Abstract: The invention provides genetically modified cyanobacterial cells that are capable of utilizing phosphite as a primary phosphorus source, and can out-compete contaminant organisms for certain forms of phosphorus more effectively.

Abstract: A synthetic nucleic acid which encodes a protein wherein at least one optimal or non-optimal codon in a wild type nucleic acid encoding the protein has been replaced respectively with one or more non-optimal codons or optimal codons encoding the same amino acid.

Abstract: A light funnel collimator has a central lens surface and a back reflecting surface, shaped to provide a wider background beam and a narrower hotspot beam within but off-center of the wider beam. One of the beams is on-axis of the collimator, and the other beam is off-axis. The reflector is at least partly asymmetrical relative to the axis, and provides or contributes to the off-axis beam.

Abstract: This disclosure provides methods of downregulating or eliminating gene expression of one or more Dynamic Influencer of Gene expression (DIG) and/or one or more DIG-like (DIL) sequences in plants and plant cells, as well as constructs and compositions useful in such methods. Such recombinant plants can have decreased abscisic acid (ABA) sensitivity, decreased salt sensitivity, or both.

Abstract: Methods and materials for modulating low-nitrogen tolerance levels in plants are disclosed. For example, nucleic acids encoding low nitrogen tolerance-modulating polypeptides are disclosed as well as methods for using such nucleic acids to transform plant cells. Also disclosed are plants having increased low-nitrogen tolerance levels and plant products produced from plants having increased low-nitrogen tolerance levels.

Abstract: Methods of increasing the resistance of plants, in particular soybeans, to nematodes, in particular soybean cyst nematodes, are provided herein. The methods include increasing the expression of Glyma18g02580, Glyma18g02590 and/or Glyma18g2610 in cells of a plant and in particular in root cells of a plant to increase the resistance of the plant and plant cells to nematodes. The methods include increasing the expression using constitutive promoters or by increasing the copy number of the polynucleotides. Constructs for expressing these polypeptides, transgenic cells, transgenic plants and methods of generating the same are also provided. Methods of screening plant cells for resistance or susceptibility to nematodes are also provided.

Abstract: Provided are nucleic acid sequences, recombinant adeno-associated viral particles, compositions, and methods related to treating cone monochromacies, such as blue cone monochromacy (BCM). Specifically, the nucleic acid sequences, recombinant adeno-associated viral particles, compositions, and methods involve use of an M-opsin gene operably linked to a cone-specific promoter. Further disclosed is the sequence of a cone-specific PR2.1 promoter.

Abstract: Described herein are vectors, such as adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors, and recombinant AAV expressing Smad7. The disclosed AAV vectors and rAAV can be used for therapeutic applications in the treatment and amelioration of muscle wasting, cardiac and/or skeletal muscle wasting associated with cancer cachexia.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of generating a stable producer cell line. The generation of stable producer cell lines, such as those provided in accordance with the present invention, increases the reproducibility and ease of creating high titer lentiviral stocks while easing biosafety concerns and the variation in expressed envelope proteins defines the tropism of the generated virus. The present disclosure also provides for a novel lentiviral transfer vector plasmid.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for enhancing the efficiency of gene editing by timing the expression and activity of a nuclease to correspond with availability of a repair template. Compositions and methods for temporally regulating the duration of nuclease activity, and methods of selectively preventing nuclease expression during viral vector production, are also provided.

Abstract: Compositions and methods concern the sequence modification of an endogenous genomic DNA region. Certain aspects relate to a method for site-specific sequence modification of a target genomic DNA region in cells comprising: contacting the cells with an activating composition; transfecting the cells with a transfection composition comprising (a) donor DNA and (b) a DNA digesting agent; wherein the donor DNA comprises: (i) a homologous region comprising nucleic acid sequence homologous to the target genomic DNA region; and (ii) a sequence modification region; and wherein the genomic DNA sequence is modified specifically at the target genomic DNA region.

