Abstract: A composition is provided comprising a negatively charged group, an oligonucleotide sequence and at least none or one nuclease-resistant linkage group to form a chemically-enhanced primer. The chemically-enhanced primer can be used for sequencing and fragment analysis. Methods for synthesizing the primer as well as a method of preparing DNA for sequencing and a method of sequencing DNA and kits containing the chemically-enhanced primer are also provided. The method of sequencing DNA can comprise contacting amplification reaction products with the composition under conditions in which excess amplification primer is degraded by the nuclease and the chemically-enhanced primer is essentially non-degraded.

Abstract: Methods for diagnosing cancer in a subject are disclosed. The method includes detecting the level of expression of one or more cancer markers in a biological sample obtained from the subject; and comparing the level of expression of the one or more cancer markers in the biological sample to a normal level of expression of the one or more cancer markers. The one or more cancer markers comprises CXCL13 or CXCR5 or both CXCL13 and CXCR5. Also disclosed is a kit for detecting cancer or monitoring cancer progression.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of oncology and provides novel compositions and methods for diagnosing and treating pancreatic cancer. In particular, the present invention provides pancreatic cancer stem cells useful for the study, diagnosis, and treatment of solid tumors.

Abstract: Methods, compositions and assays that measure the effect of a test compound on induction of ligand-induced ribowitch-mediated transcription termination are disclosed. The methods and the assays are useful in identifying drug candidates that modulate transcription by binding to a riboswitch, for example.

Abstract: Provided is an automatic detection kit for automatically detecting HLA alleles using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The real-time PCR is performed on DNA isolated from a sample using a primer which is able to specifically bind to HLA alleles and a fluorescent probe which is able to detect amplification of the HLA alleles in real time, and the HLA allele typing is performed by analyzing a fluorescence value obtained from the real-time PCR using an HLA automatic typing program.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of determination of diagnosis and prognosis of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia from a biological sample collected from the body of a patient, wherein the status of Wnt/PCP signaling pathway is determined. Within the framework of the present invention the relation of CLL and molecular signaling pathway Wnt/PCP the components of which are markedly up-regulated in B-lymphocytes of the patients suffering from CLL was identified. The status of the Wnt/PCP signaling pathway can be determined, e.g., by the determination of the expression of components of said signaling pathway or by the determination of migration of CLL cells in the gradient of a chemokine in the presence of the ligand of said signaling pathway. The invention also relates to suitable oligonucleotides for use in the method of determination of expression of the signaling pathway components.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for separating a carbohydrate antigen from a Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria in a purified form that contains no more than 10% protein. The separated antigen is coupled to an affinity column, over which polyclonal antibodies to the same bacteria are chromatographed and recovered in a purified form that exhibits high specificity and sensitivity in immunoassays for the raw carbohydrate antigen corresponding to the purified antigen on the column. A particularly preferred form of rapid immunochromatographic assay employing the purified antibodies, which assay is very useful as an aid to rapid diagnosis of diseases caused by bacteria, is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to immobilization compounds of formula (I), immobilization products and preparations thereof as well as methods and uses for the identification of phosphatidylinositol kinase interacting compounds or for the purification or identification of phosphatidylinositol kinase proteins.

Abstract: Disclosed is a discussion of a method for producing anti-mammalian GPCR antibody and of the antibody itself. Anti-mammalian GPCR antibody is produced through immunization involving exposure of fish to full-length or truncated mammalian GPCR, and anti-mammalian GPCR antibody that can be obtained by this method is also discussed.

Abstract: A system and method for GPCR signaling pathway analysis and elucidation using a biosensor, a live-cell, and a pathway active compound, as defined herein.

Abstract: Mer diagnostic and therapeutic agents are disclosed. The agents are useful in the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of diseases including leukemia, lymphoma, and clotting disorders.

Abstract: A method for detecting a haptoglobin-matrix metalloproteinase 9 (Hp-MMP 9) complex in a biological sample. The sample includes incubating the biological sample with a capture reagent immobilized on a solid support to bind Hp-MMP 9 to the capture reagent. The capture reagent includes a monoclonal antibody that binds MMP9. The method detects Hp-MMP 9 bound to the immobilized capture reagent by contacting the bound Hp-MMP 9 with a detectable antibody that binds to Hp.

