Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to consumable products incorporating a matrix of cultured tobacco cells. Any tobacco variety may be utilized for establishing in vitro tobacco cultures, including native tobacco varieties and genetically modified tobacco varieties derived from any tobacco variety. Various embodiments are directed to methods for producing tobacco products incorporating cellular material and/or extracts derived from tobacco cells cultured in vitro.

Abstract: Differentiation and stability of neural stem cells can be enhanced by in vitro or in vivo culturing with one or more extracellular matrix (ECM) compositions, such as collagen I, IV, laminin and/or a heparan sulfate proteoglycan. In one aspect of the invention, adult mammalian enteric neuronal progenitor cells can be induced to differentiate on various substrates derived from components or combinations of neural ECM compositions. Collagen I and IV supported neuronal differentiation and extensive glial differentiation individually and in combination. Addition of laminin or heparan sulfate to collagen substrates unexpectedly improved neuronal differentiation, increasing neuron number, branching of neuronal processes, and initiation of neuronal network formation. In another aspect, neuronal subtype differentiation was affected by varying ECM compositions in hydrogels overlaid on intestinal smooth muscle sheets.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the use of a population of cells comprising: (a) neural precursor cells committed to an oligodendroglial fate; (b) uncommitted neural precursor cells (c) differentiated oligodendrocytes; or (d) a combination of any one of (a) to (c) for the treatment of CNS autoimmune diseases, or for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for treating CNS autoimmune diseases, the population of cells being derived from human pluripotent stem cells. The invention also provides methods for obtaining such populations of cells, namely, neural precursor cells committed to an oligodendroglial fate as well as differentiated oligodendrocytes which then can be used in the treatment of CNS autoimmune diseases. A preferred autoimmune disease in the context of the present invention is multiple sclerosis where the population of cells is administered to the CNS for local treatment of the disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, kits, and compositions for reducing an innate immune system response in a human or animal cell, tissue or organism. One embodiment comprises: introducing an Agent mRNA comprising in vitro-synthesized mRNA encoding one or more proteins that affect the induction, activity or response of an innate immune response pathway; whereby, the innate immune response in the cell, tissue or organism is reduced compared to the innate immune response in the absence of the Agent mRNA. Other embodiments are methods, compositions and kits for using an Agent mRNA for treating a disease or medical condition in a human or animal that exhibits symptoms of an elevated innate immune system, or for reducing an innate immune response that is induced in a human or animal cell, tissue or organism by a Foreign Substance that is administered to the cell, tissue or organism.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for the prophylaxis and treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections are disclosed herein. More specifically the present invention discloses describes an autologous dendritic cell (DC) vaccine product derived by culturing a patient's monocytes with granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interferon alpha 2b (IFN-?), loading the DC with a mixture of five lipopeptides of Gag, Nef and Pol HIV antigens, and, optionally activating the DC with lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to methods to prepare NK and LTi-like, NK22 cells from HSCs and uses of those cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a skeletal muscle cell from a pluripotent stem cell, which includes a step of expressing one or more exogenous factors selected from MyoD, Myf5 and nucleic acids encoding them on a pluripotent stem cell.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and compositions useful for obtaining induced stem cells, methods of making and use thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to recombinant adenovirus displaying one or more heterologous epitope(s) on their fiber protein. These recombinant adenovirus are useful as vaccines for generating an immune response against said epitope(s) in individuals having a pre-existing anti-Ad immunity.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a recombinant oncolytic virus comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). One such oncolytic virus is oHSV. One form of TRAIL contained within the oncolytic virus is a secreted form of TRAIL. Examples of various forms of oHSV and secreted TRAIL are disclosed therein. Also disclosed are host cells and therapeutic formulations comprising the recombinant oncolytic virus. Also disclosed are methods of treating cancer in a subject by administering a therapeutic formulation comprising the recombinant oncolytic virus to the subject.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing double-layered virus-like particles of rotavirus in vitro. The method comprises the following steps: purifying rotavirus VP6 proteins from a lysis supernatant, and in vitro assembling double-layered virus-like particles consisting of VP2 proteins and VP6 proteins, wherein the proteins and the virus-like particles can be used for preventing or reducing the clinical symptoms caused by rotavirus infection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the production of biopharmaceuticals implementing a baculovirus-based system. These methods advantageously allow the production of biopharmaceuticals with a reduced number of or without contaminating baculoviral virions.

