Abstract: The invention is directed toward mutant, non-wild-type organophosphorus acid anhydrolases (OPPAs) having three or more site mutations, methods of production, kits and methods of use to effectively degrade toxic V-agent type chemical compounds such as VX, VR, CVX, and VM.

Abstract: Various aspects and embodiments herein relate to recombinant proteins with at least one protease recognition sequence, wherein the recombinant proteins can be inactivated by a cognate protease and methods of preparing such proteins. In some embodiments, recombinant phosphoglucose isomerase (Pgi) proteins are provided. In other embodiments, recombinant phosphotransacetylase (Pta) proteins are provided. In yet other embodiments, recombinant transketolase A (TktA) proteins are provided.

Abstract: Novel hybrid polymers are disclosed that have a structure represented by the following formula I: wherein Abiotic oligomer, Polypeptide, X, Y, and R1 are as described herein. The methods to prepare the hybrid polymers via novel oxazolidinyl compounds are also described.

Abstract: A method of culturing cells or tissue comprises: (a) disposing cells or tissue in the cavity of a deformable cell culture container; and (b) applying synchronized chronic electrical stimulation and stretch to the cells or tissue in the deformable culture cell container, wherein the synchronized chronic electrical stimulation is applied in the form of pulses at a frequency of from 0.010-99 Hz and a duration of from 0.4 to 24 ms; and wherein stretch cycles are applied to the cells or tissue at a frequency of from 0.010 to 15 Hz.

Abstract: In accordance with the present disclosure, exposure of a sample to one or more electric pulses via capacitive coupling is described. In certain embodiments, the sample may be a biological sample to be treated or modified using the pulsed electric fields. In certain embodiments, the electric pulses may be delivered to a load using capacitive coupling. In other embodiments, the electric pulses may be bipolar pulses.

Abstract: This disclosure provides, among other things, a method of combining nucleic acid fragments, comprising: (a) providing two double-stranded DNA molecules with a common sequence, wherein the common sequence is at the end of each molecule; (b) nicking one strand in the common sequence of both molecules at a respective nicked site; (c) moderately denaturing both molecules to remove a single-stranded fragment from the nicked site to one end of each molecule, wherein the single-stranded fragment includes the common sequence in part or in whole, resulting in an overhanging sequence in each molecule, and the overhanging sequences in both molecules are complementary to each other; (d) allowing the overhanging sequences of both molecules to anneal to each other, and ligating the molecules. Alternative ways for performing the method are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of screening libraries of chimeric molecules comprising ribotoxic polypeptides, where screening is based on the interim reduction or elimination of ribotoxicity and the methods can identify cytotoxic molecules, each comprising a binding region and a ribotoxic region which jointly possess a desired assay-selectable characteristic, such as, e.g., binding to a target biomolecule, binding to a target cell, and/or cellular internalization.

Abstract: In an illustrative embodiment, automated multi-module cell editing instruments are provided to automate multiple edits into nucleic acid sequences inside one or more cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for generating RNA Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) transfected T cells. The RNA-engineered T cells can be used in adoptive therapy to treat cancer.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention comprise methods, systems, and compositions to selectively induce, whether in vitro or in vivo, the neuronal differentiation of multipotent stromal cells through the application of microRNAs, including but not limited to miRNA-124, miRNA-137 and/or miRNA-9* expression products of those miRNAs, and molecules and compositions containing functional elements of those miRNAs. Some embodiments of the invention also comprise the therapeutic administration and use of such induced cells to treat mammalian injuries and diseases, including but not limited to, nervous system injuries or diseases that may otherwise result in decreased cell or system function.

Abstract: Provided herein are double stranded nucleic acid molecules, compositions comprising same and methods of use thereof for the treatment of a subject wherein expression of DDIT4 is associated with the etiology or progression of a disease or disorder in the subject. The compounds are preferably chemically synthesized and modified dsRNA molecules.

Abstract: Antisense oligonucleotides target the mutation in intron 26 of the CEP290 gene and reduce inclusion of the aberrant exon into the CEP290 mRNA. The oligonucleotides include no more than 3 consecutive guanosines, have no more than 60% guanosine nucleobases, include at most one CpG sequence, and/or do not have the potential to form a hairpin comprising 3 or more consecutive complementary base pairs.

Abstract: This invention encompasses compounds and compositions useful in methods for medical therapy, in general, for inhibiting expression of a TTR gene in a subject. The compounds have a first strand and a second strand, the monomers comprising UNA monomers and nucleic acid monomers, and the compounds are targeted to a sequence of a TTR gene.

