Abstract: Provided are Peptide-based neurokinin antagonists of fish reproduction. Compositions including antagonists of fish neurokinin and methods of inhibiting or delaying puberty, fish maturation or reproduction processes using these compounds are also provided.

Abstract: A locally-activatable bivalent thrombin binding agent is provided having two thrombin binding moieties for non-overlapping sites on a surface of thrombin linked together by a linker. The linker is a polypeptide having 5 to 30 amino acid residues existing in a folded state under an environmental condition where the binding agent is inactive. The linker changes conformation from the folded state to an unfolded state in response to a change in bulk temperature and/or to the presence of hyper-mobile water thereby activating the binding agent. Such locally-activatable thrombin binding agents can be administered systemically while only targeting specific sites of coagulation or inflammation since the thrombin binding agent will only activate at the site where the existence of atherosclerotic plaques has changed the local bulk temperature and/or created hyper-mobile water sufficiently to unfold the linker and activate the binding agent.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to polypeptides that include a cleavable moiety that is a substrate for at least one protease selected from matriptase and u-plasminogen activator (uPA), to activatable antibodies and other larger molecules that include the cleavable moiety that is a substrate for at least one protease selected from matriptase and u-plasminogen activator, and to methods of making and using these polypeptides that include a cleavable moiety that is a substrate for at least one protease selected from matriptase and u-plasminogen activator in a variety of therapeutic, diagnostic and prophylactic indications.

Abstract: Provided herein are compounds and compositions having antibiotic activity against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In particular, provided herein is a synbody that bactericidal against multiple strains of MRSA and that can be used in conjugation with currently approved ?-lactam antibiotics to treat MRSA strains having resistance to ?-lactam treatment. Also provided are methods of using the compounds and compositions for treating, preventing or reducing MRSA infections.

Abstract: The invention provides peptides, including peptides that bind and, optionally, inhibit Protein S, and compositions thereof. The peptides may be used to, e.g., inhibit Protein S activity, enhance thrombin formation in a subject, increase blood clot formation in a subject, treat a blood coagulation disorder in a subject, purify Protein S, and identify a Protein S binding compound.

Abstract: Provided is a method for adjusting the balance of TNF-R1 and TNF-R2 in cells present at a target organ, tissue or site. In the adjustment method provided, when increasing the relative presence of TNF-R2 compared to the presence of TNF-R1 in the cells, a synthetic peptide is supplied to the cells, with the peptide being essentially made of at a TNF-R1 signal peptide motif or a modified amino acid sequence thereof; and when decreasing the relative presence of TNF-R2 compared to the presence of TNF-R1 in the cells, a synthetic peptide is supplied to the cells, with the peptide being essentially made of a TNF-R2 signal peptide motif or a modified amino acid sequence thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to robust split inteins. The split inteins described herein are active over a large temperature range, including temperatures as low as 0° C., over a wide pH range, and in the presence of chaotropic salts. The split inteins also show high tolerance to sequence variability in fused heterologous polypeptides and therefore are useful in protein purification and engineering techniques.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel antifungal glycopeptide compounds and salts thereof produced by a strain of Burkholderia contaminans useful for preventing or treating fungal infection or disease in animals and plants and the bacterial strain that produces the compounds.

Abstract: A transdermal delivery system of drug and a method of preparing the same are provided. More specifically, the invention can be a transdermal delivery system applied for various protein drugs such as vaccines and chemical drugs, because the drug delivery system has a biocompatibility, biodegradation property, transdermal delivery property, the safety of human body, maximum activity of protein drugs, good bio-conjugation efficiency and a long-term efficacy, a method of preparing the same and its use.

Abstract: A composition for displacing loose skin and removing subcutaneous deposits of fatty tissue. The composition includes effective amounts of one or more bleomycin-type drugs that are operative to cause apoptosis in localized fat cells, thus causing permanent eradication of such cells. Loose skin is likewise displaced with dense fibrous tissue produced via selective scarring induced by the active bleomycin-type drugs. The compositions are formulated as creams, lotions, gels, waxes, foams, sprays and the like for selectively applied, local topical application, and may also be administered as a conventional transdermal patch. The compositions may alternatively be formulated to be injected into the skin.

