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: Systems and methods for targeted therapy based on single-cell stimulus perturbation response. In one embodiment, a method for optimizing stimulus combinations for therapy includes receiving a cell sample, treating the cell sample with a plurality of stimuli by treating a different portion of the cell sample with one of the plurality of stimuli for each of the plurality of stimuli, labeling the cell sample with a plurality of metal-conjugated probes, analyzing the cell sample using a mass spectrometer, obtaining mass spectrometry data from the mass spectrometer, identifying subpopulations within the cell sample using the mass spectrometry data, computing stimulus effects, generating a nested-effects model using the mass spectrometry data, and scoring stimuli combinations using the computing device, wherein the stimulus combinations are combinations made from the plurality of stimuli.

Abstract: A polypeptide biosensor that detects free NAD+ is disclosed. The polypeptide comprises a first fragment from an NAD+ dependent DNA ligase acetylation domain, a second fragment from the NAD+ dependent DNA ligase acetylation domain, and a fluorescent protein, wherein the fluorescent protein is positioned between the two DNA ligase acetylation domain fragments. Also disclosed are expression vectors comprising the biosensor as well as methods of using the biosensor to detect NAD+.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining whether a test compound induces cell activity, changes cell activity, prevents cell activity, or inhibits cell activity. An embodiment comprises placing a test compound solution in contact with a cell suspension media containing cells, diffusing the test compound solution into the cell suspension from one or more sides, and detecting activity in the cells with respect to their distance from the side from which the test compound is diffusing. Embodiments may provide an apparatus that allows a side source, a point source, or both, from which a test compound solution diffuses into a cell suspension media and contacts cells. Detecting cell activity may involve detecting activity in a first cell group proximate to the side from which the test compound is diffusing, and detecting activity in a second cell group farther than the first cell group from the side from which the test compound is diffusing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of pluripotent stem cell culture and methods facilitate pluripotent stem cell culture at industrial levels.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for the culture and maintenance of pluripotent stem cells. More particularly, the present invention provides for compositions and methods for culturing, maintaining, growing and stabilizing primate pluripotent stem cells in a feeder-free defined media further comprising human serum, or a soluble attachment component of the human serum, for promoting cell attachment.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for constructing a plasma Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequencing library. The method includes: extracting a plasma DNA; making the plasma DNA ligate to a sequencing linker, and purifying a ligation product; performing Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification for the purified ligation product, purifying the PCR amplification product, and obtaining the plasma DNA sequencing library, wherein, the method does not include the step of performing 5?-terminus phosphorylation for the plasma DNA.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and assays relating to the presence and/or level of circulating tumor cells (CTCs). These CTC-Cs represent a highly metastatic subpopulation of CTCs. In some embodiments, the methods and assays described herein relate to the treatment of cancer.

Abstract: The disclosure describes the effects of transcription mediated from a promoter on the transcription mediated by divergently coupled supercoiling-sensitive promoter. Transcription initiated from a promoter inhibits transcription mediated by a specific supercoiling-sensitive promoter that is divergently coupled to the promoter. A gyrase inhibitor relieves this inhibition and substantially increases the transcription mediated by the specific supercoiling-sensitive promoter that is divergently coupled to another promoter. Accordingly, the invention pertains to a method for identifying a compound as a gyrase inhibitor or not a gyrase inhibitor based on differential expression of genes under the control of divergently coupled promoters in the presence of the compound. Another embodiment of the invention provides an assay for identifying one or more compounds from a library of compounds as a gyrase inhibitor.

Abstract: Described are three-dimensional, engineered, biological breast tissues, adipose tissues, and tumor models, including breast cancer models.

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: Methods are provided for diagnosis and prognosis of disease by analyzing expression of a set of genes obtained from single cell analysis. Classification allows optimization of treatment, and determination of whether on whether to proceed with a specific therapy, and how to optimize dose, choice of treatment, and the like. Single cell analysis also provides for the identification and development of therapies which target mutations and/or pathways in disease-state cells.

Abstract: Certain embodiments are directed to composition and methods related to DCLK1-S specific binding agents.