Abstract: Provided is a novel bacteriophage ?CJ20 (KCCM11362P). In addition, the present invention relates to an antibacterial composition including the bacteriophage ?CJ20 (KCCM11362P) as an active ingredient. Further, the present invention is a method of preventing and/or treating infectious diseases by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in animals except for humans using the bacteriophage ?CJ20 (KCCM11362P) or the antibacterial composition containing the bacteriophage ?CJ20 (KCCM11362P) as an active ingredient.

Abstract: A method of purifying a viral vector is provided. The method includes loading a nonionic density gradient into a continuous flow centrifuge rotor; loading a material including the viral vector into the continuous flow centrifuge rotor; rotating the continuous flow centrifuge rotor in a manner sufficient to separate the viral vector and a predictable contaminate from the material in the nonionic density gradient; and unloading the separated viral vector and the predicable contaminant from the continuous flow centrifuge rotor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a compound of formula I (I), wherein R1 is hydrogen, fluoro or chloro; which process comprises a) reacting a compound of formula II (II), wherein R1 is hydrogen, fluoro or chloro; with a nitration agent to the compound of formula (III), wherein R1 is hydrogen, fluoro or chloro; and b) reacting the compound of formula III with chlorine gas at temperature from 180° C. to 250° C. to the compound of formula I.

Abstract: The present invention is in the fields of molecular and cellular biology. The invention is generally related to reverse transcriptase enzymes and methods for the reverse transcription of nucleic acid molecules, especially messenger RNA molecules. Specifically, the invention relates to reverse transcriptase enzymes which have been mutated or modified to increase thermostability, decrease terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase activity, and/or increase fidelity, and to methods of producing, amplifying or sequencing nucleic acid molecules (particularly cDNA molecules) using these reverse transcriptase enzymes or compositions. The invention also relates to nucleic acid molecules produced by these methods and to the use of such nucleic acid molecules to produce desired polypeptides. The invention also concerns kits comprising such enzymes or compositions.

Abstract: The current invention involves the use of protein lectins produced by plants including the non-toxic carbohydrate binding subunits (B subunits) of plant “AB toxins” (PTB lectins) as delivery vehicles for mobilizing associated drug substances for delivery to animal and human cells. The resulting protein fusions or conjugates retain lectin carbohydrate specificity for binding to cells and cellular trafficking activity so as to deliver an associated drug compound to the site of disease manifestation. One embodiment of this invention concerns the ability of ricin toxin B subunit, as a model PTB lectin, to deliver enzyme replacement therapeutic drugs to cells of several organs of the body including the brain and central nervous system, eyes, ears, lungs, bone, heart, kidney, liver, and spleen for treating lysosomal diseases.

Abstract: The invention concerns a novel silica sol material and its use for producing bioabsorbable and biodegradable silica gel materials having improved properties. The materials such as for example fibers, fibrous nonwoven webs, powders, monoliths and/or coatings are used, for example, in medical technology and/or human medicine, in particular for wound treatment.

Abstract: Methods of non-destructively obtaining the genotype of a plant cell from a plant sample are disclosed. The plant cell is isolated from a plant cell sample using an integrated microfluidic device. The integrated microfluidic device includes an individual cell trap located downstream from a microfluidic channel and, the microfluidic device is configured to trap the plant cell in the individual cell trap. mRNA is extracted from the plant cell by contacting the plant cell with an atomic force microscope (AFM) probe and by attracting mRNA from loci of interest to the probe end using a dielectrophoresis DEP force under the alternating current (AC) field applied to the probe. The genotype of the plant cell is determined from cDNA obtained from the extracted mRNA. Alternatively, the mRNA is analyzed to determine gene expression patterns of the plant cell.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to improve the efficiency of screening/selection of a membrane protein in molecular evolutionary engineering (for example, an enzyme evolutionary method). The above-described objective is achieved by providing a unilamellar liposome comprising: (a) a DNA comprising a promoter sequence, a translational initiation sequence, and a sequence encoding a membrane protein; (b) an RNA polymerase; (c) a ribonucleotide; and (d) a cell-free protein synthesis system. In one aspect of the present invention, the membrane protein is a transporter, and the unilamellar liposome further comprises (e) a factor that binds to a ligand transported by the membrane protein.

