102 results about "Intact cell" patented technology

A device for individually analysing cells of interest, comprising (a) a channel for receiving the contents of a cell of interest, wherein the channel has an input end and an output end, and (b) a cell trapping site in proximity to the input end of the channel, wherein (i) the input end of the channel is adapted such that an intact cell of interest cannot enter the channel; and (ii) the channel contains one or more analytical components for analysing the contents of the cell of interest. In use, a cell is applied to the device, where it is trapped by the cell trapping means. The cell cannot enter the channel intact, but its contents can be released in situ to enter the channel's input end. The contents can then move down the channel, towards the output end, and they encounter the immobilised reagents, thereby permitting analysis of the cell contents.

A method for preserving and processing nucleic acids located within a blood sample is disclosed, wherein a blood sample containing nucleic acids is treated to reduce both blood cell lysis and nuclease activity within the blood sample. The treatment of the sample aids in increasing the integrity and amount of cellular nucleic acids that can be identified and tested while avoiding contamination of the isolated nucleic acids with cell-free nucleic acids.

Compositions and methods have been developed for transporting compounds across membranes with little or no toxicity and, when targeted through the appropriate routes of administration (i.e., lung, gastrointestinal (GI) tract), little or no immune stimulation. The compositions can mediate cellular delivery of compounds that would otherwise not enter cells and enhance the intracellular delivery of compounds that would otherwise enter cells inefficiently. The methods are carried out by contacting a proximal face of a lipid bilayer or membrane (e.g. the surface of an intact cell) with a complex containing a compound (e.g., a therapeutic agent) and a diketopiperazine (DKP). DKP and the compound are non-covalently associated with each other or covalently bound to each other.

The subject invention provides liposome formulations that are capable of specifically targeting cell types. The subject invention also provides for the encapsulation of new chemical entities (NCE) or other drug candidate molecules (DCM) within liposomes that specifically target a particular cell type. The subject invention, advantageously, solubilizes compounds, with low solubility in aqueous environments, and permits screening of these compounds against intact cells for biological activity in the absence of detergents that can damage cell membranes. Also provided are methods of preparing liposome formulations that target a specific cell type and methods of delivering therapeutic agents to target cells.

The instant invention provides a method for establishing safety profiles for chemical compounds, as well as pharmacological profiling said method comprising (A) testing the effects of said chemical compounds on the amount and/or post-translational modifications of two or more macromolecules in intact cells; (B) constructing a pharmacological profile based on the results of said tests; and (C) comparing said profile to the profile(s) of drugs with established safety characteristics. Additionally, the invention is also directed to a composition comprising an assay panel, said panel comprising at least one high-content assay for the amount and/or post-translational modification of a protein and at least one high-content assay for the amount and/or subcellular location of a protein-protein interaction.

The embodiments described herein pertain to cells, and methods for preparing cells, that can be used as biocatalysts by altering enzymes that compete for a substrate or product of a pathway of interest such that the targeted enzyme is sensitive to a site-specific protease, which protease is expressed but relocated in the cell to a site where it is not in contact with the targeted enzyme in the intact cell. Upon cell lysis, the protease contacts the target enzyme, which is then inactivated by protease cleavage.

The present invention provides methods for preparing cells with highly condensed chromosomes, such as sperm, and methods for detecting and quantifying specific cellular target molecules in intact cells. Specifically, methods are provided for detecting chromosomes and chromosomal abnormalities, including aneuploidy, in intact cells using fluorescence in situ hybridization of cells in suspension, such as sperm cells.

The invention provides a driver of a digital confocal microscope optical section collecting device. The driver comprises a single-chip system, a sub-division driver, a stepping motor and a displacement driving device, and the driver arranged on the microscope and controlled by a computer drives a stage to acquire the sequenced optical section images of cells on the stage by an image detector. The method for the driver to acquire the optical section images is to carry out the submicron equidistant stepping control on the stage of the microscope by setting the section distance, collected section number and other parameters. By using the definition-based evaluation for the function value and the change rate thereof as the evaluation standards, the method of the invention is capable of automatically focusing on cells and locating the upper and lower edges, and acquiring the sequenced optical section images of intact cells.

The present invention provides methods of detecting and/or quantifying specific cellular target molecules in intact cells. The present invention further provides methods of processing an intact cell to facilitate in situ hybridization for use in flow cytometry.

The strain of micro-organism Lactobacillus fermentum ME-3 is a novel anti-microbial and anti-oxidative probiotic. It has a high anti-microbial effect on Escherichia coli, Shigella sonnei, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, and moderate activity against Helicobacter pylori strains. The strain of micro-organism possesses Mn-superoxide dismutase and both its lysates and intact cells have high anti-oxidative activity, increasing the glutathione red-ox ratio in blood sera and able to capture toxic hydroxyl radicals. The strain of micro-organism could be used as a probiotic for the production of functional food (yoghurt, cheese) and non-comestibles (tablets, capsules) for the prophylaxis of intestinal and uroinfections, both for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, caused by prolonged oxidative stress.

