Abstract: Provided is an improved nitrile hydratase with improved catalytic activity. Also provided are DNA for coding the improved nitrile hydratase, a recombinant vector that contains the DNA, a transformant that contains the recombinant vector, nitrile hydratase acquired from a culture of the transformant, and a method for producing the nitrile hydratase. Also provided is a method for producing an amide compound that uses the culture or a processed product of the culture. The improved nitrile hydratase contains an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 50 (GX1X2X3X4DX5X6R) in a beta subunit, and is characterized in that X4 is an amino acid selected from a group comprising cysteine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, histidine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine, asparagine, proline, glutamine, serine and threonine.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for isolating RNA from the soluble fraction of urine. The methods can be used for detecting the presence or absence of an RNA, or quantifying the amount of an RNA. The methods are useful for diagnosing an individual suspected of having a disease by detecting the level of RNA associated with the disease in the soluble fraction of urine. The methods are also useful for prognosing an individual diagnosed with a disease by detecting the level of RNA associated with the disease in the soluble fraction of urine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genomic analysis. In particular, the present invention provides methods and compositions for mapping genomic interactions.

Abstract: The invention provides for a method for selectively reducing the expression of a mutant mRNA and/or protein having an expanded nucleotide repeat relative to a wild-type mRNA, comprising contacting a cell with an antisense oligonucleotide of sufficient length and complementarity to the expanded nucleotide repeat. More particularly it relates to selectively reducing the expression of mutant Huntington protein associated with Huntington's disease. The antisense oligonucleotide comprising either a nucleotide or a repeated three nucleotide sequence as defined in the claims.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, compositions, vectors, and kits comprising an antagonist of a truncated TrkC or a truncated TrkB. Also described herein are methods of treating and/or preventing an otic disease or condition associated with an elevated expression level of a truncated TrkC or truncated TrkB isoform.

Abstract: The invention provides immune regulatory oligonucleotides (IRO) as antagonist of TLRs and methods of use thereof. These IROs have unique sequences that inhibit TLR-mediated signaling in response to a TLR ligand or TLR agonist. The methods may have use in the prevention and treatment of cancer, an autoimmune disorder, airway inflammation, inflammatory disorders, infectious disease, skin disorders, allergy, asthma or a disease caused by a pathogen.

Abstract: Materials and methods are provided which allowed for increased expression of a transfected gene of interest in a recombinant host cell.

Abstract: Provided is a separatome-based peptide, polypeptide, and protein expression and purification platform based on the juxtaposition of the binding properties of host cell genomic peptides, polypeptides, and proteins with the characteristics and location of the corresponding genes on the host cell chromosome of E. coli. The separatome-based protein expression and purification platform quantitatively describes and identifies priority deletions, modifications, or inhibitions of certain gene products to increase chromatographic separation efficiency, defined as an increase in column capacity, column selectivity, or both, with emphasis on the former. Moreover, the separatome-based protein expression and purification platform provides a computerized knowledge tool that, given separatome data and a target recombinant peptide, polypeptide, or protein, intuitively suggests strategies facilitating efficient product purification.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of one or more cas genes for modulating resistance in a cell against a target nucleic acid or a transcription product thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to yeast cells modified to express a functional type I RuBisCO enzyme, and a class II phosphoribulokinase. The expression of these enzymes recreates a Calvin cycle in said yeasts in order to enable the yeasts to use carbon dioxide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for improving the efficiency of Agrobacterium- and Rhizobium-mediated plant cell transformation by use of additional transformation enhancer sequences, such as overdrive or TSS sequences, operably linked to a T-DNA border sequence on a recombinant construct that comprises T-DNA.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for design and synthesis of siRNA libraries, siRNA libraries produced thereby, siRNA molecules, and uses thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having beta-xylosidase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: Methods for producing antibodies are provided and include transforming a plant cell with a nucleic acid encoding a heavy chain of an antibody, a light chain of an antibody, and a linking polypeptide connecting the heavy chain to the light chain. The nucleic acid is then expressed in the plant cell, such that, upon expression the linking polypeptide is cleaved to separate the heavy chain from the light chain. Isolated nucleic acid sequences, expression vectors, and transformed plant cells useful for producing the antibodies are also provided. Further provided are methods for treating a viral infection and include the steps of obtaining an antibody produced by the above-described methods and then administering the antibody to a subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of increasing resistance against fungal pathogens of the order Pucciniales, preferably the family Phacopsoraceae, in plants and/or plant cells. This is achieved by increasing the expression of an RLK2 protein or fragment thereof in a plant, plant part and/or plant cell in comparison to wild type plants, wild type plant parts and/or wild type plant cells. Furthermore, the invention relates to transgenic plants, plant parts, and/or plant cells having an increased resistance against fungal pathogens, in particular, pathogens of the order Pucciniales, preferably the family Phacopsoraceae, and to recombinant expression vectors comprising a sequence that is identical or homologous to a sequence encoding an RLK2 protein.

