Abstract: A test container including: at least two accommodation portions each accommodating a liquid and internally provided; a flow path connecting the two accommodation portions to each other at respective upper end positions thereof internally provided; and a flexible film deformable inwards of at least one accommodation portion at a portion forming an upper wall surface of the one accommodation portion, in which the liquid accommodated in the one accommodation portion is fed to the other accommodation portion via the flow path due to deformation of the flexible film towards the one accommodation portion, and a breaking elongation of the flexible film is 100% or more and 600% or less.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an anti-MUC1 antibody binding specifically to Mucin 1 (MUC1) or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, an antibody-drug conjugate or bispecific antibody comprising the antibody, a pharmaceutical composition for prevention or treatment of cancer, comprising the same antibody, conjugate or bispecific antibody, and a nucleic acid encoding the same antibody, a vector and a host cell, both carrying the same nucleic acid, and a method for preparing an anti-MUC1 antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, using the same vector and host cell. According to the present invention, the antibody shows outstanding affinity and binding force to MUC1 and the antibody-drug conjugate can bind specifically to a MUC1-expressing cell to specifically or selectively transfer the drug with efficacy. Therefore, the anti-MUC1 antibody and the antibody-drug conjugate according to the present invention can be usefully applied to the treatment of a MUC1-related disease, for example, cancer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antigen arrays and methods for the detection of immunoglobulins specific for any one of the antigens of the array in a biological sample. Specifically, the present invention relates to antigen arrays comprising groups of antigen-coated beads fixed on a solid support. Further encompassed herein are cartridges, kits and an apparatus comprising the antigen array and methods of using same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an anti-MUC1 antibody binding specifically to Mucin 1 (MUC1) or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, an antibody-drug conjugate or bispecific antibody comprising the antibody, a pharmaceutical composition for prevention or treatment of cancer, comprising the same antibody, conjugate or bispecific antibody, and a nucleic acid encoding the same antibody, a vector and a host cell, both carrying the same nucleic acid, and a method for preparing an anti-MUC1 antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, using the same vector and host cell. According to the present invention, the antibody shows outstanding affinity and binding force to MUC1 and the antibody-drug conjugate can bind specifically to a MUC1-expressing cell to specifically or selectively transfer the drug with efficacy. Therefore, the anti-MUC1 antibody and the antibody-drug conjugate according to the present invention can be usefully applied to the treatment of a MUC1-related disease, for example, cancer.

Abstract: High-throughput digital microfluidic (DMF) systems and methods (including devices, systems, cartridges, DMF apparatuses, etc.), are described herein. The systems, apparatuses and methods integrate liquid handling with the DMF apparatuses, providing flexible and efficient sample reactions and sample preparation. These systems, apparatuses and methods may be used with a variety of cartridge configurations and sizes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and kits for detection protein-protein interactions.

Abstract: A method for detecting the binding of a chromatin-associated factor of interest to a sequence of chromatin DNA in a cell, including: contacting a permeabilized cell or nucleus with a specific binding agent that specifically recognizes the chromatin-associated factor of interest, wherein the specific binding agent is linked to a nuclease that is inactive or an activatable transposome; activating the nuclease or transposase, thereby excising the sequence of chromatin DNA bound to the chromatin-associated factor of interest; isolating the excised DNA; and determining the sequence of the excised DNA, thereby detecting binding of a chromatin-associated factor of interest to a sequence of chromatin DNA in the cell.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of determining a concentration of a subject based on fraction bound measurement. The method of determining a concentration of a subject based on fraction bound measurement may include fixing a ligand to a surface of an optical device, measuring a fraction bound of a subject to be detected based on an optical signal when the subject reacts to the ligand fixed to the surface of the optical device, and determining a relative value of a concentration of the subject based on a ratio of measured values of the fraction bounds of the subject and a reference signal.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a simple and highly accurate method for detecting pancreatic exocrine dysfunction with minimal invasiveness to a subject. The method comprising in vitro measurement of two APOA2 protein variants, mutants thereof and/or fragments thereof in a body fluid sample derived from the subject and detection of the presence or absence of pancreatic exocrine dysfunction on the basis of the measured amounts, and a detection kit for pancreatic exocrine dysfunction including antibodies that can specifically bind to said proteins are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides, proteins, nucleic acids and cells for use in immunotherapeutic methods. In particular, the present invention relates to the immunotherapy of cancer. The present invention furthermore relates to tumor-associated T-cell peptide epitopes, alone or in combination with other tumor-associated peptides that can for example serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients of vaccine compositions that stimulate anti-tumor immune responses, or to stimulate T cells ex vivo and transfer into patients. Peptides bound to molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), or peptides as such, can also be targets of antibodies, soluble T-cell receptors, and other binding molecules.

