15621 results about "Individual animal" patented technology

Disclosed are bioluminescent bioreporter integrated circuit devices that detect selected analytes in fluids when implanted in the body of an animal. The device comprises a bioreporter that has been genetically engineered to contain a nucleic acid segment that comprises a cis-activating response element that is responsive to the selected substance operably linked to a gene encoding a bioluminescent reporter polypeptide. In preferred embodiments, the target analyte is glucose, glucagons, or insulin. Exposure of the bioreporter to the target substance causes the response element to up-regulate the nucleic acid sequence encoding the reporter polypeptide to produce a luminescent response that is detected and quantitated. In illustrative embodiments, the bioreporter device is encapsulated on an integrated circuit that is capable of detecting the emitted light, processing the resultant signal, and then remotely reporting the results. Also disclosed are controlled drug delivery systems capable of being directly or indirectly controlled by the detection device that provide drugs such as insulin to the animal in reponse to the amount of target analyte present in the body fluids.

Tandem pore domain weak inward rectifying K+ (TWIK) channel nucleic acids and proteins that have been isolated from Drosophila melanogaster and Leptinotarsa are described. The TWIK channel nucleic acids and proteins can be used to genetically modify metazoan invertebrate organisms, such as insects, coelomates, and pseudocoelomates, or cultured cells, resulting in TWIK channel expression or mis-expression. The genetically modified organisms or cells can be used in screening assays to identify candidate compounds which are potential pesticidal agents or therapeutics that interact with TWIK channel proteins. They can also be used in methods for studying TWIK channel activity and identifying other genes that modulate the function of, or interact with, the TWIK channel gene.

Methods and compositions for detecting and localizing light originating from a mammal are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for tracking light emission to selected regions, as well as for tracking entities within the mammal. In addition, animal models for disease states are disclosed, as are methods for localizing and tracking the progression of disease or a pathogen within the animal, and for screening putative therapeutic compounds effective to inhibit the disease or pathogen.

The invention concerns HER<HIL><PDAT>2</BOLD><PDAT>-transgenic non-human mammals, animal models for screening drug candidates for the treatment of diseases and disorders associated with the overexpression of HER<HIL><PDAT>2</BOLD><PDAT>. In particular, the invention concerns animal models designed to test drug candidates for the treatment of HER<HIL><PDAT>2</BOLD><PDAT>-overexpressing cancers, including breast cancer, that are not responding or poorly responding to current treatments.</PTEXT>

This invention relates to humanized antibodies and antibody preparations produced from transgenic non-human animals. The non-human animals are genetically engineered to contain one or more humanized immunoglobulin loci which are capable of undergoing gene rearrangement and gene conversion in the transgenic non-human animals to produce diversified humanized immunoglobulins. The present invention further relates to novel sequences, recombination vectors and transgenic vectors useful for making these transgenic animals. The humanized antibodies of the present invention have minimal immunogenicity to humans and are appropriate for use in the therapeutic treatment of human subjects.

Improved flow cytometer system particularly adapted to use for sex-selected sperm sorting include enhanced sheath fluid and other strategies which minimize stress on the sperm cells, including a 2.9 percent sodium citrate sheath solution for bovine species and a hepes bovine gamete media for equine species. Improved collection systems and techniques for the process are described so that commercial applications of sperms samples as well as the resulting animals may be achieved.

A novel 3' gene trap cassette is described that does not encode a marker conferring antibiotic resistance and can be used to efficiently trap and identify cellular genes. Vectors incorporating the presently 3' gene trap cassette find particular application in gene discovery, the production of transgenic cells and animals, and gene activation.

This invention comprises administering to a human or animal in need of treatment an effective amount of an antioxidant lipoic acid derivative and/or pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates thereof for the treatment or prevention of pathological (inflammatory, proliferative and degenerative diseases, e.g. diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and chronic viral diseases) and non-pathological (e.g. skin aging and wrinkle formation) conditions caused by oxidative damage. Methods of synthesizing novel antioxidant lipoic acid derivatives and their use in preventing or treating diseases or conditions caused by oxidative stress and other free radical mediated conditions are described. Another aspect of this invention is the use of these antioxidant compositions for the protection of skin from damage caused by ultraviolet radiation and dessication, and to provide improved skin feel by desquamating, cleansing and clarifying the skin. The compositions described in this invention increase cellular viability of epidermal cells, promote cytoprotection, and decrease the production of inflammatory mediators such as inflammatory cytokines in these cells. The antioxidant compositions are incorporated into sunscreen products, soap, moisturizing lotions, skin toners, and other skin care products.

An implant for the closing of defect openings in the body of a human or animal is proposed, with a load-bearing structure which, in a first operating state (primary form), has a great ratio of length to transverse extent along an axis (9) and, at least in a further operating state (secondary form), has a much smaller ratio of length to transverse extent along the axis (9), the load-bearing structure (1) being capable of being reversibly transformed from the secondary form into the primary form by exertion of a force against elastic material forces, the secondary form assuming approximately the form of a double disc with a proximal disc element (7) and a distal disc element (6) for receiving the surroundings of the defect opening between the disc elements, and the load-bearing structure (1) being formed essentially in one piece without joining connections, and a placement system.

