Embodiments are directed to methods of examining preimplantation factor (PIF) binding to a subject's circulating immune cells as a marker for immune dysregulation. Some embodiments are directed to methods of detecting a level of immune dysregulation sufficient to cause recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), methods of detecting a level of immune dysfunction sufficient to cause endometriosis, and methods of detecting a level of immune dysfunction comprising administering an effective amount of PIF or an analog thereof, and examining its binding to circulating immune cells. Within those methods, an about twenty percent change in PIF binding to a subject's circulating immune cells indicates a level of immune dysfunction.

The present invention relates to Tau-specific antibodies, fragments thereof, and uses thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to Tau-specific antibodies, fragments thereof, and conjugates thereof with conjugated to a superparamagnetic nanoparticle. The molecules of the present invention may be used in visualizing damage from traumatic brain injury.

The present invention relates to Tau-specific antibodies, fragments thereof, and uses thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to Tau-specific antibodies, fragments thereof, and conjugates thereof with conjugated to a superparamagnetic nanoparticle. The molecules of the present invention may be used in visualizing damage from traumatic brain injury.

The present invention relates to modified forms of IL-12. These modified forms of IL-12 may be engineered to have a shortened in vivo half-life compared and/or enhanced localization of biological effects compared to that of corresponding non-modified form of IL-12. Short half-life and membrane bound forms of IL-12 may provide greater therapeutic control for in vivo therapeutic delivery, in particular when used in combination with ligand inducible delivery of IL-12. Modified forms of IL-12 engineered to have shortened in vivo half-life and/or enhanced localization of biological effects include heterodimeric p35/p40, single chain and membrane bound forms of IL-12 wherein a naturally occurring IL-12 amino acid sequence is genetically modified to enhance susceptibility of the IL-12 molecule to in vivo proteolytic degradation.

The present invention relates to modified forms of IL-12. These modified forms of IL-12 may be engineered to have a shortened in vivo half-life compared and/or enhanced localization of biological effects compared to that of corresponding non-modified form of IL-12. Short half-life and membrane bound forms of IL-12 may provide greater therapeutic control for in vivo therapeutic delivery, in particular when used in combination with ligand inducible delivery of IL-12. Modified forms of IL-12 engineered to have shortened in vivo half-life and/or enhanced localization of biological effects include heterodimeric p35/p40, single chain and membrane bound forms of IL-12 wherein a naturally occurring IL-12 amino acid sequence is genetically modified to enhance susceptibility of the IL-12 molecule to in vivo proteolytic degradation.

Disclosed herein are a method and a kit using a novel marker associated with depression. The marker for depression includes one or more selected from a noradrenaline transporter and a dopamine transporter. The method for determining depression includes a step of examining an expression level of the marker for depression in a blood sample collected from a subject.

In various embodiments methods are provided for identifying and/or quantifying one or more antigens of interest (biomarkers) on the surface of cell- or tissue-specific exosomes. In an illustrative embodiments the methods comprise: i) incubating a population of exosomes with one or more tissue-specific antibodies that bind an antigen specific to a tissue or cell type of interest that produces exosomes, where the tissue specific antibodies are attached to acceptor bead or magnetic beads so the antibodies bind exosomes displaying the antigen; ii) obtaining a purified population of exosomes bound by the tissue specific antibodies with and/or without photocleavable linker based technology; iii) incubating a test subset of the isolated tissue-specific exosomes with acceptor beads attached to test antibodies that bind an antigen of interest thereby binding exosomes that display the antigen of interest and a control subset with negative control acceptor beads; v) incubating the test subset of isolated exosomes and the control subset of exosomes with a donor-bearing antibody that binds an exosome specific antigen; and vi) detecting a signal produced upon illumination of the control subset and/or the test; and vii) detecting the antigen(s) of interest.

In various embodiments methods are provided for identifying and/or quantifying one or more antigens of interest (biomarkers) on the surface of cell- or tissue-specific exosomes. In an illustrative embodiments the methods comprise: i) incubating a population of exosomes with one or more tissue-specific antibodies that bind an antigen specific to a tissue or cell type of interest that produces exosomes, where the tissue specific antibodies are attached to acceptor bead or magnetic beads so the antibodies bind exosomes displaying the antigen; ii) obtaining a purified population of exosomes bound by the tissue specific antibodies with and/or without photocleavable linker based technology; iii) incubating a test subset of the isolated tissue-specific exosomes with acceptor beads attached to test antibodies that bind an antigen of interest thereby binding exosomes that display the antigen of interest and a control subset with negative control acceptor beads; v) incubating the test subset of isolated exosomes and the control subset of exosomes with a donor-bearing antibody that binds an exosome specific antigen; and vi) detecting a signal produced upon illumination of the control subset and/or the test; and vii) detecting the antigen(s) of interest.

Provided herein are compositions and methods for monitoring the movement of analytes and/or cellular components across biological membranes (e.g., cell surface internalization). In particular, reporter constructs are provided, the transmembrane movement of which (e.g., by endocytosis) is monitored by methods described herein.

Provided herein are compositions and methods for monitoring the movement of analytes and/or cellular components across biological membranes (e.g., cell surface internalization). In particular, reporter constructs are provided, the transmembrane movement of which (e.g., by endocytosis) is monitored by methods described herein.