70 results about "Functional assay" patented technology

Acute myeloid leukemia stem cells (AMLSC) are identified. The cells can be prospectively isolated or identified from patient samples, and are shown to possess the unique properties of cancer stem cells in functional assays for cancer stem cell self-renewal and differentiation, and in cancer diagnosis.

Hemagglutination (HA) and hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) functional assays remain important instruments of analysis of virus-cell interaction and protecting efficacy of virus-specific antibodies and sera. However, they demonstrate limited sensitivity towards many viruses, and require significant volumes of viruses, erythrocytes, sera, and antibodies. The present invention comprises new and significantly more sensitive versions of the HA and HAI assays based on observing agglutination on activated surfaces of specifically opsonized plates and ELISA plates rather than in solution. A version of the new assay that uses ELISA plates additionally allows characterizing the affinity of functional antibodies in the tested sera and fluids, which is not possible in the classical HAI assay. The methods of the present invention can also be used to improve the sensitivity of agglutination methods based on latex beads and to develop agglutination methods using target cells other than erythrocytes.

Differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells, such as human embryonic stem cells (hESC), into hepatocytes by in vitro methods is disclosed. The pluripotent stem cells are cultured in conditioned medium from the hepatocarcinoma cell line, HepG2. Specific growth factors and defined media may also be added to the medium for stage specific differentiation of the derived hepatocytes. Hepatocytes differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells may be characterized by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS), immunofluorescence analysis (IF), real time polymerase reaction (RT-PCR), and functional assays. The methods disclosed herein are able to differentiate high percentages of hepatocytes from human pluripotent stem cells using the disclosed methods. These differentiated cells may exhibit polygonal shape morphology, typical of hepatocytes, and may express hepatocyte specific genes. The differentiated cells may also be positive for definitive endoderm markers and hepatic markers.

The present disclosure relates to microfluidic devices adapted for facilitating cytometry analysis of particles flowing therethrough. In certain embodiments, the microfluidic devices have onboard data storage capabilities. In certain other embodiments, the microfluidic devices have onboard anticoagulants. In certain other embodiments, the microfluidic devices have onboard test and control channels. In certain other embodiments, the microfluidic devices have integrated collection media. In certain other embodiments, the microfluidic devices have multiple onboard test channels. In certain other embodiments, the microfluidic devices have localized temperature control. In certain other embodiments, the microfluidic devices have anatomy simulating regions. In certain other embodiments, the microfluidic devices have complete assay capabilities. In certain other embodiments, the microfluidic devices have dissociable sections. In certain other embodiments, the microfluidic devices have means for performing functional assays.

The present invention describes rapid methods to screen for biomolecular interactions in vivo based on protein fragment complementation assays (PCA). We have demonstrated an in vivo library-versus-library screening strategy that has numerous applications in the identification of novel protein-protein interactions and in directed evolution. Also we demonstrate the detection of protein-protein interactions starting with defined (full-length) cDNAs, and the concomitant generation of functional assays that provide initial validation of the cDNA products as being biologically relevant. Also, we screened a large cDNA collection using automated PCA, combined with quantitative detection of protein-protein complexes. The invention enables bait-vs.-library, library-vs.-library and defined gene screening in any type of cell or cellular context, and using a wide range of reporters and detection methods. The invention allows for identifying and validating genes involved in any cellular process and also provide assays to study effects of potential drugs, or gene knockouts on specific pathways.

A number of selected genes/gene products; Application of selected genes/gene products at mRNA or protein levels either singly or in combination; Application of selected genes/gene products at mRNA levels by any of the methods such as: Northern blotting, or reverse transcription and conventional PCR, or reverse transcription and quantitative real-time PCR or gene expression micro-arrays; Application of selected genes/gene products at protein levels by either Western Blotting, or immunohistochemistry, or ELISA or functional assays or gel electrophoretic separation followed by spectroscopic identification (proteamics); Application of selected genes/gene products at peptide levels derived from proteins and spectroscopic methods of identification; Detection of a hyperproliferative condition, a precancerous condition, a predisposition to develop hyperproliferative condition or cancer by applying any one of the selected genes either singly or in combination in breast tissue, breast fluid, breast cells, blood or any other tissues or cells of a mammal; Application of selected genes either singly or in combination with others for designing molecular therapeutic drugs to treat a hyperproliferative condition, a precancerous condition, or predisposition to develop hyperproliferative condition or cancer of the breast or any other tissue of a mammal; Application of selected genes either singly or in combination with others for following up of a therapeutic treatment to a hyperproliferative condition, or precancerous condition, or predisposition to a hyperproliferative condition, or cancer, of the breast or any other tissue of a mammal; Application of selected genes either singly or in combination with others for screening of therapeutic drugs to a hyperproliferative condition, or precancerous condition, or predisposition to a hyperproliferative condition, or cancer, of the breast or any other tissue of a mammal; and Application of selected genes either singly or in combination with others for designing vaccines to prevent a hyperproliferative condition, or precancerous condition, or predisposition to a hyperproliferative condition, or cancer, of the breast or any other tissue of a mammal.

