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Human Systems

Latest Innovations
A DNA-Based Diagnostic Test for the Identification of Individuals having the Mutation causing the Ectodermal Dysplasia (ED) Genetic Defect in Sheep Researchers from the University of Illinois have identified a new inhibitor of the androgen receptor (AR), CPIC, that would be effective in the treatment of... Read More Researchers from the University of Illinois have identified a new inhibitor of the androgen receptor (AR), CPIC, that would be effective in the treatment of Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer (CRPC). CPIC targets a novel site on the full-length and truncated forms of the AR, present in the CRPC. Initial in vivo data has demonstrated that this new class of compounds is capable of inhibiting growth of prostate cancer cells. Furthermore, CPIC has shown to be 40x more potent against the truncated AR compared to current small molecules against the truncated AR.
Biosynthesis of Lantibiotics: In vitro semi-synthetic production methods for generation of industrial antibiotic, Lacticin 481 This invention allows the engineering of semi-synthetic lantibiotics to a much larger extent than using typically practiced in vivo methods. The method is the... Read More This invention allows the engineering of semi-synthetic lantibiotics to a much larger extent than using typically practiced in vivo methods. The method is the first in vitro reconstruction lantibiotic photosynthesis and introduces non-proteinogenic amino acids. Lantibiotics are peptide-based compounds produced by bacteria that live on lactic acid. They are used as natural antibiotic food preservatives as an alternative to chemical reagents and have been used for half a century without any significant signs of lantibiotic-resistant bacteria popping up. Researchers at the University of Illinois have isolated and purified the LctM enzyme, responsible for synthesis of lacticin 481. This approach, the first in vitro reconstruction of lantibiotic biosynthesis, allows for lantibiotic engineering and opens the door to possible generations of new lantibiotics with greatly increased yields and improved activities. Applications Food preservation Industrial enzyme production Bioengineering of novel lantibiotics Benefits Greater Production Flexibility: In vitro methodology allows for lacticin 481 production using semi-synthetic substrates. Avoids Complications of In Vivo Production: In vitro methods avoid product cytotoxicity, degradation and bypasses many of the In vivo regualtory complications. Better Resistance Profile: Lantibiotics have been used for half a century in more than 40 countries without any significant signs of lantibiotic-resistant bacteria appearing. More Possibilities: The method works well with combinatorial techniques, increasing the number of substrates that can be used in production of lacticin 481. In addition, isolation of the LctM enzyme allows for more efficient synthesis with greater structural and functional tolerance of the biosynthetic pathway.
Ionizable Isotopic Labeling Reagents for Relative Quantification Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) is increasingly being used for metabolic analysis due in part to its widespread availability and compatibility with... Read More Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) is increasingly being used for metabolic analysis due in part to its widespread availability and compatibility with biological samples. This invention provides ionizable, isotopic labeling reagents and labeling reaction products, answering the current need for relative quantification using mass spectrometry. Absolute quantification of an analyte relies upon the addition of an internal standard differing only in its isotopic form. However, it is impractical to add an isotopic standard for every compound when performing more comprehensive metabolic profiling. Relative quantification between samples is more amenable to analyzing broad classes of compounds, and it often provides very useful biological information. Heavy and light isotopic forms of methylacetimidate have been synthesized and used as labeling reagents for quantification of amine-containing molecules, such as biological samples. Heavy and light isotopic forms of formaldehyde and cholamine have also been synthesized and used independently as labeling reagents for quantification of amine-containing and carboxylic acid-containing molecules, such as these found in biological samples. Advantageously, the labeled end-products are positively charged under normal acidic conditions involving conventional liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS) applications. This invention improves the precision of relative quantification by minimizing or negating errors associated with run-to-run irreproducibility. Such errors can arise from variations in mass spectrometric detection sensitivity, such as those caused by ionization suppression in electrospray, or from retention time differences between runs. The isotopic pair of labeled compounds co-elute within a single run. Therefore, they have identical retention times and are electrosprayed from identical solution conditions.
Gene Cluster Capable of Enabling the Biosynthesis of the Antimicrobial Compound, Rhizocticin In Bacillus subtilis Phosphonic and phosphinic acids are bioreactive compounds that have been used as antibiotics, antifungal agents, antimalarial drugs, and herbicides. Rhizocticins... Read More Phosphonic and phosphinic acids are bioreactive compounds that have been used as antibiotics, antifungal agents, antimalarial drugs, and herbicides. Rhizocticins are naturally occurring phosphonates produced by Bacillus subtilus that have antifungal properties and interfere with the biosynthesis of the amino acid threonine. By varying the N-terminal amino acid group in the rhizocticin compound, it is possible to alter its biological activity. In particular, oligopeptides that are created by varying this amino acid could potentially allow enhanced capability for controlling selectivity for targeting particular organisms. As a result, compounds are less toxic to the host species and hold more promise for creating therapeutics. Despite the potential for making these types of compounds, organic synthesis has never been achieved due largely in part to the fact that the biosynthetic pathway has not been well understood. University of Illinois scientists have now identified the gene cluster responsible for biosynthesis of rhizocticin in B. subtilis, making biosynthesis of rhizocticin compounds possible. Details Original attempts to isolate and identify this unquie cluster failed, however, the genome of a specific strain of B. subtilis was sequenced and open reading frame locations were determined and annotated. Upon comparison with a non-rhizocticin-producing strain of B. subtilis, the rhizocticin biosynthetic gene cluster was able to be identified and isolated. There are more than 10 genes in the B. subtilis rhizocticin cluster. The biosynthetic pathway was proposed using sequence homology (similarity) for each of the genes. One particular gene in the cluster was identified by the inventors as being unique to this biosynthetic pathway. The cluster responsible for rhizocticin was verified by successfully inserting it into a non-producing strain of B. subtilis. Applications Pharmaceutical industry: Synthesis of biologically active compounds and analogs of rhizocticin. Production of novel oligopeptides with therapeutic properties Agricultural industry: Herbicide Benefits The identification of specific gene cluster for biosynthesis of rhizocticin allows: Specific synthesis of compounds; Control of biological activity of compounds; and Control of compound toxicity in mammals
A2Biosensor: Point-of-Care Ascorbic Acid Sensing for Anterior Penetrating Ocular Globe Injuries Researchers have developed a point-of care device that can detect a penetrating ocular globe injury. Unlike current detection methods that require optical... Read More Researchers have developed a point-of care device that can detect a penetrating ocular globe injury. Unlike current detection methods that require optical equipment like slip lamp biomicroscopes or other heavy machines, this technology allows for a faster, cheaper, and more mobile means of diagnosing certain eye injuries by making use of differential ascorbic acid concentrations in different parts of the eye.
