Abstract: The disclosure relates to catalytically active carbocatalysts, e.g., a graphene oxide or graphite oxide catalyst suitable for use in a variety of chemical transformations. In one embodiment, it relates to a method of catalyzing a chemical reaction of an organic molecule by reacting the organic molecule in the presence of a sufficient amount of graphene oxide or graphite oxide for a time and at a temperature sufficient to allow catalysis of a chemical reaction. According to other embodiments, the reaction may be an oxidation reaction, a hydration reaction, a dehydrogenation reaction, a condensation reaction, or a polymerization reaction. Some reactions may include auto-tandem reactions. The disclosure further provides reaction mixtures containing an organic molecule and graphene oxide or graphite oxide in an amount sufficient to catalyze a reaction of the organic molecule.

Abstract: The present invention relates a novel antimicrobial peptide HBD-3 and derivatives thereof as well as the gene encoding the peptide. The invention further relates to methods of use of the HBD-3 peptide including a method of inhibiting microbial growth by administering an effective amount of the HBD-3 peptide alone or in combinination with other antimicrobial agents or antibiotics. In addition, the immunomodulatory properties of the HBD-3 peptide also facilitate the manipulation of the immune response, i.e., as a chemoattractant for immature dentritic cells or memory T cells.

Abstract: The present invention employs an iterative application of BLAST and Hidden Markov Model (HMM) based searches which identified 34 &bgr;-defensin genes in the human genome and 48 in the mouse genome. The present invention relates to novel antimicrobial peptides and derivatives thereof as well as the &bgr;-defensin genes encoding the peptides. The invention further relates to methods of use of the peptides including a method of inhibiting microbial growth by administering an effective amount of the peptide alone or in combination with other antimicrobial agents or antibiotics.

Abstract: The present invention relates a novel antimicrobial peptide HBD-3 and derivatives thereof as well as the gene encoding the peptide. The invention further relates to methods of use of the HBD-3 peptide including a method of inhibiting microbial growth by administering an effective amount of the HBD-3 peptide alone or in combinination with other antimicrobial agents or antibiotics. In addition, the immunomodulatory properties of the HBD-3 peptide also facilitate the manipulation of the immune response, i.e., as a chemoattractant for immature dentritic cells or memory T cells.