A method of enhancing the growth of an animal, as well as treating or preventing antimicrobial infections is provided. The method includes causing the animal to ingest or absorb an effective amount of one or more Fe III complex compounds, including but not limited to Fe III complexes comprising ligands bound to the iron center such as amino acids or α-hydroxy acids. The compounds are also useful for inhibiting, reducing, or preventing biofilm formation or buildup on a surface; the treatment of, inhibition of growth of, and inhibition of colonization by, bacteria, both in biological and non-biological environments; disinfecting surfaces, potentiating the effects of antibiotics and other anti-microbial agents, and increasing the sensitivity of bacteria and other microorganisms, to anti-microbial agents are also provided.

A method of enhancing the growth of an animal, as well as treating or preventing antimicrobial infections is provided. The method includes causing the animal to ingest or absorb an effective amount of one or more Fe III complex compounds, including but not limited to Fe III complexes comprising ligands bound to the iron center such as amino acids or α-hydroxy acids. The compounds are also useful for inhibiting, reducing, or preventing biofilm formation or buildup on a surface; the treatment of, inhibition of growth of, and inhibition of colonization by, bacteria, both in biological and non-biological environments; disinfecting surfaces, potentiating the effects of antibiotics and other anti-microbial agents, and increasing the sensitivity of bacteria and other microorganisms, to anti-microbial agents are also provided.

Sampling systems and methods for non-invasive sampling of inner-colonic microbiome and its potential derivatives are provided. The sampling systems may operate in fluid communication with a large intestine cleansing system and comprise an electromechanical sampling device configured to collect at least a part of large intestine contents drained by the cleansing system. The electromechanical sampling device may comprise a collection unit configured to collect at least one sample from the contents, and an electromechanical robotic unit configured to move the collection unit to and from a sampling position and to manipulate the collection unit into a respective casing, to deposit the sample(s). Sampling methods may comprise optically monitoring drained contents of the large intestine, characterizing the optically-monitored (and possibly spectrally analyzed) drained contents to determine sampling times, and sampling the drained contents according to the characterization.

Sampling systems and methods for non-invasive sampling of inner-colonic microbiome and its potential derivatives are provided. The sampling systems may operate in fluid communication with a large intestine cleansing system and comprise an electromechanical sampling device configured to collect at least a part of large intestine contents drained by the cleansing system. The electromechanical sampling device may comprise a collection unit configured to collect at least one sample from the contents, and an electromechanical robotic unit configured to move the collection unit to and from a sampling position and to manipulate the collection unit into a respective casing, to deposit the sample(s). Sampling methods may comprise optically monitoring drained contents of the large intestine, characterizing the optically-monitored (and possibly spectrally analyzed) drained contents to determine sampling times, and sampling the drained contents according to the characterization.

Tissue prostheses having a base structure and a physiological sensor system. The tissue prostheses are adapted and configured to induce remodeling of damaged tissue and regeneration of new tissue and concurrently detect and monitor physiological characteristics when implanted in the subject.

The present disclosure provides methods of bioengineering sphincters having autologous smooth muscle cells isolated from human internal anal sphincter and autologous enteric neurospheres (neural progenitor cells) isolated from human small intestine (jejunum). The isolated neural progenitor cells and smooth muscle cells are co -cultured using dual layered hydrogels and allowed to form circular, intrinsically innervated internal anal sphincter constructs. Such innervated internal anal sphincter constructs, bioengineered internal anal sphincter constructs are useful as additive implants in the treatment of fecal incontinence.

The present disclosure provides methods of bioengineering sphincters having autologous smooth muscle cells isolated from human internal anal sphincter and autologous enteric neurospheres (neural progenitor cells) isolated from human small intestine (jejunum). The isolated neural progenitor cells and smooth muscle cells are co -cultured using dual layered hydrogels and allowed to form circular, intrinsically innervated internal anal sphincter constructs. Such innervated internal anal sphincter constructs, bioengineered internal anal sphincter constructs are useful as additive implants in the treatment of fecal incontinence.

The subject matter of this invention is directed towards chemically and thermodynamically stable glucagon analogs that are resistant to deamidation and fibrillation. The invention further discloses improved methods for the recombinant expression and purification of glucagon analogs.

The subject matter of this invention is directed towards chemically and thermodynamically stable glucagon analogs that are resistant to deamidation and fibrillation. The invention further discloses improved methods for the recombinant expression and purification of glucagon analogs.

Sheet structures for regenerating damaged or diseased mammalian tissue that are formed from acellular dermal mammalian tissue. The acellular dermal mammalian tissue includes extracellular matrix (ECM) and a supplemental bioactive component. The supplemental bioactive component can comprise a nucleic acid, such as RNA, and/or a cell, such as an embryonic stem cell. The sheet structures induce angiogenesis and, thereby, regeneration of new mammalian tissue.