Abstract: Described herein is a previously unknown function of XBP1 in controlling anti-tumor immunity. It is shown that inhibiting XBP1 in tumor-associated dendritic cells inhibits tumor growth and induces protective anti-tumor immune responses.

Abstract: An antisense molecule capable of binding to a selected target site to induce exon skipping in the dystrophin gene, as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 to 214.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an oligomer conjugate for use in the treatment of a viral disorder. The oligomer conjugate comprises: a) an oligomer capable of modulating a target sequence in HBx and/or HBsAg of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) to treat said viral disorder; and b) a carrier component capable of delivering the oligomer to the liver which is linked, preferably conjugated, to the oligomer.

Abstract: The invention pertains to amphiphilic dendrimers complexed with Bcl3 siRNA. The amphiphilic dendriplexes described herein are biodegradable and exhibit enhanced siRNA delivery. The amphiphilic dendriplexes containing Bcl3 siRNA inhibit cancer cell/tumor growth in vitro and in vivo without toxicity. Accordingly, an embodiment of the invention provides a method of treating a cancer, particularly, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, by administering to a subject in need thereof, a therapeutic amount of amphiphilic dendrimers complexed with Bcl3 siRNA. Pharmaceutical compositions containing the amphiphilic dendrimers complexed with Bcl3 siRNA are also provided.

Abstract: Certain disclosed oligomers induce exon skipping during processing of myostatin pre-mRNA. The oligomers may be in a vector or encoded by the vector. The vector is used for inducing exon skipping during processing of myostatin pre-mRNA. A therapeutically effective amount of the oligomer may be administered to a subject patient such that exon skipping during processing of myostatin pre-mRNA is induced. The administration to a subject may be used in order to increase or maintain muscle mass, or slowing degeneration of muscle mass in the subject. The administration to a subject may ameliorate muscle wasting conditions, such as muscular dystrophy. Examples of such muscular dystrophies which may be so treated include Becker's muscular dystrophy, congenital muscular dystrophy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, distal muscular dystrophy, Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, myotonic muscular dystrophy, and oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy.

Abstract: Efficient sequence specific gene silencing is possible through the use of siRNA technology. Be selecting particular siRNAs by rational design, one can maximize the generation of an effective gene silencing reagent, as well as methods for silencing genes. Methods compositions, and kits generated through rational design of siRNAs are disclosed, including those directed to the nucleotide sequences for COX-2.

Abstract: Compositions, kits and methods for treating cancer in a subject in need thereof are disclosed involving one or more genes the suppression of which renders the cancer chemosensitive and/or radiosensitive.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns compositions and methods for targeting peptides, polypeptides, and proteins to plastids of plastid-containing cells. In some embodiments, the disclosure concerns chloroplast transit peptides that may direct a polypeptide to a plastid, and nucleic acid molecules encoding the same. In some embodiments, the disclosure concerns methods for producing a transgenic plant material (e.g., a transgenic plant) comprising a chloroplast transit peptide, as well as plant materials produced by such methods, and plant commodity products produced therefrom.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel chemically inducible plant viral amplicon (CMViva) expression system that permits controllable, high level expression of foreign genes in plant hosts. This system employs agro-infiltration of plants to provide a transient production of a protein of interest, such as a human blood protein. This system provides a major advantage over existing plant expression systems because it allows for consistent expression of foreign or heterologous proteins in plant hosts.

Abstract: The invention provides recombinant DNA molecules and constructs, and their nucleotide sequences, useful for modulating gene expression in plants. The invention also provides transgenic plants, plant cells, plant parts, and seeds comprising a recombinant DNA molecule comprising a DNA molecule operably linked to a heterologous transcribable DNA molecule, as well as methods of their use.

Abstract: The application describes plants, plant cells, and seeds that express WRINKLED1 transcription factors and/or 14-3-3 proteins that are useful for increasing production of oils in plants and seeds. Also described are expression systems and cassettes that encode and express such WRINKLED1 transcription factors and/or 14-3-3 proteins.

