Abstract: This invention describes a relevant etiology of cancer and a novel anti-cancer therapeutic strategy, based on the discovery that a protein named serine protease inhibitor (SPIK/SPINK/PSTI) was up-regulated by hepatitis B and C virus infections consequently suppressing the cell apoptosis. Accordingly, this invention provides an inhibitor of SPIK and/or a technology of suppression of over-expression of SPIK in cells. The inhibitors include: 1) chemical compounds, which can inhibit SPIK transcripts, protein activity, and gene expression, 2) SPIK siRNA (RNAi gene silence or dsRNA of SPIK, 3) DNA anti-sense and anti-SPIK antibody. Further, this invention provides a method of using the inhibitor as an anti-cancer agent to re-instate cancer cell apoptosis (e.g., serine protease dependent cell apoptosis).

Abstract: Use of a preparation as an antimicrobial agent or as an anti-oxidant; wherein said preparation comprises a polypeptide having hexose oxidase activity, the polypeptide being in a substantially pure form, and said polypeptide comprises at least one amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of (i) (SEQ?ID?NO:?1) Tyr-Glu-Pro-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Val-Pro (ii) (SEQ?ID?NO:?2) Ala-Ile-Ile-Asn-Val-Thr-Gly-Leu-Val-Glu-Ser-Gly- Tyr-Asp-X-X-X-Gly-Tyr-X-Val-Ser-Ser- (iii) (SEQ?ID?NO:?3) Asp-Leu-Pro-Met-Ser-Pro-Arg-Gly-Val-Ile-Ala-Ser- Asn-Leu-X-Phe- (iv) (SEQ?ID?NO:?4) Asp-Ser-Glu-Gly-Asn-Asp-Gly-Glu-Leu-Phe-X-Ala-His- Thr (v) (SEQ?ID?NO:?5) Tyr-Tyr-Phe-Lys (vi) (SEQ?ID?NO:?6) Asp-Pro-Gly-Tyr-Ile-Val-Ile-Asp-Val-Asn-Ala-Gly- Thr-X-Asp (vii) (SEQ?ID?NO:?7) Leu-Gln-Tyr-Gln-Thr-Tyr-Trp-Gln-Glu-Glu-Asp (viii) (SEQ?ID?NO:?8) X-Ile-Arg-Asp-Phe-Tyr-Glu-Glu

Abstract: The invention relates to unglycosylated folded C-terminal fragments of a multidomain serine protease of the complement cascade obtainable by expression in a bacterial host, wherein said serine protease is capable of binding a recognition molecule of the complement cascade, e.g. C1 or MBL. The invention also relates to methods and bacterial expression vectors for the preparation of said fragments, uses of said fragments for raising antibodies and screening substrates or inhibitors of said serine proteases and uses of the fragments in research and treatment of complement related disorders. The invention also relates to assay methods for assessing MASP-1 and MASP-2 levels in a sample of biological origin. The invention provides for research tools, assays and diagnostic kits useful in complement research and research and diagnosis of complement related disorders.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel acid proteases and more specifically to NSP24 family proteases and NSP25 family proteases including biologically active fragments thereof and to nucleic acid molecules encoding said proteases. Also provided are vectors and host cells including nucleic acid sequences coding for the proteases, methods for producing the proteases, enzyme compositions and methods employing said proteases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated polynucleotide of the complete chromosome of Bacillus licheniformis. The present invention also relates to isolated genes of the chromosome of Bacillus licheniformis which encode biologically active substances and to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the genes as well as methods for producing biologically active substances encoded by the genes and to methods of using the isolated genes of the complete chromosome of Bacillus licheniformis.

Abstract: Methods are provided for the production of gram to kilogram quantities of pro-EP-B2 (proenzyme form of EP-B2) in a lyophilized form. The methods include scalable fermentation, refolding and purification processes, which processes may be combined with lyophilization to yield a stable product.

