Abstract: Disclosed is a class of compounds which inhibit the enzymatic conversion of fructose-lysine into fructose-lysine-3-phosphate in an ATP dependent reaction in a newly discovered metabolic pathway. According to the normal functioning on this pathway, fructose-lysine-3-phosphate (FL3P) is broken down to form free lysine, inorganic phosphate and 3-deoxyglucosone (3DG), the latter being a reactive protein modifying agent. 3DG can be detoxified by reduction to 3-deoxyfructose (3DF), or it can react with endogenous proteins to form advanced glycation end-product modified proteins (AGE-proteins) Also disclosed are therapeutic methods of using such inhibitors to alleviate deleterious effects of 3DG.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides drug-ligand conjugates that are potent cytotoxins, wherein the drug is linked to the ligand through either a peptidyl, hydrazine, or disulfide linker. The disclosure is also directed to compositions containing the drug-ligand conjugates, and to methods of treatment using them.

Abstract: Methods and reagents are disclosed for determining the presence and/or amount of cyclosporin A in a medium suspected of containing cyclosporin A. In the method a combination is provided in a medium. The combination comprises (i) the sample, (ii) a first member of a signal producing system (sps) associated with a first support wherein the first sps member is capable of activating a second member of the sps and wherein the first support is associated with a first member of a specific binding pair, and (iii) the second sps member associated with a second support wherein the second sps member is activatable by the first sps member. The second support comprises either (I) cyclosporin C or cyclosporin A and the combination further comprises a conjugate of an antibody for cyclosporin A and a second member of the specific binding pair or (II) antibody for cyclosporin A and the combination further comprises a conjugate of cyclosporin A and a second member of the specific binding pair.

Abstract: A composition for promoting lacrimal secretion which can be used safely and effectively in the lacrimal secretion promoting therapy, not in the conventional supplemental therapy of lacrimal fluid components is provided. The composition for promoting lacrimal secretion comprising a peptide derivative represented by the formula (I): and a contact lens which retains and/or contains the composition are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel conformationally-defined macrocyclic compounds that have been demonstrated to be selective modulators of the ghrelin receptor (growth hormone secretagogue receptor, GHS-R1a and subtypes, isoforms and variants thereof). Methods of synthesizing the novel compounds are also described herein. These compounds are useful as agonists of the ghrelin receptor and as medicaments for treatment and prevention of a range of medical conditions including, but not limited to, metabolic and/or endocrine disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular disorders, obesity and obesity-associated disorders, central nervous system disorders, genetic disorders, hyperproliferative disorders and inflammatory disorders.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are multi-component formulations for enzymatically producing aqueous solutions of peroxycarboxylic acids suitable for use in, e.g., disinfectant and/or bleaching applications. The multi-component peroxycarboxylic acid formulations comprise at least one carbohydrate esterase family 7 enzyme having perhydrolytic activity.

Abstract: Disclosed are peptide structures that are stable in aqueous and non-aqueous media where a first linear peptide chain comprising alternating D,L- or L,D-amino acids having an N and C termini is joined by at least one turn region to a second linear peptide chain comprising alternating D,L- or L,D-amino acids having an N and C termini. The peptide chains can be joined at the C terminus of one of the linear peptide chains with an N terminus of the other linear peptide chain, a C terminus of one of the linear peptide chains with a C terminus of the other linear peptide chain, or an N terminus of one of the linear peptide chains with an N terminus of the other linear peptide chain.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making peptide structures that are stable in aqueous and non-aqueous media where a first linear peptide chain comprising alternating D,L- or L,D-amino acids having an N and C termini is joined by at least one turn region to a second linear peptide chain comprising alternating D,L- or L,D-amino acids having an N and C termini. The peptide chains can be joined at the C terminus of one of the linear peptide chains with an N terminus of the other linear peptide chain, a C terminus of one of the linear peptide chains with a C terminus of the other linear peptide chain, or an N terminus of one of the linear peptide chains with an N terminus of the other linear peptide chain.

Abstract: Vaccines against facultative intracellular pathogens are disclosed. A host is vaccinated with non-viable but metabolically active agents. The non-viable agents produce immunogenic components that elicit protective host immune responses, with minimal likelihood of host infection by the vaccine agent. Living agents, either attenuated or virulent, are exposed to a dose of gamma irradiation (or other strong mutagen) that is sufficient to limit or prevent the replication of the agents within the host, but that is insufficient to stop the metabolic activities of the agent. In vitro exposure of a microbial agent to the damaging effects of gamma irradiation or of another strong mutagen induces certain stress responses in the infectious agent. These stress responses are similar to the stress responses that the virulent agent would produce within the tissues of the host.