The present invention relates to the visualization of acidic organelles based upon organelle enzyme activity. The organelle substrates of the invention are specific for enzyme activity of the organelle and label these organelles, such as lysosomes, rendering them visible and easily observed. Substrates of the present invention include substrates that produce a fluorescent signal. The fluorogenic acidic organelle enzyme substrates of this invention are designed to provide high fluorescence at low pH values and are derivatized to permit membrane permeation through both outer and organelle membranes of intact cells and can be used for staining cells at very low concentrations. They can be used for monitoring enzyme activity in cells at very low concentrations and are not toxic to living cells or tissues.

The present invention provides simple, rapid methods and procedures for analyzing cells, hereunder quantitative and qualitative assessment of cells, such as viability. The present invention relates to the use of various optionally substituted reporter compounds particularly detectable upon their reaction with thiol-containing species present in higher concentrations in intact (e.g., living) cells than in non-intact (e.g., dead, stressed and apoptotic) cells. The present invention also relates to the use of various optionally substituted reporter compounds particularly detectable upon their reaction with species present in intact and/or non-intact cells. Moreover, the present invention relates to the use of measuring techniques and/or instruments coupled with the use of various optionally substituted reporter compounds. The invention further relates to compositions used in methods for analyzing cells, such as a composition comprising N-(7-dimethylamino-4-methyl-3-coumarinyl)-maleimide (DACM).

The preparation of extracts from olive fruits, olive tree leaves, olive oil as well as olive-press waste. The isolation of natural products from these extracts and the evaluation of the DNA protective antioxidant activity of the extracts and the purified compounds on intact cells.

The present invention provides for a method of implementing fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) or other cellular analysis processes using intact cells within a microfluidic, chip-based, apparatus. The invention further provides for a method of cellular immobilization within a microfluidic device. Also provided is a method for automated analysis of FISH or other cellular analysis using discrete colormetric probes.

The present invention provides methods for performing pharmacological profiling of a chemical compound, in particular to improve drug safety and efficacy at an early stage in the drug development process. The chemical compound may be a test compound, drug lead, known drug or toxicant. The compound is profiled against a panel of assays. Preferred embodiments of the invention include high-content assays for protein-protein interactions. The compositions and methods of the invention can be used to identify pathways underlying drug efficacy, safety, and toxicity; and to effect attrition of novel compounds with undesirable or toxic properties. The compositions and methods of the invention can also be used to identify new uses of therapeutic agents, to screen libraries of chemical compounds, to perform lead optimization, and to perform studies of structure-activity relationships in the context of intact cells. The compositions and methods of the invention can be applied to any test compound, drug, drug target, pathway, and therapeutic indication.

Populations of Salmonella in animals may be substantially reduced by treatment with a vaccine composition which has been produced by exposing whole, intact cells of a Salmonella species to irradiation with an electron beam under conditions effective to kill the cells. The electron beam irradiated cells of Salmonella are effective for stimulating protective immune responses in the animals against the Salmonella. Induction of these immune responses significantly reduces or eliminates the colonization of the animal by the Salmonella, and consequently reduces or eliminates the shedding of Salmonella in the feces of the animals.

Method for screening for a non-hormone agent potentially useful to treat a hormone disorder The method involves contacting a potential agent with a system containing a cellular component and a translation factor. The component and factor interact with one another in an intact normal cell in a manner responsive to the hormone to cause a modulation of translation in the cell. The method involves determining whether the agent causes a modulation of translation by the component and the factor analogous to that which occurs in intact cells in response to the hormone.

The present invention is directed to compositions and methods for the induction of immune responses in mammals against enveloped animal viruses. More particularly, the invention provides vaccine compositions containing multiple MHC allotypes. By generating an immune response against these MHC molecules, virus or virus-infected cells expressing foreign MHC molecules can be attacked prior to infection of cells in the immunized host. In some embodiments, the vaccine compositions contain viral antigens and adjuvants as well. The vaccine compositions may comprise intact cells, cell-derived membrane preparations or recombinantly or chemically produced MHC molecules or fragments thereof.

Provided herein is an all-in-one saliva collection apparatus that collects saliva to allow for the filtration of saliva in order to separate saliva components, such as extracellular proteins and nucleic acids that are not present in intact cells, from the intact cells and debris remaining in the extracted sample. The filtered saliva samples can be aliquoted into two fractions for protein and/or nucleic acid analysis. The present invention further describes long term storage at ambient temperatures of filtered salivary nucleic acids, and long term storage at ambient temperatures of filtered salivary proteins added to an ethanol solution. The filtered cell-free saliva samples have diagnostic usefulness.

A composition comprising intact minicells that contain a drug molecule is useful for targeted drug delivery. One targeted drug delivery method employs bispecific ligands, comprising a first arm that carries specificity for a bacterially derived minicell surface structure and a second arm that carries specificity for a mammalian cell surface receptor, to target drug-loaded minicells to specific mammalian cells and to cause endocytosis of the minicells by the mammalian cells. Another drug delivery method exploits the natural ability of phagocytic mammalian cells to engulf minicells without the use of bispecific ligands.