Abstract: This invention relates to novel rationale and methods for identifying human and primate taste-specific genes, including genes involved in salty taste perception, especially human salty taste perception, but also genes involved in sweet, bitter, umami, and sour taste perception, and genes involved in other taste cell or taste receptor related activities such as digestive function and digestive related diseases, taste cell turnover, immunoregulation of the oral and digestive tract, and metabolic regulation such as in diabetes and obesity, the genes identified using these methods, and assays for identifying taste modulators (enhancers or blockers) and potential therapeutics using these genes. These compounds have potential application in modulating (enhancing or blocking) taste perception, especially salty taste perception and as potential therapeutics.

Abstract: The present invention provides, inter alia, methods for identifying a candidate agent that may be effective to treat or ameliorate an effect of a neurodegenerative disease in a subject. These methods include: (a) contacting a wildtype neuron and a mutant neuron with a stressor which is effective to accelerate the degeneration of the mutant neuron; (b) further contacting the wildtype neuron and the mutant neuron from step (a) with a candidate agent; and (c) determining whether the candidate agent lowers a wildtype to mutant survival ratio or increases both wildtype and mutant neuron survival.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to fields of biochemistry and molecular biology, relates to an ?O-superfamily conotoxin peptide, pharmaceutical composition thereof, preparation method and use thereof. The present invention further relates to a propeptide of the conotoxin peptide, nucleic acid construct thereof, expression vector and transformed cell thereof, and fusion protein thereof. The present invention further relates to a method for blocking acetylcholine receptors as well as a use of the conotoxin peptide in the manufacture of a medicament. The new ?O-superfamily conotoxin peptide of the present invention is capable of specifically blocking acetylcholine receptor (nAChRs) (e.g., ?9?10 nAChR), and NMDA receptor (e.g.

Abstract: Methods, systems and kits for the identification, assessment and/or treatment of a subject having multiple sclerosis are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of inhibiting or preventing photophobia in subjects in need thereof using anti-CGRP antibodies or antibody fragments that inhibit photophobia, especially CGRP-associated photophobia. These antibodies and fragments are useful in treating different disorders associated with photophobia such as migraine, cluster headaches and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for treating a human subject afflicted with multiple sclerosis or a single clinical attack consistent with multiple sclerosis with a pharmaceutical composition comprising glatiramer acetate and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, comprising the steps of: (i) determining a genotype of the subject at a location corresponding to the location of one or more single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) selected from the group consisting of: Group 1, (ii) identifying the subject as a predicted responder to glatiramer acetate if the genotype of the subject contains one or more A alleles at the location of Group 2, one or more C alleles at the location of Group 3, one or more G alleles at the location of Group 4, or one or more T alleles at the location of kgp18432055, kgp279772, kgp3991733 or kgp7242489; and (iii) administering the pharmaceutical composition comprising glatiramer acetate and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to the subject only if the subject is identif

Abstract: Antibodies, and particularly human antibodies, are disclosed that demonstrate activity in the treatment of demyelinating diseases as well as other diseases of the central nervous system that are of viral, bacterial or idiopathic origin, including neural dysfunction caused by spinal cord injury. Neuromodulatory agents are set forth that include and comprise a material selected from the group consisting of an antibody capable of binding structures or cells in the central nervous system, a peptide analog, a hapten, active fragments thereof, agonists thereof, mimics thereof, monomers thereof and combinations thereof. The neuromodulatory agent has one or more of the following characteristics: it is capable of inducing remyelination; binding to neural tissue; promoting Ca?? signaling with oligodendrocytes; and promoting cellular proliferation of glial cells. Amino acid and DNA sequences of exemplary antibodies are disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to the recombinant Gla domain proteins and their use targeting phosphatidylserine (PtdS) moieties on the surface of cells, particularly those expressing elevated levels of PtdS, such as cells undergoing apoptosis.

Abstract: Provided herein are peptides that exhibit ApoE biological activity, as well as compositions and pharmaceutical formulations that include the peptides. The peptides, compositions, and methods disclosed herein have broad applications as they can be used to treat a broad spectrum of injury, diseases, disorders, and clinical indications.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods for treating progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) in a patient, and an article of manufacture with instructions for such use.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of screening a subject for mutations in the CC2D2A gene that are associated with Joubert syndrome, an autosomal recessive form of mental retardation. The present invention also provides proteins that are associated with Joubert syndrome including proteins that includes an amino acid sequence that terminates in DHEGGSGMES (SEQ ID NO: 1). Also provided are nucleotide sequences encoding such proteins and methods of screening subjects to identify nucleotide sequences or proteins associated with Joubert syndrome.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a immunogen comprising at least two fragments of Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), wherein at least two fragments comprise at least 8 consecutive amino acid residues of amino acid residues 150 to 170 and/or 205 to 225 of PCSK9 (SEQ ID NO:9).

Abstract: Described herein are recombinant integral membrane proteins having multiple transmembrane domains that have been engineered to be less hydrophobic, through alteration of the amino acid sequence of the native protein, but retain the ability to bind their natural ligand. The decreased hydrophobicity of the described proteins makes them more water soluble than the native protein, which allows the described proteins to be expressed in bacteria in large quantities and isolated in the absence of membranes, all while retaining the ability to interact with known ligands.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a method for crystallizing a GPCR. The method may employ a fusion protein comprising: a) a first portion of a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR), where the first portion comprises the TM1, TM2, TM3, TM4 and TM5 regions of the GPCR; b) a stable, folded protein insertion; and c) a second portion of the GPCR, where the second portion comprises the TM6 and TM7 regions of the GPCR.

Abstract: A family of novel feline bitter taste receptors, referred to as feline TAS2R (fTAS2R), are disclosed herein. Isolated polynucleotides encoding the novel feline bitter taste receptors and chimeric polypeptides are also disclosed, as are expression vectors and host cells for expression of the novel feline bitter taste receptors. Methods of identifying compounds that bind to the novel feline bitter taste receptors and modulate their activity are disclosed.

Abstract: Provided are fusion proteins comprising a first domain and a second domain, wherein the first domain comprises a polypeptide that binds to and triggers PD-1 and the second domain comprises a polypeptide that binds to and triggers a TRAIL receptor or Fas. In some embodiments, the polypeptide that binds to and triggers PD-1 comprises at least a portion of the extracellular domain of PD-L1 or PD-L2 and the second domain comprises at least a portion of the extracellular domain of TRAIL or Fas ligand. Also provided are methods for treating autoimmune, alloimmune or inflammatory diseases, and methods for treating cancer, using the fusion proteins.

Abstract: This invention features antibodies that specifically bind to a murine Dragon family protein.

Abstract: Newly identified mammalian taste-cell-specific G protein-coupled receptors, and the genes and cDNA encoding said receptors are provided. Specifically, T1R G protein-coupled receptors active in taste signaling, and the genes and cDNA encoding the same, are provided, along with methods for isolating such genes and for isolating and expressing such receptors.

Abstract: This invention features antibodies that specifically bind to a human Dragon family protein.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for treating or limiting development of multiple sclerosis by administering angiotensin peptides to a subject with multiple sclerosis or at risk of developing multiple sclerosis.