Abstract: The present invention features a method for identifying an agent that inhibits Candida albicans-mediated differentiation of keratinocytes. Agents identified by the screening assay of the invention find application in the prevention and treatment of candidiasis.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated polypeptides having an amino acid sequence having at least 70% identity to SEQ ID NO:20, wherein the polypeptide has ER-?36 activity. The invention further provides methods for identifying agents that bind to such polypeptides, methods for detecting such polypeptides, and methods for altering the activity of such polypeptides. Also provided are antibodies that specifically bind to an amino acid sequence depicted at SEQ ID NO:1, or an immunogenic fragment thereof, and methods for making and using such antibodies.

Abstract: The present invention is in the area of coagulation analysis and relates to a reagent which is based on recombinant or native tissue factor and phospholipids and which can be stabilized by adding a polyphenol.

Abstract: A reagent composition for a biosensor sensor strip is disclosed that provides for rapid rehydration after drying. The composition includes porous particles and is preferably formed as a colloidal suspension. The dried reagent composition including porous particles may provide analytically useful output from the sensor strip in a shorter time period than observed from dried reagent compositions using solid particles. The output signal from the porous particle compositions may be correlated to the analyte concentration of a sample within about two seconds. In this manner, an accurate concentration determination of an analyte concentration in a sample may be obtained in less time than from sensor strips including conventional compositions. The reagent composition including the porous particles also may allow for the redox reaction between the reagents and the analyte to reach a maximum kinetic performance in a shorter time period than observed from conventional sensor strips.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining or predicting the response of a patient diagnosed with locally advanced rectal cancer to chemoradiotherapy. The present invention also aims to provide methods and devices for predicting the response of patients diagnosed with rectal cancer to specific medicaments, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. More specifically, the present invention provides methods which measure kinase activity by studying phosphorylation levels and profiles in samples of said patients.

Abstract: The present invention relates to variants (mutants) of parent Termamyl-like alpha-amylases, which variant has alpha-amylase activity and exhibits altered properties relative to the parent alpha-amylase.

Abstract: The invention includes fusion polypeptides including a first fluorescent protein, e.g., a FRET donor protein, a second fluorescent protein, e.g., a FRET acceptor protein, and, linked to at least one of the fluorescent (e.g., FRET donor or FRET acceptor) proteins, an Fc-region of an immunoglobulin. The polypeptide can be immobilized with respect to a surface via the Fc-region even in the absence of antibodies to either the FRET donor protein or FRET acceptor protein, and can be used as a calibration standard for fluorescence resonance energy transfer includes a polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of extracting infectious pathogens from a volume of blood including the steps of creating a fibrin aggregate confining the pathogens and introducing a fibrin lysis reagent to expose the pathogens for analysis. The fibrin lysis reagent is preferably composed of plasminogen and streptokinase frozen in coincident relation until the fibrin lysis reagent is needed whereby streptokinase enzymatically reacts with plasminogen to form plasmin upon thawing. The plasminogen is suspended in an aqueous salt solution prior to freezing including NaCl and Na3PO4.

Abstract: Lysis/resealing process for preparing erythrocytes which contain an active ingredient (e.g. aspariginase or inositol hexaphosphate), the process comprising the following steps: (1) placing a globular concentrate in suspension in an isotonic solution having a haematocrit level which is equal to or greater than 65%, with refrigeration at from +1 to +8° C., (2) measuring the osmotic fragility based on a sample of erythrocytes from that same globular concentrate, preferably on a sample of the suspension obtained in step (1), (3) lysis and internalization procedure of the active ingredient, inside the same chamber, at a temperature which is constantly maintained at from +1 to +8° C., comprising allowing the erythrocyte suspension having a haematocrit level which is equal to or greater than 65% and a hypotonic lysis solution which is refrigerated at from +1 to +8° C.

Abstract: [PROBLEMS] To provide a polypeptide having a novel structure and showing an activity of inhibiting angiogenesis or an activity of inhibiting osteoclastogenesis, and to provide a recombinant protein by constructing a method of purifying the above protein. To provide an ingredient useful in designing remedies for tendinitis, rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis deformans, malignant tumor, etc. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] A novel soluble polypeptide protein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel polypeptides according to caroase 01-05 or any functional equivalents of any of them, suitable for use in a method for preparing a food products having increased whiteness, the use of the enzyme to increase whiteness of at least part of a food product, a process for preparing a food product wherein the enzyme is used and the food product obtained.