Abstract: A method of producing a population of differentiated cells comprising: a) inducing differentiation in a first population of cells by applying an inducer to said cells, b) harvesting microvesicles produced from first population of cells, and c) inducing differentiation in a second population of cells by applying said microvesicles or a derivative thereof to said second population of cells wherein, said first population of cells is autologous to said second population of cells and wherein the inducer applied to said first population of cells is not present in said second population of cells or is only present in trace amounts. Also related methods of producing microvesicles, methods of medical and/or cosmetic treatment and related products and uses.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing ethanol comprising providing biomass, supplying yeast to the biomass, reducing the size of the biomass, fermentation of the biomass at a solid content of above 20%, and distilling the fermented biomass. It also relates to an ethanol producing system comprising biomass providing arrangement, a yeast supplying device for supplying yeast to the biomass, a biomass size reducing device configured to reduce the size of the biomass, a fermentation device configured to ferment the biomass at a solid content of above 20% and a distilling device.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method of reducing undesirable concentrations of microorganisms without the use of man-made antibiotics, comprising the steps of: introducing a quantity of fermentable carbohydrate; sugar or cellulose to an aqueous system; introducing a quantity of desirable microorganism to the aqueous system; introducing at least one acid into the aqueous system, wherein the at least one acid is selected from the group consisting of hops acid, organic acid, or a combination of hops acid and organic acid; and introducing a compound comprised of Lauryl-L-arginine ethyl ester monohydrochloride (LAE) into the aqueous system. The use of LAE as a preservative of distiller's grains and solubles is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to strains of Trichoderma reesei wherein the inducibility of the promoters of the cellulase genes is modified. The expression of cellulases by these strains of T. reesei is induced by the presence of an inducing substrate, said inducing substrate exerting no or little inducing effect on the non-modified strain of T. reesei, while keeping inducibility of the cellulases by their inducing substrate.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a genetically modified fungal cell capable of producing a very long, chain fatty acid (VLCFA) and/or a VLCFA derivative. The genetically modified fungal cell comprises at least one exogenous gene encoding a fatty acyl-CoA reductase, and at least one gene encoding an elongase, and/or at least one gene encoding a fatty acid synthase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a host cell comprising an rhlA gene or an ortholog thereof that is capable of producing hydroxyalkanoyloxy alkanoic acid (HAA) and achieving an HAA concentration of more than 1 g L?1 when cultured. The invention further relates to methods of producing such a host cell and to the use of said host cell for producing HAA. The present invention also relates to methods of producing HAA using said host cell, HAA compositions produced by these methods, as well as methods of producing fatty acid compositions, fatty alcohol compositions, or hydrocarbon compositions comprising producing HAA using said host cell, and fatty acid compositions, fatty alcohol compositions, or hydrocarbon compositions produced by said methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recombinant microorganism, to a method for producing alanine and to the use of the recombinant microorganism for the fermentative production of alanine.

Abstract: The invention relates to recombinant microorganisms and methods for producing acetylated diterpenes, including oxidized and/or acetylated oxidized diterpenes such as forskolin.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are three geneses of proteins herein established to exhibit a fructose to allulose epimerase activity that are useful for production of allulose from fructose at high temperatures and at low pH in the range of 4.5 to 6.0. Two of the three geneses descend phylogenetically from a common ancestral protein defined herein, and these geneses are distinguished from each other by different parental descendant proteins also defined herein. The proteins with high levels of sequence identity to the parental nodes defining from these two geneses generally exhibit higher levels of specific fructose to glucose epimerase activity than prior known fructose to allulose epimerases and exhibit such activity at low pH. A third genus is not defined by phylogenetic origin except by not descending from the same ancestor as the first two geneses but generally exhibit similar levels of fructose to allulose epimerase activities as prior art epimerases described to be useful for fructose to allulose conversion.

Abstract: A composition comprising a polypeptide ligated to an oligonucleotide through a sterol linker. A method of ligating a polypeptide to an oligonucleotide, comprising a polypeptide having a hedgehog steroyl transferse catalytic domain at the C-terminal of the polypeptide with an electrophilic residue, e.g., glycine, between polypeptide and the hedgehog steroyl transferse catalytic domain, and a steroylated oligonucleotide in solution, and permitting a reaction to cleave the hedgehog steroyl transferse catalytic domain from the polypeptide while ligating the steroylated oligonucleotide to the glycine at the C-terminal of the polypeptide. The oligonucleotide may be, for example, a therapeutic, diagnostic, or affinity ligand.

