Abstract: The present disclosure provide systems, compositions, methods, reagents, kits and products for extending a nucleic acid that includes incorporating a nucleotide residue at a terminus of a nucleic acid using a polymerase enzyme and at least one nucleotide, wherein the at least one nucleotide includes a thiophosphate moiety, and wherein the at least one nucleotide is resistant to hydrolysis by phosphatase. In some embodiments, the nucleotide incorporation can be conducted in the presence of a phosphatase. In some embodiments, the nucleotide incorporation can be conducted in the presence of at least on chelation moiety that is configured to bind an orthophosphate moiety.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for method of characterizing, such as sequencing, a target double stranded polynucleotide. The polynucleotide is coupled to a membrane using at least two adaptors with different strengths of coupling to the membrane.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a primer set for preparation of a library used for next generation sequencing (NGS), and a method and a kit for making an NGS library using the same. The method for making the next generation sequencing (NGS) library using the primer set according to the present disclosure is able to simply analyze large amounts of samples as compared to the existing method for making a library, which is effectively usable for analysis of target DNA sequences or for database construction, in large amounts of samples.

Abstract: A method of reading a coupon channel that displays a test section pattern after being exposed to a target substance, the method uses a device having a computer readable memory, digital camera, logic assembly and user interface; providing a pixel target intensity profile; placing the coupon in the device and exposing the coupon channel to a test fluid mixture; automatically using the digital camera to take a digital image of the coupon channel test section after the exposure. The improvement in the method includes finding the contiguous set of pixels from the test section of the coupon channel that best matches the intensity profile of the target pattern representation and determining if this best match set of pixels exceeds a similarity threshold and in response to a best match set of pixels passing the similarity threshold, automatically providing a human perceptible indication that the target substance has been detected.

Abstract: A method of quantifying multiple target nucleic acid sequences in a sample includes generating from a sample at least a plurality of first template molecules and at least a plurality of second template molecules. At least part of said first and at least part of said second template molecules are randomly distributed into individual reaction sites. A cluster of nucleic acid amplicons of said first template molecule and at least a cluster of nucleic acid amplicons of said second template molecule are generated by clonal amplification or replication. The ID codes of all said nucleic acid amplicon clusters are identified. The quantity of at least said first and second target nucleic acid sequences in said sample is quantified by statistical analysis of respective positive numbers of identified unique ID codes of first and second target nucleic acid sequences.

Abstract: Enzymes for producing non-straight-chain fatty acids, microorganisms comprising the enzymes, and in vivo and in vitro uses of the enzymes. Provided are enzymes capable of producing various non-straight-chain fatty acids, including branched-chain fatty acids, cyclic fatty acids, and furan-containing fatty acids. The enzymes include RSP2144, RSP1091, and RSP1090 from Rhodobacter sphaeroides and homologs thereof. The enzymes can be purified to produce non-straight-chain fatty acids in vitro or expressed in microorganisms to produce non-straight-chain fatty acids in vivo. The microorganisms can be fine-tuned to produce a specific type of non-straight-chain fatty acid by expressing, overexpressing, or deleting the enzymes in various combinations.

Abstract: The invention relates to nucleic acid substrates for catalytic nucleic acid enzymes and methods utilizing the substrates.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a method for improving the efficiency and timing of detecting whether sepsis-related microorganisms are present in a fluid sample. The method comprises the steps of: collecting the fluid sample from a patient; fractioning the fluid sample to isolate a quantity of microorganism cells; extracting a portion of the microorganism cells from the fluid sample; lysing a portion of the microorganism cells extracted from the fluid sample to extract microorganism DNA; amplifying the microorganism DNA from the microorganism cells from a predetermined set of DNA primers to determine whether sepsis-related microorganisms are present within the fluid sample.

Abstract: Peptide nucleic acids containing thymidine and 2-aminopyridine (M) nucleobases formed stable and sequence selective triple helices with double stranded RNA at physiologically relevant conditions. The M-modified PNA displayed unique RNA selectivity by having two orders of magnitude higher affinity for the double stranded RNAs than for the same DNA sequences. Preliminary results suggested that nucleobase-modified PNA could bind and recognize double helical precursors of microRNAs.

