A Novel Therapy/Companion Diagnostic (BAM15 And mtDNA) for Sepsis and Sepsis-induced Acute Kidney Injury

This technology includes a therapy and companion diagnostic which can be used for the early diagnosis and treatment of sepsis and sepsis-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). Mitochondrial damage plays a key role in sepsis-induced acute kidney injury BAM15 [2-ftuorophenyl){6-[(2- fluorophenyl)am ino]{1 ,2,5-oxadiazolo[3,4-e]pyrazin-5-yl)}amine] is a mitochondrial uncoupler that protects mitochondria with more specificity and less cytotoxicity than other uncouplers. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a damage associated molecular pattern that is increased in human sepsis.

Producing Isotropic Super-Resolution Images from Line Scanning Confocal Microscopy

This technology includes a microscopy technique that produces super-resolution images from diffraction-limited images obtained from a line scanning confocal microscope. First, the operation of the confocal microscope is modified so that images with sparse line excitation are recorded. Second, these images are processed to increase resolution in one dimension. Third, by taking a series of such super-resolved images from a given sample type, a neural network may be trained to produce images with 1D super-resolution from new diffraction-limited images.

Functions and Targets of Therapeutic MicroRNAs to Treat and Diagnose Cancer

This technology includes a method to identify potentially therapeutic microRNAs in cancer, particularly squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC). This approach first utilizes a large and publicly available expression dataset, which is then validated by a smaller independent dataset to determine deregulated microRNAs expression. These results are then intersected with in vitro functional anti-proliferative screening data to select for microRNAs that play a functional tumor suppressive role and likely serve as therapeutic targets.

DLX3-floxed mice (DLX3f/f) for Use in Drug Development and In Vivo Research Studies for Ectodermal Dysplasia Disorders

This technology includes the creation of DLX3-floxed mice, specifically designed for conditional deletion of the DLX3 gene via Cre-mediated recombination. This innovative approach aims to develop mouse models for studying ectodermal dysplasia disorders. Ectodermal dysplasias are a diverse group of genetic conditions affecting the development of ectodermal structures, including hair, teeth, and bones. The DLX3f/f mice are particularly valuable for modeling specific disorders such as Tricho-dento-osseous syndrome (TDO), Amelogenesis Imperfecta (AI), and Dentinogenesis Imperfecta (DI).

Methods to Produce Very Long Chain Fatty Acids (VLCFA) for Use as Nutritional Formulas and as Therapeutics for Disease

This technology includes a new method to prepare very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA), which does not use the previously reported toxic mercury amalgam, for use as nutritional supplements, and as therapeutics for various diseases. The key coupling step involves an organocopper mediated coupling of the Grignard regent derived from the bromo alkyl tetraene with a bromoalkyl containing a protected alcohol. After the coupling the alcohol Is deprotected and oxidized to prepare the very long fatty acid. The synthetic approach is flexible and can be used to prepare the other VLCFA compounds.

Anti-sense Therapy Against ApoC-III as a Treatment for High Cholesterol

This technology includes a new class of synthetic peptides that activate Lipoprotein Lipase (LPL), a key plasma enzyme that lowers triglycerides, by displacing apoC-111, a potent inhibitor of LPL. ApoC-11 is a known activator of LPL, whereas ApoC-111 inhibits LPL and raises triglycerides either directly by blocking lipolysis and or by preventing hepatic uptake of lipoproteins. Both apoC-II and apoC-III have to bind to the surface of a lipoprotein particle to mediate their effects.

Novel ApoC-11 Mimetic Peptides That Activate LPL for the Treatment of ApoC-11 Deficiency and Hypertriglyceridemia

This technology includes a new class of synthetic peptides that activate Lipoprotein Lipase (LPL), a key plasma enzyme that lowers triglycerides. Mutations in apoC-II is a genetic cause of severe hypertriglyceridemia, which can lead to cardiovascular disease and pancreatitis.

Mouse Models of Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndrome (CAPS) for Drug Discovery

This technology includes mouse models that express versions of mouse cryopyrin protein containing mutations associated with human CAPS disease. We engineered mutations associated with three specific CAPS phenotypes (familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome (FCAS); Muckle-Wells syndrome (MWS); and neonatal onset multisystem inflammatory disease (NOMID)) into the mouse cryopyrin gene (called Nlrp3) to examine the roles of IL-1 β and related cytokines, and better characterize inflammasome functions.

Amelioration of Inflammatory Arthritis Targeting the Pre-ligand Assembly Domain (PLAD) of Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptors

The invention relates to compositions of matter and methods for treating arthritis by modulating Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-alpha) signaling. TNF-alpha plays a key role in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases including rheumatoid and septic arthritis, and other autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. TNF-alpha mediates its effects through receptors that contain a Pre-ligand Assembly Domain (PLAD). The inventors have discovered compounds that interfere with PLAD can block the effects of TNF-alpha in vitro.