Abstract:
Non-human animals, and methods and compositions for making and using the same, are provided, wherein said non-human animals comprise a humanization of an endogenous cluster of differentiation (CD) gene, in particular a humanization of a CD47 gene. Said non-human animals may be described, in some embodiments, as having a genetic modification to an endogenous CD47 gene so that said non-human animals express a CD47 polypeptide that includes a human portion and a non-human portion (e.g., a murine portion).
Abstract:
In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of treating a subject suffering from a Mycobacterium infection by administering to the subject a therapeutically-effective amount of a degradative autophagy agonist or a secretory autophagy antagonist. In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of treating a subject suffering from one or more diseases selected from the group consisting of a Mycobacterium infection, an inflammatory disorder, an immune disorder, a cancer and a neurodegenerative disorder by administering to the subject a therapeutically-effective amount of a TBK-1 antagonist (e.g. BX795 or amlexanox). Related pharmaceutical compositions, diagnostic and screening assays and kits are also provided.
Abstract:
An antigenic composition comprising an antigen and an effective adjuvant, the adjuvant comprising isolated or recombinant YscF, a YscF fragment, trYscF, or homologs thereof. A method of inducing an enhanced immune response comprising administering an antigen and an effective adjuvant comprising isolated or recombinant YscF, a YscF fragment, trYscF, or homologs thereof. An antigenic composition produced by a process comprising providing a host cell with an expression vector containing a nucleotide sequence encoding YscF, a YscF fragment, trYscF, or YscF homolog capable of acting as an adjuvant; expressing the nucleotide sequence in the host cell to produce the protein; and mixing the collected protein with a suitable excipient.
Abstract:
Methods for treating aortic aneurysm, such as abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), by either activating TLR2 signaling or suppressing TLR4 signaling and methods for diagnosing aortic aneurysm and assessing aortic aneurysm treatment efficacy in, e.g., a laboratory animal, based on the amount of an immune cell population such as the regulatory T cell population and/or the M1 and M2 macrophage populations. Also disclosed herein are pharmaceutical compositions for use in treating aortic aneurysm, the composition comprising a TLR2 agonist, a TLR4 antagonist, or a combination thereof.
Abstract:
Die Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren zur Charakterisierung, insbesondere Quantifizierung, von durch, aus dem Gewebe in die Blutbahn rezirkulierten, Blutmakrophagen intrazellulär aus Gewebe aufgenommenen molekularen Marker(n), wobei folgende Schritte durchgeführt werden: Anwenden eines Mittels auf Vollblut, welches das Verklumpen und/oder Gerinnen von Vollblut hemmt; Durchführen einer Selektion und/oder Anreicherung und/oder Abtrennung von Blutmakrophagen bzw. Blutmakrophagen enthaltenden Leukozytenpopulationen aus dem Vollblut; Durchführung einer Perforation und/oder Lyse der selektierten Blutmakrophagen bzw. Blutmakrophagen enthaltenden Leukozytenpopulationen, gegebenenfalls nach vorheriger Permeabilisierung; Durchführung einer qualitativen und quantitativen Bestimmung von nichtblutmakrophageneigenen Markern, nämlich aus Gewebe stammenden molekularen Markern, nach vorheriger Perforation und/oder Lyse der Blutmakrophagen bzw. Blutmakrophagen enthaltenden Leukozytenpopulationen, sowie eine Anordnung zur Durchführung des Verfahrens.
Abstract:
The present invention discloses that innate immune responses to crystalline cholesterol plays a critical a role in directing the chronic inflammatory state associated with the development of atherosclerotic lesions. Hence, identifying the sensor system(s) that both detects and directs the inflammatory response to crystalline cholesterol will provide an opportunity to develop novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of atherosclerosis.
Abstract:
Cell-based methods for rapid real time assay of a presence of Clostridium difficile toxin and/or cells are provided, using an assay having a toxin-enhancing antibody and a sensitive cell line carrying Fc?R receptors, and kits for this assay. An ultrasensitive cell- based immunocytotoxicity assay for detecting less then 1 pg/ml of C. difficile toxins in clinical samples. The assay is simple, has a turnaround time of approximately 3 hours, and detects less than about 1 pg/ml of toxin A. The presence of C. difficile toxins in the fecal and serum specimens of experimentally infected piglets was detected with this assay. The cellular effects of TcdA were substantially enhanced via an opsonizing antibody through Fc gamma receptor I (Fc?RI)-mediated endocytosis. A TcdA-specific monoclonal antibody, A1H3, was found to significantly enhance the cytotoxicity of TcdA to macrophages and monocytes. The A 1H3 -dependent enhancement of glucosyltransferase activity, cytoskeleton disruption, and TNF-a production induced by TcdA was demonstrated also in RAW 264.7 cells. The interaction of Fc?RI with A1H3 underlay the antibody-dependent enhancement of cellular effects of TcdA. Expression of Fc?RI in CHO cells strikingly enhanced their sensitivity to TcdA complexed with A1H3. Presence of A1H3 facilitated the cell surface recruitment of TcdA, conxributing to the antibody-dependent, Fc?RI -mediated enhancement of TcdA activity. The effect of chlorpromazine and endosomal acidification inhibitors indicated an important role of the endocytic pathway in AlH3-dependent enhancement of TcdA activity. Methods for high level recombinant expression of C. difficile toxins in Bacillus cells, and vectors for expression, strains of Bacillus carrying the vectors are provided.
Abstract:
Methods and compositions for diagnosing the presence of a cancer cell in an individual are provided. Methods and compositions for identifying a tumor-specific signature in an individual having cancer are also provided. Methods and compositions for diagnosing the presence of an infectious agent in an individual and/or for identifying an infectious agent- specific signature in an infected individual are provided. Methods and compositions for diagnosing the presence of a disease in an individual are also provided. Methods and compositions for identifying a disease-specific signature in an individual having the disease are also provided.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an ex vivo method for expanding monocytes, macrophages or dendritic cells, which method comprises inhibiting the expression or the activity of MafB and c-Maf in monocytes, macrophages or dendritic cells; and expanding the cells in the presence of at least one cytokine or an agonist of cytokine receptor signalling.
Abstract:
Activity of serine-/threonine protein Phosphatase type 2C (PP2C) is known to be stimulated by certain unsaturated fatty acids and this enzyme dephosphorylates BAD1 thus acting on apoptosis. The invention provides saturated fatty acid (SFA) as new inhibitors for the activity of the PP2C. Therefore, the invention offers a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment and prevention of arteriosclerosis.