Abstract: Systems and methods for evaluating a polymer make use of a workflow request identifying input data and a workflow instance. The workflow instance comprises a plurality of actors, each having one or more input and output ports. The workflow instance defines an acyclic directed graph comprising nodes and edges. Each node is an actor in the plurality of actors and each edge corresponds to at least one of (i) an input port of an actor in the plurality of actors and (ii) an output port of an actor in the plurality of actors. Graph parsing produces an ordered list of job requests. Each job request corresponds to an actor in the plurality of actors. An actor in the plurality of actors is executed in an order specified by the ordered list and contributes an output to another actor in the plurality of actors that is specified by the graph.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method and/or system for improving fragment assembly and/or sequence identification includes: collecting a sample including a set of nucleic acid components associated with a set of microorganisms; generating a set of tagged sequence fragments; amplifying the set of tagged sequence fragments and sequencing the set of tagged sequence fragments; based upon the set of identifier tags, generating a set of branched assemblies of candidate sequence fragments, wherein each of the set of branched assemblies includes a set of ordered nodes and a set of branches distributed across the set of nodes; implementing a threshold criterion to reduce the set of branched assemblies to a set of branch-reduced assemblies; and identifying a set of sequences corresponding to the set of branch-reduced assemblies and/or generating an analysis informative of the set of microorganisms associated with the sample.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for analyzing a signature sequence in a nucleic acid sample by rapid sequencing of a target nucleic acid region. The method examines the target nucleic acid directly and minimizes the number of examination steps needed to determine a signature that is characteristic of a genetic feature of the nucleic acid sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides assays systems and methods for detection of genetic variants in a sample, including copy number variation and single nucleotide polymorphisms. The invention preferably employs the technique of tandem ligation—, e.g., the ligation of two or more fixed sequence oligonucleotides and one or more bridging oligonucleotides complementary to a region between the fixed sequence oligonucleotides—combined with detection of levels of particular genomic regions using array hybridization.

Abstract: An isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding the yeast NDI1 protein of SEQ ID NO: 542 or a functional variant thereof is described. The nucleic acid sequence comprises at least 50 codons which are codon optimized compared with the sequence of yeast NDI1 gene of SEQ ID NO: 1.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are the identification, cloning, and optimizing the lytic activity of one or more novel Bacillus lysin proteins, a method of selecting a lysin agent for use in molecular diagnostic testing that includes analyzing genome databases for Bacillus anthracis and near neighbors, selecting candidate genes encoding potential lytic enzymes based on conserved amino acid motifs as determined in peptidoglycan hydrolases, cloning the candidate genes in expression vector, isolating proteins thereof, and testing for lytic activity against Bacillus anthracis, and selecting an optimum gene of the candidate genes for optimizing lysis conditions.

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 belongs to microbial technology field and relates to a strain producing toluene o-xylene monooxygenase (Arthrobacter woluwensis) HW-1 and its application in preparation of 5-methylpyrazine-2-carboxylic acid by microbial fermentation. The present invention providing a new strain HW-1 which could produce toluene o-xylene monooxygenase, and the strain is identified as Arthrobacter woluwensis. The strain is firstly found to convert 2, 5-dimethylpyrazine by bio-fermentation to obtain the medicine intermediate 5-methylpyrazine-2-carboxylic acid. The concentration of accumulated product could reach 34.19 g/L and the yield rate is 81.4% by shake flask fermentation. Compared with 20.41 g/L reported in the literature, this method has a greater advantage and could be industrialized. The conditions to prepare 5-methylpyrazine-2-carboxylic acid provided in the present invention is mild, the reaction process is controllable and has good performance in environmental protection and energy saving.

