The invention relates to identification and characterization of recombinant DNA and polypeptides for specific Bt toxin receptors. In particular, the Bt toxin receptors of the invention include those derived from the Lepidopteran super family including the species Trichoplusiani ni, Pseudoplusia includens, Helicoverpa zea, and Spodoptera frugiperda. The receptors of the invention further include those derived from the Coleopteran super family and particularly from the species Diabrotica virgifera virgifera. The recombinant DNA and polypeptides so provided are useful in the identification and design of novel Bt toxin receptor ligands including novel or improved insecticidal toxins for use in a variety of agricultural applications. Materials and methods for identifying novel toxins are also disclosed herein. The invention also provides methods for selecting toxins to combine to control insect populations by manipulating Bt toxin receptor.

A system is provided comprising a plurality of C. elegans cultures, where each culture comprises a transgenic C. elegans strain that models a mammalian disease or condition. Methods of using a system, e.g., for characterizing microbial strains of a mammalian microbiome and determining whether such microbial strains affect a mammalian disease or disorder.

Compositions and methods for treatment of mitochondrial respiratory chain dysfunction and other mitochondrial disorders are provided. Also disclosed are a number of screening assays having utility for the identification of agents which modulate the phenotype associated with mitochondrial respiratory chain dysfunction.

The present invention relates to methods for increasing absorption of compounds of interest by nematode worms through the design of carrier systems containing said compound of interest and expressing chemoattractive tags at their surface.

The present invention relates to: a transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans in which a glutamine tRNA 5′ terminus-derived fragment (Gln 5′-tsRNA) is overexpressed; a preparation method therefor; and a method for screening for aging-associated factors by using the transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans. A transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans model provided in the present invention is an animal model in which Gln 5′-tsRNA is overexpressed such that aging is inhibited. When the model of the present invention is used, anti-aging mechanisms can be easily investigated, thereby significantly contributing to various research fields such as that of developing new anti-aging drugs and screening for age-inducing materials.

The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for establishing the effect of active ingredients on nematodes and other organisms in aqueous tests, comprising a holder (40) for receiving a cell culture plate (50) with wells (57), in which the nematodes with the active ingredients can be filled, wherein the cell culture plate (50) has a bottom side (51), a top side (52) and a plurality of side faces, which extend between the bottom side (51) and top side (52), a camera (20) that serves to record images of preferably the bottom side (51) of the cell culture plate (50), and an illumination device (30) for illuminating the cell culture plate (50), wherein the illumination device (30) comprises a plurality of light sources. According to the invention, in the use position of the cell culture plate (50), provision is made for the light of a first light source (31) to enter the cell culture plate (50) from the outside through a first side face (53), the light of a second light source (32) to enter the cell culture plate (50) from the outside through a second side face (54), the light of a third light source (33) to enter the cell culture plate (50) from the outside through a third side face (55) and the light of a fourth light source (34) to enter the cell culture plate (50) from the outside through a fourth side face (56). Moreover, the invention relates to a method for adjusting the individual light sources.

The invention provides methods for rearing and genetic manipulation of the genome of sap-feeding insects (e.g., white-flies and others) to identify genetic targets for pest control, insecticides for pest control, and approaches to the genetic control of these pests.

The present invention provides a method for analyzing a blood sample. According to the present invention, there is provided, for example, a method for testing or analyzing a blood sample from a subject having cancer or suspected of having cancer, including evaluating taxis behavior of nematodes to the blood sample. According to the present invention, there is provided, for example, a method for evaluating whether a subject has cancer or not by the above method.

The invention relates to a device (1) and a method for determining the action of active ingredients on nematodes and other organisms in aqueous tests. The device (1) according to the invention comprises a holder (13) for a cell culture plate (30) having multiple wells (31) in which the nematodes can be filled with the active ingredients, said cell culture plate (30) having a bottom side (33), a top side (32) and also side walls extending between bottom side (33) and top side (32), a camera (11) which is used to record images of preferably the bottom side (33) of the cell culture plate (30), a lighting mechanism (14) having at least a first light source (15) which illuminates the cell culture plate (30), there being arranged between the first light source (15) and a first side wall (34) of the cell culture plate (30) in the installed state a first optical unit which directs the light of the first light source (15) through the first side wall (34) in the direction of the bottom side (33) of the cell culture plate (30). The method according to the invention makes it possible to simultaneously investigate many active ingredients within a very short time.

The invention relates to the use of a compound having the structure of Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, for treating or preventing nephrolithiasis in patients. The invention further relates to an assay to identify patients likely to benefit from administration of a compound of Formula (I). The invention also relates to an assay to identify putative anti-lithogenic agents.

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