Abstract: A method for recombinantly expressing a macromolecule in a host cell is disclosed which involves culturing a host cell which contains two nucleic acid sequences, i.e., a first nucleic acid sequence encoding a membrane-permeabilizing agent and a second nucleic acid sequence encoding a desired macromolecule under the operative control of an inducible promoter, to a selected cell density that permits accumulation of the agent. Thereafter the host cell is exposed to an environmental condition that induces the agent to disrupt the integrity of the cell membrane without complete lysis of the cell membrane. The host cell thereby allows transport through the membrane of small molecular weight compounds. These resulting host cells are cultured in the presence of a nutrient cocktail that contains components that can transport through the disrupted cell membrane, e.g., an inducing agent that induces the tightly regulated promoter and metabolic requirements that permit expression of the macromolecule.

Abstract: Provided is methods for producing mixtures of antibodies from a single host cell clone, wherein, a nucleic acid sequence encoding a light chain and nucleic acid sequences encoding different heavy chains are expressed in a recombinant host cell. The recombinantly produced antibodies in the mixtures according to the invention suitably comprise identical light chains paired to different heavy chains capable of pairing to the light chain, thereby forming functional antigen-binding domains. Mixtures of the recombinantly produced antibodies are also provided by the invention. Such mixtures can be used in a variety of fields.

Abstract: A flow cell apparatus including a channel plate having a channel recessed into a surface of the channel plate, and a groove recessed into the surface of the channel plate, the groove configured to surround the channel and preferably along a boundary of the channel. The flow cell apparatus further includes a seal shaped and receivable in the groove, a substrate, a backing plate, and a fastening element configured to removably attach the channel plate to the backing plate with the substrate sandwiched between the channel plate and the backing plate to bear the seal against the channel plate with the substrate.

Abstract: Methods for enrichment and detection of pathogens or other microbes in a food, water, wastewater, industrial, pharmaceutical, botanical, environmental samples and other types of samples are provided. Certain aspects provide diluting the sample with liquid enrichment medium at a ratio of sample to diluent between about 1:0.1 to about 1:9 (wt./vol.), or lesser dilution. In particular aspects, a sample is obtained and diluted at a first location, and incubated at an optimal temperature and either tested locally, or sent in a shipping incubator to a second location that may be a remote test location for testing with an assay suitable to detect the pathogen or other microbe. In particular embodiments, no dilution at the first location is required, and optionally minimal additions to adjust intrinsic deficiencies may be made, but the sample is nonetheless incubated during transit to the test location.

Abstract: A method of quantifying ammonia, which method includes: performing a first reaction in which a test liquid containing ammonia is reacted with ATP and L-glutamic acid in the presence of glutamine synthetase to produce ADP; performing a second reaction in which the produced ADP is reacted with glucose in the presence of ADP-dependent hexokinase to produce glucose-6-phosphate; performing a third reaction in which the produced glucose-6-phosphate is reacted with an oxidized NAD compound in the presence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase to produce a reduced NAD compound; and quantifying the reduced NAD compound to quantify ammonia.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for immobilizing nucleic molecule on solid support and to a use of a nucleic acid non-immobilized primer in combination with a nucleic acid primer linked to a solid support in said a method.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes an input port for inputting a particle-containing liquidic samples into the device, a retention member, and a pressure actuator. The retention member is in communication with the input port and is configured to spatially separate particles of the particle-containing liquidic sample from a first portion of the liquid of the particle containing fluidic sample. The pressure actuator recombines at least some of the separated particles with a subset of the first portion of the liquid separated from the particles. The device can also include a lysing chamber that receives the particles and liquid from the retention member. The lysing chamber thermally lyses the particles to release contents thereof.

Abstract: This disclosure provides microwell capsule array devices. The microwell capsule array devices are generally capable of performing one or more sample preparation operations. Such sample preparation operations may be used as a prelude to one more or more analysis operations. For example, a device of this disclosure can achieve physical partitioning and discrete mixing of samples with unique molecular identifiers within a single unit in preparation for various analysis operations. The device may be useful in a variety of applications and most notably nucleic-acid-based sequencing, detection and quantification of gene expression and single-cell analysis.

