Abstract: The present invention provides inhibitors of a wide variety of serine hydrolase enzymes. The inhibitors of the present invention are N1- and N2-carbamoyl-1,2,3-triazole compounds such as those of Formula (I): in which N1, N2, and N3 are the nitrogen atoms at positions 1, 2, and 3, respectively, of the triazole ring, and R4, R5, R6 and R7 in Formula (I) are as described herein. Methods of inhibiting serine hydrolase enzymes and methods of preparing carbamoyl-1,2,3-triazole compounds also are described.

Abstract: Arylomycin analogs are provided, wherein the analogs can have broad spectrum bioactivity. Resistance to the antibiotic bioactivity of natural product arylomycin in a range of pathogenic bacterial species has been found to depend upon single amino acid mutations at defined positions of bacterial Signal Peptidases (SPases), wherein the presence of a proline residue confers arylomycin resistance. Arylomycin analogs are provided herein that can overcome that resistance and provide for a broader spectrum of antibiotic bioactivity than can natural product arylomycins such as arylomycin A2. Methods for determining if a bacterial strain is susceptible to narrow spectrum arylomycin antibiotics, or if a broad spectrum analog is required for treatment, is provided. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment of bacterial infections, and methods of synthesis of arylomycin analogs, are provided.

Abstract: Provided are methods of activating an NKT cell which include a step of contacting the NKT cell with a sufficient amount of isoglobotrihexosylceramide (iGb3) to induce secretion of a cytokine from the NKT cell, stimulate proliferation of the NKT cell or upregulate expression of a cell surface marker on the NKT cell. Methods of activating an NKT cell population in a subject are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for identifying cognate binding pairs from two libraries of biomolecules (e.g., polypeptides). The methods typically involve displaying a first library of candidate biomolecules (e.g., receptors or epitopes) on a first replicable genetic package (e.g., a cell surface display platform) and displaying a second library of candidate biomolecules (e.g., ligands) on a second replicable genetic package (e.g., a phage display platform), contacting the first library with the second library, and then selecting members of the first library to which a member of the second library is bound. Also provided in the invention are compositions and kits for carrying out the methods of the invention.