The present disclosure provides nucleic acid activity-dependent expression vectors and activity-dependent expression cassettes for the activity-dependent expression of an encoded polypeptide. Also provided are recombinant adenoassociated viruses (AAV) containing an expression vector comprising an activity-dependent expression cassette for the activity-dependent expression of an encoded polypeptide by cells infected with the AAV vector. The present disclosure also provides methods for the activity-dependent labeling of cells in vitro or in vivo by introducing into the cells an expression vector containing an activity-dependent regulatory sequence driving expression of a labeling polypeptide. Also provided are methods for the activity-dependent control of cells in vitro or in vivo by introducing into the cells an expression vector containing an activity-dependent regulatory sequence driving expression of a light-responsive polypeptide.

A method and system to prevent sore throat infections in humans includes the administration of an active ingredient to a site on the mucus membranes of the throat of a human that inhibits adherence and promotes desorption of S. pyogenes to soft tissue surfaces, such as the pharyngeal and oral mucosa of a human. A mucoadhesive strip having a surface topography that resists bioadhesion of undesired bacteria that are typically present in a human's mouth is preferably employed and that has one or more encapsulated agents selected from the group consisting of an antibiotic; lactic acid bacteria; S. pyogenes modified by a CRISPR-Cas system to reduce one or more virulence factors; and a breath mint solution.

The present invention is related to a targeted type shell for drug delivery system. The object of the present invention is to provide the targeted type shell for DDS, which comprises a carbosilane dendrimer containing a silole produced by which is formed by utilizing the reaction between thiol group and alkyl halide, and a targeted protein containing a labeled proteins such as green fluorescent protein with a target recognition site. The shell may incorporate compounds having a variety of molecular weight and biopolymers, and selectively deliver them into targeted cells.

There is disclosed a composition in the form of a nanoparticle. The nanoparticle composition has a diameter from 5 to 500 nanometers. The nanoparticle composition has i) a central core portion including magnetic Fe.sub.3O.sub.4 nanoparticles adapted to act as a heat source when subjected to a magnetic field and a chemotherapeutic agent configured to treat cancer tissues, ii)a shell portion including a shell member encapsulating said core portion, and iii)antibodies configured to target cancer stem cells and adhered to surface of said shell member. The chemotherapeutic agent is a heat shock protein inhibitor and is releasable on activation of the heat source due to the magnetic field, and the shell member is made of silica or a silica based material. Surface of the nanoparticle is modified with the antibodies capable of binding with a cluster of differentiation molecules on the cell surface of the target cancer stem cells, whereby by way of combination of specificity of the nanoparticle composition due to the antibody, thermo-therapeutic effect of the Fe.sub.3O.sub.4 nanoparticles, and release of the heat shock protein inhibitor on site at the target cancer stem cells, inhibition of the target cancer stem cells is synergistically and additionally enhanced is increased.

A method and system to prevent sore throat infections in humans includes the administration of an active ingredient to a site on the mucus membranes of the throat of a human that inhibits adherence and promotes desorption of S. pyogenes to soft tissue surfaces, such as the pharyngeal and oral mucosa of a human. A mucoadhesive strip having a surface topography that resists bioadhesion of undesired bacteria that are typically present in a human's mouth is preferably employed and that has one or more encapsulated agents selected from the group consisting of an antibiotic; lactic acid bacteria; S. pyogenes modified by a CRISPR-Cas system to reduce one or more virulence factors; and a breath mint solution.

Gas vesicles, protein variants and related compositions methods and systems for singleplexed and/or multiplexed ultrasound imaging of a target site in which a gas vesicle provides contrast for the imaging which is modifiable by application of a selectable acoustic collapse pressure value of the gas vesicle.

The present invention relates to a partial skull replacement consisting of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and a method of monitoring biological tissues within a skull using the partial skull replacement. The method of monitoring using the partial skull replacement of the present invention has a minimal influence on intracranial pressure and cerebrospinal fluid flow as compared to a conventional cranial window technique using glass, and, by way of visualizing biological tissues within a skull with enhanced clarity, is expected to be usefully employed as a method of monitoring biological tissues within the skull.

Compositions and methods are provided that are useful for the delivery, including transdermal delivery, of biologically active agents, such as non-protein non-nucleotide therapeutics and protein-based therapeutics excluding insulin, botulinum toxins, antibody fragments, and VEGF. The compositions and methods are particularly useful for topical delivery of antifungal agents and antigenic agents suitable for immunization. Alternatively, the composition can be prepared with components useful for targeting the delivery of the compositions as well as imaging components.

The disclosure relates to integrin binding peptides, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the peptides and to uses thereof as therapeutic, diagnostic, imaging and targeting agents.

A method of treating a subject afflicted with a retinal degenerative or neurodegenerative disease including administering an optogenetic therapeutic to the subject, where the optogenetic therapeutic includes an optogenetic protein fused or linked to a marker protein. An optogenetic therapeutic for use in treating a subject afflicted with a retinal degenerative or neurodegenerative disease, including an optogenetic protein fused or linked to a marker protein.