Abstract: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are identified that enhance pluripotency reprogramming of somatic cells as well as differentiation of pluripotent cells. Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell generation from somatic cells leads to the upregulation and downregulation of identified lncRNAs. The modulation of these lncRNAs are capable of enhancing pluripotency of somatic cells as well as enhancing differentiation of a pluripotent cell.

Abstract: The invention provides oligonucleotides complementary to a non-coding chimeric mitochondrial RNA as well as compositions and kits comprising the same, and their use in treating and preventing metastasis or relapse of a cancer in an individual previously treated for cancer with a therapy. The invention also provides oligonucleotides complementary to a non-coding chimeric mitochondrial RNA as well as compositions and kits comprising the same, and their use in treating a refractory cancer (e.g., a refractory HPV-associated cancer).

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) delivery of polynucleotides for treating Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy resulting from the duplication of DMD exon 2. The invention provides rAAV products and methods of using the rAAV in the treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Abstract: Oligonucleotide analogs conjugated to carrier peptides are provided. The disclosed compounds are useful for the treatment of various diseases, for example diseases where inhibition of protein expression or correction of aberrant mRNA splice products produces beneficial therapeutic effects.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention include methods of selectively reducing the deleterious activity of mutant extended trinucleotide repeat containing genes in a cell, as well as compositions used in such methods. The deleterious activity (e.g., toxicity and/or dis-functionality of products encoded thereby) of a mutant extended trinucleotide repeat containing gene may be selectively reduced in a variety of different ways, e.g., by selectively decreasing SPT4 mediated transcriptional activity, by enhancing functionality of proteins encoded thereby, etc. Aspects of the invention further include assays for identifying agents that find use in methods of the invention, e.g. as summarized above. Methods and compositions of the invention find use in a variety of different applications, including the prevention or treatment of disease conditions associated with the presence of genes containing mutant extended trinucleotide repeats, such as Huntington's Disease (HD).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the finding that microRNA-155 plays a role in inflammation, hematopoiesis and myeloproliferation, and that dysregulation of microRNA-155 expression is associated with particular myeloproliferative disorders. Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for diagnosing an treating disorders, including inflammation and myeloproliferation, modulating the levels of expression of one or more genes selected from the group consisting of Cutl1, Arnt1, Picalm, Jarid2, PU.1, Csf1r, HIF1?, Sla, Cebp?, and Bach1, and the like.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for influencing the miR-92 expression in a cell, comprising the following steps: (a) providing a cell; and (b1) reducing the miR-92 expression in the cell in order to promote the vascularization or vessel repair by introducing an antisense molecule against miR-92 into the cell, or (b2) increasing the miR-92 expression in the cell for an inhibition of the tumor angiogenesis by introducing a construct into the cell, wherein said construct includes an expressible miR-92 sequence. Furthermore, the invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition, comprising an agent for reducing the miR-92 activity or expression in a cell in the form of an antisense molecule against miR-92, or an agent for increasing the miR-92 expression in a cell in the form of a construct for expressing miR-92.

Abstract: Described herein are compounds comprising modified oligonucleotides that are complementary to miR-103 and/or miR-107 and methods of treating diseases and disorders using the compounds.

Abstract: The present invention includes siRNAs and antibodies that block the interaction between TEM8 and/or CMG2 cell surface proteins and anthrax toxin and methods of treating anthrax exposure with the same.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to novel targets for angiogenic disorders. Novel oligonucleotides are also provided. Methods of using the novel oligonucleotides for the treatment of angiogenic disorders (e.g., preeclampsia) are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an aptamer comprising or consisting of the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 1, SEQ ID No. 2, SEQ ID No. 3 and/or a nucleic acid sequence being at least 80% identical to one of SEQ ID No. 1, 2 and 3 for use in therapy and/or diagnosis of autoimmune diseases, wherein the autoimmune disease is cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), idiopathic cardiomyopathy, Chagas' cardiomyopathy, Chagas' megacolon, Chagas' megaesophagus, Chagas' neuropathy, benign prostatic hyperplasia, scleroderma, psoriasis, Raynaud syndrome, pre-eclamsia, kidney allograft rejection, myocarditis, glaucoma, hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, malignant hypertension, and/or Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: A vector production system is provided. The system comprises recombinant cells designed to encode at least a first recombinase under the control of an inducible promoter and the cells include an expression vector encoding a nucleic acid of interest within the regulatory elements of the expression vector which are flanked on either side by a target sequence for at least the first recombinase. The vector production system provides an efficient one-step process for producing linear or circular covalently closed vectors that incorporate a nucleic acid sequence of interest.

