Abstract: Use of a biological photoreceptor as light-controlled ion channel for the alteration of the ion conductivity of a membrane by means of light. The photoreceptor used comprises an apoprotein and a light-sensitive polyene covalently bound to the apoprotein, said polyene interacting with the apoprotein and functioning as a light-sensitive gate.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel mammalian alpha-kinase proteins: melanoma alpha-kinase (MK), heart alpha-kinase (HK), kidney alpha-kinase (KK), skeletal muscle alpha-kinase (SK), and lymphocyte alpha-kinase (LK). In particular, a novel kinase type is herein provided, characterized by the presence of an alpha-kinase catalytic domain and an ion channel domain. Isolated nucleic acids of the alpha-kinases MK, HK, KK, SK and LK are provided. Methods for making the novel alpha-kinases, cells that express the alpha-kinases and methods for treating an animal in need of either increased or decreased activity of the alpha-kinases are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of immunology. More particularly, aspects of the invention concern the discovery of several T cell receptors (TCRs) that are specific for an immunodominant CTL epitope of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Embodiments include TCRs, DNAs encoding TCRs, methods of making TCRs, and methods of using TCRs to treat, prevent or inhibit hepatitis C virus (HCV) proliferation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fusion molecules of antigens, the nucleic acids coding therefor and the use of such fusion molecules and nucleic acids. In particular, said invention relates to fusion molecules, comprising an antigen and the trans-membrane region and cytoplasmic region of a MHC molecule and/or the cytoplasmic region of a MHC or a SNARE molecule.

Abstract: Isolated protein complexes are provided comprising growth factors such as IGF-I, IGF-II, EGF, bFGF, or KGF and fibronectin, or at least domains thereof that enable binding to and activation of both a growth factor receptor, and an integrin receptor-binding domain of fibronectin. These protein complexes include synthetic proteins where the growth factor and fibronectin sequences are joined by a linker sequence. Also provided are uses of these protein complexes for stimulating or inducing cell migration and/or proliferation in wound healing, tissue engineering, cosmetic and therapeutic treatments such as skin replacement, skin replenishment and treatment of burns where epithelial cell migration is required. In other embodiments, the invention provides inhibition of cancer cell metastasis, particularly in relation to breast cancer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to engineered multivalent and multispecific binding proteins, methods of making, and specifically to their uses in the prevention and/or treatment of acute and chronic inflammatory and other diseases.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions comprising retroviral vectors, transduced cells, and methods of using the same for gene therapy. In particular, the present invention relates to lentiviral vectors and cells transduced with those vectors to provide gene therapy to subjects having an adrenoleukodystrophy and/or adrenomyeloneuropathy.

Abstract: The invention provides a composition comprising transthyretin and an ICAM-1 targeting agent, wherein the transthyretin and ICAM-1 targeting agent are coupled together, as well as methods of preparing such compositions. The invention further provides a diabody capable of binding specifically to ICAM-1 and transthyretin. The invention also provides a method of use of such composition in the manufacture of a medicament for treating an amyloid-? related neurodegenerative disease, comprising administering to a subject a composition comprising transthyretin coupled to an ICAM-1 targeting agent in an amount effective to treat the neurodegenerative disease, wherein the composition is administered to the subject outside of the blood-brain barrier.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel canine pol I regulatory nucleic acid sequences useful for the expression of nucleic acid sequences in canine cells such as MDCK cells. The invention further provides expression vectors and cells comprising such nucleic acids as well as methods of using such nucleic acids to make influenza viruses, including infectious influenza viruses.

Abstract: The present invention relates to direct protein delivery with engineered micro vesicles.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to multi-specific Fab fusion proteins (MSFP) which comprise an antibody Fab fragment with both N-termini fused to a fusion moiety (fusion moiety A or B). MSFP containing the Fab fragment exhibit significantly reduced binding ability of the Fab fragment to the Fab target. Binding of the Fab to its target is restored when the MSFP is clustered on a cell surface by binding of the fusion moieties to their target. The reduced binding of the Fab to its target, especially when presented on a cell surface in its native state, absent fusion moiety binding provides advantages such as: reduced side effects and allows desirable pharmacological effects of selectivity and specificity in a controlled manner.

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

Abstract: The invention refers to the use of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-?1) inhibitor peptides or polynucleotides encoding said peptides for the prevention and/or treatment of corneal fibrosis and/or corneal haze.

