633 results about "Cytoplasmic Structure" patented technology

The present invention relates to a chimeric receptor capable of signaling both a primary and a co-stimulatory pathway, thus allowing activation of the co-stimulatory pathway without binding to the natural ligand. The cytoplasmic domain of the receptor contains a portion of the 4-1BB signaling domain. Embodiments of the invention relate to polynucleotides that encode the receptor, vectors and host cells encoding a chimeric receptor, particularly including T cells and natural killer (NK) cells and methods of use. Also included is a method for obtaining an enriched population of NK cells from a mixed population of NK cells and T cells.

The present invention relates to internalizing peptides which facilitate the uptake and transport of cargo into the cytoplasm and nuclei of cells as well as methods for the identification of such peptides. The internalizing peptides of the present invention are selected for their ability to efficiently internalize cargo into a wide variety of cell types both in vivo and in vitro. The method for identification of the internalizing peptides of the present invention comprises incubating a target cell with a peptide display library, isolating peptides with internalization characteristics and determining the ability of said peptide to internalize cargo into a cell.

This invention provides a method for deriving precursors to pluripotent non-embryonic stem (P-PNES) and pluripotent non-embryonic stem (PNES) cell lines. The present invention involves nuclear transfer of genetic material from a somatic cell into an enucleated, zona pellucida free human ooplastoid having a reduced amount of total cytoplasm. The present invention provides a new source for obtaining human and other animal pluripotent stem cells. The source utilizes as starting materials an oocyte and a somatic cell as the starting materials but does not require the use, creation and/or destruction of embryos or fetal tissue and does not in any way involve creating a cloned being. The oocyte never becomes fertilized and never develops into an embryo. Rather, portions of the oocyte cytoplasm are extracted and combined with the nuclear material of individual mature somatic cells in a manner that precludes embryo formation. Murine, bovine, and human examples of the procedure are demonstrated. Subsequently, the newly constructed P-PNES cells are cultured in vitro and give rise to PNES cells and cell colonies. Methods are described for culturing the P-PNES cells to yield purified PNES cells which have the ability to differentiate into cells derived from mesoderm, endoderm, and ectoderm germ layers. Methods are described for maintaining and proliferating PNES cells in culture in an undifferentiated state. Methods and results are described for analysis and validation of pluripotency of PNES cells including cell morphology, cell surface markers, pluripotent tumor development in SCID mouse, karyotyping, immortality in in vitro culture.

This invention discloses compositions of chloroquine-coupled active agents such as therapeutic antibodies or insulin, including methods for their preparation. The prior art has shown that chloroquines given as free drug in high enough concentration, enhances the release of various agents from cellular endosomes into the cytoplasm. The purpose of these compositions is to provide a controlled amount of chloroquine at the same site where the drug is delivered, thereby reducing the overall dosage needed. The compositions comprise a chloroquine substance coupled to a drug directly or through a variety of pharmaceutical carrier substances. The carrier substances include polysaccharides, synthetic polymers, proteins, micelles and other substances for carrying and releasing the chloroquine compositions in the body for therapeutic effect. The compositions can also include a biocleavable linkage for carrying and releasing the drug for therapeutic or other medical uses. The invention also discloses carrier compositions that are coupled to targeting molecules for targeting the delivery of chloroquine substances and antibody or insulin to their site of action.

Methods and systems are provided that use clinical information, molecular information and computer-generated morphometric information in a predictive model for predicting the occurrence (e.g., recurrence) of a medical condition, for example, cancer. In an embodiment, a model that predicts prostate cancer recurrence is provided, where the model is based on features including one or more (e.g., all) of biopsy Gleason score, seminal vesicle invasion, extracapsular extension, preoperative PSA, dominant prostatectomy Gleason grade, the relative area of AR+ epithelial nuclei, a morphometric measurement of epithelial nuclei, and a morphometric measurement of epithelial cytoplasm. In another embodiment, a model that predicts clinical failure post-prostatectomy is provided, wherein the model is based on features including one or more (e.g., all) of dominant prostatectomy Gleason grade, lymph node invasion status, one or more morphometric measurements of lumen, a morphometric measurement of cytoplasm, and average intensity of AR in AR+/AMACR− epithelial nuclei.

A method for semi-quantitatively or quantitatively detecting the presence of a microbe in a sample is provided. The method utilizes a test dye that undergoes a detectable color change in the presence of one or more microbes. For example, in one embodiment, the test dye is a solvatochromic dye (e.g., Reichardt's dye) that responds to differences in polarity between microbe components (e.g., cell membrane, cytoplasm, etc.) and the environment outside the cell. Alternatively, other mechanisms may be wholly or partially responsible for the interaction between the dye and the microbe, such as acid-base reactions, redox reactions, and so forth. Regardless, the color of the test dye may be compared to the color of a control dye, wherein the color of the control dye corresponds to a known microbe concentration.

A method of reducing oxidative stress in the brain of an organism having a blood brain barrier and suffering an ischemic brain injury, the method comprising the step of administering a compound to the organism, the compound having (a) a combination of molecular weight and membrane miscibility properties for permitting the compound to cross the blood brain barrier of the organism; (b) a readily oxidizable chemical group for exerting antioxidation properties; and (c) a chemical make-up for permitting the compound or its intracellular derivative to accumulate within the cytoplasm of cells.