The present invention relates to a novel assay or screen for identifying compounds with potential therapeutic value for the treatment of protein trafficking diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI). The usual approach involves expressing the mutant form of the gene in cells and assaying function in a multiwell format when cells are exposed to libraries of compounds. Although such functional assays are useful, they do not directly test the ability of a compound to correct defective trafficking of the protein. To address this a novel corrector screening assay for CF has been developed in which the appearance of the mutant protein at the cell surface is measured as the assay output. This assay was used to screen more than 3100 compounds. This novel screening approach to protein trafficking diseases is robust and general, and may enable the selection of molecules that can be translated rapidly to a clinical setting.

Provided herein are methods, compositions, and devices for the parallel handling of samples, such as cells or other biological samples. The methods, compositions, and devices are suited for multiple levels of analysis, including genetic and functional assays, of samples.

An antigen-specific T-cell response to alloantigen, tissue-specific antigen (e.g., islet antigen or other autoantigens involved in autoimmune disease), or self (or host) antigen is detected at an early stage of graft rejection or recurrent autoimmunity. An increase in cytotoxic lymphocyte gene (CLG) expression in peripheral blood is a risk factor for development of deleterious immune responses, which may be confirmed by functional assays. For example, the distinction between production of regulatory or inflammatory cytokines by T cells may dissect the type of immune response which is being induced: the survival of transplanted islet cells used to treat type 1 diabetes may be monitored, loss of the transplant by graft rejection (i.e., an alloantigen target) may be distinguished from autoimmune disease (i.e., a self or host antigen target).

A set of markers for melanoma cancer stem cells are provided. The cells can be prospectively isolated or identified from primary tumor samples, and possess the unique properties of cancer stem cells in functional assays for tumor initiation, cancer stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. In addition, cancer stem cells can be used as a predictor for disease progression. The CSC have the phenotype of being positive for expression CD271.

Disclosed are methods for generating high-density cell microarrays. The methods generally involve forming nanocraters on a permeable membrane surface and inoculating the nanocraters with cells, proteins, or other molecules. The high-density microarrazs of the invention are useful for large-scale, high throughput phenotypic determinations of gene activities.

AC133⁺/CD34⁺ cells isolated from human bone marrow can be stimulated with the pro-angiogenic factors VEGF, bFGF, and heparin, resulting in the generation of a population of cells that is adherent and possesses many of the same properties as mature endothelial cell types, HMVECs and HUVECs. The newly-formed, endothelial-like cells are referred as adherent endothelial precursor cells (aEPCs); these cells appear to be intermediates between haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and mature endothelial cells. Direct comparison of aEPCs with HMVECs and HUVECs in several in vitro functional assays, such as tube formation, migration, invasion, and expression of cells surface markers, reveals differences and similarities. In a Matrigel™ matrix angiogenesis assay the aEPCs form vessels in vivo and interact with human ovarian cancer cells. Mouse cell lines that are useful models for tumor endothelial cells are identified by determining mRNA and protein expression levels of murine homologs of tumor endothelial markers. Mouse cell lines selected as models for tumor endothelial cells can be used to evaluate pro-angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors.

A method for generating knock-out rodents including rats and mice is disclosed. The method involves mutagenizing a rodent with a mutagen, obtaining progeny of the mutagenized rodent, and identifying, among the progeny, one progeny that carries a loss-of-function modification of a target gene. The preferred mutagen for generating knock-out mice and rats is N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU). The preferred screening assays for identifying a progeny of a mutagenized animal that carries a loss-of-function modification are yeast truncation assays and yeast functional assays. Knock-out rodents generated by the method of the present invention are also within the scope of the invention.

A process for carrying out functional assays on test cells is described comprising the following steps: a) providing an array of measuring points which are separate from each other and to which in each case capture molecules to which said test cells can bind are immobilized, b) generating a mixture of said test cells and of reference particles which are capable of binding to said capture molecules and which are distinguishable from said test cells, c) contacting the mixture of step b) with the array so that test cells and reference particles can bind to each measuring point, and d) determining the ratio of bound test cells of interest to bound reference particles for at least some of the measuring points. In a further process, at least one measuring point with its assigned capture molecules is distributed between a plurality of measuring areas in the array, which are arranged at various sites in said array. In another process, the array is agitated, after contacting with the test cells and, where appropriate, the reference particles.