Abstract: A composition including an elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) coupled to a therapeutic agent is provided. The ELP comprises at least about 5 repeats of the amino acid sequence VPGXG. Further provided is a method of using the composition for therapeutic agent delivery during pregnancy to reduce the amount of the therapeutic agent crossing a placenta in a pregnant subject. The method includes administering to the pregnant subject an effective amount of the composition comprising the ELP coupled to the therapeutic agent.

Abstract: Disclosed is the a method of effecting skin hydration and enhancing skin barrier function, said method comprising the step of bringing into contact a pentapeptide conjugate of oleanolic acid with skin cells so that the effect of increased cellular communication at the molecular level to bring about gene and protein expression in the cells of the skin that enable hydration and skin barrier functions are realized.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides, nucleic acids and cells for use in immunotherapeutic methods. In particular, the present invention relates to the immunotherapy of cancer. The present invention furthermore relates to tumor-associated cytotoxic T cell (CTL) peptide epitopes, alone or in combination with other tumor-associated peptides that serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients of vaccine compositions that stimulate anti-tumor immune responses. The present invention relates to more than 70 novel peptide sequences and their variants derived from HLA class I and HLA class II molecules of human tumor cells that can be used in vaccine compositions for eliciting anti-tumor immune responses.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel analogs of cyclosporin, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and methods for their use in the treatment of dry eye and other conditions.

Abstract: A composition that includes an activatable aggregate is described herein. The aggregate has a core and a shell. In some embodiments, when the aggregate is exposed to acoustic energy, the core of the aggregate includes a hydrogel that is capable of absorbing a relatively large amount of water. The core of the aggregate is covalently bound to a shell of linear aliphatic moieties. The aggregate is synthesized to minimize the amount of water in the core, prior to exposure to acoustic energy. Methods of hydrating using the compositions are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptidomimetics of the formula (I) or (I)c wherein L1, L2, L3, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, n, m, Q, X, Z1 and Z2 are defined as mentioned in the description and to salts and solvates of each of these compounds and to processes for the preparation thereof, compositions containing them and the uses of such compounds. It has been found that the compounds have a high microbicide activity and are suited to combat resistant bacteria, such as meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains, at very low concentrations.

Abstract: The present invention provides phosphorylcholine conjugates and pharmaceutical compositions comprising same for the prevention or treatment of autoimmune diseases. In particular, the conjugates of the present invention are effective in treating autoimmune diseases associated with pathological inflammation.

Abstract: Provided are a collagen sponge containing a drug for promoting fracture healing and a method for preparing the same, the method comprises the steps of: 1) adding bisphosphonate containing phosphonate radical in an equivalent dosage of 70 to 140 mg and/or strontium salt in a dosage of 100 to 800 mg into 1 kg of the enzymolysis solution of collagen; 2) adding a crosslinking agent into the solution, the crosslinking agent being added in a proportion where 40 to 60 U of crosslinking agent is added per gram of enzymolysis solution; 3) stirring the mixed solution in step 2) uniformly, then putting it into a stainless steel tray, and placing the tray in a vacuum lyophilizer for lyophilizing for 10 to 16 hours so that it is lyophilized into a sponge-like shape; and 4) allowing the collagen sponge in step 3) to be cut, packaged and sealed, and sterilized by irradiation with cobalt 60.

Abstract: Peptides and methods of use thereof, are disclosed for use in treating various disease and disorders, including inflammation, pain, oral mucositis, oral lesions, and cancer. The peptides modulate the activity of the transcription factor NF ?B.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds of formula (I) wherein X1 to X8 and R1 to R8 are as described herein, as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Further the present invention is concerned with the manufacture of the compounds of formula (I), pharmaceutical compositions comprising them and their use as medicaments for the treatment of diseases and infections caused by Acinetobacter baumannii.