Abstract: The invention provides a method of treating pathogenic bacterial infection (e.g., tuberculosis infection) in an animal comprising administering a peptide-based inhibitor of the STAT3-IL10 pathway or a nucleic acid encoding the peptide-based inhibitor to the animal. The invention also provides methods of treating chronic granulomatous disease and Wegener's granulomatosis in an animal comprising administering a peptide-based inhibitor of the STAT3-IL10 pathway or a nucleic acid encoding the peptide-based inhibitor to the animal.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of treating pathogenic bacterial infection (e.g., tuberculosis infection) in an animal comprising administering a peptide-based inhibitor of the STAT3-IL10 pathway or a nucleic acid encoding the peptide-based inhibitor to the animal. The invention also provides methods of treating chronic granulomatous disease and Wegener's granulomatosis in an animal comprising administering a peptide-based inhibitor of the STAT3-IL10 pathway or a nucleic acid encoding the peptide-based inhibitor to the animal.

Abstract: A peptide or peptidomimetic comprising the amino acid sequence of the second helix of a STAT protein, or a variant of such sequence, wherein the peptide or peptidomimetic comprises about 40 or fewer amino acids and binds to a STAT protein, as well as a method of inhibiting a STAT protein in a cell, a method of treating or preventing a disease associated with STAT overexpression in a host, and related compounds, compositions, and methods.

Abstract: A peptide or peptidomimetic comprising the amino acid sequence of the second helix of a STAT protein, or a variant of such sequence, wherein the peptide or peptidomimetic comprises about 40 or fewer amino acids and binds to a STAT protein, as well as a method of inhibiting a STAT protein in a cell, a method of treating or preventing a disease associated with STAT overexpression in a host, and related compounds, compositions, and methods.

Abstract: A peptide or peptidomimetic comprising an amino acid sequence based on conserved regions of IL10 or IFN-gamma receptor sequences, and related compounds and compositions, as well as methods for the use thereof to inhibit cytokine signaling.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting Ras activity in a cell comprising introducing a peptide or peptidomimetic into the cell, wherein the peptide or peptidomimetic is derived from or based upon the amino acid sequence of the C-terminal ?-helix or hypervariable region (HVR) or a Ras protein.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of handling a hydrophobic agent, which method comprises (a) combining in an aqueous solution (i) a hydrophobic agent and (ii) an isolated peptide that is a structural analog of a transmembrane domain of an integral membrane protein, wherein one terminus of the peptide has one or more negatively charged residues, and (b) allowing the peptide to self-assemble into nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles comprise the hydrophobic agent.

Abstract: The invention provides a peptide or peptidomimetic that is derived from or based upon the amino acid sequence of the C-terminal ?-helix or hypervariable region (HVR) or a Ras protein, a nucleic acid encoding the peptide or peptidomimetic, and methods employing the same.

Abstract: A peptide or peptidomimetic comprising the amino acid sequence KKRLSVXLTSSLFR (SEQ ID NO: 1) or the inverse thereof, or comprising at least eight contiguous amino acids of helix C of ?-catenin (SEQ ID NO: 41) or inverse thereof, wherein the peptide or peptidomimetic comprises a total of about 50 or fewer amino acids and inhibits the Wnt pathway, as well as a method of inhibiting the Wnt pathway in a cell, a method of treating or preventing a disease mediated by the Wnt pathway, and related compounds, compositions, and methods.

Abstract: The invention provides a peptide or peptidomimetic that is derived from or based upon the amino acid sequence of the C-terminal ?-helix or hypervariable region (HVR) or a Ras protein, a nucleic acid encoding the peptide or peptidomimetic, and methods employing the same.

Abstract: A peptide or peptidomimetic comprising the amino acid sequence KKRLSVXLTSSLFR (SEQ ID NO: 1) or the inverse thereof, or comprising at least eight contiguous amino acids of helix C of ?-catenin (SEQ ID NO: 41) or inverse thereof, wherein the peptide or peptidomimetic comprises a total of about 50 or fewer amino acids and inhibits the Wnt pathway, as well as a method of inhibiting the Wnt pathway in a cell, a method of treating or preventing a disease mediated by the Wnt pathway, and related compounds, compositions, and methods.

Abstract: A peptide or peptidomimetic comprising an amino acid sequence based on conserved regions of IL10 or IFN-gamma receptor sequences, and related compounds and compositions, as well as methods for the use thereof to inhibit cytokine signaling.

Abstract: An azonafide-based compound of Formula I, a composition comprising the compound, and a method of using the compound to deliver a cytotoxic azonafide derivative to a cell, as well as related compounds and methods for the use thereof to pre-pare an azonafide-based compound of Formula I.

Abstract: A peptide or peptidomimetic comprising the amino acid sequence RXGNGV (SEQ ID NO: 1) or the inverse thereof, or comprising at least six contiguous amino acids of the juxtamembrane domain of IGF1R (SEQ ID NO: 43) or inverse thereof, wherein the peptide or peptidomimetic comprises a total of about 50 or fewer amino acids and inhibits IFG-R1 activity, as well as a method of inhibiting a IGF1R in a cell, a method of treating or preventing IGF1R-mediated disease, and related compounds, compositions, and methods.

Abstract: A peptide or peptidomimetic comprising the amino acid sequence of the second helix of a STAT protein, or a variant of such sequence, wherein the peptide or peptidomimetic comprises about 40 or fewer amino acids and binds to a STAT protein, as well as a method of inhibiting a STAT protein in a cell, a method of treating or preventing a disease associated with STAT overexpression in a host, and related compounds, compositions, and methods.

Abstract: An azonafide-based compound of Formula I, a composition comprising the compound, and a method of using the compound to deliver a cytotoxic azonafide derivative to a cell, as well as related compounds and methods for the use thereof to pre-pare an azonafide-based compound of Formula I.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of handling a hydrophobic agent, which method comprises (a) combining in an aqueous solution (i) a hydrophobic agent and (ii) an isolated peptide that is a structural analog of a transmembrane domain of an integral membrane protein, wherein one terminus of the peptide has one or more negatively charged residues, and (b) allowing the peptide to self-assemble into nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles comprise the hydrophobic agent.

Abstract: ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters generally contain a number of transmembrane helices. The present invention provides synthetic peptides derived from these transmembrane helices. The peptides inhibit ABC transporter function, presumably by disrupting the structure of the ABC transporter. Negatively charged residues are added at the extracellular terminus to promote correct orientation of the peptide in the membrane, and residues considered to aid solubility may be added at that terminus to increase solubility. Exemplary ABC transporters that can be inhibited by these peptides include MDR1, MRP1, MRP2 and BCRP. The invention further provides nucleic acids encoding the peptides, expression cassettes comprising the nucleic acids, and host cells expressing the expression cassettes. The invention further provides a simple and inexpensive assay for determining whether a potential chemotherapeutic agent can inhibit the activity of P-gly-coprotein.

Abstract: G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR) generally contain seven transmembrane helices. The present invention provides synthetic peptides derived from these transmembrane helices. The peptides inhibit GPCR function by disrupting GPCR structure. In certain embodiments, charged residues are added at one terminus to promote correct orientation of the peptide in the membrane.