A method and apparatus for automatically recognizing blood cells is provided. The method comprises obtaining image data of said blood cells, storing the image data of said blood cells in a memory, analyzing the image data of said blood cells and calculating a plurality of cell-characteristic parameter values for each of said blood cells, and recognizing each of said blood cells based on said plurality of cell-characteristic parameter values. In order to analyze the image data of blood cells, a group of nucleus pixels are first extracted from said stored image data and stored in the memory. The group of nucleus pixels are then segmented into individual nucleus clusters which represent each of the blood cells, and the data of the individual nucleus clusters are stored together with the associated cytoplasm data in the memory. Cell-characteristic parameter values for each of the blood cells are calculated based on its nucleus and associated cytoplasm data. The cell-characteristic parameter values are used in recognizing the blood cells.

An elastomeric article that contains a chromogen that undergoes a detectable change in color in the presence of one or more microbes is provided. For example, in one embodiment, the chromogen is a solvatochromic dye (e.g., Reichardt's dye) that undergoes a color change in the presence of bacteria or other microbes. More specifically, such dyes may respond to differences in polarity between microbe components (e.g., cell membrane, cytoplasm, etc.) and the environment outside the cell. Alternatively, other mechanisms may be wholly or partially responsible for the interaction between the dye and the microbe, such as acid-base reactions, redox reactions, and so forth.

The present invention provides methods and compositions related to the fields of chemoinformatics, chemogenomics, drug discovery and development, and drug targeting. In particular, the present invention provides subcellular localization signals (e.g., chemical address tags) that influence (e.g., direct) subcellular and organelle level localization of associated compounds (e.g., drugs and small molecule therapeutics, radioactive species, dyes and imagining agents, proapoptotic agents, antibiotics, etc) in target cells and tissues. The compositions of the present invention modulate the pharmacological profiles of associated compounds by influencing the compound's accumulation, or exclusion, from subcellular loci such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, cytoplasm, vesicles, granules, nuclei and nucleoli and other subcellular organelles and compartments. The present invention also provides methods for identifying chemical address tags, predicting their targeting characteristics, and for rational designing chemical libraries comprising chemical address tags.

This invention discloses compositions of chloroquine-coupled active agents, including methods for their preparation. The prior art has shown that chloroquines given as free drug in high enough concentration, enhances the release of various agents from cellular endosomes into the cytoplasm. The purpose of these compositions is to provide a controlled amount of chloroquine at the same site where the active agent is delivered, thereby reducing the overall dosage needed. The compositions comprise a chloroquine substance coupled to an active agent directly or through a variety of pharmaceutical carrier substances. The carrier substances include polysaccharides, synthetic polymers, proteins, micelles and other substances for carrying and releasing the chloroquine compositions in the body for therapeutic effect. The compositions can also include a biocleavable linkage for carrying and releasing active agents for therapeutic or other medical uses. The invention also discloses carrier compositions that are coupled to targeting molecules for targeting the delivery of chloroquine substances and active agents to their site of action.

The invention discloses a method for segmenting a cervix uteri liquid base cell image. The method comprises the following steps of: 1, cell segmentation: performing illumination correction on an image, filtering noises and enhancing a cell boundary; and dividing the image into three types of cytoplasm, nucleus and background to eliminate a background class area; 2, nucleus segmentation: detecting centers of each of nucleuses in the cell area, estimating the approximate shapes of the nucleuses close to the centers of the nucleuses and correcting the shapes of the nucleuses to acquire an accurate boundary. The method is applied to cervix uteri cells and cell masses in a wide vision range, so that the phenomena of changed illumination, non-uniform dyeing and noise influence to a certain extent are avoided, and the cytoplasm, the single nucleus and adhesion nucleus can be segmented reliably and accurately.

The invention discloses an exfoliative cells preserving fluid which is prepared from a pH buffering agent, an osmotic pressure maintenance agent, preservatives, a fixing agent for maintaining cellular morphology, an anticoagulant, a mucus softener, an antimicrobial reagent, a cleaning agent, a humectant and red blood cell destroying components. The components in the preserving fluid are reasonable in proportioning, and the exfoliative cells can be preserved at a long time under normal temperature, wherein the longest time can reach 2 years; mucus can be sufficiently dissolved and the red cells can be partially destroyed; a film production effect is good, cellular distribution is very even, cellular morphology is perfect, cytoplasm and cell nucleus demarcation is distinct, gradation is clear, and cytoplasm and cell nucleus transparency is very good, and the exfoliative cells preserving fluid can be simultaneously used for the HPV-DNA (human papillomavirus-deoxyribonucleic acid), Chlamydia and immunohistochemical test; the special liquid base preserving fluid used for the cytologic examination of other parts can be provided, an imported product can be completely replaced, and the cellular constituent with diagnostic significance can be sufficiently preserved; and the exfoliative cells preserving fluid is low in configuration cost and easy to popularize.

A conjugate comprises: (a) a mitochondrial membrane-permeant peptide; (b) an active agent or compound of interest such as a detectable group or mitochondrial protein or peptide; and (c) a mitochondrial targeting sequence linking said mitochondrial membrane-permeant peptide and said active mitochondrial protein or peptide. The targeting sequence is one which is cleaved within the mitochondrial matrix, and not cleaved within the cellular cytoplasm, of a target cell into which said compound is delivered. Methods of use of such compounds are also described.