Abstract: This invention provides biosensors, cell models, and methods of their use for monitoring heme and oxygen. Biosensors can include targeting domains, sensing domains and reporting domains. Biosensors can be introduced into cells reprogrammed to represent experimental or pathologic cells of interest. Model cells expressing the biosensors can be contacted with putative bioactive agents to determine possible activities.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to stretching apparatus and method for aligning microfibrils. Specifically, the present disclosure provides an apparatus for aligning microfibrils along a single direction, which includes: a first elastic substrate onto which a composition containing microfibrils is loaded; and a stretching module which stretches the width of the elastic substrate. In accordance with the apparatus the present disclosure, microfibrils or cells may be aligned along a particular direction simply by pulling and then releasing the elastic substrate. The present disclosure is also useful for culturing of the aligned cells because the physiological activity of the cells can be maintained and cytotoxicity can be prevented.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of detecting an increased likelihood of virus infection in a subject. In particular, the present invention relates to methods of detecting an increased likelihood of virus infection in a subject by detecting an altered level of at least one microRNA (miRNA), as well as methods of treating or preventing virus infection. The present invention also relates to nucleotide arrays, oligonucleotides and kits useful for the detection of miRNAs associated with an increased likelihood of virus infection in a subject.

Abstract: A novel assay using plated (cultured) human hepatocytes is disclosed. In this assay, cryopreserved human hepatocytes are thawed and cultured for 4 hours to allow attachment, followed by incubation with compounds for 24 hours. After the 24 hour incubation, aliquots can be collected for quantification of the remaining parent compounds. The remaining incubated media are transferred to freshly thawed and cultured cryopreserved hepatocyte and incubated for another 24 hour period. The process can be repeated daily resulting in accumulated incubation durations of multiple days. The innovation is the use of a new culture on each day, thereby overcoming the known decrease in metabolic activity of hepatocytes with time in culture.

Abstract: Uses of the protein cereblon as a predictor of clinical sensitivity to cancer, inflammatory diseases, and patient response to drug treatment.

Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to methods of modifying peptide compositions to increase stability and delivery efficiency. Specifically, the disclosed invention relates to methods to increase the stability and delivery efficiency of protein kinase C (PKC) modulatory peptide compositions. A “therapeutic peptide composition” comprises a “carrier peptide” and a “cargo peptide.” A “carrier peptide” is a peptide or amino acid sequence within a peptide that facilitates the cellular uptake of the therapeutic peptide composition. The “cargo peptide” is a PKC modulatory peptide. Peptide modifications to either the carrier peptide, the cargo peptide, or both, which are described herein increase the stability and delivery efficiency of therapeutic peptide compositions by reducing disulfide bond exchange, physical stability, reducing proteolytic degradation, and increasing efficiency of cellular uptake.

Abstract: Multi-well plates having contoured well designs allow multi-stage high throughput parallel assaying of ion channels or ion transporters. A well of a multi-well plate has a bottom region that is sized and shaped to simultaneously accommodate a sensing electrode and a pipette for delivering test compounds, wash fluid, and optionally ligands. The multi-well plates when coupled with an instrument having a pipette head and an electrode plate facilitates fluidic contact between cells and fluids delivered via a pipette for washing of wells with buffers or other wash solutions for serial exposure of test cells to various reagents or other stimuli. The control and test experiments are performed on the same cell (or cells) in a single well.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with objectively predicting biochemical recurrence (BCR) with cell orientation entropy (COrE) are described. One example apparatus includes a set of logics that associate directional disorder with a risk of biochemical recurrence in a tissue. A first logic detects a cell in the tissue, segments boundaries of the cell, and calculates a cell direction for the cell. A second logic constructs a localized sparsified subgraph whose nodes represent centroids of the cells, defines pairwise spatial relationships between the cells, and constructs a directional co-occurrence matrix based on the spatial relationships. A third logic derives second order statistical features from the co-occurrence matrix, and produces a BCR risk score as a function of the second order statistical features. The second order statistical features include the entropy of the directional organization of the cells.

Abstract: The invention provides for compositions and methods for producing isoprene using isoprene synthase variants with improved properties.

Abstract: A method and system for predicting spatial and temporal distributions of therapeutic substance carriers within a body of a user, comprising: at a computing system, receiving an image dataset and a spectra dataset of a therapeutic substance carrier generated from at least one of an imaging model and a spectra-generating module; transforming the image dataset and the spectra dataset into a set of characteristics, wherein the set of characteristics comprises electrotopological characteristics and geometrical characteristics; generating a set of pharmacokinetic parameters and a set of pharmacodynamic parameters for the therapeutic substance carrier based upon the set of characteristics and a transformation model; and transforming the set of pharmacokinetic parameters and the set of pharmacodynamic parameters into a spatial distribution and a temporal profile of the therapeutic substance carrier, based upon a predictive model incorporating physiological parameters of the body, thereby predicting distributions of t

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for analyzing and modulating (e.g., enhancing or inhibiting) protein-protein interactions. In particular, compositions and methods of the present invention find use in identifying, reconstituting and characterizing protein-protein interactions, identifying binding subunits, and drug screening. The methods and compositions of the invention may also be used to identify agents that may agonize or antagonize a protein-protein interaction (e.g., using test compounds).

