Abstract: The present invention provides peptides and supported peptides that bind to FGF-5.

Abstract: An artificial red blood cells are disclosed comprising a thin film encapsulating a core, the core comprising hemoglobin, wherein the film comprises a plurality of layers of polypeptides, opposing layers comprising alternating oppositely charged polypeptides, and wherein at least half of the amino acid residues in the oppositely charged polypeptides have the same charge. In one embodiment, a first layer comprises a first layer polypeptide comprising one or more first amino acid sequence motifs, wherein the one or more amino acid sequence motifs consist of n amino acids, at least x of which are positively charged, or at least x of which are negatively charged, wherein x is greater than or equal to approximately one-half of n.

Abstract: A topical composition having (i) an isolated polypeptide having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a functional equivalent thereof, and (ii) a cosmetically acceptable carrier; and use thereof.

Abstract: An isolated peptide including an amino acid sequence of formula (II): wherein Xaa is Ser-Phe-Gly-Leu, Xab is Arg-Leu-Arg-Arg-Gly-Phe, Xac is Ala-Xac2-Gly-Arg, Xad is Arg-Phe-Pro-Ser-Ile-Pro-Ile-Gly-Arg, Xae is Ser-Arg-Phe-Val-Gln, and Xaf is Arg-Arg-Val-Trp, Xac2 is histidine or arginine, Ca1, Ca2, Ca3, Ca4, Ca5 and Ca6 are sulfur containing amino acids, wherein each of Ca1-Ca5, Ca2-Ca4 and Ca3-Ca6 are linked together by a sulfur bridge, and wherein the amino acid sequence has antimicrobial activity.

Abstract: The invention relates to an antibiotic substance of microbial origin, arbitrarily denominated antibiotic 107891 which is produced by fermentation of Microbispora sp. ATCC PTA-5024, the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and compositions thereof, and their use as an antibacterial agent having inhibitory activity versus susceptible microbes. Antibiotic 107891, which is a complex comprising two Factors, denominated Factors A1 and A2, has a peptide structure containing lanthionine and methyllanthionine as constituents which are typical characteristics of the antibiotics of the lantibiotics group. Antibiotic 107891 and its Factors A1 and A2 show a good antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria including methicillin resistant and vancomycin resistant strains, and is active also against some Gram-negative bacteria such as M. catharralis, Neisseria species and H. influenzae and Mycobacteria.

Abstract: A compound includes a carrier molecule wherein the carrier molecule is linked to a further molecule, wherein the further molecule is at least one cyclic peptide in which the cyclic peptide portion thereof contains at least one sequence encoding a cell receptor recognizing peptide (RRP) and with the proviso that the compound is not a naturally occurring receptor agonist or antagonist. Preferably, the RRP is a receptor specific for Hepatic Stellate Cells (HSC) or a receptor that is up-regulated on HSC during disease. The RFP may be chosen from among a PDGF receptor, a collagen type VI receptor, cytokine receptor(s) such as TGB?, INF? and interleukin?. The cyclic portion of the peptide can contain at least one amino acid sequence RGD or KPT.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are films, coatings and microcapsules comprising polypeptides. A thin film, for example, comprises a plurality of layers of polypeptides, the layers comprising alternating oppositely charged polypeptides. A first layer comprises a first layer polypeptide comprising one or more amino acid sequence motifs, wherein the one or more first amino acid sequence motifs consists of n amino acids, wherein a balance of charge in the amino acid sequence motif is greater than or equal to approximately one-half of n, and wherein n is 5 to 15.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for detecting increased risk of vulvovaginal candidiasis or vulvur vestibulitis syndrome. The method comprises obtaining a biological sample and determining whether a mutant allele of mannose-binding lectin gene is present in the sample. In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for treating or preventing vulvovaginal candidiasis or vulvur vestibulitis syndrome in a female in need thereof. The method comprises administering an effective amount of a mannose-binding lectin protein.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of controlling the stability of multilayer polypeptide films. A method of controlling the stability of a film, comprises exposing the film to an oxidizing agent or a reducing agent, wherein the film comprises a plurality of layers, the layers comprising alternating oppositely charged polypeptides, wherein a first layer comprises a first layer polypeptide and a second layer comprises a second layer polypeptide, and the first layer polypeptide comprises a sulfhydryl-containing amino acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to an antibiotic substance of microbial origin, arbitrarily denominated antibiotic 107891 which is produced by fermentation of Microbispora sp. ATCC PTA-5024, the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and compositions thereof, and their use as an antibacterial agent having inhibitory activity versus susceptible microbes. Antibiotic 107891, which is a complex comprising two Factors, denominated Factors A1 and A2, has a peptide structure containing lanthionine and methyllanthionine as constituents which are typical characteristics of the antibiotics of the lantibiotics group. Antibiotic 107891 and its Factors A1 and A2 show a good antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria including methicillin resistant and vancomycin resistant strains, and is active also against some Gram-negative bacteria such as M. catharralis, Neisseria species and H. influenzae and Mycobacteria.

