The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for cell transplantation therapy based on forced expression of an exogenous HLA-F protein in donor cells to be transplanted into a subject. In some embodiments, the donor cells express an exogenous chimeric HLA-F protein comprising an extracellular region comprising an HLA-F alpha 1 domain, an HLA alpha 2 domain, an HLA-F alpha 3 domain, a linker and a β2m protein.

The present invention relates to a microtissue compartment device, comprising a compartment structure (1) having an upper surface (2) and a lower surface (3) essentially coplanar thereto, and at least two wells (4) suitable for accommodating one or more microtissues (5) in a liquid volume, each well having a lower section (4a) with a given diameter, coaxially oriented thereto an upper section (4b) with an extended diameter, and at least one conduit (6) fluidically connecting at least two wells to one another, and at least one space (13) arranged above a well. At least one well has, in its upper section, a relief structure (9) that prevents spreading or overflow of a liquid volume comprised in said well into space (13).

The present invention relates to a biomimetic nerve chip for evaluating the efficacy and toxicity of a drug, a method for evaluating the efficacy of a drug on nerve cells through astrocytes by using the biomimetic nerve chip, and a method for evaluating the toxicity of a drug on nerve cells through astrocytes by using the biomimetic nerve chip, the biomimetic nerve chip comprising: an astrocyte supply unit and a nerve cell supply unit for simulating nerve tissue; and a culture solution supply unit for supplying a culture solution to the astrocyte supply unit and the nerve cell supply unit. By using the biomimetic nerve chip for evaluating the efficacy and toxicity of a drug provided in the present invention, it is possible to overcome inaccuracies due to differences between the different species in animal experiments in the study of nerve tissues, and using a combination of astrocytes and nerve cells enables use of the nerve chip as a platform to more accurately evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of a drug under conditions similar to in vivo conditions, and the nerve chip can be applied to studies of microenvironments in nerve tissues and other organ-on-a-chip studies. Therefore, the present invention may be utilized in the development of a human-on-a-chip that can effectively analyze the efficacy and toxicity of a drug.

The invention relates to methods to evaluate in one single assay the biocompatibility of materials based on the simultaneous determination of the phagocytosis, cell activation and cell death produced by said materials, preferably, in peripheral blood or other human cells and proximal fluids. The invention also relates to a kit to perform the method of the invention.

The present specification discloses SNAP-25 compositions, methods of making α-SNAP-25 antibodies that bind an epitope comprising a carboxyl-terminus at the P.sub.1 residue from the BoNT/A cleavage site scissile bond from a SNAP-25 cleavage product, α-SNAP-25 antibodies that bind an epitope comprising a carboxyl-terminus at the P.sub.1 residue from the BoNT/A cleavage site scissile bond from a SNAP-25 cleavage product, methods of detecting BoNT/A activity, and methods of detecting neutralizing α-BoNT/A antibodies.

A 3D tissue culture selected from the group consisting of hydrogel-based 3D tissue culture and cellular self-assembly 3D tissue culture as well as self-assembly 3D tissue culture. Additionally, disclosed is a method of preparing cells for 3D tissue culture, which method comprises the steps of plating the cells on a suitable surface, optionally, checking for their capability to adhere to said surface, discarding the cells which have not adhered to said surface, detaching the adhered cells and transferring them into a 3D tissue culture process.

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for cell transplantation therapy based on forced expression of an exogenous HLA-F protein in donor cells to be transplanted into a subject. In some embodiments, the donor cells express an exogenous chimeric HLA-F protein comprising an extracellular region comprising an HLA-F alpha 1 domain, an HLA alpha 2 domain, an HLA-F alpha 3 domain, a linker and a β2m protein.

The present disclosure describes a microfluidic chip for culturing and in vitro testing of 3D organotypic cultures. The tests may be performed directly on the organotypic culture in the microfluidic chip. The microfluidic chip includes at least one microfluidic unit which includes two fluidic compartments, such as upper and lower, separated by a permeable supporting structure, one or more access opening for the fluidic compartments, and a set of lids interchangeable with a set of insets. The permeable support structure serves as a support for the organotypic culture. The upper and lower compartments may include inlets and outlets which allow fluids to be perfused into the lower compartment and fluids to be perfused into the upper compartment. The access opening may be closed with a lid or accommodate an inset.

Provided herein are methods and articles of manufacture for use with cell therapy for the treatment of diseases or conditions, e.g., cancer, including for predicting and treating a toxicity. In some embodiments, the toxicity is related to cytokine release syndrome (CRS). The methods generally involve assessing a change in a factor indicative of tumor burden prior to administration of a cell therapy in a subject that is associated with and/or correlate to a risk of developing toxicity. In some aspects, the methods can be used to determine if the subject is at risk or likely at risk for developing a toxicity following administration of the cell therapy. Also provided are methods for treating a subject having a disease or condition, in some cases involving administration of the cell therapy, based on assessment of risk of developing a toxicity following administration of the therapy. Also provided herein are reagents and kits for performing the methods.

The present invention provides a novel method for the classification of adjuvants. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for generating organ transcriptome profiles for adjuvants, said method comprising: (A) a step for obtaining expression data by performing transcriptome analysis for at least one organ of a target organism by using at least two adjuvants; (B) a step for clustering the adjuvants with respect to the expression data; and (C) a step for generating the organ transcriptome profile for the adjuvants on the basis of the clustering.