Abstract: The present invention is within the field of protein engineering and purification. The invention relates to a target-binding polypeptide mutant of an IgG binding polypeptide, such as Protein A, Protein G, Protein L or Protein M, comprising a metal binding motif. More closely the invention relates to an Fc binding ligand comprising an engineered protein based on the Protein A derived Z domain, to which a calcium binding EF-loop has been introduced.

Abstract: A coacervate including a catechol-substituted anionic polymer; an adhesive including same; and a method for producing the coacervate are described. More specifically, a coacervate formed by mixing a catechol derivative of a mussel adhesive protein and a catechol-substituted anionic polymer; an adhesive including the coacervate; and a method for producing a coacervate are described. The method includes a step of obtaining a catechol-substituted anionic polymer through catechol substitution of an anionic polymer, and a step of mixing the catechol-substituted anionic polymer and a catechol derivative of a mussel adhesive protein.

Abstract: A method for treating Parkinson's disease where insulin and GSH may be administered intranasally. The GSH and insulin that is administered may be in varying doses at least once daily. The GSH and insulin may be administered sequentially and/or simultaneously and the medications may be administered for differing periods of time depending upon a patient's tolerance and response to the GSH and insulin. The GSH and the insulin may be administered for a certain period of time and/or indefinitely.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to polypeptides that include a cleavable moiety that is a substrate for at least one matrix metalloprotease (MMP), to activatable antibodies and other larger molecules that include the cleavable moiety that is a substrate for at least one MMP protease, and to methods of making and using these polypeptides that include a cleavable moiety that is a substrate for at least one MMP protease in a variety of therapeutic, diagnostic and prophylactic indications.

Abstract: The present invention provides synthetic peptide compounds and uses thereof for therapy and diagnostics of complement-mediated diseases, such as inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, and microbial and bacterial infections; and non-complement-mediated diseases, such cystic fibrosis and various acute diseases. The invention is directed to modifications of a synthetic peptide of 15 amino acids from the Polar Assortant (PA) peptide, which is a scrambled peptide derived from human Astrovirus protein. In some embodiments, the invention is directed to peptide compounds that are peptide mimetics, peptide analogs and/or synthetic derivatives of PA (e.g., sarcosine derivatives) having, for example, internal peptide substitutions, and modifications, including PEGylation at the N-terminus and C-terminus. The invention further provides methods of selecting at least one synthetic peptide for treating various conditions.

Abstract: De novo artificial protein based reporters that may be expressed in eukaryotic (e.g., mammalian) cells and methods of using the same are provided herein.

Abstract: A method to treat a patient with a Clostridium difficile infection comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of diiodohydroxyquinoline, with or without one or more anti-infective agents.

Abstract: The present invention relates, inter alia, to certain hepcidin peptide analogues, including peptides and dimers thereof, and to the use of the peptides and peptide dimers in the treatment and/or prevention of a variety of diseases, conditions or disorders, including treatment and/or prevention of iron overload diseases, which include hereditary hemochromatosis and iron-loading anemias, and other conditions and disorders described herein.

Abstract: The invention provides modified apelin polypeptides having increased stability, circulating half-life, and/or potency relative to the native apelin-13 polypeptide. Compositions comprising the modified apelin polypeptides and methods of using the polypeptides for treating cardiac disorders, such as heart failure, are also disclosed.

Abstract: Antimicrobial compositions having bactericidal activity are described. Also described is a method of treating bacterial infections using compositions comprising antimicrobial peptides or variants thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides peptides that bind Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor (TFPI), including TFPI-inhibitory peptides, and compositions thereof. The peptides may be used to inhibit a TFPI, enhance thrombin formation in a clotting factor-deficient subject, increase blood clot formation in a subject, treat a blood coagulation disorder in a subject, purify TFPI, an identify a TFPI-binding compound.

Abstract: Disclosed are a protein heterodimer and the use thereof. The protein heterodimer comprises a first polypeptide chain and a second polypeptide chain different from the first polypeptide chain, wherein the first polypeptide chain comprises IL(interleukin)12a and a first factor fused to IL12a, the second polypeptide chain comprises IL12b and a second factor fused to IL12b, and the first factor and the second factor are each independently selected from a group consisting of: IL2, GMCSF(granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor), IL7, IL15, IL21 and FLT3L(FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand). The protein heterodimer can be used for treating tumors.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods to treat conditions, including cancer, using compounds that can target resistant cancer cells. The compounds can be used to sensitize resistant cancer cells or decrease the proliferation of cells. The compounds can target proteins in the DNA damage repair pathway leading to a decrease in DNA damage repair and cell death.

Abstract: Genetically modified proteins with uricolytic activity are described. Proteins comprising truncated urate oxidases and methods for producing them, including PEGylated proteins comprising truncated urate oxidase are described.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are presented that allow for an enhanced immune response against a GPI-anchored tumor associated antigen by modification of the protein portion of the TAA to include a transmembrane domain and a trafficking signal that directs the modified protein to the endosomal or lysosomal compartment. Most preferably, the modified protein will no longer have a GPI anchor or GPI attachment sequence.

Abstract: Disclosed are a GLP-1-mimicking pharmaceutical composition for treating type 2 diabetes and a preparation method thereof, wherein the pharmaceutical composition contains polyethylene glycol loxenatide, a physiologically acceptable buffer with the pH of 3.0-7.0, and pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. The pharmaceutical composition has good drug stability.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a composition for preventing or improving fat deposition on the liver in spite of the alcohol intake history of a level that a liver disease is not caused. The inventors found that glutathione has an effect of preventing or improving fat deposition on the liver, which is not caused by alcohol, and completed the present invention. Among nonalcoholic fat diseases, the present invention is particularly effective in an early stage of the treatment or in a case where treatment for another disease is not performed.

Abstract: The synthetic peptide disclosed here includes (1) an amino acid sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOS:1 to 10, or a modified amino sequence formed by deletion, substitution or addition of 1, 2 or 3 amino acid residues in any of these amino acid sequences, together with (2) an amino acid sequence (CPP sequence) that functions as a cell penetrating peptide (CPP), and consists of a total of not more than 100 amino acid residues.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition for treating an ophthalmic disease in a subject includes a peptide and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, wherein the peptide contains the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1: S-X-X-A-X-Q/H-X-X-X-X-I/V-I-X-R, wherein each X is independently any amino acid.

Abstract: Described herein is a novel, mitochondrial encoded, open reading frame, that leads to the production of a new mitochondrial peptide. Residing within the ND-Two subunit, a specific small nucleotide polymorphism disrupts expression of this mitochondrial peptide, and is correlated with an increase in obesity and diabetes, particularly in certain ethnic populations. In vitro administration of the peptide increases insulin secretion, decreases fat accumulation and improves glucose uptake in muscle cell. Antibodies generated against the peptide can be used for detecting peptide deficiency, in addition to SNP detection, supporting diagnostic approaches. In vivo studies further revealed that administration of the peptide improves glucose tolerance, thereby providing a new therapeutic avenue for a novel diabetes therapy and decreases bodyweight, thus serving as a novel obesity therapy. Generation of synthetic analogs further enhance or abrogated activity relative to the natural peptide.