Abstract: The present invention is directed to modified CFTR proteins or fragments thereof that contain single or multiple amino acid mutations to improve the structural stability of such CFTR proteins and/or fragments. Specifically, the modified CFTR proteins or fragment thereof differ from the wild-type human CFTR protein or fragment thereof by the presence of four or more mutations selected from V150D, M470V, S492P, F494N, S495P, A534P, I539T, G550E, G551D, R553Q, R555K, Q637R, S1255L, K1334G, S1359A, E1371Q, H1402S, Q1411D, and any combination thereof, such that the stability of the polypeptide is increased relative to that of the wild-type human CFTR polypeptide or fragment thereof.

Abstract: The present invention includes synthesis of polyethyleneimine800-EpoxyC8-22 (PEI800-C8-22) lipids, e.g., Polyethyleneimine800-EpoxyC16 (PEI800-C16), PEI12C16, PEI8C16, and PEI4C16 lipids, compositions and methods for transfecting primary leukocytes, myeloid cells, lymphoid cells, monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells (DC) comprising a transfection complex comprising: one or more nanoparticles; and Polyethyleneimine800-EpoxyC16 (PEI800-C16), PEI12C16, PEI8C16, and PEI4C16 lipids complexed with one or more nucleic acids, such as, e.g., DNA, RNA, nucleic acid vectors, shRNA, miRNA, and RNAi on or about the nanoparticles.

Abstract: A method of treating Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), Substance Use Disorder (SUD), tobacco use, pain, or proinflammatory disorders comprising: providing a subject with an effective amount of a modified tetracycline or derivative thereof to ameliorate or eliminate the AUD, SUD, tobacco use, pain, or proinflammatory disorder, and wherein the modified tetracycline or derivative thereof has reduced binding to a microbial ribosome and has the formula wherein R1 is acetyl, R2 is OH or acetyl, R3 is acetyl, R4 is H or acetyl, and R5 is acetyl.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for solid-state 2D optical phased arrays (OPAs), which are fabricated from In-rich In1-xGaxN/GaN multiple quantum wells (MQWs). In-rich InxGa1-xN alloys possess the unique properties of exceptionally high free-carrier-induced refractive index (n) change and low optical loss. InGaN/GaN MQW pixels play the role of using a very small fraction of a laser beam to modulate the phase of the laser beam. The phase of each MQW pixel in the OPA is controlled independently via electro-optic effect through the integration between OPA pixels with a Laterally Diffused MOSFET (LDMOS) integrated circuit driver to achieve the manipulation of the distribution of optical power in the far field. The present invention is applicable to a wide range of applications, including the operation of LIDAR systems, laser weapons, laser illuminators, and laser imaging systems.

Abstract: The present invention includes composition and methods for composition for the oral delivery of a therapeutic agent that reduces, desensitizes, or prevents food, respiratory and other allergies. First pollen is cleaned to remove naturally-occurring allergic plant proteins to form a cleaned pollen and a therapeutically effective amount of an allergen is introduced into the cleaned pollen. The allergen-loaded cleaned pollen is delivered to a subject in need of therapy.

