Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods of inducing the self-renewal of stem/progenitor supporting cells, including inducing the stem/progenitor cells to proliferate while maintaining, in the daughter cells, the capacity to differentiate into hair cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of inducing the self-renewal of stem/progenitor supporting cells, including inducing the stem/progenitor cells to proliferate while maintaining, in the daughter cells, the capacity to differentiate into hair cells. Specifically, the invention relates to methods of using compounds comprising a 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-[1,4]diazepino[6,7, 1-hi]indole moiety having a Formula I and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of inducing the self-renewal of stem/progenitor supporting cells, including inducing the stem/progenitor cells to proliferate while maintaining, in the daughter cells, the capacity to differentiate into hair cells. Specifically, the invention relates to methods of using compounds comprising a N-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-nicotinamide moiety having a Formula I: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods of inducing the self-renewal of stem/progenitor supporting cells, including inducing the stem/progenitor cells to proliferate while maintaining, in the daughter cells, the capacity to differentiate into hair cells.

Abstract: A method has been developed to create databases of peptides having a desirable property, such as antimicrobial activity, based on analyzing a database of known peptides for a pattern statistically associated with an activity. One can determine a set of patterns that may be representative of a peptide having a desired characteristic or property, and evaluate a set of sequences against the set of patterns (grammars) to determine if the peptide sequence being evaluated has similar patterns to those of a peptide having the desired characteristic or property. The set of sequences being evaluated may include peptide sequences of a desired length comprising all or substantially all combinations of amino acids that conform to at least one of the set of patterns. Once the database is identified, the database may be processed in a pattern recognition procedure that identifies a set of patterns that could be understood as representative of a peptide having the characteristic of interest.

Abstract: Methods to create databases of peptides having a desirable property, such as antimicrobial activity, involving analyzing a database of known peptides for a pattern statistically associated with the desirable property are described herein, The set of sequences being analyzed may include sequences of a desired length containing all or substantially all combinations of amino acids that conform to at least one of the set of patterns. Once the database is identified, the database may be processed in a pattern recognition procedure that identifies a set of patterns that may be representative of a peptide having the desirable property. A set of newly generated peptides sequences may then be processed to score these new sequences against the identified patterns to correlate the patterns to the sequences and determine a degree of association or similarity between one or more of the new sequences and the set of identified patterns.

Abstract: Antimicrobial peptides enable an alternate approach to developing antimicrobial coatings due to their targeting of the membranes of the bacteria. High specific activity is achieved by orienting the peptides so that the antimicrobial ends of the peptides maximally contact the bacteria. In one embodiment, one end of the peptide is covalently attached directly to the substrate. In another embodiment, the peptides are immobilized on the substrate using a coupling agent or tether. Non-covalent methods include coating the peptide onto the substrate or physiochemically immobilizing the peptides on the substrate using highly specific interactions, such as the biotin/avidin or streptavidin system. The compositions are substantially non-leaching, antifouling, and non-hemolytic. The immobilized peptides retain sufficient flexibility and mobility to interact with and de endocytosed by the bacteria, viruses, and/or fungi upon exposure.

Abstract: A method has been developed to create databases of peptides having a desirable property, such as antimicrobial activity, based on analyzing a database of known peptides for a pattern statistically associated with an activity. One can determine a set of patterns that may be representative of a peptide having a desired characteristic or property, and evaluate a set of sequences against the set of patterns (grammars) to determine if the peptide sequence being evaluated has similar patterns to those of a peptide having the desired characteristic or property. The set of sequences being evaluated may include peptide sequences of a desired length comprising all or substantially all combinations of amino acids that conform to at least one of the set of patterns. Once the database is identified the database may be processed in a pattern recognition procedure that identifies a set of patterns that could be understood as representative of a peptide having the characteristic of interest.