The present invention relates to a non-viral minicircle vector expressing a SOX gene, a stem cell into which the vector is introduced, a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating a cartilage disease, including the stem cell, and a method for constructing the vector. The transformation of mesenchymal stem cells with MC/SOX-Trio or MC/SOX-Duo, which is a non-viral minicircle vector according to the present invention, can completely exclude the necessity of expensive growth factors that have been indispensably used in inducing the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into chondrocytes. Accordingly, the mesenchymal stem cells transformed therewith, when implanted in vivo, can differentiate into chondrocytes by themselves, and thus have an advantage capable of simplifying the existing complicated steps of culturing cells to induce differentiation and then transplanting the cells.

Further, unlike existing vector systems in which antibiotic-resistant genes and other bacteria-derived exogenous genes are simultaneously transferred to cells even after transformation, the vector of the present invention minimizes transfer of unnecessary genes into target cells by allowing two or three SOX genes necessary only for differentiation into chondrocytes to be regulated under one promoter, and thus can be utilized as a non-viral vector system in the most advantageous form for use in clinical application of stem cell-gene therapeutic agents.

Sequencing adaptors and methods are provided for preparation of polynucleotides for sequencing. The sequencing adaptors contain a portion of a recognition sequence for a methyl-dependent endonuclease. Unwanted adaptor dimers that form during ligation of adaptors to target polynucleotides produce a complete restriction sequence and are cleaved by the endonuclease, followed by exonuclease digestion, thereby removing the dimers.

The invention relates to deoxyribonuclease for use in the treatment of a suspected or existing C. difficile infection; a pharmaceutical or veterinary composition or formulation comprising at least deoxyribonuclease for use in the treatment of a suspected or existing C. difficile infection; a combination therapeutic comprising at least deoxyribonuclease for use in the treatment of a suspected or existing C. difficile infection; a method of treating a mammal suspected of being infected with, or infected with, C. difficile comprising the use of at least deoxyribonuclease; a method of cleaning or sterilizing a material or product comprising the use of at least deoxyribonuclease; and a cleaning or sterilizing product impregnated with or containing at least deoxyribonuclease.

The invention relates to the use of a deoxyribonuclease (DNase) enzyme for prevention or amelioration of toxicity associated with various cytostatic and/or cytotoxic chemotherapeutic compounds and radiation therapy.

Featured are devices, systems, and methods of use for detecting binding of polynucleotide-peptide conjugate-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) monomers to a T cell receptors (TCR) on a T cell, and the use of a peptide library to detect binding of antigenic peptides in a pMHC monomer to a T cell receptor (TCR) on a T cell.

Sequencing adaptors and methods are provided for preparation of polynucleotides for sequencing. The sequencing adaptors contain a portion of a recognition sequence for a methyl-dependent endonuclease. Unwanted adaptor dimers that form during ligation of adaptors to target polynucleotides produce a complete restriction sequence and are cleaved by the endonuclease, followed by exonuclease digestion, thereby removing the dimers.

Compositions and methods are provided for disrupting biofilms formed by microbial organisms. In accordance with one embodiment such compositions are used in conjunction with standard treatment for use on chronic wounds. In one embodiment the biofilm disrupting composition comprises a nuclease and aurine tricarboxylic acid. The biofilm disrupting compositions disclosed herein can be used in conjunction with a therapeutic pharmaceutical composition comprising standard antibiotics.