An animal feedlot management system is disclosed, wherein each feed delivery vehicle employed therein uses real-time virtual reality (VR) modelling and coordinate acquisition techniques supported upon an Internet-based (i.e., Cyberspace) communications platform in order to carry out various types of feedlot operations. Each feedlot vehicle has an on-board computer system which includes a VR subsystem, for accessing a VR database maintaining information representative of a VR model of the feedlot and the objects present therein (eg., tagged animals, pens, alley ways, feedbunks, buildings, vehicles, etc.

Recombinant Factor VIII can be produced in relatively large quantities on a continuous basis from mammalian cells in the absence of any animal-derived proteins such as albumin by culturing the cells in a protein free medium supplemented with polyol copolymers, preferably in the presence of trace metals such as copper. In very preferred embodiments, the medium includes a polyglycol known as Pluronic F-68, copper sulfate, ferrous sulfate/EDTA complex, and salts of trace metals such as manganese, molybdenum, silicon, lithium and chromium. With an alternative medium which included trace copper ions alone (without polyol copolymers) we were also able to enhance the productivity of Factor VIII in recombinant cells such as BHK cells that are genetically engineered to express Factor VIII.

A method of communicating with an ingestible capsule includes detecting the location of the ingestible capsule, focusing a multi-sensor acoustic array on the ingestible capsule, and communicating an acoustic information exchange with the ingestible capsule via the multi-sensor acoustic array. The ingestible capsule includes a sensor that receives a stimulus inside the gastrointestinal tract of an animal, a bidirectional acoustic information communications module that transmits an acoustic information signal containing information from the sensor, and an acoustically transmissive encapsulation that substantially encloses the sensor and communications module, wherein the acoustically transmissive encapsulation is of ingestible size. The multi-sensor array includes a plurality of acoustic transducers that receive an acoustic signal from a movable device, and a plurality of delays, wherein each delay is coupled to a corresponding acoustic transducer. Each delay may be adjusted according to a phase of a signal received by the corresponding acoustic transducer.

An apparatus for and a method of performing an animal-related action regarding at least a part of the body of an animal is proposed. The apparatus includes a cleaning tool (15), adapted to be brought into contact with the part of the body, a support (16, 17) provided to support the cleaning tool (15), and a drive element (18, 24) provided to move the cleaning tool (15) along the contour of the part of the body. A sensor (34) is provided to sense the contact of the cleaning tool (15) and the animal. Furthermore, a processor (36) is provided to determine the position of the part in response to the sensor.

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a glucose sensing device for implantation within subcutaneous tissue of an animal body. In one embodiment, the glucose sensing device includes a first chamber containing first magnetic particles and a hydrocolloid solution (for example, ConA-dextran hydrocolloid) wherein the first magnetic particles are dispersed in the hydrocolloid solution. In operation, glucose within the animal may enter and exit the first chamber and the hydrocolloid solution changes in response to the presence or concentration of glucose within the first chamber. The sensing device also includes a reference chamber containing second magnetic particles and a reference solution wherein the second magnetic particles are dispersed in the reference solution. The reference solution (for example, oil or alcohol compounds) includes a known or fixed viscosity. The reference solution may also be a hydrocolloid solution (for example, ConA-dextran hydrocolloid). The first and/or second magnetic particles may include amine-terminated particles, at least one rare earth element (for example, neodymium or samarium), and/or a ferromagnetic material.

The present invention relates to a device for picking up biological electrical signals, and more precisely auditory evoked potentials generated by acoustic and/or electrical and/or mechanical stimulation of the cochlear, or of a portion of the auditory system in man or animal. The implantable device for measuring or picking up auditory evoked potentials comprises at least two extracochlear pickup electrodes connected to the inputs of a differential amplifier.

This invention provides a method for deriving precursors to pluripotent non-embryonic stem (P-PNES) and pluripotent non-embryonic stem (PNES) cell lines. The present invention involves nuclear transfer of genetic material from a somatic cell into an enucleated, zona pellucida free human ooplastoid having a reduced amount of total cytoplasm. The present invention provides a new source for obtaining human and other animal pluripotent stem cells. The source utilizes as starting materials an oocyte and a somatic cell as the starting materials but does not require the use, creation and/or destruction of embryos or fetal tissue and does not in any way involve creating a cloned being. The oocyte never becomes fertilized and never develops into an embryo. Rather, portions of the oocyte cytoplasm are extracted and combined with the nuclear material of individual mature somatic cells in a manner that precludes embryo formation. Murine, bovine, and human examples of the procedure are demonstrated. Subsequently, the newly constructed P-PNES cells are cultured in vitro and give rise to PNES cells and cell colonies. Methods are described for culturing the P-PNES cells to yield purified PNES cells which have the ability to differentiate into cells derived from mesoderm, endoderm, and ectoderm germ layers. Methods are described for maintaining and proliferating PNES cells in culture in an undifferentiated state. Methods and results are described for analysis and validation of pluripotency of PNES cells including cell morphology, cell surface markers, pluripotent tumor development in SCID mouse, karyotyping, immortality in in vitro culture.