Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods comprising one or more domains of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) in an amount effective to modulate one or more of the contractility and angiogenic activity of a mammalian muscle or endothelial cell or tissue for use in the treatment of a disease or condition having as a symptom thereof one or more of abnormal muscle cell or tissue contractility and abnormal angiogenic activity. The one or more domains of uPA can be present in the inventive compositions and methods either as part of the full uPA molecule in either single chain or two chain form (scuPA or tcuPA), or as an isolated polypeptide, or a fragment of the uPA molecule (e.g., the amino terminal fragment “ATF”), or a deletion mutant of the uPA molecule.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a somatostatin antagonist according to formula (I): A1-cyclo {D-Cys-A2-D-Trp-A3-A4-Cys}-A5Y1, wherein A1 is an optionally substituted aromatic a-amino acid; A2 is an optionally substituted aromatic ?-amino acid; A3 is Dab, Dap, Lys or Om; A4 is ?-Hydroxyvaline, Ser, Hser, or Thr; A5 is an optionally substituted D- or L-aromatic amino acid; and Y1 is OH, NH2 or NHR1? where RI is (C1-6)alkyl; wherein each said optionally substituted aromatic amino acid is optionally substituted with one or more substituents each independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, NO2, OH, CN, (C1-6) alkyl, (C2-6) alkenyl, (C2-6) alkynyl, (C1-6)alkoxy, Bzl, O-Bzl, and NR9R10? wherein R9 ad R10 each is independently H, O, or (C1-6) alkyl; and wherein the amine nitrogen of each of amide peptide bond and the amino group of A1 of formula (I) is optionally substituted with a methyl group, provided that there is at least one said methyl group; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

Abstract: The invention describes a method for producing a chimaeric human papillomavirus (HPV) L1 polypeptide containing a heterologous peptide, and in particular, a HPV L2 peptide. The method comprises the steps of introducing a DNA sequence coding for the heterologous peptide into a DNA sequence coding for the L1 polypeptide; introducing the DNA sequence including the sequences for the L1 polypeptide and heterologous peptide into a host cell in which the DNA sequence can be expressed; causing expression of the DNA sequence; and recovering the resulting chimaeric L1 polypeptide which includes the heterologous peptide. Typically, the nucleotides encoding the heterologous peptide replace the nucleotides of the L1 polypeptide at the point of insertion. The invention also describes a vector for use in the method, a host cell containing the vector, and a vaccine including the chimaeric HPV L1 polypeptide produced according to the method.

Abstract: An orthokeratological procedure is provided that prevents or retards relaxation of corneal tissue back to the original anterior curvature of the cornea. The procedure comprises applying a stabilizing agent that comprises fibril associated collagens with interrupted triple helices (FACITs) and/or small leucine-rich repeat proteoglycans (SLRPs) to the stabilize corneal tissue in a preselected shape.

Abstract: Novel formulations containing exendins, exendin agonists and/or exendin analogs are provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to relatively short peptides (termed ?-conotoxins herein), about 10-25 residues in length, which are naturally available in minute amounts in the venom of the cone snails or analogous to the naturally available peptides, and which preferably include two disulfide bonds.

Abstract: The invention relates to nucleic acid molecules encoding (poly)peptides having chemotaxis inhibiting (poly)peptides CHIPS activity, to recombinant vectors harboring such molecules, and the host cells carrying the vectors. The invention further relates to methods for preparing recombinant (poly)peptides having CHIPS activity and to the use of such recombinant (poly)peptides having CHIPS activity for diagnosis, prophylaxis and treatment, such as the treatment of inflammation reactions and HIV. In addition, the invention provides therapeutic and diagnostic compositions comprising as the active ingredient the (poly)peptide having CHIPS activity.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a somatostatin antagonist according to formula (I), wherein A1 is an optionally substituted aromatic ?-amino acid; A2 is an optionally substituted aromatic ?-amino acid; A3 is Dab, Dap, Lys or Orn; A4 is ?-Hydroxyvaline, Ser, Hser, or Thr; A5 is an optionally substituted D- or L-aromatic -amino acid; and Y1 is OH, NH2 or NHR1, or NHR1, where R1 is (C1-6)alkyl; wherein each said optionally substituted aromatic -amino acid is optionally substituted with one or more substituents substituents each independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, NO2, OH, CN, (C1-6)alkyl, (c2-6)alkenyl, (c2-6)alkynyl, (C1-6)alkoxy, Bzl, O-Bzl, and NR9R10, where R9 ad R10 each is independently H, O, or (C1-6)alkyl; and wherein the amine nitrogen of each of amide peptide bond and the amino group of A1 of formula (I) is optionally substituted with a methyl group, provided that there is at least one said methyl group; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and to uses thereof.