Abstract: The invention involves a method for measuring phosphorylation of proteins at specific sites and, as such, is an indicator of the protein kinase activity of enzymes capable of phosphorylating those sites. The method involves the in vitro or in vivo phosphorylation of a target protein at a specific serine, threonine or tyrosine residue, subjecting that protein (non-phosphorylated) to reaction mixture containing all reagents, including phosphokinase which allow the creation of a phosphorylated form of protein. The phosphorylated protein is measured by contacting it with an antibody specific for the phosphorylation site(s). The invention includes antibodies useful in practicing the methods of the invention. The invention particularly relates to all proteins modified by phosphorylation and dephosphorylation as illustrated by Tau, Rb and EGFR proteins and antibodies specific for the site of phosphorylation of the Tau, Rb or EGFR proteins.

Abstract: The present description relates to a method for determining the risk of a pregnant woman developing a hypertensive disorder, more specifically gestational hyper-tension or late onset preeclampsia. The present description provides methods useful for determining risk that a pregnant individual will develop a hypertensive disorder or condition of pregnancy, such as gestational hypertension, early preeclampsia, late preeclampsia and related disorders. Several useful combinations of biochemical markers and related clinical population studies are described herein. Additionally, it is proposed herein that certain sets of biochemical markers can be used to determine risk of multiple hypertensive disorders in a single screen. The biochemical markers are PlGF, Activin A and optionally P-Selectin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the progression of chronic kidney disease in a subject suspected of having chronic kidney disease, comprising of determining the expression levels of at least one marker selected from (a) FGF23; and (b) adiponectin in a biological sample. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a use of a specific detection molecule for FGF23 or adiponectin for the preparation of a diagnostic composition for the detection of chronic kidney disease or the progression of chronic kidney diseases in a subject suspected to suffer from said disease. In particular, the present invention also provides for use of FGF23 and/or of adiponectin as an in vitro marker for the presence, absence or progression of a chronic kidney disease and kits comprising a specific detection molecule for FGF23 or a specific detection molecule for adiponectin for use in the method of the present invention.

Abstract: A method for classifying cancer patients as eligible to receive cancer therapy with a Bcl-2 inhibitor comprising determination of the presence or absence in a patient tissue sample of levels of pro-GRP, as a surrogate marker for the presence of chromosomal copy number gain at chromosomal locus 18q21-q22. The classification of cancer patients based upon pro-GRP levels as a surrogate for the presence or absence of 18q21-q22 gain allows selection of patients to receive chemotherapy with a Bcl-2 family inhibitor, either as monotherapy or as part of combination therapy, and to monitor patient response to such therapy using a peripheral blood sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for assessing complement activation and methods for assessing the ability of an agent or condition of interest to modulate complement activation. The present invention provides methods for assessing whether a subject has or is at increased risk of developing a complement-mediated disorder, e.g., age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Also provided are kits containing materials useful for performing the methods.

Abstract: A type IV collagen-like immunoreactive peptide and an antibody thereof which are useful for detecting nephritis, a method for selecting a type IV collagen-like immunoreactive peptide, a method for screening an immunoreactive antibody and an immunoreactive peptide, a nephritis model, a method for detecting chronic nephritis, a vaccine, and a therapeutic agent for nephritis are provided. A type IV collagen-like immunoreactive peptide immunologically reacts with an isolated, chronic nephritis-derived biological sample. Preferably, the type IV collagen-like immunoreactive peptide includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of at least one chain selected from alpha 1 to alpha 6 chains as a constituent alpha chain, at least one region selected from 7S, the central helical domain, and NC1 as a constituent region, and a peptide having 3 to 35 amino acids as a constituent peptide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a diagnostic method for detecting susceptibility to delivery, and to a test kit for this purpose. A low, but higher than baseline level concentration of Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 (IGFBP-1), which is due to leakage from decidual cells, is detected by an immunological assay in a vaginal secretion sample.