Abstract: Compositions having pesticidal activity and methods for their use are provided. Compositions include isolated and recombinant polypeptides having pesticidal activity, recombinant and synthetic nucleic acid molecules encoding the polypeptides, DNA constructs and vectors comprising the nucleic acid molecules, host cells comprising the vectors, and antibodies to the polypeptides. Nucleotide sequences encoding the polypeptides can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in organisms of interest. The compositions and methods provided are useful for producing organisms with enhanced pest resistance or tolerance. Transgenic plants and seeds comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes a pesticidal protein of the invention are also provided. Such plants are resistant to insects and other pests. Methods are provided for producing the various polypeptides disclosed herein, and for using those polypeptides for controlling or killing a pest.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to populations of microvesicles containing or otherwise associated with viral particles, methods of producing these purified populations, and methods of using these purified populations in a variety of diagnostic, therapeutic and/or prophylactic indications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new insertion sites useful for the integration of exogenous sequences into an intergenic region (IGR) of a vaccinia virus genome, where the IGR is located between or is flanked by two adjacent open reading frames (ORFs) of the vaccinia virus genome, and where the ORFs correspond to conserved genes, and to related plasmid vectors useful to insert exogenous DNA into the genome of a vaccinia virus, and further to recombinant vaccinia viruses comprising an exogenous sequence inserted into said new insertion site as a medicine or vaccine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of disease therapy. More specifically, it relates to a retargeted herpesvirus having a heterologous polypeptide fused to glycoprotein H, wherein the polypeptide targets diseased cells. It also relates to a nucleic acid comprising the genome of the herpesvirus of the invention, a vector comprising this nucleic acid and a cell comprising the nucleic acid or the vector. It further relates to killing cells using the herpesvirus of the invention and to methods for growing it in vitro.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a DNA-targeting RNA that comprises a targeting sequence and, together with a modifying polypeptide, provides for site-specific modification of a target DNA and/or a polypeptide associated with the target DNA. The present disclosure further provides site-specific modifying polypeptides. The present disclosure further provides methods of site-specific modification of a target DNA and/or a polypeptide associated with the target DNA The present disclosure provides methods of modulating transcription of a target nucleic acid in a target cell, generally involving contacting the target nucleic acid with an enzymatically inactive Cas9 polypeptide and a DNA-targeting RNA. Kits and compositions for carrying out the methods are also provided. The present disclosure provides genetically modified cells that produce Cas9; and Cas9 transgenic non-human multicellular organisms.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing short carbon chain weak organic acids (e.g., acetic acid) from a gas stream rich in carbon dioxide. The systems include a liquid-gas contact unit a flue gas desulfurization unit), and a bacterial strain disposed in the liquid-gas contact unit. The bacterial strain reduces a concentration of carbon dioxide in the gas stream, and produces one or more organic acids (e.g., acetic acid, butyric acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, or combinations thereof). Related methods include providing a gas stream rich in carbon dioxide, introducing the gas stream into a liquid-gas contact unit, preparing an inoculum comprising a bacterial strain adapted to produce organic acid(s) from the carbon in the gas stream, and inoculating the liquid-gas contact unit with first amount of the inoculum such that the bacteria therein consume carbon dioxide from the gas stream, producing the organic acid(s).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing chiral ?-nitro alcohol compounds. The invention relates in particular to an (R)-selective cupin-nitroaldolase, which enantioselectively can catalyze the Henry reaction, wherein an aldehyde or ketone compound is converted to the corresponding ?-nitro alcohol compound in the presence of a nitroalkane compound and a cupin-nitroaldolase.

Abstract: The invention relates to recombinant microorganisms and methods for producing steviol glycosides and steviol glycoside precursors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for preventing incorporation of norleucine into proteins during recombinant protein production in bacteria. The present invention also provides microorganism host cells and nucleic acid molecules for use with the methods and compositions provided herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transformed mammalian cell including a heterologous nucleic acid sequence (i) encoding a polypeptide including the catalytic domain of ST6Gal1 or of ST6Gal2 and, optionally, at least one nucleic acid sequence (ii) encoding a therapeutic protein including at least one glycosylation site, the transformed mammalian cell expressing the therapeutic protein with a sialylation on the at least one glycosylation site.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods for the clarification of a cell broth with high cell density.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of upregulating the high mannose glycoform content of a recombinant protein during a mammalian cell culture by manipulating the mannose to total hexose ratio in the cell culture media formulation.

Abstract: The method includes binding living cells to magnetic particles, adding them to a sensor array, uniformly distributing over the sensor array, magnetically fixing the magnetic particles having the bound cells over the sensor array, and adding substances to maintain and/or improve the cell vitality to the sensory array, and/or adding substances to worsen the cell vitality to the sensor array. The assembly includes a sensor array composed of sensors, which are designed to be in direct fluidic contact with a fluid, and a device for generating a magnetic field over the sensor array. A layer that comprises magnetic particles and living cells is formed on the sensor array.

Abstract: We provide isolated TPP and preQ1 class II riboswitches which are labelled for FRET studies of ribosome function. The riboswitches may be used in assays to determine riboswitch function, and to test the activity of compounds in modulating riboswitch function.

