MULTIFUNCTIONAL PROBIOTIC ME-3

The University of Tartu is looking for additional partners to develop functional food products with proprietary probiotic strain ME-3. Ideal partners would have the ability to access international health driven consumers and launch several functional food products.

pH-sensitive Cell Penetrating Peptides

Cell Penetrating Peptides (CPP) have been used to deliver a multitude of different molecules including siRNAs. The CPP sequences typically contain several positively charged amino acids and are thus able to associate with the siRNA, forming non-covalent complexes. This strategy allows for a simple complex formation with a high mixing versatility, however it has serious limitations such as heterogeneity and low stability of the complexes, and the premature or limited dissociation of the cargo from the complexes.

METHOD AND KIT FOR LIBRARY PREPARATION FROM LOW INPUT CHROMATIN SAMPLES

Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) has been the method of choice to study the location of DNA bound proteins for years. Coupling ChIP with deep sequencing (ChIP-seq) has enabled to determine the localization of chromatin bound proteins at a genome-wide level. Unfortunately, most of the ChIP-seq methods require millions of cells. It is a huge drawback when working with small cell samples such as adult stem cells or cancer samples from patients.
More sensitive methods have recently emerged, however they are still requiring too much cells (thousands) or need specific lab-on-a-chip instruments and microfluidic solutions. Moreover, those methods are too complex, quite laborious, and expensive.

There is thus still a strong need for new, affordable, simple ChIP-seq methods, truly effectives on small cell samples.

PREECLAMPSIA PROGNOSIS METHOD

Preeclampsia (PE) is a sudden and severe complication that develops during the second half of gestation and affects both the mother and the unborn child.

Our new, patent protected, PE prognosis method relies on a panel of at least four biomarkers, which concentrations in maternal blood serum are simultaneously measured in a single test tube, and at least one clinical cofactor. These concentrations and clinical cofactor are then integrated into a PE prediction formula and the resulting score is compared to a prediction threshold, allowing to prognose if the subject will develop or not PE. A multiplex immunoassay-based platform to measure the biomarker concentrations can advantageously be used to speed up the process and limit the costs.

ON-LINE TOOL FOR HEADACHE TYPE DETERMINATION

Headache is the most common medical complaint in humans. 90% of people experience them at some point in their life. Indeed, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that almost half of all adults worldwide will experience a headache in any given year.

The online tool for identification of the majority of primary and some secondary headaches relies on an online questionnaire to be filed by the patient. Based on the answers given by the patient, an algorithm establishes the headache type. The results can then be send to the GP of the patient who can quickly decide of the best management option. The online tool of the invention follows the current ICHD, 3rd edition.

ALPHA-VIRUSES VACCINES

Among alphaviruses, the CHIKV causes large outbreaks with high attack rates. Outbreaks have already occurred in Africa, Asia, Southern Europe, America, and India. The CHIKV is thus posing growing risks to citizens and travellers in infected regions. In view of the worldwide distribution of mosquitoes and the increasing flow of travellers, there is a serious risk of a CHIKV pandemic in a near future.

The inventors have developed alphavirus non-structural protein (nsP) mutants for use as vaccines against alphaviruses and in particular against the CHIKV. NsPs of alphaviruses are key proteins involved in the virus replication and pathogenesis. The mutations target several crucial mechanisms including virus replicase formation, the ability of the virus replicase to produce type I IFN inducing molecules, the ability to counteract host anti-viral mechanisms and the use of host-derived components of virus replicase.