Abstract: Disclosed are: a prognosis diagnosis method which can diagnose the prognosis of a patient suffering from sepsis or sepsis-related multiple organ failure in a simple manner and with high accuracy and a prognosis diagnosis kit for use in the prognosis diagnosis method. The prognosis diagnosis method comprises: a first detection step of detecting a liver fatty acid-binding protein contained in urine collected from a subject with a specific antibody; a second detection step of treating the urine with a Redox reagent such as hemin and detecting a liver fatty acid-binding protein contained in the treated urine with the specific antibody; and a comparison step of comparing a detection value obtained in the first step with a detection value obtained in the second step. It is determined that the larger the detection value obtained in the second step compared to that in the first step, the worse the prognosis.

Abstract: The invention describes a practical and robust multi-antibody approach to the sensitive immunodetection and determination of the drug of abuse m-chlorophenyl piperazine (mCPP). The invention also describes methods and kits for mCPP detection in an in vitro sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides a yeast cell based system for determining factors that control the folding of amyloid proteins of diverse origins. Further the present invention provides methods of using such a system to screen for reagents that affect amyloid formation, a process that is integral to several devastating human disease including Creutzfeld-Jacob disease (CJD), fatal familial insomnia (FFI), Gertsmann-Straussler-Scheinker (GSS) syndrome, and kuru. The system of the present invention provides a rapid screening system to quickly and cheaply identify reagents that affect the folding and aggregation properties of the target protein.

Abstract: A reliable, fast and convenient method is provided to determine the change in concentration of enzyme in time in a biological medium in the presence of a signal substrate that corrects for substrate consumption, color-dependency of the signal and non-linearity between the concentration of the leaving group of the signal substrate and the amount of signal. The method comprises the measurement of a calibrator curve in a suitable medium, such as a buffer, to determine the characteristics of the measured curve. These characteristics will then allow to obtain this whole curve or a sufficient part thereof again through a mathematical procedure based on a single-point measurement in a sample of a medium in which the enzyme generation takes place. This has the great advantage that there is no need to measure the whole calibrator curve in each individual medium, since a single-point measurement is adequate.

Abstract: Novel solid-phase biosensors that utilize ink jet printing of biocompatible sol-gel based inks to create sensor strips are reported herein. Biomolecules and other reagents useful in bioassays to detect, for example, pathogenic microorganisms or toxic substances, are immobilized on a substrate, which can be paper based, by layering these substances between two layers of biomolecule compatible sol gel. The sol gel precursor solutions and solutions of the assay reagents are printed from separate nozzles in a layered approach which avoids clogging of the nozzles by the pre-mature gelling of the sol gel precursor solution. In certain embodiments of the application, a capture agent is used to concentrate a compound to be detected in specific areas on the substrate to facilitate detection.

Abstract: The invention concerns a medium for detecting, identifying and differentiating a microorganism strain in a liquid medium by contacting said liquid sample with a combination of chromogens substrates of enzymes expressed or not by the strain to be detected, the final coloration of the mixture being detectable in the wavelengths of the visible light.

Abstract: A method for producing an accumulated product of a nano-substance that enables the accumulated product of the nano-substance to be produced at low cost, by a simple process that requires few conditions to be controlled and requires minimal energy, and with good reproducibility. Specifically, a method for producing an accumulated product of a nano-substance, the method including crystallizing a protein in a state where the protein and the nano-substance co-exist within a solvent, thereby accumulating the nano-substance within pores of the protein crystals to obtain the accumulated product of the nano-substance.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of detecting a wound infection and for detecting the presence or absence of microorganisms, for example, wound pathogens in a sample, by contacting a sample with a cationic anti-microbial peptide that is degradable by an enzyme produced and/or secreted by a microorganism, and detecting degradation or the absence of degradation of the peptide, as an indicator of the presence or absence of the enzyme in the sample, and thus indicative of the presence or absence of a microorganism in the sample. The present invention also features a biosensor for detecting the presence or absence of a microorganism in a sample.

Abstract: Preparation and isolation of amino vinyl cyclopropane carboxylic acid derivatives and salts thereof, methods of resolving enantiomers, and methods of identifying compositions and/or enzymes that are capable of resolving racemic or partially enantiomerically enriched mixtures.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method comprising: providing a molecularly imprinted polymer imprinted with a first peptide or protein; exposing said molecularly imprinted polymer to a supersaturated solution of a second peptide or protein; and forming a nucleus of and/or growing a crystal of said second peptide or protein on said molecularly imprinted polymer.

