This document relates to methods and materials involved in identifying and/or treating mammals having membranous nephropathy (e.g., membranous nephropathy with an elevated level of a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 6 (PCSK6) polypeptide in kidney tissue such as the glomerular basement membrane (GBM)). For example, methods and materials for administering one or more immunosuppressive agents to treat a mammal (e.g., a human) identified as having membranous nephropathy are provided.

Conjugates of porphyrin, chlorophyll and bacteriochlorophyll photosensitizers with RGD-containing peptides or RGD peptidomimetics are provided that are useful for photodynamic therapy (PDT), particularly vascular-targeted PDT (VTP), of tumors and nonneoplastic vascular diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, and for diagnosis of tumors by different techniques.

Provided are methods of selecting for cells that comprise two or more separate expression constructs. In certain embodiments, the methods comprise contacting a population of cells with two or more separate expression constructs under conditions in which the two or more expression constructs are delivered to cells of the population of cells. The two or more separate expression constructs comprise a first expression construct that encodes a fusion protein comprising a selection marker, a protein localization tag, and a protease cleavage site disposed between the selection marker and the protein localization tag. The second expression construct encodes a protein required for cell surface expression of the selection marker. Such methods further comprise selecting for cells exhibiting cell surface expression of the selection marker. Related cells, compositions, kits and therapeutic methods are also provided.

The invention relates generally to hybrid amebocyte lysate compositions (including both native and recombinant components) and their use in detecting and/or quantifying endotoxin in a sample.

A method for rapidly and highly sensitively measuring endotoxin is provided. Endotoxin is measured using an endotoxin-measuring agent comprising the proteins (1) to (3) below, each of which is a recombinant protein obtainable by being expressed using insect cells as a host: (1) a factor C derived from Tachypleus tridentatus, which factor C does not have a His-tag sequence at the C-terminus; (2) a factor B of a horseshoe crab; and (3) a proclotting enzyme of a horseshoe crab.

The present invention relates to a method of preparing a molecular sensor that is specific for a target molecule having a saccharide or peptide region. The method comprises using the target molecule as a template and incubating the template with a receptor to form a template-receptor complex. A molecular scaffold is formed on a surface around the template-receptor complex such that the receptor and at least a portion of the template are embedded in the scaffold, and the template is removed to produce a cavity defined by the scaffold, such that the cavity is complementary to at least a portion of the saccharide or peptide region of the target molecule.

The present invention relates to in vitro methods for aiding in the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a subject comprising determining the amount of one or more glycan structure at position N207 of haptoglobin (i.e. of the -chain of haptoglobin having the sequence given in SEQ ID NO: 1) in a sample obtained from said subject. Also disclosed are a glycan structure as well as a glycopeptide comprising said glycan structure, both of great utility in the detection of HCC. Further, the present invention relates to the use of one or more glycan structure at position N207 or of a glycopeptide comprising N207 of haptoglobin in combination with AFP and/or PIVKA in the detection of HCC.

A horseshoe crab Factor C protein having activity of Factor C, wherein the horseshoe crab is selected from Tachypleus tridentatus, Limulus polyphemus, and Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda, and wherein the horseshoe crab Factor C protein is produced through being recombinantly expressed from a Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) DG44 cell or HEK cell.

A horseshoe crab Factor C protein having activity of Factor C, wherein the horseshoe crab is selected from Tachypleus tridentatus, Limulus polyphemus, and Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda, and wherein the horseshoe crab Factor C protein is produced through being recombinantly expressed from a Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) DG44 cell or HEK cell.

A horseshoe crab Factor C protein having activity of Factor C, wherein the horseshoe crab is selected from Tachypleus tridentatus, Limulus polyphemus, and Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda, and wherein the horseshoe crab Factor C protein is produced through being recombinantly expressed from a Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) DG44 cell or HEK cell.