Embodiments of the present invention provide antibodies, antigen binding portions thereof, and other polypeptides (e.g., CARs), that specifically bind to CSPG4, an antigen expressed on cancer cells. Monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, and/or CAR-T-cells that specifically bind to CSPG4 positive cancer cells are also provided.

The present invention relates to a biological method for assaying peptidoglycans (PGN) in a sample, particularly a sample of glucose polymers. The PGN assay includes: a) treating the glucose polymer sample by sonication, heating, and/or alkalizing; b) placing the treated sample or a dilution thereof in contact with a recombinant cell expressing an exogenous TLR2 (toll-like receptor 2) and a reporter gene directly dependent on the signaling pathway associated with the TLR2. The reporter gene codes for a colored or fluorescent protein or for a protein the activity of which is measurable with or without a substrate; c) measuring the reporter gene signal; and d) determining the amount of PGN in the sample using a standard curve of the correlation between the amount or PGN and the strength of the reporter gene signal.

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 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.

Disclosed is an isolated antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof The antibody is capable of binding to a muramyl peptide, or a derivative or an analog or a salt thereof. The muramyl peptide comprises muramic acid and an amino acid selected from the group consisting of alanine, isoglutamine, glutamic acid, and a salt thereof. Also disclosed are methods of producing the antibody, compositions comprising the antibody, methods of treating using the antibody, uses of the antibody, methods of detecting muramyl peptide, an assay for detecting muramyl peptide, an antibacterial agent, hybridomas and kits.

Disclosed is a method for determining the likelihood of the presence or progression of a hepatocellular carcinoma in a subject, comprising determining the level of extracellular form of Agrin in an extracellular fluid obtained from the subject. Also disclosed are the use of anti Agrin agent for therapy, a pharmaceutical composition comprising anti-Agrin agent, a method of treating cancer comprising an anti-Agrin agent, a use of anti-Agrin agent and a kit thereof.

Disclosed is an isolated antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof. The antibody is capable of binding to a muramyl peptide, or a derivative or an analog or a salt thereof. The muramyl peptide comprises muramic acid and an amino acid selected from the group consisting of alanine, isoglutamine, glutamic acid, and a salt thereof. Also disclosed are methods of producing the antibody, compositions comprising the antibody, methods of treating using the antibody, uses of the antibody, methods of detecting muramyl peptide, an assay for detecting muramyl peptide, an antibacterial agent, hybridomas and kits.

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 no normal tears.

A method for diagnosing or prognosing, multiple sclerosis including the steps of (a) measuring the amount of at least one first protein as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, the at least first protein belonging to the group of proteins: a first protein, a second protein, a third protein, a fourth protein and a fifth protein, as set forth in SEQ ID NO 1 to 5, (b) comparing the amount of the at least first protein with the amount of the same protein in a control sample, and (c) determining the status of the biological sample.

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.