Abstract: A random access, high-throughput system and method for preparing a biological sample for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing are disclosed. The system includes a nucleic acid isolation/purification apparatus and a PCR apparatus. The nucleic acid isolation/purification apparatus magnetically captures nucleic acid (NA) solids from the biological sample and then suspends the NA in elution buffer solution. The PCR testing apparatus provides multiple cycles of the denaturing, annealing, and elongating thermal cycles. More particularly, the PCR testing apparatus includes a multi-vessel thermal cycler array that has a plurality of single-vessel thermal cyclers that is each individually-thermally-controllable so that adjacent single-vessel thermal cyclers can be heated or cooled to different temperatures corresponding to the different thermal cycles of the respective PCR testing process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to in vivo methods for modeling tumor formation and/or tumor evolution comprising the use of eukaryotic cells in which one or more genetic target locus has been altered by the CRISPR/Cas system, and which cells are transplanted in non-human eukaryote as a model system for tumor formation and tumor evolution. In particular in vivo genetic screening methods for identifying genes involved in tumorigenesis and metastasis are disclosed. The invention further relates to kits and components for practicing the methods, as well as materials obtainable by the methods, in particular tumor and metastasis samples and cells or cell lines derived therefrom. The invention also relates to diagnostic and therapeutic methods derived from the information obtained in the modeling methods.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cocaine aptamer represented by the following chemical formula (CI), R-DNA-L-Fc??(CI) where R represents R1-PO4—(CH2)n1—; R1 is selected from the group consisting of a hydrocarbon group and the derivative thereof; n1 represents a natural number; DNA consists of a gene sequence capable of binding to cocaine; L is a linker represented by -L1-(CH2)n2-L2-; L1 is absent or an optional linker; L2 is absent or an optional linker; n2 represents a natural number; and Fc represents a ferrocene group. The present invention provides a cocaine aptamer capable of detecting cocaine with high sensitivity.

Abstract: This invention provides methods of using labeled nucleotide polyphosphate analogues to detect the identity or presence of a nucleotide at certain positions in nucleic acid sequences with single molecule sensitivity using nanopore detection, nucleotides and primer-conjugated nanopore proteins for use in such methods, and processes for producing such nucleotides and primer-conjugated nanopore proteins.

Abstract: Medical uses and methods are provided for treating cancer using monopolar spindle 1 (MPS1) kinase inhibitors. Methods and uses for selecting MPS1 kinase inhibitors for use in treating cancer in a subject are provided, both in the initial selection of MPS1 kinase inhibitors and for addressing the development of acquired drug resistance that occur in the course of treatment.

Abstract: Ultra-sensitive assays for the detection of mutations, e.g., from blood-based sources of tumor genetic material (circulating tumor cells or plasma), or other settings in which limiting amounts of DNA, e.g., tumor DNA, is available. The assay is exemplified in the estrogen receptor, but is broadly customizable to target mutations in other genes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting a target nucleic acid using a catalytic nucleic acid, which can improve the reaction efficiency of a catalytic nucleic acid and achieve continuous reaction under isothermal conditions. The method for detecting a target nucleic acid includes a reaction step to obtain a first nucleic acid product by hybridizing a first nucleic acid which is a substrate to a first binding site of a catalytic nucleic acid equipped with an active site having a catalytic action; and a detection step for detecting at least one of the first nucleic acid product or unreacted first nucleic acids, wherein, the hybridization is carried out in the presence of a cationic comb-type polymer.

Abstract: A method is presented that enables the spatial mapping of nucleic acids of tissue samples with high resolution and without sacrificing the degree of multiplexing that is available from next-generation sequencing. The method is based on the application of patterns of barcoded oligonucleotides probes onto predefined locations in a region of interest in a tissue sample. Every nucleic acid analyzed can be allocated to a certain position inside the sample based on the barcode. Various printing technologies can be used and different ways of patterning can be employed, like a regular array with a certain pitch or alternatively an object-based patterning with defined regions of interest without shape constraints.