Abstract: This invention provides novel chemically modified mutant serine hydrolases that catalyze a transamidation and/or a transpeptidation and/or a transesterification reaction. The modified serine hydrolases have one or more amino acid residues in a subsite replaced with a cysteine, wherein the cysteine is modified by replacing the thiol hydrogen in the cysteine with a substituent group providing a thiol side chain comprising a moiety selected from the group consisting of a polar aromatic substituent, an alkyl amino group with a positive charge, and a glycoside. In particularly preferred embodiments, the substitutents include an oxazolidinone, a C1 to C15 alkyl amino group with a positive charge, or a glycoside.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses albumin fusion proteins. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the albumin fusion proteins of the invention are also encompassed by the invention, as are vectors containing these nucleic acids, host cells transformed with these nucleic acids vectors, and methods of making the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and using these nucleic acids, vectors, and/or host cells. Additionally the present invention encompasses pharmaceutical compositions comprising albumin fusion proteins and methods of treating, preventing, or ameliorating diseases, disorders or conditions using albumin fusion proteins of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a polypeptide comprising using a signal peptide, to nucleic acid constructs comprising a first nucleotide sequence encoding the signal peptide and a second nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide which is foreign to the first nucleotide sequence. Furthermore, it also relates to expression vectors and host cells comprising the nuclei acid construct.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated proteases of the RP-II type and variants of RP-II proteases exhibiting improved properties in comparison to the parent RP-II protease, DNA constructs and vectors coding for the expression of said proteases and variants, host cells capable of expressing the proteases and variants from the DNA constructs, as well as a method of producing them by cultivating said host cells. The proteases may advantageously be used as constituents in detergent compositions and additives, optionally in combination with other enzymes such as proteases, lipases, cellulases, amylases, peroxidases or oxidases.

Abstract: Provided herein are genetically modified microorganisms that have enhanced fermentation activity, and methods for making and using such microorganisms.

Abstract: Truncated fragments of the small fragment of ?-galactosidase are provided that have low affinity for the large fragment of ?-galactosidase and provide for robust signals when two fusion proteins are complexed due to the binding of the proteins to which the ?-galactosidase fragments are fused. The truncated fragments do not interfere with the complexing of the two proteins and allow for the two proteins to function and be responsive to candidate compounds that affect complex formation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification of novel metallo-proteases (MP) in Gram-positive microorganisms. The present invention provides the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences for Bacillus MP. The present invention also provides host cells having a mutation or deletion of part or all of the gene encoding MP. The present invention also provides host cells further comprising nucleic acid encoding desired heterologous proteins such as enzymes. The present invention also provides cleaning compositions comprising an MP of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for producing variants of a parent TY145 subtilase and of a parent BPN? subtilase and to TY145 and BPN? variants having altered properties as compared to the parent TY145/BPN? subtilase.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for modifying glycans (e.g., glycans expressed on the surface of live cells or cell particles) are provided herein.

Abstract: The instant invention provides a method of treating an animal suffering a disease characterized by excessive apoptosis by administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one serine protease inhibitor and thereafter monitoring a decrease in apoptosis. The inhibitor of the invention includes ?1-antitrypsin or an ?1-antitrypsin-like agent, including, but not limited to oxidation-resistant variants of ?1-antitrypsin, and peptoids with antitrypsin activity. The diseases treatable by the invention include cancer, autoimmune disease, sepsis neurodegenerative disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, ischemia-reperfusion injury, toxin induced liver injury and AIDS. The method of the invention is also suitable for the prevention or amelioration of diseases characterized by excessive apoptosis.

Abstract: The invention pertains to the use and production of non-neurotoxic plasminogen activating factors e.g. of Desmodus rotundus (DSPA) for the therapeutic treatment of stroke in humans in order to provide a new therapeutic concept for treating stroke in humans.

Abstract: Production and use of a sulfur-containing compound, tropodithietic acid (TDA), from the roseobacter Silicibacter sp. TM1040 is described. Specifically, a biosynthetic and regulatory pathway for TDA biosynthesis in roseobacters is described. The TDA produced from roseobacters, specifically Silicibacter sp. TM1040, is shown to have antibacterial activity, in particular against Vibrio anguillarium, Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio coralliilyticus, Vibrio shiloi, Halomonas spp., Mycobacterium marinum, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Pseudomonas elongate, Spongiobacter nikelotolerans, and Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Abstract: Prepared is an extract composition having an improved protein synthetic activity in a cell-free protein synthesis system using a mammalian cultured cell extract. An eukaryotic translation initiation factor and/or translational regulator are added to a cell-free protein synthesis system comprising an extract prepared from cultured mammalian cells and a template mRNA. These factors are one or more selected from the group consisting of eukaryotic translation initiation factors 4E (eIF4E), 2 (eIF2) and 2B (eIF2B), and eukaryotic translational regulator p97.

Abstract: Isolated polypeptide having sialidase activity and having an amino acid sequence which has at least 90% amino acid sequence identity with amino acids 34 to 407 of SEQ ID NO: 3.