancer are also provided in which the identified chemotherapeutic agents are administered to a subject. Further provided are methods for identifying a test compound useful for treating a cancer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for rapidly expanding a stem cell population with or without culture supplements in simulated microgravity conditions. The present invention relates to methods for rapidly increasing the life span of stem cell populations without culture supplements in simulated microgravity conditions. The present invention also relates to methods for increasing the sensitivity of cancer stem cells to chemotherapeutic agents by culturing the cancer stem cells under microgravity conditions and in the presence of omega-3 fatty acids. The methods of the present invention can also be used to proliferate cancer cells by culturing them in the presence of omega-3 fatty acids. The present invention also relates to methods for testing the sensitivity of cancer cells and cancer stem cells to chemotherapeutic agents by culturing the cancer cells and cancer stem cells under microgravity conditions.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for the site-selective delivery of a gene to a site within the body of an animal where virus not encapsulated within the microbubbles is inactivated, for example by treatment with a virus-inactivating agent.

Abstract: Microbubble-assisted delivery of viruses is disclosed. In particular, methods for targeting a virus to cancer cells in an immunocompetent animal by administering a selectively replicating virus to the immunocompetent animal and disrupting the microbubbles in a location of the animal comprising cancer cells are provided. The virus is encompassed in a suspension of microbubbles, and the surface of the suspension does not include any virus. A suspension of microbubbles comprising a selectively replicating virus that is encompassed in a suspension of microbubbles, which does not include any virus on the surface of the suspension, is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for rapidly expanding a stem cell population with or without culture supplements in simulated microgravity conditions. The present invention relates to methods for rapidly increasing the life span of stem cell populations without culture supplements in simulated microgravity conditions. The present invention also relates to methods for increasing the sensitivity of cancer stem cells to chemotherapeutic agents by culturing the cancer stem cells under microgravity conditions and in the presence of omega-3 fatty acids. The methods of the present invention can also be used to proliferate cancer cells by culturing them in the presence of omega-3 fatty acids. The present invention also relates to methods for testing the sensitivity of cancer cells and cancer stem cells to chemotherapeutic agents by culturing the cancer cells and cancer stem cells under microgravity conditions.

Abstract: Titration is an important and critical step in dosing recombinant virus for gene therapy. A relatively fast, convenient and sensitive method that allows for precise quantification of recombinant retrovirus is presented. The method is based on PCR amplification of a foreign gene by the PRINS (primer in situ DNA synthesis) technique. The PRINS technique is based on the sequence-specific annealing of unlabeled oligonucleotide DNA it situ. This oligonucleotide operates as a primer for in situ chain elongation catalyzed by the Taq I polymerase. Using -labeled nucleotides as a substrate for chain elongation, the neo-synthetic DNA is labeled by an FITC-conjugated anti-antibody. To avoid the possibility of false positives, the puromycin resistance gene, which is associated with the transgene in the same viral vector and is not normally present in mammalian cells was amplified.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for the site-selective delivery of a gene to a site within the body of an animal where virus not encapsulated within the microbubbles is inactivated, for example by treatment with a virus-inactivating agent.

Abstract: Titration is an important and critical step in dosing recombinant virus for gene therapy. A relatively fast, convenient and sensitive method that allows for precise quantification of recombinant retrovirus is presented. The method is based on PCR amplification of a foreign gene by the PRINS (primer in situ DNA synthesis) technique. The PRINS technique is based on the sequence-specific annealing of unlabeled oligonucleotide DNA in situ. This oligonucleotide operates as a primer for in situ chain elongation catalyzed by the Taq I polymerase. Using -labeled nucleotides as a substrate for chain elongation, the neo-synthetic DNA is labeled by an FITC-conjugated anti-antibody. To avoid the possibility of false positives, the puromycin resistance gene, which is associated with the transgene in the same viral vector and is not normally present in mammalian cells was amplified.