Method and Apparatus for Optical Imaging of Magnetic Particles A spectral-domain magnetomotive optical coherence tomography apparatus, includes (a) a spectral-domain optical coherence tomography device, and (b) a magnet. The... Read More A spectral-domain magnetomotive optical coherence tomography apparatus, includes (a) a spectral-domain optical coherence tomography device, and (b) a magnet. The magnet is coupled with the optical coherence tomography device so that changes in the magnetic field are coordinated with collection of data by the optical coherence tomography device. This device may be used to examine a sample by spectral-domain magnetomotive optical coherence tomography, which includes examining the sample with a spectral-domain optical coherence tomography device, to collect optical coherence tomography data. The sample contains magnetic particles, and the magnetic particles are subjected to a changing magnetic field during the examining.
Group Refractive Index Reconstruction with Broadband Interferometric Confocal Microscopy A system and method for microscale measurement and imaging of the group refractive index of a sample. The method utilizes a broadband confocal high-numerical... Read More A system and method for microscale measurement and imaging of the group refractive index of a sample. The method utilizes a broadband confocal high-numerical aperture microscope embedded into an interferometer and a spectrometric means, whereby spectral interferograms are analyzed to compute optical path delay of the beam traversing the sample as the sample is translated through the focus of an interrogating light beam. A determination of group refractive index may serve to disambiguate phase ambiguity in a measurement of refractive index at a specified wavelength. Spatial resolution of object characterization in three dimensions is achieved by imaging the object from multiple viewpoints. Applicable to a variety of industries, this novel method measures Group Refractive Indices of biological tissues at the micron scale and can be applied to several optical imaging techniques, such as Optical Coherence Tomography and Confocal Microscopy. Although the method can be used for non-medical applications, its most beneficial application is in the diagnosis of cancerous cells. It allows for quickly measuring cells' organelles to indentify cancerous properties. Since this method does not require refraction, a larger variety of biological samples can be examined. Hardware is readily available for the application of this method, and the method can be applied to any optical imaging technique due to its universal math.
Lanthanide Chelate Lanthanide chelates derived from diazacrown ethers having two ethyliminodiacetic acid side chains have increased ability to bind lanthanide ions. Read More Lanthanide chelates derived from diazacrown ethers having two ethyliminodiacetic acid side chains have increased ability to bind lanthanide ions.
Microfluidic Device for the Preparation of Highly Viscous, Non-Newtonian Mixtures with Application to In-Meso Membrane Protein Crystallization Devices for mixing of significantly different fluids: Applications in protein crystallization. A microfluidic device for preparing a mixture, has... Read More Devices for mixing of significantly different fluids: Applications in protein crystallization. A microfluidic device for preparing a mixture, has a mixer. The mixer includes a plurality of chambers, each chamber having a volume of at most 1 microliter, a first plurality of channels, each channel fluidly connecting 2 chambers, a plurality of chamber valves, each chamber valve controlling fluid flow out of one of the plurality of chambers, and a first plurality of channel valves, each channel valve controlling fluid flow through one of the first plurality of channels. This device enables the metering and mixing of two fluids of significantly different viscosities and potentially non-Newtonian fluid behavior. Mixing is performed using large pneumatically acuated valves to drive fluid flow in a sequence that prevents fluid stagnation and facilitates mixing. The device can be used, for example, in the preparation of aqueous/lipid mesophases for in-meso membrane protein crystallization.
Multi-Functional Plasmon-Resonant Contrast Agents for Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) This portfolio of optical contrast agents and molecular detection technologies were developed to enhance the ability of optical coherence tomography (OCT) to non-... Read More This portfolio of optical contrast agents and molecular detection technologies were developed to enhance the ability of optical coherence tomography (OCT) to non-invasively map molecules in living specimens and diagnose disease where it starts. OCT utilizes low-coherence interferometry to measure the intensity of reflected or backscattered light to form images with micrometer resolution, is readily integrated with existing optical instrumentation and has application across a wide range of biological, medical, surgical, and non-biological specialties. This class of nanospheres and nanorods exhibit tunable plasmon resonances and can be engineered to specific sizes with strong absorption or scattering at select wavelengths - most notably the near-infrared range - for enhancing the sensitivity and scope of OCT. Benefits: Perform diagnostic and therapeutic functions Capable of targeting specific cells and cell structures Tunable optical properties Variable resonance depending on particle orientation

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