Abstract: A monomer of an I-CreI meganuclease variant wherein said monomer when in dimeric form binds and cleaves DNA.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of screening for a drug for the prophylaxis or treatment of at least one disease selected from the group consisting of cardiac disease, autoimmune disease, inflammatory disease, central nervous system disease, infectious disease, sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock, which includes selecting a substance that binds to an intracellular region of TLR4, and inhibits signal transduction from said molecule, and a kit for this method, which contains (1) a cell that expresses wild-type TLR4 and (2) a cell that expresses a mutant TLR4, and which can detect a signal from TLR4 with expression of a reporter gene as an index.

Abstract: Isolated peptides composed of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 33 or fragments thereof that bind to HLA antigens and have cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) inducibility and thus are suitable for use in the context of cancer immunotherapy, more particularly cancer vaccines are described herein. The present invention further provides peptides that include one, two, or several amino acid insertions, substitutions or additions to the aforementioned peptides or fragments, but yet retain the requisite cytotoxic T cell inducibility. Further provided are nucleic acids encoding any of these aforementioned peptides as well as pharmaceutical agents, substances and compositions including any of the aforementioned peptides or nucleic acids. The peptides, nucleic acids, pharmaceutical agents, substances and compositions of this invention find particular utility in the treatment of cancers and tumors.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for increasing the expression of foreign genes, in particular, using a promoter, an enhancer, and the like, and an expression cassette containing a promoter, an enhancer, and the like, by which gene expression can be increased. The purpose is achieved with the use of the gene expression cassette comprising a DNA construct containing a gene to be expressed and a poly A addition sequence that are located downstream of a 1st promoter, and further comprising an enhancer or a 2nd promoter ligated downstream of the DNA construct.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to novel vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-binding polypeptides and methods for using these polypeptides to inhibit biological activities mediated by vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs). The present disclosure also provides various improvements relating to single domain binding polypeptides.

Abstract: This invention relates to nucleic acid molecules comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding for a peptide or protein of interest, at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding for a selectable marker, and at least one IRES sequence, wherein the at least one IRES sequence is located between the at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding for the peptide or protein of interest and the at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding for the selectable marker. Furthermore, this invention relates to host cells comprising such nucleic acid molecule and to methods of recombinant protein expression using such host cells.

Abstract: A monomer of an I-CreI meganuclease variant wherein said monomer when in dimeric form binds and cleaves DNA.

Abstract: The invention is based on the identification of the minimum region of the avian Orthoreovirus muNS protein which is capable of forming inclusions as well as on the identification of specific regions of the muNS protein showing capacity to associate with the inclusions formed by muNS. The identification of said regions allows developing methods for purifying recombinant polypeptides as well as methods for detecting the interaction between two polypeptides of interest.

Abstract: Described in this application is a synthetic P. vivax circumsporozoite protein useful as a diagnostic reagent, for antibody production, and as a vaccine protective against infection with any strain of P. vivax.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antibodies that are immunoreactive to the mammalian, and more particularly, the human B7-H3 receptor and to uses thereof, particularly in the treatment of cancer and inflammation. The invention thus particularly concerns humanized B7-H3-reactive antibodies that are capable of mediating, and more preferably enhancing the activation of the immune system against cancer cells that are associated with a variety of human cancers.

Abstract: Briefly described, embodiments of this disclosure include polynucleotides that encode mutant Cnidarian luciferases that exhibit modulated properties as compared to the corresponding wild-type luciferases, and the modulated properties include at least one of: modulated stability; enhanced light output; and modulated emission maximum. Embodiments of the present disclosure also include polypeptides or fragments thereof encoded by the polynucleotides, constructs including the polynucleotide, expression cassettes, cells, methods of producing the polynucleotides and polypeptides, antibodies, transgenic cells and/or animals, kits, and the like.

