56 results about "Multicellular organism" patented technology

The present invention provides methods of screening for a molecule that inhibits the expression or activity of a protein encoded by a target gene which affects the fitness of a cell. The methods are based on a co-culture assay, and entail culturing together two cell populations, each of which is a population of identical cells, of the same species that differs substantially only in the expression or activity of the gene to be targeted or its encoded protein and the presence or absence of a reporter gene. The screen can be applied to cultured cells, unicellular and multicellular organisms. Manipulating the expression or activity of the target gene sensitizes the host to a molecule which inhibits the target gene or its encoded protein such that the cell or organism comprising the manipulated target gene grows at a different rate from the cell or organism comprising the unmanipulated gene in response to exposure to the molecule. The methods of the invention can be used for identifying drugs, proteins or any other molecules that inhibit the function of proteins encoded by target genes.

The invention provides a computer readable medium or media, having: (a) a first data structure relating a plurality of reactants to a plurality of reactions from a first cell, each of said reactions comprising a reactant identified as a substrate of the reaction, a reactant identified as a product of the reaction and a stoichiometric coefficient relating said substrate and said product; (b) a second data structure relating a plurality of reactants to a plurality of reactions from a second cell, each of said reactions comprising a reactant identified as a substrate of the reaction, a reactant identified as a product of the reaction and a stoichiometric coefficient relating said substrate and said product; (c) a third data structure relating a plurality of intra-system reactants to a plurality of intra-system reactions between said first and second cells, each of said intra-system reactions comprising a reactant identified as a substrate of the reaction, a reactant identified as a product of the reaction and a stoichiometric coefficient relating said substrate and said product; (d) a constraint set for said plurality of reactions for said first, second and third data structures, and (e) commands for determining at least one flux distribution that minimizes or maximizes an objective function when said constraint set is applied to said first and second data structures, wherein said at least one flux distribution is predictive of a physiological function of said first and second cells. The first, second and third data structures also can include a plurality of data structures. Additionally provided is a method for predicting a physiological function of a multicellular organism. The method includes: (a) providing a first data structure relating a plurality of reactants to a plurality of reactions from a first cell, each of said reactions comprising a reactant identified as a substrate of the reaction, a reactant identified as a product of the reaction and a stoichiometric coefficient relating said substrate and said product; (b) providing a second data structure relating a plurality of reactants to a plurality of reactions from a second cell, each of said reactions comprising a reactant identified as a substrate of the reaction, a reactant identified as a product of the reaction and a stoichiometric coefficient relating said substrate and said product; (c) providing a third data structure relating a plurality of intra-system reactants to a plurality of intra-system reactions between said first and second cells, each of said intra-system reactions comprising a reactant identified as a substrate of the reaction, a reactant identified as a product of the reaction and a stoichiometric coefficient relating said substrate and said product; (d) providing a constraint set for said plurality of reactions for said first, second and third data structures; (e) providing an objective function, and (f) determining at least one flux distribution that minimizes or maximizes an objective function when said constraint set is applied to said first and second data structures, wherein said at least one flux distribution is predictive of a physiological function of said first and second cells.

A method of using elongate multicellular organisms in conjunction with a specialized flow cytometer for drug discovery and compound screening. A stable, optically detectable linear marker pattern on each organism is used to construct a longitudinal map of each organism as it passes through the analysis region of the flow cytometer. This pattern is used to limit complex data analysis to particular regions of each organism thereby simplifying and speeding analysis. The longitudinal marker pattern can be used to alter signal detection modes at known regions of the organism to enhance sensitivity and overall detection effectiveness. A repeating pattern can also be used to add a synchronous element to data analysis. The marker patterns are established using known methods of molecular biology to express various indicator molecules. Inherent features of the organism can be rendered detectable to serve as marker patterns.

The invention relates to a non-human multicellular organism carrying a dominant lethal genetic system, the lethal effect of which is conditional, wherein the lethal effect of the lethal system occurs in the natural environment of the organism.

An exemplary embodiment of a reversibly closable bag suitable for the cultivation of cells and/or tissues can be provided. The exemplary bag can comprise at least one reversibly closable aperture in the bag wall, and a surface-increasing convection arrangement inside the bag. The convection arrangement is capable to generate and/or modify a convection in a fluid within said bag when at least one of the fluid, the bag, and the convection arrangement is agitated. For example, the surface increasing convection arrangement can be at least one blade, at least one particulate filler and/or at least one surface-increasing substrate being made of a single mould. A system can also be provided comprising at least two bags, whereas the bags may be interconnected via at least one aperture in their bag wall, and a cultivation process using such a bag or system, in which at least one type of cells, tissue, tissue-like cell cultures, organs, organ-like cell cultures, or multicellular organisms are cultivated in the presence of at least one fluid or solid medium provided for growing and/or cultivating the aforesaid culture.