Abstract: A bioluminescence imaging-based high-throughput assay for inhibitors of ABCG2 is described. Compositions of inhibitors of ABCG2 and methods of using ABCG2 inhibitors are also described.

Abstract: It was found that bacteria belonging to the genus Clostridium induce accumulation of regulatory T cells (Treg cells) in the colon. Moreover, the present inventors found that regulatory T cells (Treg cells) induced by from these bacteria suppressed proliferation of effector T-cells. From these findings, the present inventors found that the use of bacteria belonging to the genus Clostridium or a physiologically active substance derived therefrom made it possible to induce proliferation or accumulation of regulatory T cells (Treg cells), and further to suppress immune functions.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds and methods for the treatment of LFA-1 mediated diseases. In particular, LFA-1 antagonists are described herein and these antagonists are used in the treatment of LFA-1 mediated diseases. One aspect of the invention provides for diagnosis of an LFA-1 mediated disease and administration of a LFA-1 antagonist, after the patient is diagnosed with a LFA-1 mediated disease. In some embodiments, the LFA-1 mediated diseases treated are dry eye disorders. Also provided herein are methods for identifying compounds which are LFA-1 antagonists.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of medicine. The invention provides methods for generating glatiramer-acetate-specific human T-cell lines, and assays that use these T-cell lines for demonstrating immunological identity between glatiramer acetate preparations. These assays allow sensitive and accurate comparison of glatiramer acetate preparations, and find utility as lot-release assays.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of pancreatic cancers. In particular, the present invention relates to an OX1R agonist for use in the treatment of pancreatic cancer in a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for the identification and selection of loci modulating phenotypic expression of an herbicide tolerance trait in plant breeding. In addition, methods are provided for screening germplasm entries for the performance and expression of this trait.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds and methods for the treatment of LFA-1 mediated diseases. In particular, LFA-1 antagonists are described herein and these antagonists are used in the treatment of LFA-1 mediated diseases. One aspect of the invention provides for diagnosis of an LFA-1 mediated disease and administration of a LFA-1 antagonist, after the patient is diagnosed with a LFA-1 mediated disease. In some embodiments, the LFA-1 mediated diseases treated are dry eye disorders. Also provided herein are methods for identifying compounds which are LFA-1 antagonists.

Abstract: The invention provides for compositions and methods for identifying and validating modulators of cell fate, such as such as maintenance, cell specification, cell determination, induction of stem cell fate, cell differentiation, cell dedifferentiation, and cell trans-differentiation. The invention relates to reporter nucleic acid constructs, host cells comprising such constructs, and methods using such cells and constructs. The invention relates to methods for making cells comprising one or more reporter nucleic acid constructs using fluorogenic oligonucleotides. The methods relate to high throughput screens.

Abstract: A method of identifying a subject having cancer who is likely to benefit from treatment with a combination therapy with a MAPK pathway inhibitor, such as a RAF inhibitor, MEK inhibitor, or ERK inhibitor, and a GEF or HDAC inhibitor is provided. A method of treating cancer in a subject in need thereof is also provided and includes administering to the subject an effective amount of a MAPK inhibitor, such as a RAF inhibitor, MEK inhibitor, or ERK inhibitor, and an effective amount of a GEF or HDAC inhibitor. A method of identifying targets that confers resistance to a MAPK pathway inhibitor is also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides therapeutic and prophylactic compounds and methods for altering the activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (e.g. PDK1, PDK2, PDK3, PDK4). Such therapies are useful for the treatment of neoplasia. The invention further provides therapeutic and prophylactic compounds and methods of altering pyruvate dehydrogenase activity to treat or prevent cell death related to ischemia.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with an in vitro method of diagnosing cancer in a tissue sample, wherein said tissue sample is obtained from a patient undergoing cancer surgery. The method described herein is based on a hyperpolarized marker, which is contacted with the tissue sample, and an NMR spectrum and/or an MR image obtained of the tissue sample after having been contacted with the hyperpolarized marker.

Abstract: Transgenic seed for crops with enhanced agronomic traits are provided by trait-improving recombinant DNA in the nucleus of cells of the seed where plants grown from such transgenic seed exhibit one or more enhanced traits as compared to a control plant. Of particular interest are transgenic plants that have increased yield. The present invention also provides recombinant DNA molecules for expression of a protein, and recombinant DNA molecules for suppression of a protein.

