Abstract: The substituted N-acyl homoserine lactones have the formula (I) wherein R is a saturated or unsaturated straight chain or branched chain aliphatic hydrocarbyl group containing from 5 to 14 carbon atoms; R2 is H or a 1-4C alkyl group; R3 is H or F; and any enantiomer thereof. These compounds exhibit immunosuppressant activity while exhibiting reduced biosensor (autoinducer) activity compared to known N-acyl homoserine lactones.

Abstract: The substituted N-acyl homoserine lactones have the formula (I) wherein R is a saturated or unsaturated straight chain or branched chain aliphatic hydrocarbyl group containing from 5 to 14 carbon atoms; R2 is H or a 1-4C alkyl group; R3 is H or F; and any enantiomer thereof. These compounds exhibit immunosuppressant activity while exhibiting reduced biosensor (autoinducer) activity compared to known N-acyl homoserine lactones.

Abstract: The use of larval enzymes, particularly a chymotrypsin, is described herein. The enzymes are usable in the treatment of wounds for debridement and for cell regeneration.

Abstract: This invention relates to a polypeptide obtainable from insect larvae, such as those from Lucilia sericata, and which have activity as a nuclease in that they are able to degrade, denature, digest, cut or cleave nucleic acids such as DNA.

Abstract: Substituted-4-quinolones of the formula (I): wherein R1 is a straight or branched chain, saturated or ethylenically-unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbyl group containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms which may optionally be substituted by one or more substituent groups selected from halo, 1-6C alkoxy, carboxy, 1-6C alkoxycarbonyl and NR6R7, wherein each of R6 and R7 is independently selected from H and 1-6C alkyl or R6 and R7 together with the N atom to which they are attached form a saturated heterocyclic group selected from piperidino, piperazino and morpholino; R2 is a group selected from H, —OH, halo, —CHO, —CO2H and CONHR8 wherein R8 is H or a 1-6C alkyl; each of R3, R4 and R5 is independently selected form H, —CH3, —OCH3 and halo; or a non-toxic pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, have use in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a disease of a living animal body, including a human, which disease is responsive to the activity of an immunosuppressant.

Abstract: A composition having immunosuppressant activity comprises at least one compound of the formula (I) in which R is an acyl group of the formula (II) wherein one of R1 and R2 is H and the other is selected from OR4, SR4 and NHR4, wherein R4 is H or 1-6C alkyl, or R1 and R2 together with the carbon atom to which they are joined form a keto group, and R3 is a straight or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbyl group containing from 8 to 11 carbon atoms and is optionally substituted by one or more substituent groups selected from halo, 1-6C alkoxy, carboxy, 1-6C alkoxycarbonyl and NR5R6 wherein each of R5 and R6 is selected from H and 1-6C alkyl or R5 and R6 together with the N atom form a morpholino or piperazino group, or any enantiomer thereof; and at least one compound of the formula (III): wherein R7 is a straight or branched chain, saturated or ethylenically-unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbyl group containing from 1 to 18 carbon atoms which may optionally be substituted by one or more su

Abstract: A method for maintaining a human hookworm strain is provided by infecting a non-human primate with a non-adapted or non-passaged human hookworm and maintaining the non-human primate. Methods of obtaining human hookworm materials and compositions, such as for use as a vaccine, are also provided, along with a model for maintaining and investigating human hookworm.

Abstract: An isolated protein, for use in treatment of wounds, is characterized in that it is secreted by the organism Lucilia sericata and it exhibits proteolytic activity against FITC-casein at a pH of 8.0 to 8.5. The protein exhibits proteolytic activity against Tosyl-Gly-Pro-Arg-AMC but not against Suc-Ala-Ala-Phe-AMC, and its proteolytic activity against FITC-casein and Tosyl-Gly-Pro-Arg-AMC is inhibited by the serine proteinase inhibitors PMSF and AMPSF. The protein is also bound by immobilized aminobenzamidine.

Abstract: A composition having immunosuppressant activity comprises at least one compound of the formula (I) in which R is an acyl group of the formula (II) wherein one of R1 and R2 is H and the other is selected from OR4, SR4 and NHR4, wherein R4 is H or 1-6C alkyl, or R1 and R2 together with the carbon atom to which they are joined form a keto group, and R3 is a straight or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbyl group containing from 8 to 11 carbon atoms and is optionally substituted by one or more substituent groups selected from halo, 1-6C alkoxy, carboxy, 1-6C alkoxycarbonyl and NR5R6 wherein each of R5 and R6 is selected from H and 1-6C alkyl or R5 and R6 together with the N atom form a morpholino or piperazino group, or any enantiomer thereof; and at least one compound of the formula (III): wherein R7 is a straight or branched chain, saturated or ethylenically-unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbyl group containing from 1 to 18 carbon atoms which may optionally be substituted by one or more su

Abstract: Substituted-4-quinolones of the formula (I): wherein R1 is a straight or branched chain, saturated or ethylenically-unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbyl group containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms which may optionally be substituted by one or more substituent groups selected from halo, 1-6C alkoxy, carboxy, 1-6C alkoxycarbonyl and NR6R7, wherein each of R6 and R7 is independently selected from H and 1-6C alkyl or R6 and R7 together with the N atom to which they are attached form a saturated heterocyclic group selected from piperidino, piperazino and morpholino. R2 is a group selected from H, —OH, halo, —CHO, —CO2H and CONHR8 wherein R8 is H or a 1-6C alkyl; each of R3, R4 and R1 is independently selected form H, —CH3, —OCH3 and halo; or a non-toxic pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, have use in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a disease of a living animal body, including a human, which disease is responsive to the activity of an immunosuppressant.

Abstract: A substantially pure excretory-secretory product is isolatable from Necator americanus and is capable of inducing apoptosis in reactive T cells.

Abstract: Vaccine compositions for the treatment of hookworm infections comprise antigenic fragments of aspartyl proteinases obtainable from Necator americanus.

Abstract: New N-acyl homoserine lactone compounds of the formula (I) in whichR is an acyl group of the formula (II) wherein one of R1 and R2 is H and the other is selected from OR4, SR4 and NHR4, wherein R4 is H or 1-6C alkyl, or R1 and R2 together with the carbon atom to which they are joined form a keto group, and R3 containing from 8 to 11 carbon atoms and is optionally substituted by one or more substituent groups selected from halo, 1-6C alkoxy, carboxy, 1-6C alkoxycarbonyl, carbamoyl optionally mono- or disubstituted at the N atom by 1-6C alkyl and NR5R6 wherein each of R5 and R6 is selected from H and 1-6C alkyl or R5 and R6 together with the N atom form a morpholino or piperazino group, or and enantiomer thereof, with the proviso that R is not a 3-oxododecanoyl group, having immuosuppressant properties are disclosed. The compounds are shown to have an inhibitory effect on lymphocyte proliferation and down-regulate TNF-&agr; secretion by monocytes/macrophages in the animal body, including the human body.

Abstract: Compounds having anti-fibrotic effects are provided. Also provided is a method for treating disorders, diseases or conditions associated with pathological fibrotic states. The compounds useful in the present invention are homocysteine thiolactone and selected derivatives thereof.

Abstract: An immunosuppressive agent, obtainable from the nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus, characterised in that the agent has a molecular weight of less than 12 kDa, is resistant to proteinase K and is not bound to a polypeptide.