The present invention relates to a method of treating glioma in a subject. The method comprises selecting a subject having a glioma, providing an inhibitor of binding between a PAR-1 receptor and a ligand of the PAR-1 receptor, and administering the inhibitor to the selected subject under conditions effective to treat the glioma and/or prevent spread of tumor cells. Methods for inhibiting proliferation of glioma cells and/or precursors thereof and a method of screening for compounds suitable for treating glioma in subjects are also disclosed.

Newly identified mammalian taste-cell-specific G Protein-Coupled Receptors and the genes encoding said receptors are described. Specifically, T2R taste G Protein-Coupled Receptors that are believed to be involved in bitter taste sensation, and the genes 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 tastant in a mammal are also described, as are methods for generating a novel molecules or combinations of molecules that elicit a predetermined taste perception in a mammal, and methods for simulating one or more tastes.

The present invention relates to novel somatostatin analogs, dimers thereof, and methods of using the same to treat various diseases. Naturally occurring somatostatins (SSTs), which are also known as somatotropin release-inhibiting factors (SRIFs), have diverse biological effects in many cells and organs 10 throughout the body. They are produced by normal endocrine, gastrointestinal, immune and neuronal cells, as well as by certain tumors (Patel, Y. C, Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 20(3): 157-198 (1999); Froidevaux, et al., Biopolymers, 66(3): 161-83 (2002)).

The invention relates to biosensors for detecting odorants, especially a biosensor that mimics odorant detection by a mammal, for example, humans, dogs or cats. The field of the invention also related to the standardization of odors for scent, smell and taste using the biosensor of the invention, and the discovery of agonists, antagonists, and mixtures of odorants for creating new odors, masking odors, enhancing odors, and designing odors.

The present invention provides methods and compositions useful in the diagnosis and management of autoimmune diseases. In particular, the present invention provides improved methods and compositions for the diagnosis and management of Graves' disease. The methods of the present invention not only avoids the need for radioactivity and are much simpler, economical, and rapid than methods traditionally used for the diagnosis of Graves' disease, but also improve upon the sensitivity and detection abilities of previous luciferase-based autoantibody detection assays.

This invention relates to novel rationale and methods for identifying human and primate taste-specific genes, including genes involved in salty taste perception, especially human salty taste perception, but also genes involved in sweet, bitter, umami, and sour taste perception, and genes involved in other taste cell or taste receptor related activities such as digestive function and digestive related diseases, taste cell turnover, immunoregulation of the oral and digestive tract, and metabolic regulation such as in diabetes and obesity, the genes identified using these methods, and assays for identifying taste modulators (enhancers or blockers) and potential therapeutics using these genes. These compounds have potential application in modulating (enhancing or blocking) taste perception, especially salty taste perception and as potential therapeutics. In addition, this invention relates to novel methods for identifying taste-specific genes that can be used as markers for different taste cell types, including sweet, bitter, umami, sour, salty, and other taste cells in mammals as well as assays that measure the activity of the sweet, bitter, umami, or sour receptor in the presence of these genes to identify modulators of sweet, bitter, umami, and sour taste and to identify therapeutics especially for treating digestive or metabolic disorders, taste loss, and oral infections. Particularly, the genes identified herein and antibodies or oligos thereto can be used as markers to identify and/or purify specific taste cells e.g., from taste cell suspensions by use of FACS or magnetic bead cell selection or other known cell purification and isolation procedures.

The invention provide isolated arrestin domain-containing protein 1 (ARRDC1)-mediated micro vesicles (ARMMs). Methods for generating and for isolating ARMMs are also provided herein. ARMMs can be used to deliver agents, for example, nucleic acids (e.g., siRNAs, microRNAs, lincRNAs), proteins (e.g., transcription factors, chromatin modulators, kinases, phosphorylases, or recombinases), or small molecules to target cells in vitro and in vivo, and methods for such ARMM-mediated delivery are provided herein. Diagnostic and therapeutic methods using ARMMs are also described herein.

Novel anti-cancer agents, including, but not limited to, antibodies and other polypeptides, that bind to human frizzled receptors are provided. Novel epitopes within the human frizzled receptors which are suitable as targets for anti-cancer agents are also identified. Methods of using the agents or antibodies, such as methods of using the agents or antibodies to inhibit Wnt signaling and/or inhibit tumor growth are further provided. Screening methods are also provided.

Resonance energy transfer (RET)- or protein-fragment complement assay (PCA)-based biosensors useful for assessing the activity of G-proteins are described. These biosensors are based on the competition between the Got subunit and a Gβγ interacting protein (βγ IP) for the binding to the Gβγ dimer. These biosensors comprises (1) a βγ IP and (2) a Gβ or Gγ protein; a GPCR; or a plasma membrane targeting domain, fused to suitable RET or PCA tags. Methods using such biosensors for different applications, including the identification of agents that modulates G-protein activity or for the characterization of GPCR signaling/regulation, such as G-protein preferences and activation profiles of GPCRs, are also described.

Provided herein are methods of detecting and/or monitoring the presence or severity of an immune disorder in a subject, including detecting a frequency of a Th2a subset of CD4+ T cells in a biological sample of the subject. In some embodiments, the detecting includes: (a) detecting a frequency of CD4+ T cells in a biological sample of said subject; (b) detecting a frequency of a Th2a subset of the CD4+ T cells in the biological sample; and (c) comparing the frequency of the Th2a subset with the frequency of the CD4+ T cells.