Abstract: A reporter system reflecting the transport process that transports GPI-anchored proteins to the cell wall was constructed and compounds inhibiting this process were discovered. Further, fungal genes conferring resistance to the above compounds were identified and methods of screening for compounds that inhibit the activity of the proteins encoded by these genes were developed. These genes encode proteins participating in fungal cell wall synthesis. Therefore, through the novel compounds, the present invention showed that antifungal agents having a novel mechanism, i.e. inhibiting the process that transports GPI-anchored proteins to the cell wall, could be achieved.

Abstract: Peptide amphiphile compounds, compositions and methods for self-assembly or nanofibrous network formation under neutral or physiological conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of inducing ovulation in a female host comprising the administration of a non-polypeptide cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) level modulator to the female host. In another aspect, the invention provides for specific administration of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor prior to the luteal phase of the host's ovulatory cycle. Preferred non-polypeptide cAMP level modulators include phosphodiesterase inhibitors, particularly inhibitors of phosphodiesterase 4 isoforms.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treatment to improve wound healing and to minimize/prevent abnormal scarring caused by tissue contraction and fibrosis formation by providing a specific gene, Wit 3.0 alpha and beta sequences that is differentially expressed in wounded oral mucosa cells, relative to their decreased expression in non-wounded oral mucosa cells. One aspect of the invention is a method to treat soft tissue wound using anti-sense nucleic acid technologies. Another aspect of the present invention is a method to treat soft tissue wound using sense nucleic acid technologies. These methods can employ a complimentary nucleic acid sequence that is greater than 85% identity to Wit 3.0 alpha and/or beta sequences or greater than 90% identity to the deduced amino acids thereof.

Abstract: There is disclosed a novel genus of small peptides, much smaller than human TGF?, was discovered as having TGF? biological activity and therefore are useful as pharmacologic agents for the same indications as full length TGF? polypeptide. There is further disclosed that TGF? and consequently the genus of small peptides disclosed herein, was found to have therapeutic activity to stimulate hematopoiesis in patients undergoing cytotoxic cancer chemotherapy and to act as a cytoprotective agent to protect a patient undergoing cancer cytotoxic therapy from gastrointestinal (GI) side effects, such as mucositis and otherwise support the barrier function of the GI tract when it is harmed by cytotoxic therapy.

Abstract: An intracellular selection system allows screening for peptide bioactivity and stability. Randomized recombinant peptides are screened for bioactivity in a tightly regulated expression system, preferably derived from the wild-type lac operon. Bioactive peptides thus identified are inherently protease- and peptidase-resistant. Also provided are bioactive peptides stabilized by a stabilizing group at the N-terminus, the C-terminus, or both. The stabilizing group can be a small stable protein, such as the Rop protein, glutathione sulfotransferase, thioredoxin, maltose binding protein, or glutathione reductase, an ?-helical moiety, or one or more proline residues.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel peptides and compositions capable of modulating apoptosis in cells, and to methods of modulating apoptosis employing the novel peptides and compositions of the invention. In one aspect, the invention is directed to a novel peptide designated the “GD domain,” which is essential both to Bak's interaction with Bcl-xL, and to Bak's cell killing function. Methods of identifying agonists or antagonists of GD domain function are provided. The GD domain is responsible for mediating key protein/protein interactions of significance to the actions of multiple cell death regulatory molecules.

Abstract: The present invention provides the novel L-NAME-related actin cytoskeletal protein (LACS) and genes encoding the protein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolation and purification of protein in aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS). Specifically, the invention provides processes for partitioning of proteins of interest in ATPS by fusing said proteins to targeting proteins which have the ability of carrying said protein into one of the phases.

Abstract: The present invention describes methods and processes for the production of proteins, particularly glycoproteins, by animal cell or mammalian cell culture, illustratively, but not limited to, fed-batch cell cultures. The methods comprise feeding the cells with D-galactose, preferably with feed medium containing D-galactose, preferably daily, to sustain a sialylation effective level of D-galactose in the culture for its duration, thus increasing sialylation of the produced proteins. The methods can also comprise at least two temperature shifts performed during the culturing period, in which the temperature is lower at the end of the culturing period than at the time of initial cell culture. The cell culture processes of the invention involving two or more temperature shifts sustain a high cell viability, and can allow for an extended protein production phase. The methods can also comprise the delayed addition of polyanionic compound at a time after innoculation.

Abstract: Disclosed are Bacillus thuringiensis strains comprising novel crystal proteins which exhibit insecticidal activity against lepidopteran insects. Also disclosed are novel B. thuringiensis genes and their encoded crystal proteins, as well as methods of making and using transgenic cells comprising the novel nucleic acid sequences of the invention.

Abstract: Cell lines having genetically modified glycosylation pathways that allow them to carry out a sequence of enzymatic reactions, which mimic the processing of glycoproteins in humans, have been developed. Recombinant proteins expressed in these engineered hosts yield glycoproteins more similar, if not substantially identical, to their human counterparts. The lower eukaryotes, which ordinarily produce high-mannose containing N-glycans, including unicellular and multicellular fungi are modified to produce N-glycans such as Man5GlcNAc2 or other structures along human glycosylation pathways.