Abstract: The present invention relates to a spray-dried composition comprising as an active ingredient at least one member protein of the collectin family or its functional equivalent for treating and preventing microbial infectious diseases. The present invention also relates to a method for producing the same composition. The composition produced by the method of the present invention is effective in suppressing infections caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Since the composition is developed in a form suitable for inhalation, it can directly provide the active ingredient to the sites of infection from these microbes, and thus treat and prevent respiratory infections and external wounds.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide polynucleotides encoding insect desiccation resistance proteins, and uses thereof cDNA libraries were produced from Polypedilum vanderplanki larvae in a desiccated state, a P. vanderplanki EST database was constructed, and genes encoding LEA proteins were isolated. This resulted in the successful isolation of three types of novel gene encoding LEA-like proteins (PvLEA1, PvLEA2, and PvLEA3.) When secondary structure predictions and motif searches were performed on the proteins deduced from each of the genes, all three proteins had ?-helix-rich structures and LEA_4 motifs, which are characteristic of LEA proteins. Moreover, the recombinant proteins synthesized from PvLEA1, 2 and 3 genes were heat soluble even when boiling, so that PvLEA1, 2 and 3 proteins have highly hydrophilic property as well as plant LEA proteins. Therefore, the three isolated genes were found to be novel P. vanderplanki-derived LEA genes.

Abstract: A method for producing a chimaeric human papillomavirus (HPV) L1 polypeptide containing a heterologous peptide, and in particular, a HPV L2 peptide comprising the steps of introducing a DNA sequence coding for the heterologous peptide into a DNA sequence coding for the L1 polypeptide; introducing the DNA sequence including the sequences for the L1 polypeptide and heterologous peptide into a host cell in which the DNA sequence can be expressed; causing expression of the DNA sequence; and recovering the resulting chimaeric L1 polypeptide which includes the heterologous peptide. The invention also describes a vector for use in the method, a host cell containing the vector, and a vaccine including the chimaeric HPV L1 polypeptide produced according to the method.

Abstract: Disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing a cyclodextrin and a therapeutically effective amount of a glycopeptide antibiotic or a salt thereof. Also disclosed are methods of treating a bacterial disease in a mammal by administering such pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions containing modified fusion proteins of transferrin and therapeutic proteins or peptides with increased serum half-life or increased serum stability are disclosed. Preferred fusion proteins include those modified so that the transferrin moiety exhibits no or reduced glycosylation, but does exhibit binding to iron and/or the transferrin receptor. Such fusion proteins may be administered orally.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a composition useful for making homogeneously mineralized self assembled peptide-amphiphile nanofibers and nanofiber gels. The composition is generally a solution comprised of a positively or negatively charged peptide-amphiphile and a like signed ion from the mineral. Mixing this solution with a second solution containing a dissolved counter-ion of the mineral and/or a second oppositely charged peptide amphiphile, results in the rapid self assembly of the peptide-amphiphiles into a nanofiber gel and templated mineralization of the ions. Templated mineralization of the initially dissolved mineral cations and anions in the mixture occurs with preferential orientation of the mineral crystals along the fiber surfaces within the nanofiber gel. One advantage of the present invention is that it results in homogenous growth of the mineral throughout the nanofiber gel.

Abstract: The invention relates to the detection and/or removal of conformationally altered proteins and/or molecules comprising a cross-? structure from a pharmaceutical composition. Disclosed is that unwanted and/or toxic side effects of pharmaceuticals are caused by proteins present in the pharmaceutical and adopting a cross-? structure conformation. Further disclosed is a method for detecting a protein in a pharmaceutical composition, the method comprising: contacting the pharmaceutical composition or any of its constituents comprising a protein with at least one cross-? structure-binding compound resulting in a bound protein and/or peptide comprising a cross-? structure and; detecting whether bound protein and/or peptide comprising a cross-? structure are present in the pharmaceutical composition or any of its constituents comprising a protein. Further described are methods for removing cross-? structures from a pharmaceutical composition and controlling the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a synthetic regulator of protein function, which regulator is a light-sensitive regulator. The present invention further provides a light-regulated polypeptide that includes a subject synthetic regulator. Also provided are cells and membranes comprising a subject light-regulated polypeptide. The present invention further provides methods of modulating protein function, involving use of light. The present invention further provides methods of identifying agents that modulate protein function.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a recombinant protein capable of increasing expression rate of a target protein and also improving solubility and folding of the expressed target protein using a modified protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) as a fusion partner, and an expression vector containing the modified PDI gene as a fusion partner. The method for preparing a recombinant protein using a modified PDI as a fusion partner according to the present invention may solve the problems concerning a low yield and solubility and folding that conventional fusion partners have, and be widely used for protein drug and industrial protein production.