Abstract: A microfluidic device capable of trapping contents in a manner suitable for high-throughput imaging is described herein. The microfluidic device may include one or more trapping devices, with each trapping device having a plurality of trapping channels. The trapping channels may be configured to receive contents via an inlet channel that connects a sample reservoir to the trapping channels via fluid communication. The trapping channels are shaped such that contents within the trapping channels are positioned for optimal imaging purposes. The trapping channels are also connect to at least one exit channel via fluid communication. The fluid, and contents within the fluid, may be controlled via hydraulic pressure.

Abstract: Methods of extracting DNA from soil involve lysing microbial cells contained within the soil by mixing it with an extraction buffer containing cetrimonium bromide (cTAB). The cTAB helps reduce or eliminate high levels of humic acid often present within the soil, which interferes with processes including PCR. Methods further involve binding DNA lysed from the microbial cells and then bound to a silica substrate, washing non-DNA debris from the silica substrate, eluting the DNA from the substrate, and eluting the isolated DNA in an elution buffer. Example methods may involve extracting microbial DNA from a plurality of soil samples. Such methods involve adding soil samples into separate wells within a multi-well plate, lysing microbial cells within the samples using an extraction buffer, binding the microbial DNA released from the cells to silica particles, washing non-DNA debris from the silica particles, and separating the DNA from the silica particles.

Abstract: Monoclonal antibodies that bind and inhibit the activity of human GDF15 are disclosed. The antibodies can be used to treat body weight loss, including cachexia, associated with the over-expression of human GDF15.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an MRS 1D or 2D method and system for obtaining spectral data of the brain of a subject and using neurochemical markers to enable whether a subject is experiencing acute pain, and providing the capacity to monitor response to therapy on an individual basis. The markers can be an increase of Fuc II, III, IV, VII and lactate.

Abstract: The invention provides apheresis devices and their use for removal of substantially all types of cell free DNA (cfDNA) in patients' blood, including nucleosome-bound cfDNA, exosome-bound cfDNA and unbound cfDNA (including double stranded DNA (dsDNA), single stranded DNA (ssDNA) and oligonucleotides), to limit the negative effects of the circulating cfDNA and to treat various diseases.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the methods and compositions provided herein relate to the detection of biomarkers for Kawasaki disease (KD), the diagnosis of KD in a subject, and/or the amelioration or treatment of KD in a subject. In some embodiments, a biomarker can include a long intergenic non-coding RNA (lincRNA). In some embodiments, the biomarker can be present in an exosome-enriched serum sample from a subject.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to: provide an agent that effectively suppresses inhibition of antigen-antibody reaction in an immunoassay using a sample containing a body fluid, in particular, a component derived from a biological mucosal membrane, such as saliva; and to suppress false positive and false negative results in the immunoassay. The present invention provides an agent for suppressing inhibition of immune reaction, characterized in that the agent comprises a compound of the following (1) or (2): (1) Sulfonic acid compound of the formula R1—SO3H or a salt thereof. (In the formula, R1 is selected from the group consisting of: a straight-chain C5-C30 alkyl group; a straight-chain C1-C30 alkyl group substituted with an aryl group having at least one straight-chain C5-C30 alkyl group; and an aryl group having at least one straight-chain C5-C30 alkyl group. These groups may include a substituent group); and (2) Quaternary ammonium ion of the formula N+—R2R3R4R5 or a salt thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides nucleic acid expression cassettes, vectors, compositions and methods for the treatment of ATPase-mediated diseases in a subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stemness-suppressing composition comprising an OCT4 function-inhibiting peptide and, more particularly, to a composition comprising a peptide as an effective ingredient for suppressing the stemness of various stem cells such as general stem cells, cancer stem cells, and the like, wherein the peptide inhibits the function of OCT4 by inducing the phosphorylation of OCT4. OCT4 function-inhibiting peptides of the present invention are expected to find applications in various fields through the suppressive activity thereof against stemness of stem cells.