Abstract: The invention relates to use of a GH secretagogue (e.g. GRF or an analog thereof) for (1) altering a lipid parameter in a subject; (2) altering a body composition parameter in a subject, (3) treating a condition characterized by deficient or decreased bone formation in a subject (4) improving daytime vigilance and/or cognitive function in a subject, (5) improving a metabolic condition in a subject, (6) improving anabolism in a catabolic condition in a subject, and/or (7) improving and/or reconstituting immune function in a subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to beta-peptoids with antimicrobial activity. The present invention also relates to methods of producing ?-peptoids. The antimicrobial ?-peptoids of the invention are useful in pharmaceutical, healthcare, medical device, industrial, food, agricultural, and personal care applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to an antibiotic substance of microbial origin, arbitrarily denominated antibiotic 107891 which is produced by fermentation of Microbispora sp. ATCC PTA-5024, the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and compositions thereof, and their use as an antibacterial agent having inhibitory activity versus susceptible microbes. Antibiotic 107891 and its Factors A1 and A2 show a good antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria including methicillin resistant and vancomycin resistant strains, and is active also against some Gram-negative bacteria such as M. catharralis, Neisseria species and H. influenzae and Mycobacteria.

Abstract: The method comprises a first stage of formation of a batch of a specific number of full containers to be emptied, which are then subjected to an operation of external washing by spraying with hot, de-ionized water and a subsequent rinsing operation, likewise by spraying with de-ionized water, passing then to a step of drying of the containers and afterwards to a step of cutting off one end of the containers, which then pass to a gripping step, in the same number of containers that were arranged in the batch at the start of the method, these being inverted to permit the fall and collection of the masses of plasma.

Abstract: A remedy and/or a preventive for a chronic disease which contains an EDG-2 antagonist. Because of binding to a subtype EDG-2 of LPA receptor, an EDG-2 antagonist is useful in treating and/or preventing chronic diseases (for example, diseases caused by the progress of chronic asthma, glomerular nephritis, obesity, arteriosclerosis, rheumatoid and atopic diseases) induced and made chronic by tissue cells whose proliferation is accelerated by LPA mediated by EDG-2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to agonists and antagonists of gonadotropin-releasing hormone-2 (GnRH-2), which regulates the activity of GnRH-2 by specifically binding to GnRH-2 receptors, and uses thereof. The pharmaceutical compositions comprising the GnRH-2 agonists and antagonists according to the present invention are useful for the treatment of reproductive physiology diseases and steroid-related cancer cells because they specifically bind to the GnRH-2 receptors, and they are also usefully applicable to the raising industry of non-mammalian animals, i.e., birds and fish.

Abstract: Described herein are protease inhibitors, variants thereof and methods for their production.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatuses and methods for the production of attenuated aseptic parasites in hematophagous insects generally, and production of Plasmodium species sporozoites in Anopheles species mosquitoes specifically; apparatuses and methods for the production of strains of hematophagous insects with desired properties such as hypoallergenicity or hyperinfectivity; methods of producing a parasite strain that is capable of withstanding cyropreservation at temperatures close to freezing; apparatuses and methods for the injection of an attenuated parasite vaccine; production of parasites and hematophagous insects that are free from contamination by unwanted biological agents; apparatuses for the reconstruction of complex parasitic life cycles aseptically to avoid the contamination of the parasite or the insect vector host with unwanted biological agents.

Abstract: The present invention is a method, and a kit for carrying out the method, of separating phosphorylated peptides from a mixture of phosphorylated and unphosphorylated peptides. The method involves reacting a collection of peptides, in which some of the peptides have one or more phosphate groups, with a first resin. The peptides are then reacted with a capture ligand which reacts with the phosphate group of the phosphorylated peptides to form a bond. The capture ligand is used to separate the phosphorylated peptides from the unphosphorylated peptides.

Abstract: Small molecule polycationic agents are used to modulate or interrupt biological processes by binding to oligosaccharide-based biomolecules. Compounds that inhibit nitric oxide, TNF? or other immunomodulators are provided and are useful for treating immunological disease and disease of an infectious disorder.