Abstract: The invention relates to the recombinant expression of a peptide of interest in the form of a fusion protein comprising a solubility tag. The fusion protein comprises at least two portions separated by a cleavable peptide sequence wherein one portion is devoid of cysteine residues and the second portion comprises an effective number of cross-linkable cysteine residues. After cell lysis and isolation of the fusion protein, the fusion protein is subsequently cleaved into a mixture of first and second portions. Oxidative cross-linking is used to selectively precipitate one of the two portions to facilitate simple and effective separation of the peptide of interest.

Abstract: Nucleic acids encoding erythropoietin receptor isoforms are described, as well as the encoded isoforms, methods of detecting the same, and methods of screening for and treating cancer.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are disclosed for generating immunoglobulin structural diversity in vitro, and in particular, for reducing biases in V region and J segment gene utilization, and for generating immunoglobulin V-D-J recombination events in a manner that does not require D-J recombination to precede V-DJ recombination. Selection of advantageous combinations of immunoglobulin gene elements, including introduction of artificial diversity (D) segment genes and optimization of recombination signal sequence (RSS) efficiency, are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to recognition molecules which are directed towards tumors and can be used in the diagnosis and therapy of tumor diseases.

Abstract: The invention relates to antibody molecules having specificity for antigenic determinants of both IL-17A and IL-17F, therapeutic uses of the antibody molecules and methods for producing said antibody molecules.

Abstract: The current invention is directed to the velocity factor. Based on the velocity factor antibodies can be classified, i.e. antibodies can be characterized on their binding properties as e.g. entropic or enthalpic antigen binder. A velocity factor based classification does not require detailed thermodynamic determinations and/or calculations. The velocity factor is the ratio of the antigen-antibody complex association rate constants ka determined at 37° C. and 13° C. As only two experimental determinations are required to calculate the velocity factor this is a fast and high-throughput suited method.

Abstract: There is provided an oligonucleotide sequence capable of binding to a portion of a CAstV genome, wherein the oligonucleotide sequence has binding specificity to the precapsid region of CAstV or to cDNA of the precapsid region. The oligonucleotide sequence can be one of a primer pair for use in a method for detecting the presence of CAstV in a biological sample by reverse transcription followed by amplification of the reverse transcription products using such primer pair, or a method for amplifying CAstV cDNA using such primer pair.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for treating cellulose to make it more accessible for enzymatic or chemical modification. The invention includes treating cellulose with an alkali in an alcohol/water co-solvent system. The treatment decrystallizes or deaggregates the cellulosic material. The methods and systems increase the efficiency of enzymatic or chemical modifications of cellulose for use as biofuels or cellulose derivatives.

Abstract: A method is described for producing a target substance utilizing a microorganism by culturing the microorganism in a medium to produce and accumulate the target substance in the medium, and then collecting the target substance from culture. The microorganism is imparted with isomaltase activity, or modified to increase isomaltase activity.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides engineered ketoreductase enzymes having improved properties as compared to a naturally occurring wild-type ketoreductase enzyme. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding the engineered ketoreductase enzymes, host cells capable of expressing the engineered ketoreductase enzymes, and methods of using the engineered ketoreductase enzymes to synthesize a variety of chiral compounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-stage process for producing substituted, optically active alcohols, comprising an enzyme-catalyzed synthesis step, in particular a synthesis step which is catalyzed by an alcohol dehydrogenase. The inventive method is particularly suitable for producing phenylephrine, i.e. 3-[(1R)-1-hydroxy-2-methylamino-ethyl]-phenol.

Abstract: A method for producing starting materials or additives for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and/or hydrocarbon-based fuels, especially for heating systems or internal combustion engines, takes organic residues or waste materials and decontaminates or sterilizes them with a hydrogenation process. In particular, the materials classified as K1, K2 or K3 according to EU Directive 1774/2002 are used for generating or producing the cited starting materials or additives, whereby an adequate decontamination of the residues or waste materials that are classified as being hazardous to health is ensured.

