Methods are provided of identifying a subject having impaired aldehyde dehydrogenase activity; and administering to the subject a compound comprising an isotopicaliy-modified polyunsaturated fatty acid, an isotopicaliy-modified polyunsaturated fatty acid ester, an isotopicaliy-modified polyunsaturated fatty acid thioester, an isotopicaliy-modified polyunsaturated fatty acid amide, a polyunsaturated fatty acid mimetic, or an isotopicaliy-modified polyunsaturated fatty acid pro-drug, the compound having an isotopic modification that reduces oxidation of the compound, thereby reducing production in the subject of substrate for aldehyde dehydrogenase. Some aspects provide coadministering an isotopicaliy-modified polyunsaturated fatty acid and an oxylipin.

Methods are provided for obtaining a sample of cells from an isolated donor pancreas or isolated pancreatic islets and analyzing the sample using flow cytometry to determine the percentage of cells in the sample that express detectable levels of ALDH1 A3. If the percentage of ALDH1 A3-expressing cells in the sample is about 3% or lower, then it is possible to determine that the pancreas or islets are healthy enough for implantation into a subject, and implanting the pancreas or islets. If the percentage of ALDH1 A3-expressing cells is above about 5%, then it is determined that the pancreas or islets are not suitable for implantation into the subject and discarding the pancreas or islets. Isolated non-insulin-producing or low-insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells are also provided.

Methods and compositions are provided for treating endometriosis in an individual, and the pain associated with endometriosis. Aspects of the methods include administering to the individual an agent that promotes ALDH activity.

The present invention provides methods and compositions for identifying leukemic stem cells.

Methods for fractionating a sample of biomolecules of the disclosure comprise (a) introducing a sample into a separating column; (b) separating biomolecules in the sample by molecular weight into a plurality of fractions along the separating column; and (c) placing the separating column into successive engagement with a plurality of wells and advancing into each of the wells one or more of the corresponding plurality of fractions. Methods of the disclosure further comprise detecting and identifying biomolecules in the fractions using microparticles to bind to the fractions, and novel approaches to pool the fractions followed by assayssuch as immunoassaysthat allow high throughput and automation capabilities.

Reduction of EMP2 expression and/or anti-EMP2 therapy reduces cancer stem cells in multiple types of cancer. For example, breast cancers stem cells were defined by the presence of HIF-1, CD44 and ALDH. It is found that anti-EMP2 IgG1 can be used to reduce the numbers of cancer stem cells.

The present invention provides methods and compositions for identifying leukemic stem cells.

The present invention provides a method of detecting a Mycobacterium-specific metabolite in the form of mycothiol in a biological sample in vitro, including the steps of preparing a reaction mixture by combining the biological sample with an enzymatic solution containing a reaction buffer, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and a formaldehyde dependent mycothiol dehydrogenase (FD-MDH); allowing reduction of NAD in the reaction mixture by interaction of FD-MDH with a predetermined Mycobacterium-specific metabolite in the form of mycothiol if present in the biological sample; and detecting reduced NAD within the sample, indicative of the presence of mycothiol in the biological sample and thus of a Mycobacterium infection in the source of the biological sample.

The present disclosure relates to sensing composition comprising a pyruvate-responsive enzyme and thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP). In particular, the sensing composition can comprise a pyruvate-responsive enzyme (e.g., pyruvate oxidase), TPP, optionally flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), a stabilizing agent (e.g., an albumin), and a redox mediator. The sensing composition forms a sensing layer on a working electrode to form a sensing electrode. The sensing electrode, along with a circuit, can form part of a system for sensing pyruvate. The present disclosure is further related to a method for sensing pyruvate, which includes accumulating charge derived from pyruvate reacting with the sensing composition for a set period of time and then measuring a signal from the accumulated charge.

The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods for diagnosis, research, and screening for chemicals in biological fluids (e.g., related to methanol poisoning). In particular, the present disclosure relates to point of care systems and methods for detecting formic acid or formate, in biological fluids by means of natural or recombinant formate oxidase.