Abstract: There are disclosed nucleic acid vectors for use in both gram positive and gram negative bacteria. In embodiments the vectors comprise a prokaryotic expression cassette and in embodiments comprise a eukaryotic expression cassette. In embodiments the vectors encode a hybrid protein comprising a DNA binding domain, a CPP domain and a signal sequence.

Abstract: The invention provides delivery methods and compositions for antiviral therapeutics. Methods and compositions are provided for targeted delivery of antiviral therapeutics into cells of interest using, for example, viral vectors such as adenovirus, AAV, and replication incompetent HSV. These and other delivery systems can be used as vehicles to deliver DNA vectors encoding a nuclease or a cell-killing gene. These delivery methods can also be used to deliver naked DNA or RNA, protein products, plasmids containing a promoter that is active only in a latent viral state which drives a cell-killing gene, or other therapeutic agents.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are engineered cleavage half-domains; fusion polypeptides comprising these engineered cleavage half-domains; polynucleotides encoding the engineered cleavage half-domains and fusion proteins; and cells comprising said polynucleotides and/or fusion proteins. Also described are methods of using these polypeptides and polynucleotides, for example for targeted cleavage of a genomic sequence.

Abstract: A surfactant-improved ethanol fermentation method comprises adding a nonionic surfactant as a protection agent of yeast cell into a fermentation culture medium, therefore greatly improving survival rate of yeast cells in very high gravity ethanol fermentation liquid and endpoint ethanol concentration. The present invention not only improves the cyclic utilization efficiency of the yeast cells, but also achieves the synchronous recycling of the surfactant and a pH adjusting agent. The process of adding the surfactant during VHG fermentation is simple, which can reduce the consumption of water and energy, effectively reduce the fuel ethanol production cost, and improve the fermentation efficiency.

Abstract: Processes for producing ethanol comprise saccharifying cellulosic material with a cellulolytic enzyme composition and fermenting the saccharified cellulosic material with a fermenting microorganism to produce ethanol. The fermenting organism is Saccharomyces cerevisiae CIBTS1260 (deposited under Accession No. NRRL Y-50973 at the Agricultural Research Service Culture Collection (NRRL), Illinois 61604 U.S.A.) or a fermenting organism that has properties that the same or about the same as that of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CIBTS1260).

Abstract: A yeast cell having a reduced level of activity of NAD dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) has at least one exogenous gene encoding NADP dependent GAPDH and/or has up-regulation of at least one endogenous gene expressing NADP dependent GAPDH, wherein combined expression of the enzymes NADP dependent GAPDH, PDC, ALD, ACS, ACC* and MCR in said host cell increases metabolic flux towards 3-HP via malonyl-CoA compared to an otherwise similar yeast cell lacking said genetic modification.

Abstract: Recombinant yeast cells contain a reductive TCA pathway from phosphoenolpyruvate or pyruvate to succinate. At least one metabolic step in the pathway includes a reaction of NADPH to produce NADP+. The yeast cell contains at least one exogenous NADPH-dependent gene in the pathway from phosphoenolpyruvate or pyruvate to succinate, preferably an NADPH-dependent malate dehydrogensase or fumarate reducase gene (or both).

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a fuel, in particular a liquid fuel, or another organic product, from a carbon-based matter feedstock, comprising the following steps: a/ gasification of the carbon-based matter feedstock in a first reactor, termed gasifier (1), b/ downstream of the gasification, fermentation of the synthesis gas produced according to step a/, by means of microorganisms, water and nutrients in a second reactor, termed fermenter (2), c/ recovery, downstream of the fermenter, of the microorganisms and of the water, d/ injection of at least a part of the recovered microorganisms and, where appropriate, of at least a part of the recovered water at the inlet (10) of the gasifier.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gene encoding a protein having ?-ketoacyl-ACP synthase activity having at least 60% or more identity with the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, the protein encoded by the gene, a method of producing a transformant by transforming a host with the gene, a transformant that is transformed with the gene, and a method of producing a lipid, especially, a lipid containing a medium chain fatty acid or ester thereof, by culturing the transformed host that expresses the gene. In some embodiments, the transformant also has a gene encoding an acyl-ACP thioesterase.

