Abstract: The present invention relates to the designation of ADP-ribosylation factor-like 6 as the BBS3 gene, that is involved in the genetic disease Bardet Biedl Syndrome (BBS), which is characterized by such diverse symptoms as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, mental retardation, renal cancer and other abnormalities, retinopathy and hypogonadism. Methods of use for the gene, for example in diagnosis and therapy of BBS and in drug screening, also are described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the designation of ADP-ribosylation factor-like 6 as the BBS3 gene, that is involved in the genetic disease Bardet Biedl Syndrome (BBS), which is characterized by such diverse symptoms as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, mental retardation, renal cancer and other abnormalities, retinopathy and hypogonadism. Methods of use for the gene, for example in diagnosis and therapy of BBS and in drug screening, also are described.

Abstract: The present invention employs an iterative application of BLAST and Hidden Markov Model (HMM) based searches which identified 34 ?-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 ?-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.