Abstract: The present disclosure relates to vaccine compositions and methods of using the vaccine compositions to provide protection against various Gram-negative bacterial infections, including Burkholderia infections.

Abstract: The present invention provides peptides, peptide analogs, peptide derivatives and pharmaceutical compositions useful for treating or preventing influenza infections or preventing the person-to-person transmission of an influenza infection. A peptide of the invention comprises an influenza virus-cell fusion inhibiting portion of the fusion initiation region (FIR) of a wild-type influenza hemagglutinin 2 protein or a variant thereof. In a preferred embodiment, a peptide of the invention consists of 8 to 40 consecutive amino acid residues a portion of a wild-type influenza hemagglutinin 2 protein or a variant thereof, the portion of the protein comprising the FIR of the protein and up to five amino acid residues on the amino-terminal and carboxy-terminal sides of the FIR.

Abstract: Described herein are compounds that comprise amino acids and their pharmaceutical compositions. Methods used to administer the compounds are described. Screening methods including those for determining translocation and leakage are also provided.

Abstract: Variations in the differentiation and lineage potential of stem cells, including mesenchymal stem cells, currently limit their therapeutic use. The ability to identify, isolate, and specifically amplify stem cell populations with desired differentiation potential would contribute the use of stem cells in research and therapy. The present invention discloses a method of assessing differentiation potential of stem cells by measuring the differential expression of antigens CD146 and NG2 on the stem cells. The con elation between CD146 and NG2 expression and differentiation and trilineage potential is explored. The invention also discloses methods to specifically amplify or enrich stem cells with desired differentiation potential, monitor the differentiation potential of a heterogeneous stem cell population, quantify the heterogeneity in differentiation potential of a stem cell culture, and remove stem cells with specific differentiation potentials from a heterogeneous cell culture.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel compounds that have been demonstrated to be modulators of the ghrelin receptor (growth hormone secretagogue receptor, GHS-R1a and subtypes, iso forms and variants thereof). These compounds are useful as antagonists of the ghrelin receptor as well as inverse agonist, partial agonist or a combination of these activities 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, diabetes, central nervous system disorders, genetic disorders, and hyperproliferative disorders.

Abstract: Provided are compositions for treatment of cancers, including breast cancer, comprising at least one novel daidzein analog, as well as methods of using the same for preventing or treating cancer or tumor growth.

Abstract: The invention relates to cyclic peptide agonists that bind to the mu (morphine) opioid receptor and their use in the treatment of acute and/or chronic pain. Embodiments of the invention are directed to cyclic pentapeptide and hexapeptide analogs of endomorphin that have (i) a carboxy-terminal extension with an amidated hydrophilic amino acid and (ii) a substitution in amino acid position 2, and a 2?,6?-dimethyltyrosine (Dmt) residue in place of the N-terminal tyrosine residue a position 1. These peptide analogs exhibit increased solubility compared to similar tetrapeptide analogs while maintaining favorable or improved therapeutic ratios of analgesia to side effects.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel peptides that can modulate the ghrelin receptor (growth hormone secretagogue receptor, GHS-R1a and sub-types, isoforms and variants thereof). These peptides are useful as antagonists of the ghrelin receptor as well as inverse agonist, partial agonist or a combination of these activities 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, diabetes, central nervous system disorders, genetic disorders, and hyperproliferative disorders.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for determining whether a cancer is or is likely to become aggressive, by detecting the presence of the transcription factor SOX9 in the cytoplasm of cells of the cancer, provided the cancer is not solid pseudopapillary tumor or a melanoma.

Abstract: Isolated bacteria are disclosed. The isolated bacteria are aerotolerant and can produced butanol. Methods are disclosed to produce generated chemicals. Methods are disclosed to isolate aerotolerant bacteria.

Abstract: Compositions comprising linear PNAI, cyclic PNAI, linear PEI, and/or cyclic PEI, useful for delivering compounds or substances into a cell, are provided, as well as methods of making linear PNAI, cyclic PNAI, linear PEI, and cyclic PEI. Also provided are methods of using compositions comprising linear PNAI, cyclic PNAI, linear PEI, and/or cyclic PEI for introducing substances into a cell.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel analogs of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), which are agonists for the PACAP/vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) receptors: PAC1, VPAC1 and VPAC2 receptors. These PACAP analogs can be used as prophylactic/therapeutic agents for a wide range of medical disorders, including (but not limited to) cancer and autoimmune disease. These PACAP analogs can be coupled to suitable radionuclides and used in the localization, diagnosis and treatment of disseminated cancers and metastatic tumors, or coupled to small molecule therapeutics and used as vectors for targeted drug delivery. This invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions of one or more PACAP-like compounds of the invention either alone or in combination with one or more other prophylactic/therapeutic agents.

