A method of detecting and isolating cells that produce a secreted protein of interest (POI), for example, an antibody, comprising: a) providing a eukaryotic cell comprising (i) a nucleic acid encoding the POI, and (ii) a nucleic acid encoding a cell surface capture molecule, which comprises a membrane anchor and is capable of binding the POI; (b) culturing the cell under conditions in which the POI and cell surface capture molecule are expressed, and a POI-cell surface capture molecule complex is formed intracellularly and displayed on the cell surface; c) detecting the surface-displayed POI by contacting the cells with a detection molecule, which binds the POI; and d) isolating cells based on the detection molecule.

Platform technology involving aqueous microdroplet reaction vessels created, arrayed, and characterized by imaging microscopy in a microfluidic device are applied to a wide variety of bioassays involving the detection and phenotypic characterization of single cells. The bioassays include the rapid and automated detection of microbial pathogens and their antibiotic sensitivity from patient samples as well as the characterization of immune responses using a patient's own cells, including the killing of tumor cells.

Described are transgenic, non-human animals comprising a nucleic acid encoding an immunoglobulin light chain, whereby the immunoglobulin light chain is a common human, human-like, or humanized light chain. Further provided is methods for producing an immunoglobulin from the transgenic, non-human animal.

The present invention relates to methods for detecting, assessing severity and treating multiple sclerosis. The inventors showed an impairment of the function of CD8+ Treg cells in MS patients and they demonstrated here that several criteria correlated with the disease severity i.e. the percentage of CD8.sup.+CD45RC.sup.intCD161.sup.lowValpha7.sup. T cells in the blood, the secretion of IFNg and IL10 and the suppressive activity of the CD8.sup.+CD45RC.sup.intCD161.sup.lowValpha7.sup. T cells. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for determining whether a subject has or is at risk of having multiple sclerosis comprising i) determining the percentage of CD8.sup.+CD45RC.sup.intCD161.sup.lowValpha7.sup. T cells in a biological sample obtained from the subject, ii) comparing the percentage determined at step i) with a predetermined reference value and iii) detecting differential in the percentage determined at step i) with the predetermined reference value indicates that the subject has or is at risk of having multiple sclerosis.

Compositions, kits and methods for assessing the presence of pathological fibroblasts within a biological sample are provided. In addition, compositions, kits and methods for detecting fibrosis are provided. Also provided are methods for treating fibrosis and conditions characterized with pathological fibroblasts.

The disclosure provides methods and compositions useful for obtaining induced stem cells, methods of making and use thereof.

There are provided methods, and devices for assaying for a binding interaction between a protein, such as a monoclonal antibody, produced by a cell, and a biomolecule. The method may include retaining the cell within a chamber having an aperture; exposing the protein produced by the cell to a capture substrate, wherein the capture substrate is in fluid communication with the protein produced by the cell and wherein the capture substrate is operable to bind the protein produced by the cell; flowing a fluid volume comprising the biomolecule through the chamber via said aperture, wherein the fluid volume is in fluid communication with the capture substrate; and determining a binding interaction between the protein produced by the cell and the biomolecule.

Provided are a cell preparation, a use of a protein in characterizing hematopoietic stem cells, and a method for determining hematopoietic stem cells. The cell preparation is CD34+, CD90+, CD45RA sorted and obtained from among cells to be sorted, and hematopoietic stem cells that are positive for the following proteins, the protein being selected from one or more among CD48, CD66a, CD66c, CD66d, CD66e, and CD200. By using the foregoing protein(s) to characterize hematopoietic stem cells, not only can target cells be more accurately calibrated and evaluated in vitro, but the ability of a patient to maintain long-term reconstruction of the hematopoietic system after receiving a hematopoietic stem cell transplant can also be improved, achieving a better treatment effect.

Methods and devices for concentrating target cells using dielectrophoresis (DEP) are disclosed. The method allows relatively high throughput of sample through a microfluidic device in order to allow rapid capture of target cells even when they are present in low concentrations within the sample. The method utilizes multiple chambers through which samples will flow, the chambers arranged such that the first capture area has a larger area and faster flow rate than a second chamber, the second chamber being positioned downstream of the first capture area and being smaller with a slower flow rate to further concentrate the material captured in the first capture area.

The present disclosure provides engineered thymic epithelial cells and cell lines, as well as extracellular vesicles derived therefrom. The disclosure also provides exosomes that display specific surface proteins, and provides methods for using said materials for treating subjects and for identifying cells.