Abstract: A method for analyzing biological samples is disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the method includes receiving a fluid sample into a cartridge device, which comprises: a fluidic chamber; at least one microfluidic channel in fluid communication with the fluidic chamber; and a venting port configured to apply a pneumatic force to the fluidic chamber; and inserting the cartridge device into a reader device to perform measurements, wherein the cartridge device is positioned in a vertical or tilted position such that at least a portion of the fluid sample inside the fluidic chamber is pulled by gravity in a direction away from the venting port or towards the bottom of the fluidic chamber.

Abstract: A system for measuring cellular forces exerted on a surface comprising: a deformable sensor that has a deformable surface adapted to deform on application of a cellular force, and an optical detector for optically detecting deformation of the surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of detecting CD200L in a female subject from a secretory phase biological sample. Increased levels of CD200L have been determined to be associated with endometriosis. CD200L is therefore a useful biomarker for the diagnosis of endometriosis and a useful target for therapeutic intervention.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for accurate and efficient identification and quantification of proteins. In an aspect, disclosed herein is a method for identifying a protein in a sample of unknown proteins, comprising receiving information of a plurality of empirical measurements performed on the unknown proteins; comparing the information of empirical measurements against a database comprising a plurality of protein sequences, each protein sequence corresponding to a candidate protein among a plurality of candidate proteins; and for each of one or more of the plurality of candidate proteins, generating a probability that the candidate protein generates the information of empirical measurements, a probability that the plurality of empirical measurements is not observed given that the candidate protein is present in the sample, or a probability that the candidate protein is present in the sample; based on the comparison of the information of empirical measurements against the database.

Abstract: Computer based methods, systems, and computer readable media for intelligently accessing various types of pharmaceutical information in a content repository and ranking drugs at the variant level, gene level, and pathway level. In some cases, drugs that target the same gene, gene variant, or biological pathway may be ranked based upon in vitro, pre-clinical, clinical, or post-clinical evidence. To determine ranking of a plurality of drugs, information pertaining to drug administration is analyzed for the drugs. For a plurality of drugs, attributes corresponding to the drug are determined, wherein the attributes include a variant or a gene targeted by the drug, and a biological pathway comprising the targeted variant or gene. The plurality of drugs are ranked according to a drug effectiveness score based on one or more of a determined efficacy, potency, or toxicity.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel heteroaryl sulfone-based conjugation handles of the formula: (wherein R1, R2, Het, D, E, X, Y, Z, m, n, p, q, r, s and t are as defined herein), methods for their preparation, their use in synthesizing antibody drug conjugates, and the resulting antibody drug conjugates made with components having heteroaryl sulfone-based conjugation handles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to substituted saccharides or glycosides and their use in drilling fluid compositions. The substituted saccharide or glycoside bears a substituent A, a substituent B and a substituent C, wherein the substituent A comprises in its structure a group the substituent B comprises in its structure a group and the substituent C comprises in its structure a unit —NH—R7—. The definition of each group is described in the description. The drilling fluid composition can show good temperature resistance, filtration loss reducing reduction property, pollution resistance, inhibition property, lubricating property or reservoir protection property, and has no biotoxicity.