Abstract: A method and kits are provided for nucleic acid quantification and discrimination using surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The method provided is able to significantly enhance the detection limit and multiplex the discrimination assay using the melting properties of the target DNA on top of standard PCR reaction. By using the heating and cooling cycles of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or Ligation chain reaction (LCR), DNA is melted and hybridized onto the SPR sensor surface together with a nanoparticle label. Thus, during every cycle of DNA amplification, the quantity and type of target DNA can be monitored.

Abstract: Methods for typing a strain of an organism are provided, the methods comprising the steps of amplifying, in a single reaction mixture containing nucleic acid from the organism, dividing the reaction mixture into a plurality of sets of second-stage reaction wells, each set of second-stage reaction wells containing a different pair of second-stage primers, subjecting each of the second-stage reaction wells to amplification conditions to generate a plurality of second-stage amplicons, melting the second-stage amplicons to generate a melting curve for each second-stage amplicon, and identifying the strain of the organism from the melting curves.

Abstract: Provided are methods of depleting a target nucleic acid in a sample. The methods include contacting a target nucleic acid with two or more polymers that specifically hybridize to the target nucleic acid, and cleaving the hybridized regions of the target nucleic acid to deplete the target nucleic acid in the sample. Kits for practicing the subject methods are also provided.

Abstract: Methods, compositions, systems and kits to amplify or improve amplification of target-specific amplification products by reducing non-specific amplification products (e.g., primer-dimers) when amplifying multiple different nucleotide regions. The methods, compositions, systems and kits described herein may include, or include the use of, one or more resolvases that recognize and bind to and/or cut an aberrant DNA structure.

Abstract: Methods for predicting clinical outcome for a human subject diagnosed with squamous cell lung carcinoma using a panel of molecular markers that includes CDKN2A and CCND1. The markers are related to the subject's increased likelihood of a negative clinical outcome.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and devices for capturing and determining the identity of molecules using nanopores. The molecules can be counted, sorted and/or binned rapidly in a parallel manner using a large number of nanopores (e.g., 132,000 nanopores reading 180 million molecules in 1 hour). This fast capture and reading of a molecule can be used to capture probe molecules or other molecules that have been generated to represent an original, hard to detect molecule or portions of an original molecule. Precise counting of sample molecules or surrogates for sample molecules can occur. The methods and devices described herein can, among other things, replace flow cytometers and other counting instruments (e.g., while providing increased precision and throughput relative to a flow cytometer).

Abstract: Presented herein are polymerase enzymes for improved incorporation of nucleotide analogs, in particular nucleotides which are modified at the 3? sugar hydroxyl, as well as methods and kits using the same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of identifying a nucleotide at a defined position and determining the sequence of a target polynucleotide using an electro-switchable biosensor, as well as devices comprising an electro-switchable biosensor and uses thereof.

Abstract: Provided are polynucleotide constructs useful in a nanopore analysis using enzyme activity. The polynucleotide constructs include a strand portion of interest to be analyzed in the nanopore analysis and having a 5? end and a 3? end, and a folded sequence located 3? or 5? of and adjacent to an end of the strand portion of interest, where the folded sequence can block the activity of a processive enzyme. In some embodiments, the polynucleotide constructs further include an enzyme binding sequence located 3? of and adjacent to an end of the folded sequence, and an enzyme displacement sequence located 5? of the strand portion of interest. Such polynucleotide constructs further include a threading sequence located 5? of the enzyme displacement sequence and at a 5? terminal end of the polynucleotide construct, where the processive enzyme has a processive activity in a direction from 3? to 5? on the polynucleotide construct.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods, compositions, and kits for targeted sequencing of polynucleotides with high accuracy and low amplification and sequencing errors.

Abstract: A device having a nanochannel within a support material, wherein the nanochannel comprises one or more sidewall electrodes; a nanomembrane inside the nanochannel, wherein the nanomembrane encircles a nanopore, has a hydrophobic surface, and is in direct contact with at least a portion of one sidewall electrode of the nanochannel; a lipid bilayer on the hydrophobic surface, the lipid bilayer spanning the nanopore and having a protein nanopore disposed into the lipid bilayer; wherein a size of the nanopore is tuned such that the lipid bilayer spanning the nanopore only accommodates a single protein nanopore.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the detection of a target nucleotide sequence in a sample based on an oligonucleotide ligation assay wherein probes are used that contain (a combination of) sequence-based identifiers that can identify the sample and the target sequence (i.e. locus and/or allele combination) wherein after the ligation step, the ligated probes, or after amplification, the amplified ligated probes, are restricted using restriction enzymes to cut of part of the probes and continue with those parts (identifiers and target sequence) that contain the relevant information in the sequencing step.