Abstract: This invention provides a multiscale platform for coordinating behavior using synthetic biology. The platform reduces the impact of underlying noise, making outputs more coherent and reliable at the macroscopic level.

Abstract: This invention relates to agents that are inhibitors or activators of variant forms of endogenous proteins and novel methods of identifying such variants. Of particular interest are inhibitors and activators of endogenous protein variants, encoded by genes which have mutated, which variants often arise or are at least first identified as having arisen following exposure to a chemical agent which is known to be an inhibitor or activator of the corresponding unmutated endogenous protein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of determining the risk of drug induced teratogenicity using pluripotent stem cells.

Abstract: Dendritic cell precursor populations, dendritic cell populations derived therefrom, methods for isolating, expanding and using are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of treating and pharmaceutical compositions useful for treating a mood disorder or depressive symptoms associated with pain, inducing analgesia and treating pain in a subject by administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of an agent capable of one or more of increasing GluA1 level, expression, concentration, or biological activity, increasing calcium permeable AMPA (? amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid) receptor (CPAR) level, expression, concentration, or biological activity or potentiating a CPAR current. The agent may be an AMPA potentiator or ampakine. The agent may increase AMPA receptor currents by slowing the deactivation of open channels and may be, for instance, 2-pyrrolidinone, 4-[2-(phenylsulfonylamino)ethylthio]-2,6-difluorophenoxyacetamide (PEPA) or LY451646. The agent may also be a protein, RNA or DNA product.

Abstract: The present invention describes microplates with arrays of wells containing magnetic inserts in the form of disks, cylinders or otherwise shaped materials with apertures in the centre for optical interrogation of the contacting solution. These inserts are capable of capturing ferro- and paramagnetic nano- and microparticles. The subject microplates find use in a variety of applications, including clinical and environmental assays, high throughput screening for genomics, proteomics and pharmaceutical applications, point-of-care in vitro diagnostics, molecular genetic analysis and nucleic acid diagnostics, cell separations, and bioresearch generally and high-throughput screening of materials for separation and catalysis.

Abstract: Disclosed is a microcapsule encoded depending on the kind of a target substance included therein. The encoded microcapsule has a hydrophilic liquid core including the target substance and a hydrophobic shell surrounding the liquid core. The encoded microcapsule includes graphical codes introduced on the surface of the shell.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for restoring a neural cell having a deficiency or alteration in glutamatergic pathway affecting neuron and/or glial function comprising contacting the cell with a NMDA receptor antagonist(s) and/or modulator(s) of a glutamatergic pathway, thereby restoring the neural cell having a deficiency or alteration in glutamatergic pathways affecting neuron and/or glial function.

Abstract: We describe cell culture media for in vitro culture of a human cancer cell of the lymphocyte lineage (e.g., leukemia, lymphoma, or other blasts) or a precursor thereof, especially T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia lymphoma (T-ALL), as well as methods for at least maintenance, propagation, or both of the human cancer cell or its precursor.

Abstract: Compounds of the present invention and pharmaceutically acceptable compositions thereof, are useful as modulators of ATP-Binding Cassette (“ABC”) transporters or fragments thereof, including Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (“CFTR”). The present invention also relates to methods of treating ABC transporter mediated diseases using compounds of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of designing panels of bacteriophages as therapeutic compositions against bacterial infections. The present invention also provides panels of bacteriophages for use in the prevention or treatment of bacterial infections.

Abstract: The invention relates to immunomodulation of cells and the detection and use thereof, for example, in drug screening, including methods, compositions and systems therefor, or in an aspect of healthcare, such as prognosis, diagnosis, an aspect of treatment, monitoring, and the like, and methods, compositions, and systems therefor.

Abstract: This disclosure provides purified nucleic acids and polypeptides. Also provided are transgenic plants, seeds, and plant cells containing DNA for expression of the proteins that are useful for imparting enhanced agronomic trait(s) to transgenic crop plants, methods of making such plants and methods of making agricultural commodity including seeds and hybrid seeds from such plants.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method for subjecting a hematopoetic cell to a JAK/STAT inhibitor, determining the activity of gain-of-function mutations of a Jak family kinase, determining the expression levels and activity of JAK/STAT regulatory proteins, correlating the expression levels and the activity of JAK/STAT regulatory proteins with the activity of gain-of-function mutations of a Jak family kinase and with a response to the JAK/STAT inhibitor, and then classifying the cells. A further embodiment of the invention includes determining the clinical outcome based on the cell classification, determining a method of treatment, determining dosing and scheduling of at least one of the JAK/STAT inhibitors or other compounds.