Abstract: Nucleic acids sequences that can be used for nucleic acid amplification, for example quantitative nucleic acid amplification, are provided herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for detecting the presence or absence of a nucleic acid variant in a target region. These methods include amplifying the target region with a forward primer and a reverse primer in the presence of a selector blocker. The selector blocker includes a sequence complementary to the target region in the absence of the nucleic acid variant. The methods further include detecting amplification of the target region where amplification of the target region indicates the presence of the nucleic acid variant in the target region. The nucleic acid variant can include deletions, mutations or insertions.

Abstract: Described herein are improved methods, compositions and kits for next generation sequencing (NGS). The methods, compositions and kits described herein enable phasing of two or more nucleic acid sequences in a sample, i.e. determining whether the nucleic acid sequences (which can comprise regions of sequence variation) are located on the same chromosome and/or the same chromosomal fragment. Phasing information can be obtained by performing multiple, successive sequencing reactions from the same immobilized nucleic acid template. The methods, compositions and kits provided herein can be useful, for example, for haplotyping, SNP phasing, or for determining downstream exons in RNA-seq.

Abstract: A method of nucleic acid sequencing. The method can include the steps of (a) providing a polymerase tethered to a solid support charge sensor; (b) providing one or more nucleotides, whereby the presence of the nucleotide can be detected by the charge sensor; and (c) detecting incorporation of the nucleotide into a nascent strand complementary to a template nucleic acid.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions, methods, systems, and devices for polynucleotide processing. Such polynucleotide processing may be useful for a variety of applications, including polynucleotide sequencing.

Abstract: This invention intends to develop many DNA markers for a plant of the genus Fragaria and detect powdery mildew resistance with high precision by using the many DNA markers. The marker associated with powdery mildew resistance in a plant of the genus Fragaria comprises a continuous nucleic acid region sandwiched between the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 and the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 19 in the chromosome of the plant of the genus Fragaria.

Abstract: Methods and reagents for determining a subject's predisposition for refractive error based on the presence of opsin gene exon 3 splicing defects are provided. In one aspect, the invention provides methods for determining a subject's predisposition for refractive error comprising: (a) testing a biological sample obtained from the subject to determine exon 3 splicing defects in one or more opsin gene; and (b) correlating the exon 3 splicing defects in the one or more opsin gene with a predisposition for refractive error.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to compositions and methods for diagnosing autism spectrum disorders. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a method for diagnosing presence or increased risk of developing an autism spectrum disorder in a subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the fields of molecular biology and growth factor regulation. The invention concerns methods and compositions useful for diagnosing and treating human lung cancer associated with mutated c-CBL.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a kit for detecting PIK3CA gene mutation, and this kit can be used to detect cancer-related PIK3CA gene mutation. The said kit comprises: (1) the internal reference detection reagent, which includes the internal reference gene specific primers, internal reference gene specific probes and dNTP solution; (2) the PIK3CA mutation detection reagent, which includes the PIK3CA gene mutant type specific primers, PIK3CA gene mutant type specific probes, internal control gene specific primers, internal control gene specific probes and dNTP solution; (3) the Taq DNA polymerase; and (4) the PIK3CA positive quality control.

Abstract: The invention pertains to increased LINC00473 as an indicator of a cancer involving loss or reduction in LKB1 function. LINC00473 is also provided as a therapeutic target for treating a cancer involving loss or reduction in LKB1 function. The invention provides a method of identifying a subject as having a cancer involving loss or reduction in LKB1 function based on the level of LINC00473 in the test sample obtained from the subject and administering an effective amount of a LINC00473 inhibitor to the subject to treat the cancer. The LINC00473 inhibitor can be a small-inhibitory RNA, short hairpin RNA, bifunctional RNA, antisense oligonucleotide, ribozyme, deoxyribozyme, aptamer or small molecule inhibitor. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a LINC00473 inhibitor is also provided for the treatment of a cancer involving loss or reduction in LKB1 function.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are biomarkers related to WNT signal transduction pathway, as well as methods and kits comprising the same. Further, the present disclosure relates to the use of the biomarkers in patient selection, companion diagnostics, and treatment of cancer.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems that uses GlycA concentration in biosamples to evaluate risks of CRC incidence and mortality.