This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for measuring whether organic matter is present or whether or not organisms (cells or tissue) are alive using infrared absorption spectroscopic analysis. The measurement apparatus of the invention includes an infrared light source for radiating infrared rays on a sample, an infrared detection unit for detecting the infrared rays transmitted or reflected from the sample, and a determination unit for identifying an amide infrared absorption peak of the sample using the detected infrared rays and for determining whether organic matter is present or whether organisms are alive or not in the sample using the identified amide infrared absorption peak. In this invention, a reagent is not used, simple measurement is performed, quantification is feasible, and the presence or absence of cells or tissues and changes in the life and death can be consecutively measured for the same sample.

This invention provides modified IGFBP-derived peptides—collectively termed “immodulator peptides”—and related compositions and methods. Chemical modifications to peptides using small molecules, and sequence extensions to immodulator core sequences exhibit new and surprising biological activities. The invention builds the combinatorial power of the immodulator peptide class further by demonstrating which core sequences bind metal or glycosaminoglycans such as heparin. The invention discloses some surprising biological properties of compositions derived from these modifications, including a host of new therapeutic and diagnostic utilities (e.g. immune modulation of TLR signaling, enhanced collagen synthesis by skin fibroblasts, and synergy with a RIG-1 agonist in killing melanoma cells). The invention also teaches methods for enhancing previously disclosed uses of immodulator peptides by showing how the modifications of the invention can boost the efficacy of immodulator peptides in a model of burn trauma.

Cell-separation systems and methods utilizing cell-specific microbubble tags and ultrasound-based separation are described. The methods are useful for simplification of time-consuming and costly cell purification procedures and real time apoptosis detection.

The present disclosure provides a method for screening, isolating and purifying analytes.

Provided herein are methods and compositions relating to libraries of optimized antibodies having nucleic acids encoding for an antibody comprising modified sequences. Libraries described herein include variegated libraries comprising nucleic acids each encoding for a predetermined variant of at least one predetermined reference nucleic acid sequence. Further described herein are protein libraries generated when the nucleic acid libraries are translated. Further described herein are cell libraries expressing variegated nucleic acid libraries described herein.

The present invention relates to fusion proteins which are capable of binding to phosphatidylserine comprising a phosphatidylserene binding ligand and a modified O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase which is capable of autoconjugation to an O6-benzylguanine-modified label, the fusion proteins being capable of binding to phosphatidylserine on the surface of a cell undergoing apoptosis. The invention also relates to recombinant polypeptide precursors of the fusion proteins which comprise a secretion leader sequence, purification tag, protease cleavage site and the fusion protein. Also included in the scope of the invention are nucleic acids encoding the recombinant polypeptide precursor, vectors comprising the nucleic acids, host cells comprising the vectors, methods of production of the fusion proteins, kits and assays for detecting apoptosis.

Provided herein are methods and compositions relating to libraries of optimized antibodies having nucleic acids encoding for an antibody comprising modified sequences. Libraries described herein include variegated libraries comprising nucleic acids each encoding for a predetermined variant of at least one predetermined reference nucleic acid sequence. Further described herein are protein libraries generated when the nucleic acid libraries are translated. Further described herein are cell libraries expressing variegated nucleic acid libraries described herein.

Provided herein are compositions, systems, and methods for minimally-invasive assessment of toxicity-induced tissue injury. In particular, external (e.g., whole-body) scanning is employed to detect toxicity-induced injuries, such as those caused by chemotherapeutics.

Methods for inducing growth inhibition or apoptosis of Bcl-2-expressing cells and treatments of Bcl-2 expressing cancers are provided. Additionally, assays for agents that can induce apoptosis of Bcl-2 expressing cells are disclosed.

The present invention is drawn to the use of the compounds highlighted in Tables 1 & 2 and analogs thereof, for enhancing IR-mediated cellular cannibalism in cancer cells. Said compounds are herein called “enhancers of IR-mediated cellular cannibalism”. They can be used to enhance tumor immunogenicity and/or to induce a significant protective anticancer immune response in subjects that will receive or that have received a radiotherapy treatment. In other words, said compounds can be used to potentiate a radiotherapy treatment in a subject in need thereof. Said compounds are preferably chosen in the group consisting of: Mebhydroline 1,5-napthalene disulfonate salt, Flurbiprofen, Minaprine dihydrochloride, Myricetin, Digoxin, Digitoxin, Lanatoside, LOPA87, VP331, RN-1-026, SG6163F, VP450, and VP43.