Abstract: This invention relates to a probe reagent comprising, in order from the N-terminus to the C-terminus, the amino acid sequences of a fluorescent protein I, a peptide capable of terminating protein degradation (i.e., a degradation-terminating peptide), a spacer peptide, a fluorescent protein II, and a protein to be degraded, wherein the protein to be degraded is a protein degraded by the ubiquitin-proteasome system, and the probe reagent is degraded from the C-terminus, but that the degradation of the probe reagent is terminated at the degradation-terminating peptide, a nucleic acid encoding the probe reagent, and use of the probe reagent or the nucleic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, compositions and kits for preparing FVIII and employing same. Also provided are vWF polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules encoding same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel ficolin-associated polypeptides, and polypeptides derived from these ficolin-associated polypeptides for the use in the treatment of conditions associated with inflammation, apoptosis, autoimmunity, coagulation, thrombotic or coagulopathic related diseases, as well as the use as biomarkers. The present invention further relates to anti-bodies recognising such novel ficolin-associated polypeptides, and polypeptides derived thereof, nucleic acid molecules encoding such polypeptides, vectors and host cells used in the production of the polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel variant androgen receptor (ARaiv) lacking ligand binding domain, a nucleic acid encoding the same and use thereof. That is, the present invention provides a method of screening for a substance for the prophylaxis or treatment of cancer, which includes contacting an ARaiv protein or ARaiv-producing cell with a test compound, measuring the activity of ARaiv (e.g., transcription regulating action of androgen responsive gene) or expression level thereof, and selecting a compound that suppresses the activity or expression level.

Abstract: There is provided a fusion protein or a polynucleotide sequence encoding said fusion protein that comprises first and second domains, wherein the first domain of the fusion protein comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 70% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or a fragment thereof comprising at least 20 consecutive amino acids thereof; and wherein the second domain of the fusion protein comprises a mycobacterial antigen or an antigenic fragment thereof. Also provided are corresponding therapeutic uses thereof for the protection of primates against mycobacterial infections.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for modulating hepsin activity and the MSP/Ron pathway, in particular by regulating pro-MSP activation by hepsin.

Abstract: A fusion protein that includes a polypeptide binding specifically to a constant region of an antibody and a stabilization protein linked to a terminus of the polypeptide, a polynucleotide encoding the fusion protein, a cell including the polynucleotide, a method of preparing the fusion protein, and a method of isolating an antibody by using the fusion protein.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for treatment, screening, diagnosis and prognosis of cancer including bladder cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, head and neck cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, skin cancer and thyroid cancer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a splice variant of a human sodium channel alpha subunit and methods and compositions for making and using the same.

Abstract: Fusion polypeptides, polynucleotides encoding fusion polypeptides, expression vectors, kits, and related compositions and methods for recombinant protein production are provided, wherein the fusion polypeptides comprise a sequence derived from a plant dehydrin protein covalently linked to a heterologous protein sequence in order to enhance the solubility and folding of the heterologous protein sequence and to reduce its aggregation.

Abstract: Polynucleotides and polypeptides relating to a recombinantly modified plasmin(ogen) molecule are provided.

Abstract: IL4/IL13-binding proteins comprise binding domains, which inhibit IL4/IL13 binding to IL4Ralpaha and common gamma chain complexes (Type 1) and inhibit IL4 binding to IL4Ralpha and IL13Ralpha1 complexes (Type 2), and IL13 binding to IL13Ralpha1 and/or IL13Ralpha2, are useful in the treatment of cancer, inflammatory, and other pathological conditions, such as allergic or fibrotic conditions, especially pulmonary conditions.

Abstract: A thermostable glycosidase enzymes derived from various Thermococcus, Staphylothermus and Pyrococcus organisms is disclosed. The enzymes are produced from native or recombinant host cells and can be utilized in the food processing industry, pharmaceutical industry and in the textile industry, detergent industry and in the baking industry.

Abstract: The invention relates to CTSP polypeptides and the nucleic acid molecules that encode them. The invention further relates to the use of the nucleic acid molecules, polypeptides and fragments thereof in methods and compositions for the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of diseases, such as cancer. More specifically, the invention relates to the discovery of a novel cancer/testis (CT) antigen, CTSP-1.

Abstract: The technology relates in part to multimer conjugates comprising a scaffold linked to two or more polypeptides that specifically interact with a nucleic acid containing beta-D-glucosyl-hydroxymethylcytosine or beta-D-glucosyl-hydroxymethyluracil. The scaffold can be chosen from an antibody, an antibody fragment, a multimerized binding partner that interacts with a binding partner counterpart in each of the polypeptides, a polymer, and a polyfunctional molecule. The polypeptides can be from a kinetoplastid flagellate organism and may comprise a full-length native or modified protein or a fragment thereof that specifically interacts with the beta-D-glucosyl-hydroxymethylcytosine and/or the beta-D-glucosyl-hydroxymethyluracil in the nucleic acid. The conjugates provided herein can be used to detect the presence, absence or amount of beta-D-glucosyl-hydroxymethylcytosine and/or beta-D-glucosyl-hydroxymethyluracil-containing nucleic acid in a sample.