The invention provides a device having a surface and a functional layer associated with the surface, where the functional layer includes particles having a structure substituted with a functional group, where the functional group is adapted to modify a property of the device, the device is sufficiently biocompatible for application to a multicellular organism and the particles have an average diameter of about 5 nm to about 10 microns.

Current technologies allow the generation of artificial DNA molecules and/or the ability to alter the DNA sequences of existing DNA molecules. With a careful coding scheme and arrangement, it is possible to encode important information as an artificial DNA strand and store it in a living host safely and permanently. This inventive technology can be used to identify origins and protect R&D investments. It can also be used in environmental research to track generations of organisms and observe the ecological impact of pollutants. Today, there are microorganisms that can survive under extreme conditions. As well, it is advantageous to consider multicellular organisms as hosts for stored information. These living organisms can provide as memory housing and protection for stored data or information. The present invention provides well for data storage in a living organism wherein at least one DNA sequence is encoded to represent data and incorporated into a living organism.

An exemplary embodiment of a culture vessel suitable is provided for a cultivation of cells and/or tissues. The exemplary vessel comprising at least one reversibly closable aperture in the vessel wall, and at least one surface-increasing substrate within the vessel, with the substrate being made of a single mold. According to another exemplary embodiment, a system can be provided comprising at least two vessels being interconnected via at least one aperture in their vessel wall, and a cultivation process using such a vessel or system, in which at least one type of cells, tissue, tissue-like cell cultures, organs, organ-like cell cultures, or multicellular organisms may be cultivated in the presence of at least one fluid or solid medium, e.g., provided for growing and/or cultivating the culture.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNAs that have important regulatory roles in multicellular organisms. The public miRNA database contains 321 human miRNA sequences, 234 of which have been experimentally verified. To explore the possibility that additional miRNAs are present in the human genome, we have developed an experimental approach called miRNA serial analysis of gene expression (miRAGE) and used it to perform the largest experimental analysis of human miRNAs to date. Sequence analysis of 273,966 small RNA tags from human colorectal cells allowed us to identify 200 known mature miRNAs, 133 novel miRNA candidates, and 112 previously uncharacterized miRNA* forms. To aid in the evaluation of candidate miRNAs, we disrupted the Dicer locus in three human colorectal cancer cell lines and examined known and novel miRNAs in these cells. The miRNAs are useful to diagnose and treat cancers.

A method of measuring the biological age of a multicellular organism is disclosed. In one embodiment this method comprises the steps of obtaining a sample of nucleic acid isolated from the organism's organ, tissue or cell and determining the expression pattern of a panel of sequences within the nucleic acid that have been predetermined by either increase or decrease in response to biological aging of the organ, tissue or cell. A method of obtaining biomarkers of aging is also disclosed. This method comprises the step of comparing a gene expression profile of a young multicellular organism subject's organ, tissue or cells; a gene expression profile from a chronologically aged subject's organ, tissue or cell; and a gene expression profile from a chronologically aged but biologically younger subject's organ, tissue or cell and identifying gene expression alterations that are observed when comparing the young subjects and the chronologically aged subjects and are not observed or reduced in magnitude when comparing the young subjects and the chronologically aged but biologically younger subjects.

The instant invention provides methods for determining, predicting and characterizing the genetic variability of a range of organisms, including, e.g., viruses, microbes, cells and multicellular organisms. Accordingly, the invention provides methods for identifying virulent pathogens, genetic mutations within pathogens that are relevant to animal health, and methods and compositions for prophylactic or therapeutic intervention against such pathogens.

A tissue of a multicellular organism is gradually dried during cultivation. After the tissue has been completely dehydrated, water is added to the tissue for its recovery. The tissue of the multicellular organism is submerged in an insect body fluid medium treated with heat, and dried for 48 hours or more.

