Abstract: An antimicrobial peptide having an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 2-12 is provided. The antimicrobial peptide has antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria, Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar typhimurium, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar choleraesuis, Klebsiella pneumonica, and/or Enterobacter cloacae. A composition, pharmaceutical composition, food additive, cosmetic composition, or hygine product having an antimicrobial peptide including an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 2-12 is also provided. A method of treating an infectious disease caused by bacteria including a step of administering a pharmaceutical composition having the antimicrobial peptide as an active ingredient is also provided.

Abstract: An antimicrobial peptide variant having an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 2-30 is provided. The antimicrobial peptide variant can have antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus aureus MRSA, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Cutibacterium acnes, or Clostridium perfringens. A composition, pharmaceutical composition, food additive, cosmetic composition, or hygiene product having an antimicrobial peptide variant including an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 2-30 is also provided. The antimicrobial peptide can be an active ingredient in such compositions, additives, and products. A method of treating an infectious disease caused by bacteria is also provided. The method can include administering a pharmaceutical composition having the antimicrobial peptide as an active ingredient.

Abstract: An antimicrobial peptide variant having an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 2-30 is provided. The antimicrobial peptide variant can have antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus aureus MRSA, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Cutibacterium acnes, or Clostridium perfringens. A composition, pharmaceutical composition, food additive, cosmetic composition, or hygiene product having an antimicrobial peptide variant including an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 2-30 is also provided. The antimicrobial peptide can be an active ingredient in such compositions, additives, and products. A method of treating an infectious disease caused by bacteria is also provided. The method can include administering a pharmaceutical composition having the antimicrobial peptide as an active ingredient.

Abstract: The invention provides bidirectional promoters for expressing two or more short RNA sequences from a single promoter. A particular embodiment of the bidirectional promoters of the invention include: 1) a Pol III promoter that contains a TATA box, a PSE and a DSE; and 2) a Pol III promoter that includes a PSE and a TATA box fused to the 5? end of said DSE in reverse orientation. Vector embodiments are also disclosed comprising the novel bidirectional promoters of the invention, as well as methods of making and using these promoters.

Abstract: Materials and methods for identifying novel pesticide agents are disclosed herein. Specifically exemplified is a full length aminopeptidase N isolated from Manduca sexta, insect cells expressing APN, and methods of screening pesticide agents using the same. Also disclosed are methods of identifying novel APN inhibitors.

Abstract: Materials and methods for identifying novel pesticide agents are disclosed herein. Specifically exemplified is a full length aminopeptidase N isolated from Manduca sexta, insect cells expressing APN, and methods of screening pesticide agents using the same. Also disclosed are methods of identifying novel APN inhibitors.

Abstract: Nanometer holes can be reliably and repeatedly defined in the tips of cantilevered probes and used in various types of scanning multiprobe microscopy by defining the hole within a layer disposed on the tip using focused electron or ion beams. The drilling of the hole on the apex of the tip and is stopped just as soon as the hole is defined through an overlying insulating layer under which lies a metallic or semiconductor layer at the apex. The hole is then backfilled with another metallic or semiconductor layer so that an active electrical junction is formed between the two layers through the hole in the insulating layer. The hole may be defined in conductive layers in various combinations with oxide layers, other metal layers and semiconductor materials to define Schottky diodes, thermocouple junctions, near-field optical detectors, and atomic force tips.

Abstract: Nanometer holes can be reliably and repeatedly defined in the tips of cantilevered probes and used in various types of scanning microscopy by voltaicly defining the hole within a conductive layer disposed on the tip. The field strengths of the apex of the tip are sufficient to cause evaporation of the metal or conductive material from the apex onto an opposing sample substrate. The hole opens on the apex of the tip and is self-limited by the inherent threshold voltage strength required for vaporization, which voltage strength falls off rapidly from the tip. The hole may be defined in conductive layers in various combinations with oxide layers, other metal layers and semiconductor materials to define Schottky diodes, thermocouple junctions, near-field optical detectors, and atomic force tips. As a result, two or more physical interactions may be simultaneously exploited between the fabricated tip and the scanned sample from which a scanned image may be produced.