Abstract: A method for measuring the presence of calprotectin (S100A8/A) heterodimer in a biological sample using a particle-enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay (PETIA) based on monoclonal antibodies. The method can be adapted on automated standard analyzers and provides a reliable clinical measurement of calprotectin in faecal samples and extracts. The method is comparable to commerical two-site sandwich ELISA. The disclosed method counters spontaneous agglutination caused by calcium ions and low-molecular weight calcium-binding S100 proteins as observed with conventional PETIAs. The method can be used for measuring the presence of human calprotectin in stool, urine, serum, plasma, synovial liquid and other body liquids. Metrological traceability and high commutability with conventional immunoassays (ELISA) has been shown despite of different measurement principles used.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detection of precancerous colorectal cancerous lesions and early stage colorectal cancer are described. The methods and systems include examination of a rectal cell sample for the presence of mast cells in a field effect detection regime. The methods can incorporate swab-based cell collection, optionally storage and transportation of a cell sample, and/or computer-aided diagnosis.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of detecting analytes using particles having different physico-chemical properties, such as buoyancy, size, density, spectral characteristics, and/or binding properties, in solution-based sandwich assays and solution-based competition assays. The methods can be performed using rotors and bench-top centrifuges and provide for rapid, qualitative and quantitative detection of analytes. The present invention also provides kits that can be used to perform the methods, and mixtures containing particles suitable for the methods.

Abstract: Provided herein, in some embodiments, are methods and compositions for purifying antibodies from cellular cultures using one or more thiol containing additives during a purification process, for example in a chromatographic purification process.

Abstract: Corona Phase Molecular Recognition (CoPhMoRe) utilizing a template heteropolymer adsorbed onto and templated by a nanoparticle surface to recognize a specific target analyte can be used for macromolecular analytes, including proteins.

Abstract: Systems, methods, techniques, devices and apparatuses for detecting cancer. A handheld device which performs an automated analysis from a droplet of whole blood for other bodily fluid. The device is inexpensive, non-invasive, easy to use, and easily transportable, enabling better screening for a wider range of diseases, enabling the detection of metastases at an earlier stage, when interventions are more effective, enabling regular monitoring of patients receiving therapy or those in remission, and enabling a major contribution to the growing body of scientific evidence on how to treat certain cancers based on information gathered about the genomic profile of a tumor. In short, the present invention saves more lives, with fewer resources, and causing minimal harm than prior art techniques.

Abstract: An affinity reagent, having: (a) a retaining component such as a structured nucleic acid particle; and (b) one or both of (i) one or more label components attached to the retaining component, and (ii) one or more binding components attached to the retaining component.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and products for the identification of a clinically significant immune response in subjects treated with a therapeutic protein. Aspects of the invention relate to methods and compositions for identifying a clinically significant immune response in patients treated with therapeutic amounts of a VLA4 binding antibody (e.g., natalizumab).

Abstract: The present description relates to a sample collection device comprising a receptacle and a closure member configured to seal the receptacle. Within the closure member is provided a reservoir configured to contain a stabilization fluid capable of preserving and stabilizing a collected sample. The reservoir includes an outlet which is sealed by a sealing member. The sealing member may be openable to allow communication, or mixture, between the contents of the reservoir and the contents of the receptacle. The closure member may also include a peel foil on the end of the closure member having the outlet to ensure sterility of and to avoid tampering with the outlet and the reservoir. The method includes collecting a sample from the user using the sample collection device, mixing the sample with the stabilization fluid, and analyzing the sample thus collected.

Abstract: An electric field stirring apparatus, in which a droplet as a liquid disposed between a first electrode and a second electrode disposed to face each other is vibrated and stirred by an electric field generated between the first electrode and the second electrode, the second electrode having a groove formed along a first direction on an electrode surface facing the first electrode, includes a movement mechanism that reciprocally moves the first electrode relative to the second electrode in a second direction intersecting the first direction in a state in which the first electrode and the second electrode face each other during a period in which the electric field is generated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for predicting or diagnosing a risk of bioprosthetic valve degeneration. Further, the invention relates to a medical device, in particular a bioprosthetic valve coated with EPCR less prone to degeneration and/or calcification once implanted.