Abstract: Protein kinase A reporters useful for obtaining measurements of protein kinase A activity with high spatial and temporal resolution can be used in high throughput assays to identify potentially therapeutic compounds.

Abstract: Recombinant transferrin, non-glycosylated recombinant transferrin, transferrin half-molecules and mutant transferrins having altered metal-binding or other properties are described. The recombinant transferrin molecules are expressed in functional form by stable eukaryotic cell lines such as baby hamster kidney cells transformed with an expression vector encoding the recombinant molecule. The recombinant transferrins can be used in metal chelation therapy to bind and clear excess toxic metals in patients suffering from metal overloads or as tissue culture medium supplements or replacements.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of promoting neuron growth and development by contacting cells with a peptide amphiphile molecule in an aqueous solution in the presence of a metal ion. According to the method, the peptide amphiphile forms a cylindrical micellar nanofiber composed of beta-sheets, which promote neuron growth and development.

Abstract: Novel modified exendins and exendin agonists having an exendin or exendin agonist linked to one or more polyethylene glycol polymers, for example, and related formulations and dosages and methods of administration thereof are provided. These modified exendins and exendin agonists, compositions and methods are useful in treating diabetes and conditions that would be benefited by lowering plasma glucose or delaying and/or slowing gastric emptying or inhibiting food intake.

Abstract: A method of enhancing heterologous protein secretion in a yeast cell is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprising the steps of engineering a yeast cell to overexpress at last one gene selected from the group consisting of CCW12, CWP2, SED1, RPP0, ERO1 and their homologs, supplying the yeast cell with a nucleic acid encoding a heterologous protein and obtaining increased expression of the heterologous protein, wherein the expression is increased relative to the protein expression in a yeast cell that does not overexpress a gene selected from the group consisting of CCW12, CWP2, SED1, RPP0, ERO1 and their homologs.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a purine nucleoside, such as inosine and guanosine, and a method for producing a 5?-purine nucleotide such as 5?-inosinic acid or 5?-guanylic acid, using a bacterium belonging to the either genus Escherichia or genus Bacillus, wherein purine nucleoside productivity of said bacterium is enhanced by enhancing an activity of a protein encoded by the yeaS (leuE) gene.

Abstract: An intracellular selection system allows screening for peptide bioactivity and stability. Randomized recombinant peptides are screened for bioactivity in a tightly regulated expression system, preferably derived from the wild-type lac operon. Bioactive peptides thus identified are inherently protease- and peptidase-resistant. Also provided are bioactive peptides stabilized by a stabilizing group at the N-terminus, the C-terminus, or both. The stabilizing group can be a small stable protein, such as the Rop protein, glutathione sulfotransferase, thioredoxin, maltose binding protein, or glutathione reductase, an ?-helical moiety, or one or more proline residues.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated DNA encoding a GWT1 protein having activity to confer resistance of a fungus against a compound of formula Ia, and wherein a defect of a function of the GWT1 protein leads to a decrease in the amount of a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein in the cell wall of a fungus.

Abstract: The present invention is directed stromal cell derived factor-1 peptides that have been mutated to make them resistant to digestion by the proteases dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) but which maintain the ability of native SDF-1 to attract T cells. The mutants may be attached to membranes formed by self-assembling peptides and then implanted at sites of tissue damage to help promote repair.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for the treatment of diseases and conditions mediated by increased phosphorylation, such as inflammation and cancer. The invention also provides methods for the inhibition of increased phosphorylation in cells, tissues and organs. The methods utilize a phosphate acceptor compound (PAC). The invention also provides products comprising a PAC.

Abstract: Described herein is a method for the attachment of proteins to any solid support with control over the orientation of the attachment. The method is extremely efficient, not requiring the previous purification of the protein to be attached, and can be activated by UV-light. Spatially addressable arrays of multiple protein components can be generated by using standard photolithographic techniques.