Abstract: A strain has a microorganism fertilizer efficacy and can be used as a biopesticide, by isolating multi-functional plant endophytic bacteria, which can widely suppress the growth of plant-pathogenic fungi and bacteria and specifically act on rice as a host plant, thereby retaining both a disease resistance inducing effect and a plant growth promoting effect, followed by mass-culturing and formulating. The present invention provides novel microorganism Bacillus oryzicola or Bacillus oryzicola having a DNA-DNA relatedness value of 70% or more with the Bacillus oryzicola.

Abstract: The invention is generally directed to modified filamentous fungal host cells comprising one or more nucleic acids encoding one or more polypeptides under the control of one or more promoters that are functional in said cells. Methods of using the modified cells to express one or more polypeptides are also disclosed, including methods of screening cells transformed with one or more expression vectors comprising nucleic acids derived from synthetic or genomic nucleic acids including, cDNAs. Methods of purifying one or more polypeptides or complexes comprising one or more polypeptides expressed in the modified cells, intended for use as substrates in structure/function studies, as therapeutic agents, as diagnostic reagents, or as human or animal vaccines, are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the identification of a QTL associated with high ethanol tolerance in Saccharomyces spp. More specifically, it relates to specific alleles of MKT1 and APJ1 possibly combined with a specific allele of SWS2 that are important in obtaining a high ethanol tolerance in Saccharomyces spp. It relates further to the use of such alleles in the construction of high ethanol tolerant strains, and the use of these alleles in screening for ethanol tolerance.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a process of identification and isolation of sorbitol dehydrogenase promoter from Pichia pastoris. Further, the present disclosure also relates to expression of heterologous proteins under the control of Sorbitol dehydrogenase promoter in Pichia pastoris.

Abstract: This invention provides transgenic plant cells with recombinant DNA for expression of proteins that are useful for imparting enhanced agronomic trait(s) to transgenic crop plants. This invention also provides transgenic plants and progeny seed comprising the transgenic plant cells where the plants are selected for having an enhanced trait selected from the group of traits consisting of enhanced water use efficiency, enhanced cold tolerance, increased yield, enhanced nitrogen use efficiency, enhanced seed protein and enhanced seed oil. Also disclosed are methods for manufacturing transgenic seed and plants with enhanced traits.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for transiently expressing proteins in a plant are provided. The compositions comprise plants, seeds, plant tissues, and plant parts expressing a protein, wherein the protein is expressed transiently and the transient expression of the protein can be used as a predictive model of how said protein will be expressed in stable transgenic plants in regards to qualitative and quantitative data. The predictive model may be used but is not limited to: promoter evaluation, evaluation of expression cassette construction for best performance (e.g. addition of enhancers or gene silencing suppressors), evaluation of best ways to express heterologous genes (e.g. point mutations, targeting), fast evaluation of endogenous gene knockout, evaluation of protein expression levels, cellular targeting, tissue targeting, transcriptional enhancers, translational enhancer protein toxicity and metabolic profiling. Further provided are methods of use.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to, inter alia, a gene for increasing biomass production isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana, and a method for producing a transgenic plant by using the same. More specifically, the present disclosure provides, inter alia, a composition for increasing production of plant biomass, a recombinant expression vector and a transgenic plant, comprising a base sequence encoding for the amino acid sequence of sequence number 2. Consequently, by using the gene for increasing biomass production of the present disclosure, it is possible to obtain a transgenic plant with which the amount of biomass production is increased and, ultimately, by using the same, it can be expected to be possible to increase starting materials for the pulp and papermaking industries, and starting materials for bioethanol.

