The present invention concerns methods and compositions for gene therapy, in particular in vivo gene therapy for delivery of bioactive glial derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) for the treatment of Parkinson's Disease. The invention also concerns mammalian cells capable of producing GDNF in increased amounts as well as the use of these cells for recombinant production of bioactive GDNF and for therapeutic use. The invention also includes a device that may be implanted in the cochlear of a patient that is capable of secreting GDNF.

A bioreactor for the cultivation of cells, comprising at least one vessel which is designed to accommodate cells to be cultivated and at least one culture medium in a vessel interior enclosed at least partially by walls of the vessel in relation to an environment, and comprising a movement device which can be connected to a drive unit and at least partially moves the cells to he cultivated or applies a force to same. An elastic element is arranged in the vessel interior, which is configured such that at least one part of the culture medium can he received at least in a region of the elastic element and the cells to he cultivated at least intermittently adhere in and/or on at least sections of the elastic element, and the movement device is designed to at least intermittently deform the elastic element.

The present disclosure describes a microorganism support structure, including a gas-permeable layer comprising two opposing surfaces; a microorganism adhesive coats at least one surface of the gas-permeable layer; and a microorganism disposed on the microorganism adhesive-coated surface of the layer. The microorganism adhesive enhances the adhesion of the microorganism on the layer compared to a gas-permeable layer that does not have the microorganism adhesive.

The apparatuses described herein relate to preparation of a meat product. Apparatuses, systems comprising the apparatuses, and methods of making and use the systems and apparatuses are described herein. These are useful for controlling one or more of growth on and separation of a meat product from an enclosed substrate. The apparatuses and systems are configured to receive fluid and grow the meat product and/or separate the meat product from the substrate in a scalable manner.

The invention relates to a device designed for the cultivation and radiation-induced killing of living biological cells. The device comprises a flat substrate and a functional layer for creating a wound in biological cells, said functional layer being applied to the flat substrate. The functional layer contains at least one photosensitizer which is designed to convert triplet oxygen into singlet oxygen by the application of electromagnetic radiation. As a result, biological cells on the functional layer can be killed by irradiation of low-intensity electromagnetic radiation. A wound can be introduced into a cell layer at a locally defined point easily, quickly, carefully, and in a flexible and cost-effective manner and thus the healing of the wound can be studied. The invention further relates to uses of the devices and a method for analyzing a migration and/or wound healing behavior of biological cells.

Methods of controlling hydrogen sulfide concentration of a biogas occupying an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) containing a submerged membrane are disclosed herein. Methods of controlling dissolved sulfide concentration of a mixed liquor within the AnMBR are disclosed. The methods include directing wastewater containing sulfur and a chemical oxygen demand (COD) to an AnMBR, withdrawing at least a fraction of the biogas from the AnMBR, directing a pre-determined amount of the withdrawn biogas to a scrubber, directing a remainder of the withdrawn biogas to a gas distributor, and directing the scrubbed biogas to the AnMBR. Systems for treating wastewater having sulfur and COD are disclosed. The systems include an AnMBR, a scouring gas closed loop, a scrubber, and a control mechanism for directing biogas to the scrubber and to a gas distributor. Methods of retrofitting a system for treating wastewater having sulfur and COD are disclosed.

Containment and facility systems for offshore porous floating bioreactors that contain algae water slurries in saltwater environments. A containment system may include a containment boom system, a containment silt curtain system, a containment marineworks system, or a combination thereof. Facility systems include an offshore porous floating bioreactor in fluid communication with at least an onshore algae harvesting system. Algae cultivation may occur at an onshore algae cultivation system or within a porous floating bioreactor, and algae lipid production occurs within a porous floating bioreactor. The lipid induced algae is received by the onshore algae harvesting system for further processing.

A Disposable Bioprocess System including a Single-Use-Bioreactor, a Single-Use-Pump and a single-use micro-organism retention filter. Combined most suitable for cultivation of suspended micro-organisms in a liquid media at high micro-organism concentration in a perfusion mode continuous process for expression of biological material. The inlet port of the liquid Single-Use-Pump connects via a valve to the broth reservoir of the Single-Use-Bioreactor through a liquid conveying port. The outlet port of the liquid pumping Single-Use-Pump connects via a valve to a micro-organism retention filter. And a method for operating said sterile Disposable Bioprocess System in perfusion mode for continuously processing.

The disclosure relates to bioreactors, for example for biological treatment and, more specifically to bioreactor insert apparatus including biofilms and related methods. The bioreactor insert apparatus provides a means for circulation of reaction medium within the bioreactor, a biofilm support, and biological treatment of an inlet feed to the reactor/insert apparatus. The bioreactor insert apparatus has a high relative surface area for biofilm attachment and is capable of generating complex flow patterns and increasing treatment efficiency/biological conversion activity in a biologically-active reactor. The high surface area structure incorporates multiple biofilm support structures such as meshes at inlet and outlet portions of the structure. The biofilm support structures and biofilms thereon can increase overall reaction rate of the bioreactor and/or perform some solid/liquid separation in the treatment of the wastewater or other influent.

A device for single-cell analysis according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a substrate; a gap between the substrate and porous membrane which is a space for culture medium; and a porous membrane formed on having a pore capable of isolating a second cell into single cell units.

A method for single-cell analysis according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: Culturing a first cell in a culture medium on a bottom side of porous membrane; Applying a sample including a second cell on a porous membrane in a culture medium; Isolating the second cell into single cell units in a pore existing in the porous membrane with a external force such as agitation and gravitational force; Generating an interaction situation between the first cells and the single cell-level second cell; Analyzing a cellular phenomena of the first cell or the second cell.