Abstract: The present invention provides a Cas9 platform to facilitate single-site nuclease gene editing precision within a human genome. For example, a Cas9 nuclease/DNA-targeting unit (Cas9-DTU) fusion protein precisely delivers a Cas9/sgRNA complex to a specific target site within the genome for subsequent sgRNA-dependent cleavage of an adjacent target sequence. Alternatively, attenuating Cas9 binding using mutations to the a protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) recognition domain makes Cas9 target site recognition dependent on the associated DTU, all while retaining Cas9's sgRNA-mediated DNA cleavage fidelity. Cas9-DTU fusion proteins have improved target site binding precision, greater nuclease activity, and a broader sequence targeting range than standard Cas9 systems. Existing Cas9 or sgRNA variants (e.g., truncated sgRNAs (tru-gRNAs), nickases and FokI fusions) are compatible with these improvements to further reduce off-target cleavage.

Abstract: A genetic surveillance system comprises a communications network and at least one reader-analyzer instrument. The reader-analyzer instrument has a communication interface to communicate over the network. The reader-analyzer instrument is adapted to perform genetic assay analysis of a sample obtained from a member of a population and to generate detection-related data based upon the analysis. The reader-analyzer instrument is adapted to associate qualifying information with the detection-related data and to communicate the associated qualifying information and detection-related data over the network.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for predicting a viewer's quality of experience while watching mobile videos potentially afflicted with network induced impairments. The length of a stall on a video at time t is received as a first input to a model. The number of stalls up to the time t is received as a second input to the model. Furthermore, the time since a preceding rebuffering event is received as a third input to the model. Additionally, a reciprocal stall density at time t is received as a fourth input to the model. The hysteresis effect is captured using a machine-learning-based model with an input that is an aggregate of the outputs of the first, second, third and fourth inputs to nonlinear input blocks of the model, where the hysteresis effect represents an effect that a viewer's recent level of satisfaction/dissatisfaction has on their overall viewing experience.

Abstract: A method of determining a nucleic acid sequence that includes steps of: (a) contacting a primed template nucleic acid with a series of mixtures for forming ternary complexes, wherein each of the mixtures includes a polymerase and nucleotide cognates for at least two different base types suspected of being present at the next template position of the template nucleic acid; (b) monitoring the next template position for ternary complexes formed by the series of mixtures, wherein a signal state indicates presence or absence of ternary complex formed at the next template position by each individual mixture, thereby determining a series of signal states that encodes a base call for the next template position; and (c) decoding the series of signal states to distinguish a correct base call for the next template position from an error in the base call.

Abstract: Techniques and systems are provided for processing video data. For example, techniques and systems are provided for performing content-adaptive blob filtering. A number of blobs generated for a video frame is determined. A size of a first blob from the blobs is determined, the first blob including pixels of at least a portion of a first foreground object in the video frame. The first blob is filtered from the plurality of blobs when the size of the first blob is less than a size threshold. The size threshold is determined based on the number of the plurality of blobs generated for the video frame.

Abstract: Provided is a gene amplifying and detecting device. The gene amplifying and detecting device includes: a gene amplifying chip including a chamber formed therein; a reaction solution filled in the chamber and including a fluorescent material; a light source located at one side of the gene amplifying chip; a light detector located at the other side of the gene amplifying chip; and a graphene heater formed on an inner surface or outer surface of the gene amplifying chip so as to heat the reaction solution.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for performing a bioassay, comprising activating capsules containing a signal precursor that is hydrolysable from a latent form in which substantially no signal is generated to a form in which it is able to generate a detectable signal, said activating comprising treating said capsules with heat and with an acid or a base catalyzing solution, the combination of said heat and the pH of the catalyzing solution being such as to hydrolyze said precursor to the form in which it is able to generate a detectable signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides an immunogenic composition comprising a nucleic acid that comprises a sequence encoding a dog telomerase deprived of telomerase catalytic activity, or a fragment thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds, compositions thereof, and methods of using the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides assay systems and methods for determining the percent fetal contribution of cell-free DNA in a maternal sample from a pregnant female with an egg donor pregnancy. Further provided, are assay systems and methods for determining a statistical likelihood of the presence or absence of a fetal aneuploidy in a maternal sample using a determined percent fetal cell-free DNA in the sample.

