The present disclosure provides methods of preparing a fixed biological sample for use in an assay, wherein the method includes treatment of the sample with a low temperature active protease, optionally, in combination with an un-fixing reagent. The disclosure also provides assay methods, include partition-based methods, for fixed biological sample that use the low temperature protease treatment in combination with an un-fixing reagent. Kits comprising protease compositions, un-fixing agent compositions, and other assay reagents for use in the methods are also provided.

Provided is a technology related to a horseshoe crab factor B variant, and also provided is means for performing endotoxin measurement with high sensitivity. A polypeptide having an amino acid sequence in which the amino acid residue at the 193-position in an amino acid sequence of a polypeptide of horseshoe crab factor B is substituted with a cysteine (Cys) residue, is produced. Endotoxin measurement can be carried out with high sensitivity by configuring a Limulus reagent by combining this polypeptide with horseshoe crab factor C.

Provided is a technology related to a horseshoe crab factor B variant, and also provided is means for performing endotoxin measurement with high sensitivity. A polypeptide having an amino acid sequence in which the amino acid residue at the 193-position in an amino acid sequence of a polypeptide of horseshoe crab factor B is substituted with a cysteine (Cys) residue, is produced. Endotoxin measurement can be carried out with high sensitivity by configuring a Limulus reagent by combining this polypeptide with horseshoe crab factor C.

The invention relates to adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotype AAV-Rh74 and related AAV vectors, and AAV-Rh74 and related AAV vector mediated gene transfer methods and uses. In particular, AAV-Rh74 and related AAV vectors target polynucleotides to cells, tissues or organs for expression (transcription) of genes encoding therapeutic proteins and peptides, and polynucleotides that function as or are transcribed into inhibitory nucleic acid sequences.

The present invention relates to methods for obtaining protease variants with improved properties. The present invention also relates to protease variants, compositions comprising the protease variants and methods of using the protease variants.

In one aspect, the invention provides methods of inhibiting the effects of MASP-2-dependent complement activation in a living subject. The methods comprise the step of administering, to a subject in need thereof, an amount of a MASP-2 inhibitory agent effective to inhibit MASP-2-dependent complement activation. In some embodiments, the MASP-2 inhibitory agent inhibits cellular injury associated with MASP-2-mediated alternative complement pathway activation, while leaving the classical (C1q-dependent) pathway component of the immune system intact. In another aspect, the invention provides compositions for inhibiting the effects of lectin-dependent complement activation, comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a MASP-2 inhibitory agent and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The present invention relates to “a heterodimer which combines a Factor G α-subunit containing an amino acid sequence that is the same as or substantially the same as an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 4 with a Factor G β-subunit containing an amino acid sequence that is the same as or substantially the same as an amino acid sequence represented by any one of SEQ ID NO: 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, or 16, a method of measuring a β-glucan using the heterodimer, and a kit for measuring a β-glucan containing the heterodimer”.

The present invention provides a novel method for the recombinant production of Factor C protein from horseshoe crab using a parasitic protozoan expressing the Factor C protein. In particular, the present invention provides a parasitic protozoan host cell harboring a polynucleotide encoding horseshoe crab Factor C protein, and a method for producing Factor C protein comprising culturing said parasitic protozoan host cell under conditions such that the cells express the horseshoe crab Factor C protein. Furthermore, the present invention provides recombinant Factor C protein produced by the novel method and its use in the detection and/or removal of endotoxin.

A horseshoe crab Factor C protein having activity of Factor C, wherein the horseshoe crab is selected from Tachypleus tridentatus, Limulus polyphemus, and Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda, and wherein the horseshoe crab Factor C protein is produced through being recombinantly expressed from a Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) DG44 cell or HEK cell.

The invention concerns a process for the preparation of fish proteases from fish viscera, preferably from cod (Gadus genus) viscera. The fish proteases produced according to the invention have high specific enzymatic activity and are useful for food uses, for biomedical applications, in histology and tissue culture.