Systems and methods for analysis of samples, and in certain embodiments, microfluidic sample analyzers configured to receive a cassette containing a sample therein to perform an analysis of the sample are described. The microfluidic sample analyzers may be used to control fluid flow, mixing, and sample analysis in a variety of microfluidic systems such as microfluidic point-of-care diagnostic platforms. Advantageously, the microfluidic sample analyzers may be, in some embodiments, inexpensive, reduced in size compared to conventional bench top systems, and simple to use. Cassettes that can operate with the sample analyzers are also described.

Disclosed herein are evacuated blood collection tubes comprising protease inhibitor cocktails in liquid form and uses thereof for assessing features associated with the contact system in a subject, including the endogenous level of contact system activation, the endogenous level of a drug that targets a component of contact system during treatment, and/or the immunogenicity of such a drug.

The present invention concerns a method for classifying a disorder associated with the complement system comprising the detection of the presence of C3/C5 convertase complexes as well as Ig/C1q and MBL/MASP complexes. Moreover the invention refers to a method for determining whether a patient will be responsive to a modulator of the complements system, a method for determining the disorder course of a patient with a disorder associated with the complement system and a method for determining whether a candidate compound is suitable for the treatment of a disorder if the complement system and the respective kits.

An object of the present invention is to provide a bispecific antibody, which binds to CD40 and FAP and exhibits a strong CD40 agonistic activity in a FAP dependent manner or a bispecific antibody fragment thereof, and the like. The present invention relates to a bispecific antibody, which is a bispecific antibody containing an IgG portion including a first antigen binding domain and also containing a second antigen binding domain, and binding to human CD40 and human FAP, wherein the C terminus of a heavy chain of the IgG portion binds to the second antigen binding domain either directly or via a linker, or a bispecific antibody fragment thereof, and the like.

The present invention provides a membrane-type surface-stress sensor which has a new form for binding a target. A membrane-type surface-stress sensor of the present invention includes: aptamers; a membrane; and a sensor substrate, wherein the aptamer is a nucleic acid molecule that binds to a target and is immobilized to the membrane, the membrane is a membrane that deforms upon binding of the target to the aptamer, the sensor substrate has a support region, the support region supports the membrane and has a piezoresistive element, and the piezoresistive element is an element for detecting deformation of the membrane.

The present invention pertains to a new method for the diagnosis, prognosis, stratification and/or monitoring of a therapy, of cancer, preferably colorectal cancer (CRC), in a subject. The method is based on the determination of the level of a panel of least one, preferably 3, 4 and most preferably at least 5, protein biomarker selected from the group consisting of the protein biomarkers Amphiregulin (AREG), Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), Insulin like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP2), Keratin, type I cytoskeletal 19 (KRT19), Mannan binding lectin serine protease 1 (MASP1), Osteopontin (OPN), Serum paraoxonase lactonase 3 (PON3) and Transferrin receptor protein 1 (TR), in the biological sample obtained from the subject. The new biomarker panel of the invention allows diagnosing and even stratifying various cancer diseases. Furthermore, provided are diagnostic kits for performing the non-invasive methods of the invention. Since the biomarker panel of the invention provides a statistically robust method independent of the protein detection technology used, and considering that the biomarker panel of the invention is detected in plasma samples of the subjects, the invention provides an early detection screening examination that may be applied to a larger population.

Subject matter of the present invention is an angiotensin-receptor-agonist and/or a precursor thereof for use in the treatment of a disease in a subject, ⋅wherein said disease is selected from the group comprising heart failure, chronic heart failure, acute heart failure (AHF), myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, liver failure, burn injuries, traumatic injuries, severe infection (microbial, viral (e.g. AIDS), parasitic diseases (e.g. Malaria)), SIRS or sepsis, cancer, acute kidney injury (AKI), CNS disorders (e.g. seizures, neurodegenerative diseases), autoimmune diseases, vascular diseases, hypotension and shock, and ⋅wherein said subject has an amount of DPP3 protein and/or DPP3 activity in a sample of bodily fluid that is above a predetermined threshold.

In some aspects, methods of detecting complement activation in vivo, e.g., in an eye, are provided. In some embodiments, methods comprise detecting drusen containing or in close proximity to complement activation. In some embodiments methods comprise detecting one or more drusen having inflamed endothelium underlying or in close proximity thereto. In some embodiments methods comprise detecting eye-derived extracellular microvesicles, e.g., exosomes, in a body fluid. In some embodiments any of the methods further comprises treating a subject at risk of developing AMD, GA, or advanced AMD or at increased likelihood of rapid progression of AMD with a complement inhibitor. In some aspects, agents useful for performing one or more of the methods are described.

The invention relates to a method for in vitro investigating mitochondrial replication dysfunction in a biological sample removed from a subject susceptible of suffering from physiological ageing or physiopathological conditions related to physiological ageing, or physiopathological ageing or associated symptoms or conditions, in particular premature ageing or accelerated ageing, or of a progeroid syndrome, such as Cockayne syndrome (CS), or neurodegenerative disorders or symptoms thereof, in which the levels of at least one species selected in the group of: POLG1 protein, POLG1 RNA, POLG2 protein, protease(s) which have POLG as a target, in particular serine protease(s) such as HTRA3 protein, HTRA2 protein and, HTRA3 RNA or HTRA2 RNA, or any combination of these species, are investigated. The invention also relates to kits and uses thereof, therapeutic methods against progeroid-like syndromes or symptoms and screening method for identifying particular protease inhibitor(s) and/or nitroso-redox stress scavenger compound(s) having relevance for the symptoms discussed herein.

The present disclosure relates to methods, compositions, and systems for detecting whether a subject exposed to a coronavirus has developed a neutralizing antibody response. Also disclosed are methods for determining whether a patient infected by a coronavirus is likely to respond to treatment with an antibody preparation. Also disclosed are methods for detecting the level of neutralizing antibody response in a sample of serum from a subject exposed to a coronavirus or to a coronavirus vaccine.