Abstract: Methods of treating developmental disorders such as Angelman syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS), Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Autism, Asperger's syndrome, pervasive developmental disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Rett syndrome, Landau-Kleffner Syndrome, Prader-Willi Syndrome, Tardive Dyskinesia, a seizure disorder and/or Williams Syndrome with a biguanide such as metformin, buformin, phenformin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof are provided. The methods provide therapeutic compositions that may be used to improve one or more symptoms of the developmental disorder.

Abstract: The present disclosure is in the field of genome engineering, particularly targeted modification of the genome of a hematopoietic cell.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to methods of sequencing nucleic acids. Embodiments encompass the use of nucleotide analogs and a nucleic acid polymerase enzyme or enzyme complex comprising proofreading activity. The nucleotide analogs may become incorporated into a replicating strand and induce the proofreading activity of the polymerizing enzyme, thereby prolonging the duration of a signal associated with nucleotide incorporation, resulting in more observable sequencing events and increasing the accuracy of nucleic acid sequencing.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for reducing cross-reactivity between species employed in multiplexed immunoassays.

Abstract: Novel proinsulins and glargine, aspart and Lis-Pro proinsulin analogs having specific amino acid and/or nucleic acid modifications suitable for improved methods of insulin production, as well as novel and highly efficient processes for preparing the same. The novel proinsulins and proinsulin analogs may be converted into human insulin and insulin analogs, respectively, that are useful in therapeutic preparations.

Abstract: The present invention regards specific IBAT inhibitors useful in the prophylaxis and/or treatment of a liver disease. It also relates to compositions comprising these IBAT inhibitors, a method for treatment of the disorders and a kit comprising the substances or the compositions.

Abstract: A method of determining the sequence of a target nucleic acid is provided. The method can include the steps of (a) performing a defined number of incremental extension cycles to produce a population of nucleic acid fragments having different portions of the target nucleic acid wherein the individual nucleic acid fragments in the population have a defined length that is correlated with the number of incremental extension cycles; (b) determining the sequence of the first end of individual nucleic acid fragments in the population, thereby providing first end sequences; (c) determining the sequence of the second end of individual nucleic acid fragments in the population, thereby providing second end sequences; and (d) determining the sequence of the target nucleic acid based on the first end sequences, the second end sequences and the defined length.

Abstract: Enzyme compositions and their method of use that provide ready-to-use master mixtures. The compositions comprise a modified thermophilic DNA polymerase lacking 5?-3? and 3?-5? exonuclease activity premixed with T4 DNA polymerase, Klenow fragment and T4 polynucleotide kinase and all other necessary components, including reaction buffer and nucleoside triphosphates, required to perform DNA blunting, phosphorylation, and single nucleotide extension reactions in one tube and in two steps. Among other benefits, the mixture of different enzymes, buffers and nucleoside triphosphates is stable during prolonged storage.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and kits for preparing sequencing library to detect chromosomal abnormality using cell-free DNA (cfDNA) without the need of first isolating the cfDNA from a liquid fraction of a test sample. In some embodiments, the method involves reducing the binding between the cfDNA and nucleosomal proteins without unwinding the cfDNA from the nucleosomal proteins. In some embodiments, the reduction of binding may be achieved by treating with a detergent or heating. In some embodiments, the method further involves freezing and thawing the test sample before reducing the binding between the cfDNA and the nucleosomal proteins. In some embodiments, the test sample is a peripheral blood sample from a pregnant woman including cfDNA of both a mother and a fetus, wherein the methods may be used to detect fetal chromosomal abnormality such as copy number variation.

Abstract: The present invention regards specific IBAT inhibitors useful in the prophylaxis and/or treatment of a liver disease. It also relates to compositions comprising these IBAT inhibitors, a method for treatment of the disorders and a kit comprising the substances or the compositions.

Abstract: The disclosure provides engineered enzymes that are capable of mediating the conversion of acetoacetyl-CoA to acetoacetate that do not react with the same order of magnitude with acetyl-CoA as they do with acetoacetyl-CoA (e.g., the engineered enzymes have a specific acetoacetyl-CoA hydrolase activity at least 10× higher than its acetyl-CoA hydrolase activity). Additionally, the disclosure provides modified microorganisms that comprise the engineered enzymes disclosed herein and methods of using same.