Our research conducted with the genome sequences of more than 250 species of organisms (including viral, microbial, and multi-cellular organisms, and human) results in the discovery that the occurrence of a particular subsequence (the so-called “motifs” or “n-mers,” (n being the length of the subsequences), which can be up to 25 and higher) in the genome of a particular species can be considered as a nearly random event; and that the occurrences of a particular subsequence in the genome sequences of different species can be considered as nearly independent events (with the exception of the cases where extremely closely related species are compared). The set of subsequences that occur in a particular species' genome can therefore be used as a genomic “fingerprint” of this species. This discovery leads to the concept of utilizing a set of pseudo-randomly designed subsequences for species identification or discrimination. These subsequences (probes, primers, motifs, n-mers) can be used with hybridization-based technologies (including, but not limited to, the microarray or PCR technologies) and any other technology allow to identity the fact of presence/absence of particular subsequence in genomic DNA for identification of species. The same approach can also be used to identify individuals of the same species (including the human species), to estimate the genome size of unknown organisms, and to estimate the total genome size in samples containing several viral, microbial, and eukaryotic genomes. The identification methods currently in use for these purposes require sequencing of the genomic sequences of the species or the individuals of interest. The introduction of the proposed computational method eradicates such requirement, and will tremendously reduce the expense of these tests.

Disclosed herein are components, systems and methods for regulating population of multicellular organisms, for example insects.

Diacylglycerol (DAG) plays a central role in both the synthesis of complex lipids and in intracellular signaling; diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) catalyzes the phosphorylation of DAG, which yields phosphatidic acid. A family of DGKs has been identified in multicellular organisms over the past few years, but the physiological function(s) of this diversity is not clear. One clue has come from the Drosophila DGK2, rdgA, since mutations in this gene cause retinal degeneration. The present invention relates to a novel DGK, designated DGKι, which was isolated from human retina and brain libraries. DGKι contains two cysteine-rich repeats, a region similar to the phosphorylation site domain of MARCKS, a conserved catalytic domain, and four ankyrin repeats at its C-terminus. By primary structure, DGKι is most similar to human DGKζ and Drosophila rdgA. A>12 kb mRNA for DGKι was detected only in brain and retina among the tissues examined. In cells transfected with the DGKι cDNA, an approximately 130 kDa protein was detected by immunoassay, and activity assays demonstrated that it encodes a functional DAG kinase. The protein was found to be in both the cytoplasm and nucleus, with this localization controlled by PKC isoforms alpha and gamma. The gene encoding DGKι was localized to human chromosome 7q32.3-33, which is known to be a locus for an inherited form of retinitis pigmentosa. These results have defined a novel isoform of DAG kinase, which may have important cellular functions in the retina and brain.

The invention is related to a method and a complex of DNA constructs for providing an increased level of control of transgene segregation in Sexually Reproducing Multicellular Organisms (SRMOs), which are prone to out-crossing with their wild-type or cultivated relatives. The method and constructs allow the farmer to reuse the transgenic crop. without risk. The RBF system comprises one or more Transgenes of Interest (TGIs) encoding desired gene products, one or more Blocking Constructs (BC), and one or more user-controlled means for recovering the blocked functions. The BC has the capacity of blocking at least one function essential for the survival and/or reproduction of the SRMO. Preferably more than one BC flanking the TGIs are used. The BC may be located in close proximity to the TGI, preferably in an intron or flanking the TGIs. The blocked function is recoverable by user-controlled interventions preferably applicable under confined conditions. The intervention is combined with one or more Recovering Constructs (RC). Different types of RBF systems are disclosed. The Double and Triple and Segregating RBF systems and intron-inserted BC are the preferred embodiments of the present invention. The Transgenic Inserts (TI) of the Triple RBF system and their interactions are shown in FIG. 10.

Methods for homologously recombining an exogenous nucleic acid into a target cell genome of a multicellular organism, e.g., an animal, are provided. In the subject methods, a targeting vector that includes a linearizing endonuclease site, e.g., a recombinase recognition site, and a homologous recombination integrating element, is contacted with the multicellular organism, e.g., via systemic or local administration, such that the target cell(s) of the multicellular organism takes up the targeting vector. The targeting vector is one that has been linearized by a linearizing endonuclease, e.g., a recombinase, at some point prior to the homologous recombination event, e.g., prior to or after contact with the multicellular organism. Following uptake by the target cell(s), the integrating element then homologously recombines into the target cell genome from the linearized targeting vector. Also provided are targeting vectors, systems and kits for use in practicing the subject methods.

The present invention provides methods of protecting plants and other multicellular organisms from pests. The methods use substituted organic acid or substituted anthracene compounds, which act to alter the activity of one or more anion transporters in the pests. Among the pests treated are nematodes and insects. Methods of screening for such compounds are also provided.