Abstract: The invention concerns novel streptavidin muteins. In one embodiment such a the mutein (a) contains at least two cysteine residues in the region of the amino acid positions 44 to 53 with reference to the amino acid sequence of wild type streptavidin as set forth at SEQ ID NO: 212 and (b) has a higher binding affinity than (i) a streptavidin mutein “1” (SEQ ID NO: 112) that comprises the amino acid sequence Val44-Thr45-Ala46-Arg47 (SEQ ID NO: 98), or (ii) wild type-streptavidin of which amino acid residues 14 to 139 are shown as SEQ ID NO: 212 for peptide ligands comprising the amino acid sequence Trp-Ser-His-Pro-Gln-Phe-Glu-Lys (SEQ ID NO: 100).

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring electrical potentials of a liquid sample includes at least one field effect transistor having a source, a drain, and a gate, a substrate, and at least two intersecting nanowires of semiconductive material arranged on the substrate, each having a source and drain contact as a field effect transistor and a voltage applicator configured to apply a voltage between the respective source and drain contact. The cross section of the two nanowires has a shape of a triangle or a trapezium. A voltage applicator configured to apply a voltage to the substrate are arranged on the substrate. The nanowires are electrically insulated at least against the sample by a dielectric layer along their surface having a layer thickness between 5 and 40 nm, and at least one impurity is arranged in the dielectric layer as a bearing point which is capable of capturing charge carriers.

Abstract: This invention pertains to protein-drug conjugates that may be used in the treatment of cancers and to pharmaceutical compositions containing the same. The protein-drug conjugate has the following formula (I), wherein: L is a cysteine-containing protein residue linked through one or more of the cysteine groups of the protein, R1 is selected from the group consisting of arylene, arylene-heteroarylene, heteroarylene-arylene and heteroarylene, n is an integer from 0 to 5, p and q are independently 0 or 1, R2, R3 and Z are spacers, u is 0 or 1 and T is a cleavable unit sensitive to hydrolases, k is 1 or 2 and D is a cytotoxic drug residue selected from dolastatin residues, which may be identical to or different from each other when k is 2, m is the mean payload-to-protein ratio (PPR) of the conjugate, which ranges from 0.1 to 16.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides, proteins, nucleic acids and cells for use in immunotherapeutic methods. In particular, the present invention relates to the immunotherapy of cancer. The present invention furthermore relates to tumor-associated T-cell peptide epitopes, alone or in combination with other tumor-associated peptides that can for example serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients of vaccine compositions that stimulate anti-tumor immune responses, or to stimulate T cells ex vivo and transfer into patients. Peptides bound to molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), or peptides as such, can also be targets of antibodies, soluble T-cell receptors, and other binding molecules.

Abstract: Methods of sorting T lymphocytes in a microfluidic device are provided. The methods can include flowing a fluid sample comprising T lymphocytes through a region of a microfluidic device that contains an array of posts. The array of posts can be configured to have a critical size (Dc) that separates activated T lymphocytes from naïve T lymphocytes. Also provided are microfluidic devices having an array of posts configured to separate activated T lymphocytes from naïve T lymphocytes, compositions enriched for T lymphocytes, particularly activated T lymphocytes that are known to be reactive to an antigen of interest, and methods of treating subjects suffering from a pathogenic disorder or cancer by administering such compositions.

Abstract: A method for assessing an effect of hypoxia on a tissue includes providing a sample of the tissue in a hermetically sealed container, determining a first amount of a reaction substrate (e.g., protocatechuic acid) to be introduced into the sealed container and determining a second amount of a reaction enzyme (e.g., protocatechuate dioxygenase) to be introduced into the sealed container. The method further includes introducing the reaction substrate and the reaction enzyme into the sealed container. At least one of the first amount of the reaction substrate and the second amount of the reaction enzyme is selected to induce at least one of a predetermined amount of hypoxia less than anoxia and a predetermined rate of hypoxia in the tissue during a reaction between the reaction substrate and the reaction enzyme. Values of properties of the tissue can be measured before and after the reaction to assess effects of hypoxia.