Abstract: The invention includes compositions and methods for generating and expanding therapeutic Th17 cells. The invention includes contacting T cells with a composition comprising a first agent that is capable of providing a primary activation signal to T cells and a second agent that is capable of activating ICOS on T cells in the presence of Th-17 polarizing agents.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method comprising: producing a first complex by annealing: a first nucleic acid comprising, in order, a first unique sequence, a first central sequence and a second unique sequence; and a second nucleic acid comprising, in order, said second unique sequence, a second central sequence and a third unique sequence; wherein the first, second and third unique sequences do not hybridize with each other; subjecting said first complex to multiple rounds of primer extension to extend the first and second nucleic acids using each other as a template, thereby producing a first product molecule that contains, in order, the first unique sequence, the first central sequence, the second unique sequence, the second central sequence and the third unique sequence; and circularizing said first product molecule by intramolecularly ligating the ends of said product molecule together. Kits and compositions relating to the method are also provided.

Abstract: Provided are derivatized therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic agents, such as nucleic acids, that can be effectively delivered to cells and tissues. Also provided are methods of affecting a biological process by administering a therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic agent, such as functional nucleic acid, to a cell or a subject, where the therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic agent, such as functional nucleic acid, is derivatized therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic agent, such as nucleic acid.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, arrays and kits for assessing the quality of genomic DNA samples, especially those obtained from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples. The methods, arrays and kits provided herein use primer pairs specific to regions in the genomes of the organisms from which genomic DNA samples are obtained that have identical or nearly identical copies distributed across multiple chromosomes.

Abstract: A system and a method for slug edge detection in a microchannel of a microfluidic device is provided. Specifically, the system comprises an image sensor in communication with the microchannel. The microchannel has at least two fluid slugs each of which has a marker of different color providing color gradient across the edge between the adjacent fluid slugs. An edge score function is generated for each channel segmentation dividing the microchannel into two segments at a specific location along the microchannel. The edge score function is proportional to a between class variance for intensity values associated with the two selected channel segments. The edge location is determined as the location along the channel defining one of the channel segmentations based at least in part on the edge score function.

Abstract: Nucleases and methods of using these nucleases for inserting a sequence encoding a therapeutic protein such as an enzyme into a cell, thereby providing proteins or cell therapeutics for the provision of proteins lacking or deficient in subjects with a lysosomal storage disease and treatment and/or prevention of lysosomal storage diseases.

Abstract: Described herein are recombinant polynucleotide-binding polypeptides, recombinant fusion proteins made with the described polynucleotide-binding polypeptides, methods of using the described recombinant polynucleotide-binding polypeptides and recombinant fusion proteins to modify genomic DNA of cells and, in some embodiments, create recombinant cells. Methods are also provided herein for genetically modifying a neuronal stem cell. Methods are also provided for treating a neurological disorder in a subject that include the administration of genetically modified neuronal stem cells produced by the methods disclosed herein.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for generation and amplification of a single-stranded DNA circle in a single reaction vessel from a linear DNA without any intervening purification steps. The single-stranded DNA circle is generated via a template-independent single-stranded DNA ligation. Whole-genome amplification of linear chromosomal DNA in a single tube using ligation-assisted DNA amplification is also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides methods, proteins, nucleic acids and antibodies for preventing or treating a C. difficile infection in a mammal.

Abstract: Concentrations of certain miRNA, mRNA and/or protein markers in the biological fluids and/or tissues of a subject are used to determine the probability that the subject does or does not have Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The concentrations of these markers in fluids and/or tissues are different in subjects with PTSD as compared to subjects who do not suffer from this disorder.

Abstract: Methods are provided for nucleic acid analysis wherein a target nucleic acid that is at least partially double stranded is mixed with a dsDNA binding dye having a percent saturation of at least 50% to form a mixture. In one embodiment, the nucleic acid is amplified in the presence of the dsDNA binding dye, and in another embodiment a melting curve is generated for the target nucleic acid by measuring fluorescence from the dsDNA binding dye as the mixture is heated. Dyes for use in nucleic acid analysis and methods for making dyes are also provided.

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.