The present invention relates to microfluidic fluidic devices, methods and systems as microfluidic kidney on-chips, e.g. human Proximal Tubule-Chip.

The present invention relates to a T cell receptor (TCR) capable of binding to a PRAME peptide having the amino acid sequence SLLQHLIGL (SEQ ID NO: 1) or a portion thereof, or its HLA-A2 bound form. Also encompassed in the present invention is a nucleic acid encoding a TCR, a vector comprising the nucleic acid, and a host cell comprising the TCR, the nucleic acid sequence, or said vector. Comprised is further, a method for obtaining a TCR described herein, a pharmaceutical or diagnostic composition, and a method of detecting the presence of a cancer in a subject in vitro. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of a TCR, a nucleic acid and/or a vector for generating modified lymphocytes

Compositions, devices, and systems comprising a corneal tissue carrier, wherein the corneal tissue carrier comprises a corneal tissue sample and a fluid; wherein the fluid comprises resazurin. Additionally, methods including measuring cell viability.

The present invention provides isolated immune cells, immune cell populations and compositions, as well as markers, marker signatures and molecular targets characterising the immune cells. The cell products, substances, compositions, markers, marker signatures, molecular targets, kits of parts and methods of the present invention provide for new ways to characterise, evaluate and modulate the immune system and immune responses.

For analyzing a sample containing particles of at least two categories, such as a sample containing blood cells, a particle counter subject to a detection limit is coupled with an analyzer capable of discerning particle number ratios, such as a visual analyzer, and a processor. A first category of particles can be present beyond detection range limits while a second category of particles is present within respective detection range limits. The concentration of the second category of particles is determined by the particle counter. A ratio of counts of the first category to the second category is determined on the analyzer. The concentration of particles in the first category is calculated on the processor based on the ratio and the count or concentration of particles in the second category.

A process is provided for isolating and analyzing microorganisms contained in a sample by collecting a determined volume in a sample, the determined volume representing all or part of this sample, likely to contain at least one microorganism. The collected volume is then split up into a plurality of compartments having a culture medium, the volume of each compartment being smaller than 10 μL, each compartment being isolated from the other compartments and having no interface with the ambient atmosphere. At least one microorganism is incubated in the compartments for determined durations, and compartments are detected that contain at least one microorganism. The incubation may be extended after detecting compartments so that at least one microorganism having a defined quantity can be detected, and then the content of the detected compartments can be recovered. Finally, at least one functional parameter relative to a microorganism in the compartments is determined.

The disclosure provides a method of detecting heterogeneity of disease in a cancer patient comprising (a) performing a direct analysis comprising immunofluorescent staining and morphological characteristization of nucleated cells in a blood sample obtained from the patient to identify and enumerate circulating tumor cells (CTC); (b) isolating the CTCs from the sample; (c) individually characterizing genomic parameters to generate a genomic profile for each of the CTCs, and (d) determining heterogeneity of disease in the cancer patient based on the profile. In some embodiments, the cancer is prostate cancer. In some embodiments, the prostate cancer is hormone refractory.

Recurrent tonsillitis disease (RT) is a common indication for pediatric tonsillectomy, the most frequent childhood surgery. It is unknown why some children develop RT. The present disclosure demonstrates that RT tonsils exhibit significantly smaller germinal centers than non-RT tonsils, concomitant with a bias against Group A Streptococcus (GAS)-specific germinal center follicular helper CD4.sup.+ T cells (GC Tfh), and significantly reduced antibodies to the GAS virulence factor SpeA. The present disclosure also shows a significant immunogenetic component to this disease, with the identification of ‘at risk’ and ‘protective’ HLA alleles for RT. Finally, the present disclosure identifies a new cell type, granzyme B+GC Tfh cells, which are activated by SpeA, are significantly more abundant in RT GC Tfh cells, and have the capacity to kill B cells, thus, providing a window into the immunology and genetics of a classic childhood disease and identifies a new type of pathogenic T cell.

The present invention concerns a biomarker useful in adoptive cell therapy. The biomarker in question is CD150, otherwise termed SLAM or SLAMF1. Herein Applicants demonstrate that expression of CD150 on tumour infiltrating lymphocytes infusion products correlates with the response rate seen in those patients. High CD150 expression is found on patients who go on to have a complete response and low expression on patients who do not respond to therapy. The invention relates to the use of the biomarker to predict response rate or stratify patients for treatment. It also covers exploitation of this receptor in adoptive cell therapy regimens in general, including but not limited to over expression of the receptor in T-cell populations or isolation of cells expressing CD150 in an effort to increase efficacy.

Flow cytometry is used for diagnosis of infectious diseases by an analysis of cell mediated immune responses to specific infective agent antigens. Apparatus and methods of advanced flow cytometry are utilized to detect cell mediated immune responses to the presence of specific antigens from infective agents, such as bacteria, protozoa, viruses, helminth, prions. In some embodiments, methods as provided herein can be utilized in vitro to diagnose multiple infections within individuals.