Abstract: Described are hosts for overproducing a fatty acid product such as a fatty acid. The hosts include an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a thioesterase and, optionally, an exogenous nucleic acid encoding an acetyl-CoA carboxylase, wherein an acyl-CoA synthetase in the hosts are functionally deleted. The hosts preferably include the nucleic acid encoding the thioesterase at an intermediate copy number. The hosts are preferably recombinantly stable and growth-competent at 37° C. Methods of producing a fatty acid product comprising culturing such hosts at 37° C. are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel thraustochytrid-like microalgae having the ability to produce bio-oil, and a method of producing bio-oil using the same. The microalgae of the invention accumulate bio-oil at a high ratio in the cells when being cultured in glucose-containing medium, and thus can produce bio-oil in a high yield. Also, the microalgae can produce bio-oil using bean powder as a nitrogen source, and a product obtained by culturing edible bean powder as medium can be used as a raw material for producing food and feed. Also, the microalgae can produce bio-oil using non-food cellulosic biomass as a carbon source. Moreover, the use of non-food cellulosic biomass for production of bio-oil can overcome the factors limiting the development of bio-oil, including the unstable supply of food resources and an increase in the cost of raw materials, and can improve the commercial competitiveness of microbial fermentation oil.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the enzyme-catalysed hydrolysis of polyacrylic acid esters. According to the method, at least one polyacrylic acid ester is provided and incubated with at least one enzyme selected from enzymes (EC 3.1) acting on ester bindings, until the ester groups contained in the polyacrylic acid ester are partially or fully hydrolytically split, and optionally the modified polymer obtained thereby is isolated. The invention also relates to the enzymes used and mutants thereof, nucleic acids coding for the enzymes, vectors comprising the nucleic acids, micro-organisms comprising the vectors, and the use of the enzymes, the vectors or the micro-organisms for carrying out a method for the enzyme-catalysed hydrolysis of polyacrylic acid esters. The present application also relates to polymer reaction products that can be obtained by the method, and methods for producing esterases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of producing C4 dicarboxylic acids, such as malic acid, comprising: (a) cultivating a host cell comprising a polynucleotide encoding a C4 dicarboxylic acid transporter; and (b) recovering the C4 dicarboxylic acid. The present invention also relates to methods for increasing C4 dicarboxylic acid production, as well as host cells comprising the polynucleotides.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing sclareol, the method comprising contacting a particular polypeptide having a sclareol synthase activity with labdenediol diphosphate (LPP). In particular, the method may be carried out in vitro or in vivo to produce sclareol, a very useful compound in the fields of perfumery and flavoring. The present invention also provides the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide used in the method. A nucleic acid derived from Salvia sclarea and encoding the polypeptide of the invention, an expression vector containing the nucleic acid, as well as a non-human organism or a cell transformed to harbor the same nucleic acid, are also part of the present invention.

Abstract: A method for producing butanol through microbial fermentation, in which the butanol product is removed during the fermentation by extraction into a water-immiscible organic extractant in the presence of at least one electrolyte at a concentration at least sufficient to increase the butanol partition coefficient relative to that in the presence of the salt concentration of the basal fermentation medium, is provided. The electrolyte may comprise a salt which dissociates in the fermentation medium, or in the aqueous phase of a biphasic fermentation medium, to form free ions. Also provided is a method and composition for recovering butanol from a fermentation medium.

Abstract: The invention provides non-naturally occurring microbial organisms having a propylene pathway. The invention additionally provides methods of using such organisms to produce propylene.

Abstract: A streptokinase immobilized on a surface, in particular an immobilized plasmin-resistant streptokinase, and compositions, methods and kits of utilizing same for preparing plasmin are provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides ketoreductase enzymes having improved properties as compared to a naturally occurring wild-type ketoreductase enzyme. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding the engineered ketoreductase enzymes, host cells capable of expressing the engineered ketoreductase enzymes, method of using the engineered ketoreductase enzymes to synthesize a variety of chirally pure compounds, and the chirally pure compounds prepared therewith.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thermostable tannase derived from a microorganism. Specifically disclosed is a thermostable tannase derived from Aspergillus awamori or Aspergillus niger. A preferred embodiment of the tannase has the following chemoenzymatic properties: (1) activity: to act on a depside bond to thereby cause hydrolysis; (2) molecular weight: about 230,000 Da (as measured by gel filtration); and (3) thermal stability: stable at a temperature up to 65° C. (pH 5.0, 30 min.

Abstract: Disclosed is an enzymatic process for the preparation of fatty acid alkyl esters, particularly fatty acids methyl esters (biodiesel) in a solvent-free microaqueous system, from a fatty acid source and an alcohol or alcohol donor, employing a robust lipase preparation that comprises at least two lipases separately or jointly immobilized on a suitable support, where one of the lipases has increased affinity to partial glycerides, another is sn-1,3 positional specific, and an optional third lipase has high selectivity towards sn-2 position of the glycerol backbone of the fatty acid source.

Abstract: A method of preventing, inhibiting and/or reversing cell motility, actin filament assembly or disassembly, proliferation, colonization, differentiation, accumulation and/or development of abnormal cells in a subject is disclosed. The method is effected by administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a ribonuclease of the T2 family having actin binding activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to newly identified asparaginase polypeptide variants of SEQ ID NO: 3 and to polynucleotide sequences that encode such novel asparaginase variants. Furthermore the invention relates to the use of these novel asparaginase variants in industrial processes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to high content surface areas containing nickel and/or cobalt metallic compounds assembled on a modified Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) template, wherein the modified TMV template is engineered to encode unique placement of cysteine residues that self-assemble onto gold patterned surfaces in a substantially aligned fashion, producing a >10 fold increase in surface area. Deposition of ionic metals onto the surface assembled virus templates produce uniform metal coatings for the fabrication of oriented high surface area materials.

