The present invention is directed to recombinantly-modified adeno-associated virus (AAV) helper vectors that are capable of increasing the packaging efficiency of recombinantly-modified adeno-associated virus (rAAV) and their use to improve the packaging efficiency of such rAAV. The present invention is particularly directed to recombinantly-modified adeno-associated virus (AAV) helper vectors that have been further modified to replace (or augment) the P5 and/or P40 promoter sequences that are natively associated with the Rep proteins encoded by such rAAV with AAV P5 and/or P40 promoters that are associated with the Rep proteins of an rAAV of different serotype. The use of such substitute or additional promoter sequences causes increased production of recombinantly-modified adeno-associated virus.

The present disclosure is directed to a method of increasing growth of coral by growing the coral on a bioceramic hydroxyapatite material. An increased growth rate in the coral species is observed with respect to perimeter, surface area and volume as compared with the growth rate on a control material. In some embodiments, the bioceramic hydroxyapatite material contains a carbonatable calcium component with a Ca/P ratio greater than about 1.67.

The present invention is directed to antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof having binding specificity for PACAP. The antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof comprise the sequences of the V.sub.H, V.sub.L, and CDR polypeptides described herein, and the polynucleotides encoding them. Antibodies and antigen binding fragments described herein bind to and/or compete for binding to the same linear or conformational epitope(s) on human PACAP as an anti-PACAP antibody. The invention contemplates conjugates of anti-PACAP antibodies and binding fragments thereof conjugated to one or more functional or detectable moieties. Methods of making said anti-PACAP antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof are also contemplated. Other embodiments of the invention contemplate using anti-PACAP antibodies, and binding fragments thereof, for the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of diseases and disorders associated with PACAP and conditions where antagonism of PACAP-related activities, such as vasodilation, photophobia, mast cell degranulation, and/or neuronal activation, would be therapeutically beneficial.

The present invention is directed to antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof having binding specificity for PACAP. The antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof comprise the sequences of the V.sub.H, V.sub.L, and CDR polypeptides described herein, and the polynucleotides encoding them. Antibodies and antigen binding fragments described herein bind to and/or compete for binding to the same linear or conformational epitope(s) on human PACAP as an anti-PACAP antibody. The invention contemplates conjugates of anti-PACAP antibodies and binding fragments thereof conjugated to one or more functional or detectable moieties. Methods of making said anti-PACAP antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof are also contemplated. Other embodiments of the invention contemplate using anti-PACAP antibodies, and binding fragments thereof, for the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of diseases and disorders associated with PACAP and conditions where antagonism of PACAP-related activities, such as vasodilation, photophobia, mast cell degranulation, and/or neuronal activation, would be therapeutically beneficial.

The cell structure producing apparatus including needles, a sticking unit configured to detachably hold an end portion of each of the needles, descend the each of the needles with respect to a cell tray in which cell aggregates are held, stick and penetrate each of the cell aggregates with the tip end, and ascend the needle after sticking, at least one time or more, a base unit, and a control unit configured to move the sticking unit so that for the each of the needles, each of the needles sticking the cell aggregates is positioned at a predetermined position over the base unit, descend each of the needles by a predetermined amount to stick the tip end into the base unit at the predetermined position on the base unit, and control the sticking unit.

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.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of devices for managing fluid transport. In particular disclosed embodiments, the devices are used to manage fluid transport in reactor systems, such as bio-assessment systems, chemical synthesis reactors, and the like. The devices disclosed herein include fluid management devices, reservoir assemblies, valving systems, pumps, and combinations thereof. The devices disclosed herein are cost-efficient and user-friendly and can be implemented in a variety of reactor systems.

The present invention is directed to recombinantly-modified adeno-associated virus (AAV) helper vectors that are capable of increasing the packaging efficiency of recombinantly-modified adeno-associated virus (rAAV) and their use to improve the packaging efficiency of such rAAV. The present invention is particularly directed to recombinantly-modified adeno-associated virus (AAV) helper vectors that have been further modified to replace (or augment) the P5 and/or P40 promoter sequences that are natively associated with the Rep proteins encoded by such rAAV with AAV P5 and/or P40 promoters that are associated with the Rep proteins of an rAAV of different serotype. The use of such substitute or additional promoter sequences causes increased production of recombinantly-modified adeno-associated virus.

By establishing effective methods for shrimp 3D cell culture and passage, the present invention provides a technology of continuous shrimp cell culture intended for the establishment of immortalized shrimp cell lines. The present invention provides a preparation method of matrigel for 3D cell culture of shrimp by optimizing an additive proportion of matrigel. The present invention further provides a technology of separation and 3D cell culture of shrimp haemolymph cells, where shrimp haemolymph cells adhere to and grow on the surface of the matrigel in the form of a single round cell and a cell pellet/cellular spheroid, with survival and growth abilities being superior to 2D culture effects. The above technology is achieved by optimizing a formula of complete medium for shrimp cells, selecting the medium as an anticoagulant and a diluent for shrimp haemolymph cells, selecting a 3D culture method for surface-adhered growth in the matrigel.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method of purifying a monomeric monoclonal antibody from a mixture which comprises the monomeric monoclonal antibody and one or more contaminants, comprising: a) subjecting the mixture to cation exchange chromatography (CEX) matrix, wherein the monomeric monoclonal antibody binds to the CEX matrix; b) contacting the CEX matrix with a wash solution at a pH which is between about 7 and about 7.8; c) eluting the monomeric monoclonal antibody from the CEX matrix into an elution solution, thereby purifying the monomeric monoclonal antibody.