Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition for parenteral administration of a somatostatin analog salt of aspartate, e.g. mono- or diaspartate, lactate, succinate, e.g. mono- or disuccinate, acetate, glutamate, e.g. mono- or diglutamate or citrate and water forming a gelling depot system after injection in contact with the body fluid.

Abstract: This disclosure features modified release pharmaceutical formulations (e.g., extended release pharmaceutical formulations; e.g., solid dosage forms, e.g., tablets) that are useful for the oral administration of oprozomib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, to a human or animal subject as well as methods of making and using the formulations.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for treating nephropathies involving undesired alternative pathway complement activation by administration of a complement inhibitory protein such as soluble complement receptor type I (sCR1).

Abstract: A MC1R peptide ligand-elastic vesicle complex for preventing skin maladies. The MC1R peptide ligand is modified by coupling the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) ligand to a functionality or linker, such as a click functionality, for conjugation to a surface or agent. The modified MC1R peptide ligand can be coupled, e.g., via a click reaction with a complementary click functionality attached, to a moiety to form an MC1R-targeted agent. Drugs, contrast agents, polymers, particles, micelles, elastic vesicles, surfaces of larger structures, or other moieties can be targeted to the MC1R. The MC1R peptide ligand-elastic vesicle complex is prepared as a patch or viscous emulsion that can be applied to human skin.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for reducing the risk of autoimmune disease by administering a composition comprising peptides selected from a casein hydrolysate. Such a composition, may reduce the symptoms of autoimmune disease and may be a treatment for autoimmune disease, especially type 1 diabetes. Preferably, the hydrolysate consists of peptides with a molecular weight of more than 500 Da.

Abstract: The invention provides carriers that enhance the absorption, half-life or bioavailability of therapeutic compounds. The carriers comprise targeting groups that bind the Vitamin D Binding protein (DBP), conjugation groups for coupling the targeting groups to the therapeutic compounds, and optionally scaffolding moieties.

Abstract: A nanothermometer is disclosed. In various embodiments, a nanothermometer comprises a nanoparticle such as a gold nanoparticle, a fluorophore, and a linker, such as a peptide linker, extending between the nanoparticle and the fluorophore, whereby the fluorophore is self-quenched. The linker can comprise one or more cysteines. An unheated thermometer shows little or no fluorescence. Upon heating, fluorophore-linker conjugates are released from the nanoparticle, thereby unquenching the fluorescence. An increase in fluorescence results. In some embodiments, the increase in fluorescence can be irreversible. Methods of measuring temperature of a sample such as a biological sample, and methods of synthesizing a nanothermometer, are also disclosed. A molecular thermometer is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a peptide having a superior Y2 receptor agonist action and useful as an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of obesity and the like. A peptide represented by the formula: P1—X1-A25-A26-A27-A28-A29-A30-A31-A32-A33-A34-A35-A36-NH2 wherein each symbol is as described in the specification, or a salt thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fusion constructs of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) and their use for the treatment of cancer and in regenerative medicine. By this approach, the GPI-anchored TIMP proteins are incorporated into the surface membrane of tumor cells and render tumor cells sensitive to FAS-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, the fusion constructs of the present invention are effective agents useful in wound healing applications. In one embodiment, the TIMP is linked to mucin followed by GPI in order to enhance surface presentation. The use of GPI to link TIMP renders the resulting fusion protein particularly useful as an anti-cancer agent for the treatment of cancer, and, in particular, any residual cancer following an incomplete surgical resection of primary tumors in an individual.

Abstract: Dermal fibroblasts permanently loose their ability to synthesize elastin, the major component of elastic fibers, shortly after puberty. This progressive loss of elastic fibers cannot be replaced, resulting in the physical signs of aging. The present invention provides methods and compositions containing the polyphenols ellagic acid and/or tannic acid for protection against degradation of cutaneous elastic fibers by the elastolytic enzymes. The use of ellagic acid and/or tannic acid increased the overall deposition of elastic fibers in healthy and damaged skin cells. The protection of both intra-tropoelastin and extra-cellular mature elastic fibers from proteolytic enzymes by ellagic acid and tannic acid caused an increase in the net deposition of elastic fibers. Therefore, embodiments of the present invention provide methods and composition for the treatment of skin and prevention and treatment of degradation of dermal elastic fibers.

