Abstract: Provided are methods for and compounds for modulating the complement system. In particular, compounds are provided that inhibit complement activation and compounds are provided that promote complement activation. The compounds are therapeutics by virtue of their effects on the complement system. Hence, the compounds that inhibit complement activation can be used for treatment of ischemic and reperfusion disorders, including myocardial infarction and stroke, sepsis, autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases and diseases with an inflammatory component, including Alzheimer's Disease and other neurodegenerative disorder.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for creating and using mutein proteases with altered specificity for the target molecules they cleave. The invention further discloses methods of using wild-type and mutein granzyme B to target VEGFR proteins to treat diseases, such as cancer. Cleaving VEGFR at certain substrate sequences with wild-type and mutein granzyme B proteases is a method for treating pathologies associated with angiogenesis.

Abstract: MT-SP1 mutein proteases with altered specificity for the target molecules they cleave can be used to treat human diseases, such as cancer. Cleaving VEGF or VEGFR at certain substrate sequences with wild-type and mutein MT-SP1 proteases can be used to treat pathologies associated with angiogenesis.