Abstract: The subject invention provides novel devices and methods for the detection and quantification of neutrophil elastase activity in biological samples.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides devices and rapid methods to acquire a wound sample to detect the presence of NOx and, optionally, one or more other analytes that are indicative of the status of a wound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for cell transport Said system allows the transport of cells, assuring their integrity and viability during the entire transport process. It consists of a system suitable for a wide variety of formats which allows a broad range of technical applications of the system The system of the invention allows providing ready-to-use cells, without the cells having to be manipulated before they are used by technical experts in cell biology The invention particularly relates to an agarose plus agarase mixture covering or enveloping, depending on the format of the selected transport system, the cell culture, protecting it during the transport process, as well as to the methodology of cell recovery of the cells transported in the system.

Abstract: A combinatorial microenvironment generator is configured for the generation of arbitrary, user-defined, steady-state, concentration gradients with negligible to no flow through the growth medium to perturb diffusion gradients or cellular growth. More importantly, the absolute concentrations and/or gradients can be dynamically altered upon request both spatially and temporally to impose tailored concentration fields for in-situ stimulus studies. Here, diffusion occurs via an array of ports, each of which can be an independently controlled source/sink. Together, the array of ports establishes a user-defined, 3D concentration profile. Useful methods related to this device are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of taste cell specific G-protein coupled receptors, antibodies to such receptors, methods of detecting such nucleic acids and receptors, and methods of screening for modulators of taste cell specific G-protein coupled receptors.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and devices for the fabrication of 3D polymeric fibers having micron, sub-micron, and nanometer dimensions, as well as methods of use of these polymeric fibers.

Abstract: Automated methods and devices that facilitate iterative staining of biological samples from imaging applications are provided. The methods include the steps of providing a small volume flow cell containing a biological sample, applying a stain to the biological sample, combining at least two precursor reagents to form an activated destaining agent and wherein the activated destaining agent decomposition rate is greater than or similar to the destaining reaction rate, flowing the destaining agent over the biological sample at a flow rate that is greater than the decomposition rate of the activated destaining agent, and releasing the sample from the flow cell wherein the integrity of the sample is intact. The process of staining, combining and flowing may be iteratively repeated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of molecular diagnostics, and in particular to diagnostics based on a liquid crystal assay format. In particular, the present invention provided improved substrates and methods of using liquid crystal assays for quantitating the amount of an analyte in a sample. The present invention also provides materials and methods for detecting non-specific binding of an analyte to a substrate by using a liquid crystal assay format.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for evaluation of the toxicity of compounds comprising the use of spermatozoa. The inventions also relates to a high throughput system for the toxicity evaluation.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for culturing cells, termed a microscale cell culture analog (?CCA), is provided. The microfluidic device allows multiple cell or tissue types to be cultured in a physiologically relevant environment, facilitates high-throughput operation and can be used for drug discovery. The microfluidic device uses gravity-induced fluidic flow, eliminating the need for a pump and preventing formation of air bubbles. Reciprocating motion between a pair of connected reservoirs is used to effect the gravity-induced flow in microfluidic channels. Bacterial contamination is reduced and high throughput enabled by eliminating a pump. The microfluidic device integrates a pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) model to enable PK-PD analyses on-chip. This combined in vitro/in silico system enables prediction of drug toxicity in a more realistic manner than conventional in vitro systems.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for the treatment or prevention of a fungal infection in a host comprising the administration to the host a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of a CCA1 inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for separating, characterizing and/or identifying microorganisms in a test sample. The method of the invention comprises an optional lysis step for lysing non-microorganism cells that may be present in a test sample, followed by a subsequent separation step. The method may be useful for the separation, characterization and/or identification of microorganisms from complex samples such as blood-containing culture media. The method may also be useful for the physical separation and/or enrichment of two or more different or individual microorganism species contained in a mixed test sample. The invention further provides for spectroscopic interrogation of the separated microorganism sample(s) to produce measurements of the microorganism and characterizing and/or identifying the microorganism(s) in the sample using said spectroscopic measurements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel smart packaging, designed using a novel material comprising a partially polar adsorbent solid base impregnated with a solution of vanillin, which allows the growth of microorganisms in different types of products to be detected visually without having to be in direct contact with the microorganism or with the medium containing same.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting guaiacol-producing bacteria in a specimen comprising culturing the specimen or a dilution thereof on a plate of a solid medium for acidophilic bacteria comprising a compound represented by the following formula, wherein R is —H, —OH, —C(O)H, —C(O)CH3, —COOH, C1-C3 alkyl or C1-C3 alkenyl, wherein alkyl and alkenyl may optionally be substituted by —OH, —C(O)H or —COOH); and detecting a colony formed on the solid medium. According to preferred embodiments, the solid medium for acidophilic bacteria comprises 50 ppm or more of vanillic acid and the plate culture is carried out at 20° C. to 55° C. The present invention also provides a solid medium for acidophilic bacteria and a kit for detection of guaiacol-producing bacteria in a specimen. According to the present invention, guaiacol-producing bacteria present in a specimen such as fruit juice raw materials can be detected rapidly in a simple manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for the detection of particles and for particle analysis. The apparatus comprises a sample holder comprising a base and a projection extending from the base. The base includes a contact region where, in use, the surface of a fluid sample may contact the projection. The surface of at least the contact region of the projection exhibits properties that allow the surface of the contact region to be substantially wetted by a fluid sample when the apparatus is in use so that the fluid sample forms a meniscus having its apex in contact with the contact region of the projection. The invention also relates to methods for using the apparatus.