Abstract: The invention relates to mutant G-protein coupled receptors with increased conformational stability, and methods of use thereof. In some aspects, polynucleotides encoding the mutant G-protein coupled receptors are provided. In some aspects, host cells comprising the polynucleotides are provided. In some aspects, the invention relates to crystallized forms of the mutant G-protein coupled receptors, and methods of preparing the same.

Abstract: The present invention relates antidotes to anticoagulants targeting factor Xa. The antidotes are factor Xa protein derivatives that bind to the factor Xa inhibitors thereby substantially neutralizing them but do not assemble into the prothrombinase complex. The derivatives describe herein lack or have reduced intrinsic coagulant activity. Disclosed herein are methods of stopping or preventing bleeding in a patient that is currently undergoing anticoagulant therapy with a factor Xa inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the efficient expression of HIV polypeptides in a variety of cell types, including, but not limited to, mammalian, insect, and plant cells. Synthetic expression cassettes encoding the HIV Gag-containing polypeptides are described, as are uses of the expression cassettes in applications including DNA immunization, generation of packaging cell lines, and production of Env-, tat- or Gag-containing proteins. The invention provides methods of producing Virus-Like Particles (VLPs), as well as, uses of the VLPs including, but not limited to, vehicles for the presentation of antigens and stimulation of immune response in subjects to whom the VLPs are administered.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polynucleotides encoding immunogenic HIV polypeptides. Uses of the polypeptides in applications including immunization, generation of packaging cell lines, and production of HIV polypeptides are also described. Polynucleotides encoding antigenic HIV polypeptides are described, as are uses of these polynucleotides and polypeptide products therefrom, including formulations of immunogenic compositions and uses thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods of use for identifying modulators of NOTUM, e.g., NOTUM inhibitors. In some aspects, identified compounds are useful for modulating Wnt signaling at sites of tissue damage. The invention further provides methods of promoting regeneration by inhibiting NOTUM.

Abstract: Novel polypeptide combinations, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, and related compositions and methods are disclosed for zcytor17-containing multimeric or heterodimer cytokine receptors that may be used as novel cytokine antagonists, and within methods for detecting ligands that stimulate the proliferation and/or development of hematopoietic, lymphoid and myeloid cells in vitro and in vivo. The present invention also includes methods for producing the multimeric or heterodimeric cytokine receptor, uses therefor and antibodies thereto.

Abstract: Immunogenic Escherichia coli O157:H7 (0157) proteins expressed during infection of a mammal, are described. In particular, 0157 proteins expressed specifically in vivo during human and cattle infection were identified. These proteins, mapped to the backbone, O-islands (OIs) and pO157. Because these-proteins are expressed during infection, and might help pathogens adapt to and counter hostile in vivo environments, those proteins identified in this study are useful as targets for drug and vaccine development. Also, such proteins are useful as markers of 0157 infection in stool specimens. Also described are methods of identifying immunogenic proteins.

Abstract: The invention provides nucleic acids comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) and a nucleotide sequence encoding a fusion protein comprising thymidylate kinase (TMPK) or a variant thereof and a cell surface marker or a variant thereof. Recombinant expression vectors, host cells, populations of cells, pharmaceutical compositions, and kits relating to the nucleic acids are disclosed. Methods of treating or preventing a disease in a host and methods of suppressing an immune system in a host are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel fluorophores and their use in combination with novel nucleic acid molecules, called aptamers, that bind specifically to the fluorophore and thereby enhance the fluorescence signal of the fluorophore upon exposure to radiation of suitable wavelength. Molecular complexes formed between the novel fluorophores, novel nucleic acid molecules, and their target molecules are described, and the use of multivalent aptamer constructs as fluorescent sensors for target molecules of interest are also described.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for producing olefins are described herein. The olefins can be used to produced biofuels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to targeted killing of a cell utilizing a chimeric polypeptide comprising a cell-specific targeting moiety and a signal transduction pathway factor. In a preferred embodiment, the signal transduction pathway factor is an apoptosis-inducing factor, such as granzyme B, granzyme A, or Bax.