Abstract: Provided herein are peptide inhibitors of the interaction between End Binding Protein 3 (EB3) and Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptor Type 3 (IP3R3). Also provided are methods and materials for treating lung injury, including acute lung injury, which may include hyperpermeability of lung vessels, vascular leakage, the development of edema, asthma, anaphylaxis, angioedema, systemic vascular permeability syndromes, and nasal congestion.

Abstract: The invention provides polypeptides comprising a complement factor B analog. The invention also provides various complement factor B analogs including complement factor B analogs comprising a mutation of a free cysteine amino acid and related methods, nucleic acids and vectors. These complement factor B analogs and related methods, nucleic acids and vectors can be used to modulate a complement pathway or for the study and/or treatment of various conditions or diseases related to a complement pathway.

Abstract: Elucidating the function of proteins in mammalian cells is particularly challenging due to the inherent complexity of these systems. Methods to study protein function in living cells ideally perturb the activity of only the protein of interest but otherwise maintain the natural state of the host cell or organism. Ligand-dependent inteins offer single-protein specificity and other desirable features as an approach to control protein function in cells post-translationally. Some aspects of this invention provide second-generation ligand-dependent inteins that splice to substantially higher yields and with faster kinetics in the presence of the cell-permeable small molecule 4-HT, especially at 37° C., while exhibiting comparable or improved low levels of background splicing in the absence of 4-HT, as compared to the parental inteins. These improvements were observed in four protein contexts tested in mammalian cells at 37° C., as well as in yeast cells assayed at 30° C. or 37° C.

Abstract: The invention provides carriers that enhance the absorption, half-life or bioavailability of Ghrelin peptides. The carriers comprise targeting groups that bind the Vitamin D Binding protein (DBP), conjugation groups for coupling the targeting groups to the therapeutic compounds, and optionally scaffolding moieties.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling or combating microbial organism by applying an antimicrobial peptide to the microbial organisms, wherein said antimicrobial peptide derived from Lilium ‘Stargazer’ glycine-rich protein 1. In addition, the present invention provides an antimicrobial composition comprising an antimicrobial peptide of the invention, an additional biocidal agent and pharmaceutically acceptable vehicles, excipients, diluents, and adjuvants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the biological and pharmacological effects of placental protein 13 (PP-13), an effect that may be used as a treatment and/or prevention of preeclampsia and placental insufficiencies, in pregnant female mammals, especially pregnant women. The invention relates to a method to treat female mammals with the purpose to precondition the uterine arteries and prevent and/or reverse the pathological conditions associated with placental insufficiency such as preeclampsia, HELLP and/or eclampsia.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention include compositions and methods for inhibiting the interaction between scaffold proteins and kinases. These compositions and methods find a number of uses including, for example, suppressing tumor growth and metastasis and reducing tumor size and number in a mammal with cancer.

Abstract: Non-natural albumin binding domains, polynucleotides encoding thereof and methods of making and using these domains and polynucleotides are useful in controlling the half-life of therapeutic molecules for patients.

Abstract: The invention provides RGD-containing cyclic peptidomimetics; conjugates of said peptidomimetics and a moiety of a payload selected from fluorescent probes, photosensitizers, chelating agents, or cytotoxic agents; and pharmaceutical compositions comprising these conjugates. The conjugates of the invention are useful both for diagnostic purposes and treatment of various diseases, disorders and conditions. More specifically, conjugates comprising fluorescent probes can be used for diagnostic purposes, e.g., visualization of organs and tissues, and diagnosis of tumors; conjugates comprising photosensitizers can be used for photodynamic therapy of both tumors and nonneoplastic tissues; conjugates comprising chelating agents can be used in radioimaging or radiotherapy; and conjugates comprising cytotoxic agents can be used for targeted chemotherapy.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials related to natriuretic polypeptides and the use of natriuretic polypeptides to treat cardiovascular and/or renal conditions. For example, chimeric polypeptides having at least one amino acid segment (e.g., N-terminus tail, ring structure, C-terminus tail, or a combination thereof) of a natriuretic peptide (e.g., ANP, BNP, CNP, URO, or DNP) and an amino acid segment of an angiotensin polypeptide (e.g., Ang-(1-7)) are provided.