Herein is reported a method for obtaining a B-cell comprising the following steps a) labeling B-cells, b) depositing the labeled B-cells as single cells, c) co-cultivating the single cell deposited B-cells with feeder cells, d) selecting a B-cell proliferating and secreting IgG in step c) and thereby obtaining a B-cell. The labeling can be of IgG.sup.+CD19.sup.+-B-cells, IgG.sup.+CD38.sup.+-B-cells, IgG.sup.+CD268.sup.+-B-cells, IgG.sup.CD138.sup.+-B-cells, CD27.sup.+CD138.sup.+-B-cells or CD3.sup.CD27.sup.+-B-cells. The method can comprise the step of incubating said B-cells at 37 C. for one hour in EL-4 B5 medium prior to the depositing step. The method can also comprise the step of centrifuging said single cell deposited B-cells prior to the co-cultivation. In the co-cultivation a feeder mix comprising interleukin-1beta, and tumor necrosis factor alpha and Staphylococcus aureus strain Cowans cells or BAFF or interleukin-2 and/or interleukin-10 and/or interleukin-6 and/or interleukin-4 can be used.

The present invention provides methods for the induction and monitoring of T cell exhaustion in vitro. The methods are effective for both human and non-human T cells, and for both antigen-specific and polyclonal T cells. The present invention also provides methods to screen for and/or evaluate pharmacologic agents that can either induce or reverse T cell exhaustion. The present invention also provides certain agents that can reverse T cell exhaustion.

An object of the present invention is to obtain a thicker animal cell composition by a simple and less expensive method. Namely, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for culturing a thicker animal cell composition by eliminating the hypoxia associated with animal cell compositions, a method for producing an animal cell composition containing unicellular algae, and an animal cell composition. The present invention provides a method for culturing an animal cell composition in a culture medium in the presence of unicellular algae and under exposure to light. According to the method of the present invention, oxygen can be continuously supplied in the culture medium, cell damage is alleviated, and a thicker cell composition can be obtained in the absence of a capillary network.

The present invention is concerned with a photosynthetic scaffold that delivers oxygen and its uses for tissue engineering and the treatment of ischemia.

An object of the present invention is to provide a composition for promoting fibroblast proliferation and/or a composition for promoting hyaluronic acid synthase gene expression. The present invention provides a composition for promoting fibroblast proliferation and/or a composition for promoting hyaluronic acid synthase gene expression, the compositions each comprising Lactobacillus plantarum L-137.

Disclosed herein is a Chlamydia-activated B cell (CAB) platform. Also disclosed is a method of enhancing a population of B cells, comprising exposing said B cells to Chlamydia spp. under conditions suitable to enhance the population of B cells, such that expansion and differentiation of said B cells takes place, and said B cells are exposed or crosslinked to an antigen. Also disclosed are methods of producing said CABs, and treating a subject in need thereof with said CABs.

The present invention it was determined that dendritic cells could be derived from various sources including peripheral blood monocytes in the presence of only GM-CSF without other cytokines if the monocytes were not activated. By preventing activation, such as by preventing binding of the cells to the surface of the culture vessel, the monocytes do not require the presence of additional cytokines, such as IL-4 or IL-13, to prevent differentiation into a non-dendritic cell lineage. The immature DCs generated and maintained in this manner were CD14 and expressed high levels of CD1a. Upon maturation by contact with an agent such as, for example, BCG and IFN, the cells were determined to express surface molecules typical of mature dendritic cells purified by prior methods and cultured in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4. The mature dendritic cells produced from monocytes without activation and cultured in GM-CSF alone are suitable for use in dendritic cell-based immunotherapy methods, such as for use in the treatment of disease, including cancer.

Disclosed herein is a Chlamydia-activated B cell (CAB) platform. Also disclosed is a method of enhancing a population of B cells, comprising exposing said B cells to Chlamydia spp. under conditions suitable to enhance the population of B cells, such that expansion and differentiation of said B cells takes place, and said B cells are exposed or crosslinked to an antigen. Also disclosed are methods of producing said CABs, and treating a subject in need thereof with said CABs.

Several methods are described for generating mycelial scaffolds for use several technologies. In one embodiment, a mycelial scaffold is generated using a perfusion bioreactor system for cell-based meat technologies. In another embodiment, a mycelial scaffold is prepared for biomedical applications. The mycelial scaffolds may be generated from a liquid medium or from a solid substrate.

Herein is reported a method for co-cultivating B-cells in the presence of phorbol myristate acetate, IL-1beta, TNFalpha, IL-2, IL-10 and IL-6.