Abstract: The invention provides spoIIIE polypeptides and DNA (RNA) encoding spoIIIE polypetides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques. Also provided are methods for utilizing spoIIIE polypeptide for the protection against infection, particularly bacterial infections.

Abstract: Proteinaceous antibiotics produced by ruminal bacteria are provided. The diverse group of ruminal bacteria known as Butyrivibrio spp. is a preferred source of such proteinaceous antibiotics. The proteinaceous antibiotics are generally resistant to gastric proteases, exhibit a high level of hydrophobicity, are effective to inhibit growth of target organisms under anaerobic conditions, are ineffective in aerobic conditions, and have a molecular weight of less than about 5 kDa. Also provided are methods for identifying ruminal bacteria which produce such proteinaceous antibiotics, and methods for producing the proteinaceous antibiotics.

Abstract: The present invention reports a newly-identified human blood bacterium (HBB), provides characterization, culturing and diagnostic methodologies therefor and methods for the treatment of pathophysiological states caused by the bacterium. The bacterium is apparently present in the bloodstream of all humans in very low numbers, and appears to be directly or indirectly associated with several diseases such as chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis and other “autoimmune” diseases. Also provided are uses of engineered HBB.

Abstract: This invention relates to the isolation of thermophilic phytase-producing microorganisms, method for producing phytase using such microorganisms, phytase obtained therefrom, and usage of the phytase to hydrolyze phytic acid or phytate. In particular, this invention relates to phytase-producing microorganisms, which belong to Streptomyces sp., Pseudonocardia sp. or Microbispora sp., and which produce phytase available for recovery in an efficient and practical manner.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions relating to semaphorin K1 (sema K1) polypeptides which regulate cellular guidance and physiology, and related nucleic acids. The polypeptides may be produced recombinantly from transformed host cells from the disclosed sema K1 encoding nucleic acids or purified from human cells. The invention provides isolated sema K1 hybridization probes and primers capable of specifically hybridizing with the disclosed sema K1 genes, sema K1-specific binding agents such as specific antibodies, and methods of making and using the subject compositions in diagnosis, therapy and in the biopharmaceutical industry.

Abstract: The invention provides nrdE polypeptides and polynucleotides encoding nrdE polypeptides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques. Also provided are methods for utilizing nrdE polypeptides to screen for antibacterial compounds.

Abstract: Compounds and methods for the diagnosis and treatment of Babesia microti infection are disclosed. The compounds provided include polypeptides that contain at least one antigenic portion of a B. microti antigen and DNA sequences encoding such polypeptides. Antigenic epitopes of such antigens are also provided, together with pharmaceutical compositions and vaccines comprising such polypeptides, DNA sequences or antigenic epitopes. Diagnostic kits containing such polypeptides, DNA sequences or antigenic epitopes and a suitable detection reagent may be used for the detection of B. microti infection in patients and biological samples. Antibodies directed against such polypeptides and antigenic epitopes are also provided.

Abstract: The in vivo circulating life and/or absorption of the cationic therapeutic protein BDNF can be increased by generating analogs that have a lower isoelectric point and, preferably, also a lower protein charge relative to the protein of native sequence.

Abstract: The present invention provides a trioma cell which does not produce any antibody obtained by fusing a hetermomyeloma cell which does not produce any antibody with a human lymphoid cell, wherein the heteromyeloma cell is designated B6B11. The invention also provides a tetroma cell capable of producing a monoclonal antibody having specific binding affinity for an antigen obtained by fusing a trioma cell which does not produce any antibody with a human lymphoid cell capable of producing antibody having specific binding affinity for the antigen. The invention also provides methods for generating trioma cells and tetroma cells, and the cells generated by the methods.

Abstract: This invention relates to the isolation of thermophilic phytase-producing microorganisms, method for producing phytase using such microorganisms, phytase obtained therefrom, and usage of the phytase to hydrolyze phytic acid or phytate. In particular, this invention relates to phytase-producing microorganisms, which belong to Streptomyces sp., Pseudonocardia sp. or Microbispora sp., and which produce phytase available for recovery in an efficient and practical manner.

Abstract: A DNA encoding a cell surface polypeptide of Porphyromonas gingivalis, and a recombinant DNA being a DNA having integrated said DNA thereinto. The cell surface polypeptide of the periodontopathic organism useful for prophylaxis and diagnosis of periodontal diseases can be obtained in a large amount by a microorganism containing the recombinant DNA wherein the DNA was integrated.