Abstract: Provided is a means for producing an acetylated sphingoid base using modified microorganism in the genus Starmerella, particularly Starmerella bombicola. A method for producing an acetylated sphingoid base comprising culturing a microorganism in the genus Starmerella to which a xenogeneic gene encoding a polypeptide having an activity to acetylate a sphingoid base is introduced.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides engineered polypeptides having imine reductase activity, polynucleotides encoding the engineered imine reductases, host cells capable of expressing the engineered imine reductases, and methods of using these engineered polypeptides with a range of ketone and amine substrate compounds to prepare secondary and tertiary amine product compounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having catalase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: Recombinant microorganisms, plants, and plant cells are disclosed that have been engineered to have reduced levels or activity of one or more alcohol dehydrogenases or aldehyde reductase thereby increasing the production of vanillin or vanillin beta-D-glucoside.

Abstract: Provided is a method for measuring a blood component amount that can sufficiently and properly correct the blood component amount by measuring an Hct value with high accuracy and high reliability, and a sensor and a measuring device that are used in the method. A method for measuring a blood component amount uses a biosensor to calculate a blood component amount in blood. The biosensor includes the following: a first electrode system having a first working electrode and a first counter electrode; a second electrode system having a second working electrode and a second counter electrode; and a reagent portion arranged in a form that covers at least a part of the first electrode system, but does not cover the second working electrode.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of diagnosing constipation and constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome by screening for the presence of abnormally high levels of methane and/or methanogenic organisms in a subject.

Abstract: Provided is a blood culture treatment technology, including a novel treatment technology of performing pretreatment of a positive blood culture to effectively remove foreign substances such as cells, etc., thereby omitting a subculturing process on a solid medium and realizing rapid selection of antimicrobial agents for patients. The pretreatment method of a positive blood culture sample for bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing includes preparing a first liquid culture by centrifuging a portion of a liquid medium including the positive blood culture sample, washing a precipitate thus centrifuged with a solution including sodium chloride, and then suspending the precipitate in the solution including sodium chloride, and preparing a second liquid culture by passing the first liquid culture thus prepared through a pretreatment filter including a mesh structure.

Abstract: Methods, compositions, and kits are provided for quantifying a number or frequency of double stranded breaks in the genome of a cell or in the genomes of a population of cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions, apparatuses and methods for detecting one or more nucleic acid targets present in a sample. Methods of the invention include utilizing two or more ligation probes that reversibly bind a target nucleic acid in close proximity to each other and possess complementary reactive ligation moieties. When such probes have bound to the target in the proper orientation, they are able to undergo a spontaneous chemical ligation reaction that yields a ligation product that is directly detected or that is amplified to produce amplicons that are then detected. The present invention also provides methods to stabilize sample RNA so that degradation does not significantly affect the results of the analysis.

Abstract: FRET-labeled compounds are provided for use in analytical reactions. In certain embodiments, FRET-labeled nucleotide analogs are used in place of naturally occurring nucleoside triphosphates or other analogs in analytical reactions comprising nucleic acids, for example, template-directed nucleic acid synthesis, DNA sequencing, RNA sequencing, single-base identification, hybridization, binding assays, and other analytical reactions.

Abstract: The invention relates to carrier screening and methods for describing a structural variant, such as a large rearrangement or chromosomal abnormality, in a person's genome using probes that are designed to determine the person's genetic sequence and reveal substitution mutations and small structural variants. Identifying a structural variant may include exposing a nucleic acid to a plurality of probes. Each probe has a linked pair of targeting arms designed to hybridize upstream and downstream of a target in a genome. The method includes hybridizing two of the probes to the nucleic acid and attaching the two probes together to create an inter-probe product as well as detecting the inter-probe product and reporting a structural variant of the genome in the nucleic acid.