Abstract: Effective in-situ injection technology for the remediation of dense nonaqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) such as trichloroethylene (TCE) benefits from the use of decontamination agents that effectively migrate through the soil media, and react efficiently with both dissolved TCE and bulk TCE. A novel decontamination system contains highly uniform carbon microspheres preferably in the optimal size range for transport through the soil. The microspheres are preferably enveloped in a polyelectrolyte (such as carboxymethyl cellulose, CMC) to which preferably a bimetallic nanoparticle system of zerovalent iron and Pd is attached. The carbon serves as a strong adsorbent to TCE, while the bimetallic nanoparticles system provides the reactivity. The polyelectrolyte serves to stabilize the carbon microspheres in aqueous solution. The overall system resembles a colloidal micelle with a hydrophilic shell (the polyelectrolyte coating) and a hard hydrophobic core (carbon).

Abstract: The present disclosure demonstrates the molecular effects of glyceollins on human prostate cancer cell LNCaP to further elucidate its potential effects on prostate cancer prevention. The glyceollins inhibited LNCaP cell growth similar to that of the soy isoflavone genistein. The growth inhibitory effects of the glyceollins appeared to be due to an inhibition on G1/S progression and correlated with an up-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor A1 and B1 mRNA and protein levels. By contrast, genistein only up-regulates cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor A1. In addition, glyceollin treatments led to down-regulated mRNA levels for androgen responsive genes. In contrast to genistein, this effect of glyceollins on androgen responsive genes appeared to be mediated through modulation of an estrogen- but not androgen-mediated pathway.

Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated peptide having an amino acid residue sequence that comprises at least one human cytomegalovirus glycoprotein B (HCMV-gB) sequence segment, each HCMV-gB sequence segment consisting of at least 8 and not more than 60 consecutive amino acid residues from residues 146 to 315, residues 476 to 494 of SEQ ID NO: 1, or from a sequence variant of residues 146 to 315 or 476 to 494 of SEQ ID NO: 1 that has at least 70% sequence identity thereto. The peptides of the invention are useful for treating, preventing, or inhibiting a herpesvirus (e.g., Herpes Simplex Virus-1, Human Cytomegalovirus, and the like) infection in a subject.

Abstract: The invention relates to cyclic peptide agonists that bind to the mu (morphine) opioid receptor and their use in the treatment of acute and/or chronic pain. Embodiments of the invention are directed to cyclic pentapeptide and hexapeptide analogs of endomorphin that have (i) a carboxy-terminal extension with an amidated hydrophilic amino acid and (ii) a substitution in amino acid position 2. These peptide analogs exhibit decreased tolerance relative to morphine, increased solubility compared to similar tetrapeptide analogs, while maintaining favorable or improved therapeutic ratios of analgesia to side effects.

Abstract: Compositions are disclosed of combinations of small interfering RNAs (siRNA) that can inhibit the replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in liver cells, along with methods of co-administering the siRNAs to subjects. Further, methods are disclosed for improving the delivery of nucleic acids to the liver.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and compositions for the treatment, management, reduction, or prevention of injuries to one or more major organs of the body, e.g., the brain, heart, lung, kidneys, liver, and gastrointestinal tract, of a mammal (e.g., a human) caused by one or more calcineurin or mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex inhibitors. The methods include administering an effective amount of one or more pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP)-like compounds to the mammal.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic sampling and dilution apparatus for use in a polymer analysis system. The apparatus comprises (a) a primary mixing chamber; (b) a primary pump capable of continuously withdrawing a variable viscosity liquid from a reactor at a selectable, fixed withdrawal rate over a varying viscosity range of about 50 to about 5,000,000 centipoise (cP) for continuously conveying the variable viscosity polymer-containing liquid into the primary mixing chamber; (c) a first dilution pump for continuously delivering a first dilution solvent into the primary mixing chamber at a selectable, fixed flow rate to mix with the variable viscosity liquid in the mixing chamber and thereby form a diluted polymer-containing liquid therein; and (d) a secondary pump for continuously conveying the diluted polymer-containing liquid into a flow-through detector. A polymer analysis system utilizing the automatic sampling and dilution apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the copyright status of a work is provided, comprising presenting one or more initial questions about a work, wherein the initial questions are selected from a question set stored in a first database; receiving an initial response to the initial questions; presenting a subsequent question about the work from the question set, wherein the subsequent question is selected based on the initial responses and a rule set stored in a second database, and wherein the rule set contains rules related to copyright law; receiving a subsequent response to each of the subsequent questions in accordance with the rule set until the copyright status is determined; and displaying the copyright status.