Abstract: Described herein are immune binding proteins and method for obtaining immune binding proteins from genomic or other sources. Also described herein are nucleic acids encoding the immune binding proteins in which the natural multimeric association of chains is maintained in the nucleic acids and the immune binding proteins made therefrom. For example, nucleic acids encoding antibodies that are amplified from a B-cell using the methods described herein maintain the natural pairing of heavy and light chains from the B-cell. This maintenance of pairing (or multimerization) produces libraries and/or repertoires of immune binding proteins that are enriched for useful binding molecules.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for diagnosing Parkinson's disease in which the method includes measuring the expression level of Parkinson's disease-related genes from a subject's nasal mucus sample, a composition for diagnosing Parkinson's disease, and a kit including the same.

Abstract: A method for aligning sequences of droplets in streams of an emulsion comprising target droplets and tag droplets, a tag droplet comprising first and second tags. A target droplet is split into first and second target droplets and a tag droplet is split into first and second tag droplets. Each of the first and second tag droplets comprise the first and second tags. The first target droplet and first tag droplet are in a first stream of droplets, and the second target droplet and second tag droplet are in a second stream of droplets. The method detects the first tag droplets and first target droplets in the first stream and the second tag droplets and second target droplets in the second stream, determines a first sequence of droplets in the first stream and a second sequence of droplets in the second stream, and compares these to align the sequences.

Abstract: A system and method for processing and detecting nucleic acids from a set of biological samples, comprising: a capture plate and a capture plate module configured to facilitate binding of nucleic acids within the set of biological samples to magnetic beads; a molecular diagnostic module configured to receive nucleic acids bound to magnetic beads, isolate nucleic acids, and analyze nucleic acids, comprising a cartridge receiving module, a heating/cooling subsystem and a magnet configured to facilitate isolation of nucleic acids, a valve actuation subsystem configured to control fluid flow through a microfluidic cartridge for processing nucleic acids, and an optical subsystem for analysis of nucleic acids; a fluid handling system configured to deliver samples and reagents to components of the system to facilitate molecular diagnostic protocols; and an assay strip configured to combine nucleic acid samples with molecular diagnostic reagents for analysis of nucleic acids.

Abstract: Lack of safety and efficacy are the two major unwanted biological responses that play as critical bottlenecks for the success of drug candidates in drug discovery and development. Conventional systems and methods involve ineffective exploration and use of chemical information space and thereby, may fail to address safety and efficacy issues. Embodiments of the present disclosure provides an effective solution to the above bottle-necks with the effective exploration/search of chemical information space using effective statistical techniques that yield meaningful chemical information comprising relevant descriptors, fingerprints, fragments, optimized set of structural images, and the like. Further, it provides robust predictive models for the biological response, example renal toxicity using the selected chemical information in an automated manner for a given experimental data and alerts/rules that can be successfully employed to address failures of drug candidates during discovery and development.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method by which a peptide having a specific binding capability that can be used for purification of a target molecule can be produced at a low cost, and specifically relates to a peptide fusion protein including one or more peptides having specific binding capability and a scaffold protein, the peptide being inserted into the amino acid sequence of the scaffold protein directly or via a peptide linker, and/or being linked to the N-terminal and/or C-terminal of the scaffold protein.

Abstract: Systems, computer-readable media, and methods using mass spectrometry to analyze a sample are provided. For example, a method includes: acquiring a precursor ion spectrum; analyzing the precursor ion spectrum to identify precursor ions that preliminarily match one or more peptides that each belong to at least one protein of interest for the analysis; selecting each of the identified precursor ions in an order according to a ranking protocol for maximizing the number of proteins that are identified in the sample; for each selected precursor ion: acquiring a corresponding product ion spectrum, determining whether the acquired product ion spectrum matches one of the peptides that belong to the set of proteins of interest, and identifying a matched peptide as being present in the sample; and identifying proteins of interest that are present in the sample based on the peptides that are identified as being present in the sample.