The present invention refers to an antibody able to recognize and bind to an epitope comprised in a sequence of human Migration Stimulating Factor (MSF), and that doesn't recognize and bind human Fibronectin 1 (hFn1) and to uses in diagnostic methods and therapy.

The present invention provides compositions and methods for identifying subjects suffering from dry eye that can be treated by topical administration of a composition comprising lacritin or a bioactive fragment thereof. The application discloses in part that a 90 KDa deglycanated form of syndecan-1 is abundant in tears of normal individuals but not individuals suffering from dry eye, whereas a 25 kDa syndecan-1 fragment is detectable in dry, but not normal tears.

The present invention relates to novel methods of generating and screening for chimeric polypeptides, which can be used in the treatment and prophylaxis of pathogenic bacterial contamination, colonisation and infection. The novel methods are based on random recombination of protein domains, and the chimeric polypeptides obtainable by the methods according to the invention are characterized in that they comprise at least one enzymatic active domain (EAD) and at least one cell binding domain (CBD). The present invention also relates to a library of chimeric polypeptides obtainable by the methods of the present invention.

The invention features compositions comprising an H3T3A mutant protein. Described herein are methods of inducing cell death in a rapidly dividing cell comprising contacting a rapidly dividing cell with an agent that reduces phosphorylation at threonine 3 of histone 3 (H3T3P), thereby inducing cell cycle arrest followed by cell death. In some cases, the rapidly dividing cell is a tumor cell, e.g., a cancer cell. The agent that reduces phosphorylation of H3T3P comprises an H3T3A mutant protein, e.g., a mutant transgenic protein. Described herein is a kit for arresting cell cycle comprising an agent that reduces phosphorylation H3T3P.

The present invention relates to a diagnostic method for diagnosing unstable atherosclerotic plaque, a method for determining the probability of a subject suffering from a cerebrovascular disease, and a method for selecting a patient susceptible to being treated with a therapy for removing or stabilizing the carotid atherosclerotic plaque based on determining the expression level of at least one gene selected from the group of genes shown in Table 1. The invention also relates to a kit having reagents suitable for determining the expression levels of at least one gene selected from the group of genes shown in Table 1, and optionally reagents for determining the expression levels of one or more housekeeping genes, and uses of the kit.

The present invention relates to a method for assessing myocardial infarction comprising the steps of determining the amount of a first biomarker in a sample of a subject, said first biomarker being cMyBPC, determining the amount of a second biomarker in a sample of the subject, wherein said second biomarker is selected from the group consisting of: a BMP10-type peptide (Bone Morphogenic Protein 10-type peptide), FGF23 (Fibroblast growth factor 23), a BNP-type peptide (Brain natriuretic peptide type peptide), GDF-15 (Growth differentiation factor 15), ANG2 (Angiopoietin 2), CRP (C-reactive protein), ESM1 (endothelial cell specific molecule 1), or a lipid biomarker, such as Cholesterol, LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) or APOAT (Apolipoprotein A-1) comparing the amounts of the biomarkers to references for said biomarkers and/or calculating a score for assessing myocardial infarction based on the amounts of the biomarkers, and assessing said subject based on the comparison and/or the calculation. The invention also relates to the use of a first biomarker being cMyBPC and a second biomarker selected from the group consisting of: a BMP10-type peptide, FGF23, a BNP-type peptide, GDF15, ANG2, CRP (C-reactive protein), ESM1, or a lipid biomarker, such as Cholesterol or LDL, or at least one detection agent for said first biomarker and at least one detection agent for said second biomarker for assessing myocardial infarction. Moreover, the invention further relates to a computer-implemented method for assessing myocardial infarction and a device and a kit for assessing myocardial infarction.

Provided herein are methods of monitoring for the production of select antibodies in a non-human animal, comprising (a) immunizing a non-human animal with an immunogen; (b) obtaining a blood sample comprising antibody secreting cells (ASCs) from said non-human animal; and (c) individually assaying ASCs present in the blood sample, or a fraction thereof, for the production of select antibodies. Methods of guiding antibody production in a non-human animal for the production of select antibodies are also provided. In exemplary embodiments, the method comprises performing a cycle of (a) to (c), as above, and repeating the cycle when the percentage of ASCs producing select antibodies is below a threshold. In various aspects, the cycle is repeated until the percentage of ASCs producing select antibodies is at or above a threshold. Single cell assays are further provided herein.

Provided herein are methods of generating hybridomas and related methods of producing antigen-specific antibodies. In exemplary embodiments, the method comprises (a) preparing an enriched population of IgG-positive (IgG+) memory B cells from cells obtained from secondary lymphoid organs of one or more immunized non-human animals, wherein (i) less than or about 10% of the enriched population are IgM-positive (IgM+) B cells and/or (ii) the ratio of the IgG+ memory B cell count to IgM+ B cell count of the enriched population is greater than about 0.5, optionally, greater than about 1 or greater than about 2, (b) bulk-culturing the enriched population to obtain an expanded population; and (c) fusing cells of the expanded population with myeloma cells to obtain hybridomas. In exemplary aspects, the hybridomas obtained represent at least 10% or at least 15% of the IgG+ memory B cell repertoire produced by the immunized animals.

A method for treating a specimen in soluble GPC3 immunoassay, the method including mixing a soluble GPC3-containing specimen with a reducing agent. A soluble GPC3 immunoassay method including the following (a) and (b): (a) mixing a soluble GPC3-containing specimen with a reducing agent; and (b) measuring the amount of soluble GPC3 in the mixture obtained in (a) using one or more kinds of antibodies against soluble GPC3. A soluble GPC3 immunoassay reagent including the following (a) and (b): (a) a reducing agent; and (b) one or more kinds of antibodies against soluble GPC3.

The present invention relates to a method for assaying soluble GPC3 protein in a test sample, comprising using two different antibodies binding to different epitopes present in the N-terminal region of GPC3 protein.