The present invention relates to the discovery of an effective treatment for a variety of gain-of-function diseases, in particular, Huntington's disease (HD). The present invention utilizes RNA Interference technology (RNAi) against polymorphic regions in the genes encoding various gain-of-function mutant proteins resulting in an effective treatment for the gain-of-function disease.

The invention provides a structured cell growth matrix or assembly comprising a one or more spacer layers and one or more cell immobilization layers. The invention further provides a bioreactor comprising said matrix or assembly.

The instant disclosure provides antibodies that specifically bind to CD137 (e.g., human CD137) and increases CD137 function. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising these antibodies, nucleic acids encoding these antibodies, expression vectors and host cells for making these antibodies, and methods of treating a subject using these antibodies.

The present disclosure provides genetically modified insect cells that can produce glycosylated expression products having a human-like glycosylation pattern. In particular, the cells comprise disruption of the fdl and/or FucT6 genes. Also provided is expression systems and methods for recombinant protein production.

The disclosure relates to therapeutic proteins and pharmaceutical compositions comprising said proteins, which have utility in treating various human diseases. In particular aspects, the disclosed therapeutic proteins are useful for treating human gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases and gastrointestinal conditions associated with decreased epithelial cell barrier function or integrity. Further, the disclosed therapeutic proteins are useful for treating human inflammatory bowel disease, including inter alia, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods of preparing a cell, tissue, organ or plant for cryopreservation, wherein the method includes contacting the cell, tissue, organ or plant with a composition including sucrose and/or sucralose.

The present invention relates to the field of veterinary vaccines, in particular to porcine vaccines against PCV2 and associated diseases. Specifically the invention relates to the finding that a mutation is required in PCV2b ORF2 protein, to prevent its nuclear accumulation upon expression in insect cells; the mutation introduces a Proline at amino acid position 131. This allows efficient expression in insect cells, easy harvesting, and generates large amounts of virus-like particles. The VLPs are highly effective in vaccines for porcines for reduction of infection by PCV2 or of associated signs of disease.

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.

The present invention provides an efficient process for culturing viruses in the presence of an endonuclease and for producing vaccines, typically from live attenuated viruses, under conditions to reduce the presence of host cell DNA and eliminate the need for a post-harvest DNA digestion step.

Provided herein is a cultured meat product comprising a confluent serum-free insect muscle cell culture seeded on a food safe substrate. Further provided herein is a method for producing a cultured meat product comprising the steps of: culturing insect muscle cells on a food safe substrate in serum-free culture medium for a time sufficient for the cells to reach confluence. Also provided herein is a bioactuator comprising confluent insect muscle cells cultured in a flexible substrate to form muscle fibers.