Abstract: Bacterial strains are provided that can be isolated from the microflora of lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium), and that are capable of increasing the antioxidant content of their growth medium. The bacteria can be used, for example, to increase the antioxidant content of various foodstuffs, as probiotics or as additives to animal feed. Antioxidant-enriched compositions produced by fermentation processes utilizing the bacteria are also provided. The antioxidant-enriched compositions can be used in the preparation of cosmetics and nutritional supplements. The antioxidant-enriched compositions also have therapeutic applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved culture medium and method for the enhanced growth and detection of Mycobacterium growth. The invention further relates to an improved mycobacterial reagent system or kit that can be used for the enhanced growth and detection of Mycobacterium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for culturing spirochetes and treating spirochetal diseases. For example, the present invention provides serum-free media for culturing spirochete bacteria in vitro. The present invention further provides methods for identifying spirochete susceptibilities to antimicrobials and antimicrobial compositions and cocktails. The present invention also provides methods for treating subjects suspected of having a spirochete infection.

Abstract: The system presents applications of personalized medicine with intelligent medical devices (iMDs) and customizes therapies to complex problems involving neurological, cardiovascular, cancer, immunological and endocrinological diseases.

Abstract: A method for detecting a microorganism or class of microorganisms is provided. More specifically, the method employs an array that contains a plurality of discrete regions (referred to as “addresses”) spaced apart on a solid support in a predetermined pattern. The addresses are selected so that the array provides a distinct spectral response (e.g., pattern of colors) or “fingerprint” for a particular microorganism or class of microorganisms. For example, the array may provide a certain spectral response in the presence of one microorganism or class of microoryanisms (e.g., gram-negative bacteria), but provide a completely different spectral response in the presence of another microorganism or class of microorganisms (e.g., gram-positive bacteria). Detection of the spectral response provided by the array may thus allow for differentiation between microorganisms.

Abstract: Provided is an expression vector for gene therapy having a novel combination of transcriptional regulatory elements, including a promoter, an enhancer, an intron, an untranslated region (UTR) and a locus control region (LCR). The expression vector enables sustained expression of a liver tissue-specific gene, and thus, can be effectively used for treating thrombosis, hemophilia, liver cancer, etc.

Abstract: The invention relates to gene suppression and replacement. In particular, the invention relates to enhanced expression of suppression agents for suppressing gene expression in a cell and in vivo and replacement nucleic acids that are not inhibited by the suppression agent. Regulatory elements are included in expression vectors to optimize expression of the suppression agent and/or replacement nucleic acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to secreted proteins from cardiac stem cells (cardiospheres and cardiosphere-derived cells) or myocytes for diagnostic and/or therapeutic use.

Abstract: Culture media comprising manganese and methods of culturing cells to improve sialylation and glycosylation of glycoproteins are provided.

Abstract: The apparatus for cell or tissue culture comprises a base plate (1), an intermediate face (2) and a top plate (3). The intermediate face (2) is removably sandwiched between the base plate (1) and the top plate (3). The base plate (1) has a circumferential wall (13), a base (14) and a top wall (16). The top wall (16) of the base plate (1) comprises a plurality of recesses (12) arranged in n lines, wherein n is an integer from 1 to about 25. Each line of recesses (12) ranges from a first recess to a last recess. Each recess has a circumferential recess wall (15), which has one recess inlet and one recess outlet (40, 41). The circumferential wall (13) comprises a number of 2 n ports (11). Each port (11) is coupled to a single line of recesses (12).

Abstract: This invention provides monoclonal antibodies that recognize the Toll-like Receptor 4/MD-2 receptor complex, and monoclonal antibodies that recognize the TLR4/MD2 complex as well as TLR4 when not complexed with MD-2. The invention further provides methods of using the monoclonal antibodies as therapeutics. This invention also provides soluble chimeric proteins, methods of expressing and purifying soluble chimeric proteins, and methods of using soluble chimeric proteins as therapeutics, in screening assays and in the production of antibodies.

Abstract: Methods for producing recombinant cell populations are disclosed. The disclosed methods may be used to produce therapeutic polyclonal proteins.

Abstract: The invention features methods of inducing hair follicle formation in a mammal by transplantation of skin-derived precursors (SKPs) and keratinocytes into the skin of the mammal. The invention also features compositions and kits including SKPs and keratinocytes. In other aspects, the invention features methods for producing dermal sheets from SKPs, methods for using such sheets and dermal sheets produced by SKPs.