Abstract: A method of forming a polymer matrix array includes applying an aqueous solution into wells of a well array. The aqueous solution includes polymer precursors. The method further includes applying an immiscible fluid over the well array to isolate the aqueous solution within the wells of the well array and polymerizing the polymer precursors isolated in the wells of the well array to form the polymer matrix array. An apparatus includes a sensor array, a well array corresponding to the sensor array, and an array of polymer matrices disposed in the well array.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for amplifying a nucleic acid. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for amplifying a nucleic acid in a light irradiation dependent manner under a substantially isothermal condition using a photo-responsive nucleic acid.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of amplifying a target nucleic acid utilizing duplex primer. The first strand of the primer comprises a random nucleotide sequence of about 6 to about 9 nucleotides in length that is able to hybridize to the target nucleic acid and a tag sequence. The second strand of the primer comprises a sequence complementary to the tag sequence allowing the primer to form a duplex and the ability to bind the tag sequence of the product nucleic acid for further amplification. The resulting nucleic acid produced contains tag sequences on both the 3?- and 5?-termini.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of nucleic acid analyte detection by PCR. In particular, methods and kits for the detection of a plurality of nucleic acid analytes and the generation of kinetic signatures are provided. Further provided are methods and kits of nested PCR and PCR using limiting primers.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a method for analyzing a target nucleic acid, by which the target nucleic acid can be analyzed rapidly and easily. In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for analyzing a target nucleic acid in a sample, including the step of: analyzing the target nucleic acid in the sample by bringing the sample into contact with a label and with a primer or probe that can hybridize to the target nucleic acid. The primer or probe is immobilized on a solid phase. The label does not emit light when the primer or probe does not hybridize to the target nucleic acid, whereas the label emits light when the primer or probe has hybridized to the target nucleic acid. The analysis is carried out by detecting the light emitted from the label.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods for determining antigen-specific T cells. In some embodiments, methods of the invention may be implemented by the steps of reacting under interaction conditions one or more antigens with T cells in a plurality of subsets of a tissue sample, such as peripheral blood; sorting antigen-interacting T cells from other T cells; separately sequencing for each subset recombined nucleic acid encoding a segment of a TCR chain from a sample of T cells prior to exposure to antigen and from a sample of T cells isolated based on their interaction with antigen, thereby forming a clonotype profile for the former sample and the latter sample for each subset; and identifying as antigen-specific T cells those T cells associated with a clonotype whose frequency increases in the latter sample relative to its frequency in the former sample.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for the detection and treatment of T1D are provided.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to novel predictive methods and personalized therapies for treating asthma. Specifically, this disclosure relates to methods of treating a patient having asthma by selectively administering an IL-13 antagonist, on the basis of that patient being genetically predisposed to have a favorable response to treatment with the IL-13 antagonist. Also disclosed herein are transmittable forms of information, diagnostic methods, and kits useful in predicting the likelihood that a patient having asthma will respond to treatment with an IL-13 antagonist.

Abstract: The present invention relates to oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes, as well as other genes, involved in prostate cancer and their expression products, as well as derivatives and analogs thereof. Provided are therapeutic compositions and methods of detecting and treating cancer, including prostate and other related cancers. Also provided are methods of diagnosing and/or prognosing prostate cancer by determining the expression level of at least one prostate cancer-cell-specific gene, including, for example, the ERG gene or the LTF gene alone, or in combination with at least one of the AMACR gene and the DD3 gene.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for using the expression levels and subcellular localization of non-coding mitochondrial RNAs to select individuals or subpopulation of individuals for treatment with an anticancer therapy for multiple myeloma. Additional methods provided herein are useful for determining whether an individual in remission for multiple myeloma following successful treatment will be likely to suffer a relapse as well as to identify individuals who have suffered a relapse of multiple myeloma.

Abstract: The invention encompasses methods and kits used to detect biomarkers that may be used to predict disease outcome in adrenocortical carcinoma patients.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for identifying maize plants that having decreased MRCV. The methods use molecular markers to identify and to select plants with decreased MRCV or to identify and deselect plants with decreased MRCV. Maize plants generated by the methods of the invention are also a feature of the invention.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to human biology discoveries and therapeutic and diagnostic compositions and methods based thereon. More particularly, the invention relates to human homeobox gene VentX and its control of macrophage terminal differentiation and activation, and related therapeutic and diagnostic compositions and methods of use, in particular in connection with inflammatory diseases.

Abstract: Operation of a cane preparation unit is disclosed which can include providing a working range for at least one operating variable for a plurality of carriers of a cane preparation unit, estimating energy consumed corresponding to a first plurality of set points for the at least one operating variable, selecting one or more first set points corresponding to reducing (e.g., minimizing) energy consumed for the at least one operating variable as use set points, and operating the cane preparation unit at the use set points.

Abstract: A high-strength steel sheet of the present invention is a steel sheet satisfying a predetermined component composition. A metal structure of the steel sheet is composed of polygonal ferrite, high-temperature region generated bainite, low-temperature region generated bainite and retained austenite each having a predetermined area percent, and a distribution using each average IQ of predetermined crystal grains determined by electron backscatter diffraction satisfies Equations (1) and (2) below. According to the present invention, a high-strength steel sheet having excellent ductility and low-temperature toughness can be realized even at a tensile strength of 780 MPa or more. (IQave?IQmin)/(IQmax?IQmin)?0.40??(1) (?IQ)/(IQmax?IQmin)?0.