Abstract: A closed loop automated method for staining of a biological sample is provided. The method comprises providing a biological sample, staining at least a portion of the biological sample by flowing in a reagent, monitoring one or more optical characteristics of the biological sample, and calculating a figure of merit based on at least one of the optical characteristics. An automated device for iterative staining of a biological sample is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel fluorinated 3,6-diaminoxanthene compounds derived from the basic structural formula (I) and to their uses as photostable fluorescent dyes, e.g. for immunostainings and spectroscopic and microscopic applications, in particular in conventional microscopy, stimulated emission depletion (STED) reversible saturable optically linear fluorescent transitions (RESOLFT) microscopy, and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. The claimed compounds are also useful as molecular probes in various spectroscopic applications.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the field of proteinases and more specifically to chymotrypsin. In particular, the present invention relates to recombinant porcine chymotrypsin and its use in food applications.

Abstract: A method is described for producing protein compositions having reduced amounts of O-linked glycosylation. The method includes producing the protein in cells cultured in the presence of one or more ?-1,2-mannosidases from Coccidiodes immitis, Coccidiodes posadasii, Penicillium citrinum, Magnaporthe grisea, Aspergillus saitoi, Aspergillus oryzae, and Chaetomiun globosum or a catalytically active fragment of said ?-1,2-mannosidase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a proteinaceous construct (also designated as polymer-VWF-conjugate) comprising plasmatic and/or recombinant von Willebrand factor (VWF), said VWF being bound to at least one physiologically acceptable polymer molecule, as well as to a complex between said proteinaceous construct and at least one factor VIII (FVIII) protein. The physiologically acceptable polymer molecule can be, for instance, polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysialic acid (PSA). Further the present invention relates to methods for prolonging the in vivo-half-life of VWF or FVIII in the blood of a mammal having a bleeding disorder associated with functional defects of or deficiencies of at least one of FVIII or VWF.

Abstract: Vectors expressible in a host that is the rhaBAD promoter region of the L-rhamnose operon operably linked to a transcriptional unit that is: a) a nucleic acid sequence which is heterologous to the host, and b) a prokaryotic signal sequence operably linked to the nucleic acid sequence. The prokaryotic signal sequence is selected from signal peptides of periplasmatic binding proteins for sugars, amino acids, vitamins and ions. The expression of the nucleic acid sequence is controlled by the promoter region. The vector is used for the regulated heterologous expression of a nucleic acid sequence in a prokaryotic host. This is an isolated and purified nucleic acid sequence expressible in a host is the promoter region of the L-rhamnose operon. There is a method for producing a polypeptide in a host using the vector.