Provided herein are variants of an archaerhodopsin useful for application such as optical measurement of membrane potential. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, cells comprising the polynucleotides, and cells comprising the polypeptides; and methods of using the variants.

The present invention provides a panel of at least five clinical analyses or tests (using serum samples) to determine the risk of pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) and/or pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcal infection (PANDAS) in an individual. These include enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) to measure antibody titers against neuronal antigens present in the brain; the neuronal antigens include lysoganglioside, tubulin, dopamine receptor D1, dopamine receptor D2, serotonin receptor 5HT2A, and serotonin receptor 5HT2C. Antibody titers against at least four of these neuronal antigens are required in the present methods; preferably antibody tiers against all of these neuronal antigens are measured. A final assay is used to quantify calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase activity using a neuronal cell line. The results of these analyses or tests are then combined using an algorithm to determine whether a PANS or PANDAS diagnosis is appropriate for the individual. Depending on the diagnosis, an appropriate treatment can be determined.

The present application discloses in detail mutant ligands of the human G protein alpha-subunit—Gαi1—, wherein at least one amino acid residue has been replaced with alanine if the at least one amino acid residue is a non-alanine residue, or at least one amino acid residue has been replace with glycine if the at least one amino acid residue is alanine and wherein the at least one amino acid residue is comprised in a first group containing of the amino acid residues with position R32A, K54A, I55A, I56A, H57A, R176A, E245A, Y296A, T327A, N331A, V332A and D350A or is comprised in a second group containing G42A, A59G, T177A, D200A, A226G, E297A, A300G and F334A or is comprised in a third group containing V50A, A59G, R178A 30 and K180A.

Newly identified mammalian taste-cell-specific G protein-coupled receptors, and the genes and cDNA encoding said receptors are described. Specifically, T1R G protein-coupled receptors active in taste signaling, and the genes and cDNA encoding the same, are described, along with methods for isolating such genes and for isolating and expressing such receptors. Methods for representing taste perception of a particular taste stimulus in a mammal are also described, as are methods for generating novel molecules or combinations of molecules that elicit a predetermined taste perception in a mammal, and methods for simulating one or more tastes. Further, methods for stimulating or blocking taste perception in a mammal are also disclosed.

This invention provides methods and compositions for modulating movement of eukaryotic cells with migratory capacity. More specifically, the invention provides anti-fugetactic agents and methods for the use thereof in enhancing an immune response.

The invention provides methods, cells and constructs for optical measurement of membrane potential. These methods can be used in cells that are not accessible to presently available methods using electrodes. The methods can be directed to, for example, high-throughput drug screening assays to determine agents that can affect membrane potential of a target cell.

A mechanism is provided for utilizing a nanodevice to distinguish molecules with different structure. The molecules translocate through or across a nanochannel filled with a electrolyte solution. An electrical signal through the nanochannel is measured for every translocation event. Inner surfaces of the nanochannel include a functional layer, which is a coating to functionalize the nanochannel, in which the functional layer is configured to interact with predetermined ones of the molecules during translocation events. It is determined that a combination of at least two different molecules is formed based on predetermined ones of the molecules interacting with the functional layer to change the electrical signal and/or change a translocation time for the translocation event.

Described herein is a method to induce surface trafficking of the delta-Opioid Receptor (DOR) and its applications, including, leveraging the antinociceptive potential of DOR agonists to treaty neurologic disorders and to be analgesics without the adverse consequences normally associated with chronic treatment by MOR agonists by inducing surface trafficking of the delta-Opioid Receptor (DOR) and screening compounds to identify additional targets for stimulated DOR delivery.

Disclosed are positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) and silent allosteric modulators (SAMs) for mu (μ)-opioid receptors that may be useful for the treatment of pain, either alone or in combination with orthosteric opioid receptor agonists. Methods for treating pain and modulating mu (μ)-opioid receptors are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a novel method for identifying pairs of receptors/ligands, transgenic animals useful for carrying out said method, and the use of ligands and/or modulators of the interaction between a ligand and its receptor in the food industry, fragrance industry, and health industry, for instance.