Diagnostic Assay to Detect Group C Rotavirus in Humans and Animals—Monoclonal Antibody-based ELISA (Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay)

Rotaviruses cause severe gastroenteritis in humans and animals globally. Currently, there are eight known serogroups (A-H) of rotaviruses. Group C rotavirus (GpC RV) causes sporadic cases and outbreaks of acute diarrhea in children and adults worldwide. GpC RV is also associated with diarrhea in swine. Currently, no simple and reliable diagnostic test exists for GpC RV, so disease prevalence remains unknown.

Development of a Polyclonal Antibody for Neuroligin 4 pThr707 and a Polyclonal Antibody for Neuroligin 1 pTHR739

This invention includes the generation and use of two polyclonal antibodies that specifically recognizes the phosphorylation site pThr707 of Neuroligin 4 and pThr739 of Neuroligin 1. A peptide of the site around the phosphorylation site was generated and injected into rabbits to create an immune response. Serum was collected from the rabbits that was then affinity purified. The specificity of the resulting polyclonal antibodies was then determined using biochemical techniques.

OASIS: Automated brain lesion detection using cross-sectional multimodal magnetic resonance imaging

This invention is a novel statistical method for automatically detecting lesions in cross-sectional brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies. OASIS uses multimodal MRI from one image acquisition session and produces voxel-level probability maps of the brain that quantifies the likelihood that each voxel is part of a lesion. Binary lesion segmentations are created from these probability maps using a validated population-level threshold. In this application, fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), proton density (PD), T2-weighted, and Tl-weighted volumes were used.

Identification and Use of Heterocyclic Alcohol Compounds for the Treatment of SULT1A1-expressing Cancers

This technology includes the identification and use of heterocyclic alcohol compounds, including RITA and N-BIC, for the treatment of SULT1A1-expression cancers. A high-throughput screen (qHTS) was performed using >1,000 caner cell lines identified a compound called YC-1 (also called Lificiguat) that is effective across cancer cell types that express the phase 2 detoxifying enzyme SULT1A1.

A Method for the Measurement of Cellular FMRP Levels for High Throughput Screening and Diagnosis of Fragile X Syndrome

This technology includes a precise measurement assay of cellular FMRP levels in patients, which can assist in the diagnosis and assess the severity of Fragile X syndrome (FXS). FXS is an X-linked disorder that produces intellectual disability, cognitive impairment, epilepsy, depression and anxiety. FXS is caused by mutations in the Fragile X Mental Retardation-1 (FMR1) gene that result in the absence or a loss of function of its protein product, FMRP.

Mouse Model of Cobalamin A (cblA) Class Isolated Methylmalonic Acidemia (MMA) to Study New Therapies

Isolated Methylmalonic Acidemia (MMA) comprises a relatively common and heterogeneous group of inborn errors of metabolism. Most affected individuals display severe multisystemic disease characterized by metabolic instability, chronic renal disease, and neurological complications. Patients with the cobalamin A (cblA) subtype of MMA can have variable presentations, spanning the full spectrum of MMA associated symptoms and pathology, yet always harbor an element of clinical and biochemical responsiveness to injectable vitamin B12.

Non-invasive Isotopic Biomarkers that Predict the Response to Liver Directed Therapy in Methymalonic Acidemia (MMA) and Propionic Acidemia (PA)

Isolated Methylmalonic Acidemia (MMA) comprises a relatively common and heterogeneous group of inborn errors of metabolism. The most common cause of isolated MMA is genetic deficiency of the enzyme methylmalonyl-coA mutase (MUT), which, unfortunately for the affected patients, is also the most clinically severe. NHGRI scientist have invented a series of assays to assess hepatic MUT activity using a stable isotopic tracing assays to measure MUT function to assess corrective therapy on hepatic mitochondrial function.

Serum Protein Biomarkers that Predict the Response to Liver Directed Therapy in Methymalonic Acidemia (MMA) and Propionic Acidemia (PA)

Isolated Methylmalonic Acidemia (MMA) comprises a relatively common and heterogeneous group of inborn errors of metabolism. The most common cause of isolated MMA is genetic deficiency of the enzyme methylmalonyl-coA mutase (MUT), which, unfortunately for the affected patients, is also the most clinically severe. NHGRI scientist have discovered biomarkers previously described cytokines that has never been associated with MMA or propionic acidemia (PA) such as FGF-21 (fibroblast like-growth factor - 21).

Human Fibroblast Cell Lines from Patients with Gangliosidosis Diseases for the Screening of Disease Therapeutics

This technology includes cell lines from patients with gangliosidosis diseases for the screening of potential therapeutics. Gangliosidosis contains different types of lipid storage disorders caused by the accumulation of lipids known as gangliosides. GM1 gangliosidosis is an ultra-rare lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in galactosidase beta 1 (GLB1) that result in a deficiency of beta-galactosidase. GM2 gangliosidoses are a group of autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorders caused by accumulation of GM2 ganglioside due to the absence or near absence of B-hexosamindase.

Imaging Inflammation using PET Radioligands that Target Translocator Protein 18?kDa with High Affinity Regardless of Genotype

This technology includes a group of radioligands that label inflammatory cells specifically, accurately, and across different genotypes and can be detected using Positron Emission Tomography (PET). The radioligands target the Translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) receptor which is present on the outer mitochondrial membrane and is involved in the production of steroids. Current TSPO radioligands either lack specificity or have highly variable inter-subject sensitivities due to TSPO genotypic differences.