Provided herein are screening methods for identifying compounds for use as an arthropod repellent based on the masking or inhibition of the detection of the skin odor by a cpA neuron. Provided herein are also screening methods for identifying compounds for use as an arthropod attractant based on activation of the cpA neuron. Further provided are one or more compounds identified using the screening methods described herein, and compositions containing such compounds.

The present disclosure is directed to methods (e.g., in vitro methods) for detecting the presence of neutralizing antibodies to PTH or PTHrP analog in a sample. The in vitro method comprises the steps of obtaining a sample from a subject; contacting the sample with a cell; measuring cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels; and detecting the presence of neutralizing antibodies when cAMP levels are reduced relative to a negative control sample without neutralizing antibodies. An in vitro method of detecting the presence of neutralizing antibodies in a sample from a subject treated with Abaloparatide, is also provided. Further provided herein is a kit for carrying out the methods described herein comprising components required to carry out the obtaining, contacting, measuring and detecting steps and instructions for use.

With a method for measurement of thrombocyte function, a solution is created, by which the sensitivity of individual thrombocytes can be measured with the least possible apparatus effort, with high throughput, by passing a liquid thrombocyte solution, in which the thrombocytes are present in isolated form, into a microfluidic chamber and brought into contact with at least one stimulant, wherein an electrical field directed transverse to the entry direction of the thrombocyte solution is applied to the chamber, and the movement path of the thrombocytes in the electrical field is observed and evaluated, in such a manner that thrombocytes having a movement path directed in the direction toward the minus pole of the electrical field are classified as non-activated thrombocytes, and thrombocytes having a movement path directed in the direction toward the plus pole of the electrical field are classified as activated thrombocytes.

A test animal for identifying blood vessel transendothelial migration-affecting factors or agents is described. The test animal comprises an implanted tissue mimicking model with a composite vascular structure comprising pericytes on test animal vasculature. The test animal can be used in a method of identifying or evaluating a blood vessel transendothelial migration-affecting agent that includes administering the agent to a test animal and determining the effect of the agent on the level of blood vessel transendothelial migration into or out of the tissue model. The test animal can also be used in a method of identifying or characterizing a metastasis-facilitating factor that includes administering or inducing circulating tumor cells in a test animal in which one or more factors in the pericyte have been silenced, and determining if the level of tumor cell migration into the tissue model has increased or decreased.

The present invention provides high throughput assays for identifying compounds that modulate a contractile function, as well as devices suitable for use in these assays.

Described herein are methods for identifying compounds useful for the treatment of infection by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and for identifying compounds useful for the same.

Methods of treating kidney disease and protecting podocytes from injury are provided. Methods of screening agents for the treatment of kidney disease are also provided. In addition, methods of identifying structural or functional defects in a patient's podocytes and methods of identifying kidney disease causing agents in a patient's biological sample are also provided.

The present invention relates to FLT3 receptor antagonists or inhibitors of FLT3 receptor gene expression for the treatment or the prevention of pain disorders.

The chain of events that explains calcitonin receptor (CTR)-stimulated invasion and metastasis of prostate cancer cells was identified. The CTR-stimulated events depend on the interaction of CTR with the PDZ3 domain of ZO-1. Small peptides and small molecules were identified that inhibit this interaction. The small inhibitory peptides were synthesized and can be used to attenuate or inhibit metastasis in solid cancer tumors.

The invention is based, in part, on the discovery that a polypeptide, referred to herein as Betacam, is selectively expressed on the surface of pancreatic islet cells. Thus, in one aspect, the invention is directed to compositions comprising Betacam or that can be used to detect Betacam. In another aspect, the invention provides methods of detecting (e.g., non-invasively) pancreatic beta cells from a mammalian cell source. Another aspect of the invention is directed to cellular purification of pancreatic beta cells from a heterogeneous cell source of multiple kinds. In another aspect, the invention provides methods of identifying agents that modulate activity of Betacam. In yet another aspect, the invention provides for improved treatment and diagnosis of diabetes.