Abstract: The present invention provides the identification and use of EGTom1 and/or EGTom2, homologs of EGTom1 and/or EGTom2, orthologs of EGTom1 and/or EGTom2, paralogs of EGTom1 and/or EGTom2, and fragments and variations thereof for altering salt tolerance, drought tolerance and/or sugar content of fruit (sweetness) in plants. The invention relates to the identification and use of nucleic acid sequences for salt/drought tolerance and fruit sweetness in plants.

Abstract: A gene having novel functions is searched for, by which plant weight (that is, biomass level) can be increased and by which substance productivity can be increased or decreased. A chimeric protein is expressed in which a transcriptional factor comprising the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, or 6 is fused to a functional peptide that converts an arbitrary transcriptional factor into a transcriptional repression factor.

Abstract: The invention relates to transgenic plants exhibiting dramatically enhanced growth rates, greater seed and fruit/pod yields, earlier and more productive flowering, more efficient nitrogen utilization, increased tolerance to high salt conditions, and increased biomass yields. In one embodiment, transgenic plants engineered to over-express both glutamine phenylpyruvate transaminase (GPT) and glutamine synthetase (GS) are provided. The GPT+GS double-transgenic plants of the invention consistently exhibit enhanced growth characteristics, with T0 generation lines showing an increase in biomass over wild type counterparts of between 50% and 300%. Generations that result from sexual crosses and/or selfing typically perform even better, with some of the double-transgenic plants achieving an astounding four-fold biomass increase over wild type plants.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for conferring pesticidal activity to bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions comprising a coding sequence for pesticidal polypeptides are provided. The coding sequences can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in plants and bacteria. Compositions also comprise transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues, and seeds. In particular, isolated pesticidal nucleic acid molecules are provided. Additionally, amino acid sequences corresponding to the polynucleotides are encompassed. In particular, the present invention provides for nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12, the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:4, 5, or 6, as well as variants and fragments thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of plant breeding. More specifically, the present invention includes a method of using haploid plants for genetic mapping of traits of interest such as disease resistance. Further, the invention includes a method for breeding corn plants containing quantitative trait loci (QTL) that are associated with resistance to Gray Leaf Spot, a fungal disease associated with Cercospora spp.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for conferring pesticidal activity to bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions comprising a coding sequence for a toxin polypeptide are provided. The coding sequences can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in plants and bacteria. Compositions also comprise transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues, and seeds. In particular, isolated toxin nucleic acid molecules are provided. Additionally, amino acid sequences corresponding to the polynucleotides are encompassed, and antibodies specifically binding to those amino acid sequences. In particular, the present invention provides for isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2-5, or the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, as well as variants and fragments thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to dendritic cells, the NF?B signaling pathway of which has been manipulated by RNA transfection, to the manufacture thereof and to use thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transfected mammalian host cell whose ability to secrete a foreign protein has been enhanced by using a foreign gene expression vector having a promoter derived from a human gene, and a method for producing the foreign protein using the host cell. A method for enhancing the production of a foreign protein to be used in a pharmaceutical protein product in a host cell such as a cultured mammalian cell is provided. A promoter derived from a human gene having a promoter activity higher than that of a cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter in a host cell such as a cultured mammalian cell is provided.

Abstract: An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, or a nucleic acid sequence of at least 1000 bp having at least 70% identity to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. The isolated nucleic acid molecule can lead to the expression of a gene in retinal ON bipolar cells when a nucleic acid sequence coding for a gene is operatively linked to the isolated nucleic acid molecule.

Abstract: The invention relates to the pseudotyping of retroviral vectors with heterologous envelope proteins derived from the Paramyxoviridae family, genus Morbillivirus, and various uses of the resulting vector particles. The present invention is based on the unexpected and surprising finding that the incorporation of morbillivirus F and H proteins having truncated cytoplasmic tails into lentiviral vector particles, and the complex interaction of these two proteins during cellular fusion, allows for a superior and more effective transduction of cells. Moreover, these pseudotyped vector particles allow the targeted gene transfer into a given cell type of interest by modifying a mutated and truncated H protein with a single-chain antibody or ligand directed against a cell surface marker of the target cell.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are recombinant CMV vectors which may comprise a heterologous antigen that can repeatedly infect an organism while inducing a CD8+ T cell response to immunodominant epitopes of the heterologous antigen. The CMV vector may comprise a deleterious mutation in the US11 glycoprotein or a homolog thereof.