Abstract: Provided herein are maternal neonatal pheromonal agents capable of reducing aggression and improving feeding behavior in a pig. Compositions comprising the pheromonal agents and methods of using the agents to reduce aggression and improve feeding behavior and weight gain in the pig are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method for identifying an Alzheimer's disease (AD) patient prior to reaching clinical disease classification, comprising: obtaining a dataset associated with a blood, serum, or plasma sample from the patient, wherein the dataset comprises data representing the level of one or more microRNA biomarkers in the blood, serum, or plasma sample; assessing the dataset for a presence or an increase in an amount of miRNA-455-3p; determining the likelihood that the patient will develop AD patient prior to reaching clinical disease classification by detecting the presence or the increase in miRNA-455-3p to produce a score that is indicative of a likelihood of developing AD, wherein a higher score relative to a healthy control indicates that the patient is likely to have the prognosis for transitioning to classified AD, wherein the healthy control is derived from a non-AD patient with no clinical evidence of AD.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions, methods, and methods of making and using a nanoscale discoidal membrane comprising: an amphiphilic membrane patch comprising self-assembled molecular amphiphiles capable of supporting one or more membrane proteins in the amphiphilic membrane patch; and one or more amphipathic scaffold macromolecules that encase the nanoscale discoidal membrane.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of treating or preventing Alzheimer's disease or symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in a subject by administering to the subject an active agent that includes an adenovirus-36 E4orf1 protein, a nucleic acid encoding an adenovirus-36 E4orfl protein, or combinations thereof. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the active agents of the present disclosure for use in the treatment or prevention of Alzheimer's disease or symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of treating a cancer in a subject by administering to the subject a compound that inhibits interaction between octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4) and Mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (MAPKAPK2), OCT4 and DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs), or combinations thereof. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the compounds of the present disclosure. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of inhibiting interaction between OCT4 and MAPKAPK2 and/or OCT4 and DNA-PKcs by exposing protein complexes to the compounds of the present disclosure. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of screening potential inhibitors of protein-protein interaction between a first protein and a second protein.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods of making hydrophilic nanostructured antibiotics (i.e. nanoantibiotics), including nanoantibiotics that use environmentally degradable biomolecules as the backbone building blocks, wherein the backbone building blocks can include spherical backbones such as sucroses, cyclodextrins, glycogens, and phytoglycogen with different diameters, or rod-like backbone building blocks such as dextrins, amyloses, and celluloses with different lengths. These hydrophilic nanoantibiotics with well-defined sizes and shapes can selectively disrupt bacterial membranes (i.e., serve as membrane-active antimicrobials) while being benign to mammalian cells. Depending on the size and shape difference of the hydrophilic nanoantibiotics, they can also selectively kill one type of bacteria (e.g., gram-negative) over another type (e.g., gram-positive).

Abstract: The present invention includes a live, self-attenuated therapeutic vaccine, virus and methods of making and using the same, comprising: an isolated virus comprising a viral genome that expresses one or more viral antigens; and an artificial microRNA 30 (amiR-30) expression cassette inserted into a viral neuraminidase (NA) or a viral non-structural (NS) gene segment that expresses an amiR-30 that specifically inhibits the expression of a host gene essential for influenza virus replication in host cells.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for treating a subject afflicted with a neurodegenerative disorder or disease by determining that the subject is in need of treatment for the neurodegenerative disorder or disease; and administering to the subject an amount of an effective amount of a compound comprising a flupirtine derivative as disclosed herein.

Abstract: An eggless mayo is provided that is heat stable or that is heat stable as well as freeze-thaw stable and that is all natural. In addition a mayonnaise composition is provided that has increased heat stability as well as freeze-thaw stability. A low-salt version of the eggless mayo is provided as well as compositions for various butters and creams that have enhanced heat stability as well as freeze-thaw stability.

Abstract: The present invention includes composition and methods for treating cancers comprising administering to a subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising Pimavanserin or derivatives thereof in an amount sufficient to treat the reproductive cancer in the subject and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions, methods, and methods of making and using a polymer-encased nanodisc comprising: one or more integral membrane proteins in a lipid layer; and a polymer comprising zwitterionic styrene-maleic acid derivative repeating units that carry zero or nearly zero negative charge, and the polymer-encased nanodiscs.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for treating a food allergy in a subject in need thereof. The method entails delivering an effective amount of an allergen associated with the food allergy into the subject's cutis skin layer. Delivering the allergen is carried out by inserting one or more allergen-coated solid microneedles into the subject's skin. The one or more solid microneedles each has a base, shaft and tip, and when inserted in the subject, do not extend beyond the cutis. The allergen is allowed to dissociate from the one or more microneedles while inserted in the subject's cutis. Once the allergen disassociates, the one or more microneedles is removed from the subject's skin.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for treating a food allergy in a subject in need thereof. The method entails delivering an effective amount of an allergen associated with the food allergy into the subject's cutis skin layer. Delivering the allergen is carried out by inserting one or more allergen-coated solid microneedles into the subject's skin. The one or more solid microneedles each has a base, shaft and tip, and when inserted in the subject, do not extend beyond the cutis. The allergen is allowed to dissociate from the one or more microneedles while inserted in the subject's cutis. Once the allergen disassociates, the one or more microneedles is removed from the subject's skin.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions, methods, vectors, vaccines, cell lines and other constructs for making and used Zika virus Reporter Virus Particles (RVPs) and/or Virus Like Particles (VLPs) that are safe for handling and manufacturing and are able to generate an effective immune response against Zika virus and can be readily scaled up for cost-effective production.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to compositions and methods for modulating cellular glucose uptake. In general, the methods include associating cells with the compositions of the present disclosure. In another aspect, the present disclosure pertains to compositions and methods to treat or prevent a disorder in a subject. The methods generally include administering the compositions of the present disclosure to the subject.