CPC Class C12Q

The present invention relates to the field of melon plants having Melon Yellowing associated Virus (MYaV) resistance.

The present disclosure provides tomato plants exhibiting improved fruit quality and disease resistance. Such plants may comprise novel introgressed genomic regions associated with improved fruit quality or disease resistance. In certain aspects, compositions, including novel polymorphic markers and methods for producing, breeding, identifying, and selecting plants or germplasm with an improved fruit quality or disease resistance phenotype are provided.

The invention relates to a topical composition containing a bilirubin-producing plant extract. In particular, the bilirubin-producing plant extract is obtained from the genus Stelitzia. When topically applied to skin, the composition is effective in accelerating the degradation of heme by-products such as bilirubin present in the skin.

A method of generating a population of cells useful for treating a nerve disease or disorder in a subject, the method comprising up-regulating a level of at least one exogenous miRNA in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and/or down-regulating a level of at least one miRNA using a polynucleotide agent that hybridizes to the miRNA, thereby generating the population of cells useful for treating the nerve disease or disorder. Isolated populations of cells with an astrocytic phenotype generated thereby and uses thereof are also provided.

Disclosed are novel immunogenic proteins derived from Staphylococcus aureus, as well as methods for their use in conferring protective immunity against S. aureus infections. Also disclosed are nucleic acids encoding the proteins and methods of use of these nucleic acids.