Abstract: The present invention relates to an inhibitory agent of membrane fusion between a virus envelope and a cell membrane of a host cell for the virus, wherein the inhibitory agent comprises a serine protease inhibitor, and a therapeutic agent or a therapeutic composition, comprising the inhibitory agent. More specifically, the present invention relates to the inhibitory agent, wherein the serine protease inhibitor is one or more of a compound represented by the following general formula (I) or a salt thereof, or a solvate or hydrate thereof, and a therapeutic agent or a therapeutic composition, comprising the inhibitory agent: wherein R1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted lower alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted lower alkenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclic group, each of which may optionally comprise a heteroatom.

Abstract: Anti-SARS-CoV-2 fusion peptides are provided. The anti-SARS-CoV-2 fusion peptides include peptide sequences corresponding to the sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 fusion complex heptad repeat domain HR2 and having at least one artificial mutation. The anti-SARS-CoV-2 fusion peptides may be 39-mers, such as peptides #121 (SEQ ID NO: 2) and #125 (SEQ ID NO: 5). These peptides may competitively bind to SARS-CoV-2 and prevent either membrane mediated SARS-CoV-2 fusion, endocytosis-mediated viral entry, or both. The anti-SARS-CoV-2 fusion peptides may be administered to a subject in need thereof to inhibit or prevent SARS-CoV-2 cellular entry.

Abstract: Anti-SARS-CoV-2 fusion peptides are provided. The anti-SARS-CoV-2 fusion peptides include peptide sequences corresponding to the sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 fusion complex heptad repeat domain HR2 and having at least one artificial mutation. The anti-SARS-CoV-2 fusion peptides may be 39-mers, such as peptides #121 (SEQ ID NO: 2) and #125 (SEQ ID NO: 5). These peptides may competitively bind to SARS-CoV-2 and prevent either membrane mediated SARS-CoV-2 fusion, endocytosis-mediated viral entry, or both. The anti-SARS-CoV-2 fusion peptides may be administered to a subject in need thereof to inhibit or prevent SARS-CoV-2 cellular entry.

Abstract: A photoacoustic wave measurement device includes: (a) a pulsed-light outputter that outputs a pulsed light; (b) an arrangement member disposed between a pulsed-light output end of the pulsed-light outputter and a measurement object, the arrangement member being adapted to allow the pulsed light to pass therethrough; and (c) a photoacoustic wave detector that receives a photoacoustic wave generated by the measurement object by the pulsed light and that converts the photoacoustic wave into an electric signal, the photoacoustic wave measurement device being adapted to receive the electric signal from a photoacoustic wave sensor in which the photoacoustic wave detector is farther from the measurement object than the pulsed-light output end.

Abstract: A photoacoustic wave measurement device includes: (a) a pulsed-light outputter that outputs a pulsed light; (b) an arrangement member disposed between a pulsed-light output end of the pulsed-light outputter and a measurement object, the arrangement member being adapted to allow the pulsed light to pass therethrough; and (c) a photoacoustic wave detector that receives a photoacoustic wave generated by the measurement object by the pulsed light and that converts the photoacoustic wave into an electric signal, the photoacoustic wave measurement device being adapted to receive the electric signal from a photoacoustic wave sensor in which the photoacoustic wave detector is farther from the measurement object than the pulsed-light output end.

Abstract: A photoacoustic diagnosis device that diagnoses a state of a skin of a human body, includes a pulsed light source, an electric signal converter, a blood distribution obtaining section, and a diagnosis section. The pulsed light source generates a pulsed light. The electric signal converter receives a photoacoustic wave generated at the skin by the pulsed light and converts the photoacoustic wave into an electric signal. The blood distribution obtaining section obtains distribution of blood in the skin based on the electric signal. The diagnosis section diagnoses a state of the skin based on a result obtained by the blood distribution obtaining section.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for the prevention or treatment of herpes virus infections. The pharmaceutical composition contains a substance inhibiting the binding of glycoprotein B to a non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIA or IIB.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to find a protein expressed in a variety of cells and functioning as a receptor for herpesvirus and provide a preventive or remedy for herpesvirus infections capable of inhibiting binding of the receptor to herpesvirus and thereby preventing entry of the virus to cells. The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating herpesvirus infections, which composition contains a substance inhibiting the binding of glycoprotein B to a non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIA or a non-muscle myosin heavy chain.

Abstract: A wafer unit for testing is electrically connected to a plurality of chips to be tested formed on a wafer to be tested, the wafer unit for testing including: a connecting wafer provided to face the wafer to be tested, and to be electrically connected to each of the plurality of chips to be tested; and a temperature distribution adjusting section provided on the connecting wafer, and to adjust a temperature distribution of the wafer to be tested.

Abstract: To provide a method for producing a recombinant virus retaining the characteristics of the genome of a target virus. The method for producing a recombinant virus including inserting a foreign gene into a region between polyA signals of two genes encoded in directions opposing one another in the genome of a target virus.

Abstract: A wafer unit for testing is electrically connected to a plurality of chips to be tested formed on a wafer to be tested, the wafer unit for testing including: a connecting wafer provided to face the wafer to be tested, and to be electrically connected to each of the plurality of chips to be tested; and a temperature distribution adjusting section provided on the connecting wafer, and to adjust a temperature distribution of the wafer to be tested.

Abstract: Disclosed are: an inhibitor of herpesvirus infection; a method for the inhibition of herpesvirus infection; and a typical utilization method thereof. The inhibitor of herpesvirus infection comprises an active ingredient which can bind to glycoprotein B or a receptor for glycoprotein B and can inhibit the interaction between glycoprotein B and a receptor for glycoprotein B.

Abstract: A peptide Met-Lys-Pro, which is obtained by chemical synthesis ot hydrolysis of casein, is used as the active ingredient of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or hypotensive drugs.

Abstract: This invention relates to a cysteine protease inhibitor comprising casein which is a protein derived from milk, a partial peptide of casein, and/or hydrolysate of casein as an active ingredient. The cysteine protease inhibitor of the present invention can be used as preventive or therapeutic drug for osteoporosis, malignant hypercalcemia, breast cancer, prostate cancer, periodontitis or bacterial and viral infectious diseases, and food, drink, feed and the like.

Abstract: A protein hydrolysate comprising at least two types of peptides, characterized in that the rate of hydrolysis of protein is from 30 to 45%, the number average molecular weight is 300 or less, and the ratio of a weight average molecular weight to the number average molecular weight is greater than 1 and 2 or less, has excellent emulsifiability, and antigenicity thereof is low enough to be used for people who has predisposition to allergic diseases. This protein hydrolysate is obtained by hydrolysis of a protein starting material to a rate of hydrolysis in the range of 30 to 45%, and then bringing it into contact simultaneously or separately with two types of porous synthetic adsorbent respectively having an average pore radius of 2 to 8 nm and an average pore radius of 20 to 30 nm, the total surface area of the two porous synthetic adsorbents being in a range of 300 to 3000 m2 per 1 g (protein equivalent) of the obtained protein hydrolysate, and recovering the non-adsorbed component.

Abstract: The present invention provides medicaments, and methods for their use, that produce a non-physiologically high level of HGF at the site of a fibrosis plaque. The high level of HGF is unexpectedly found to inhibit procollagen production by abnormal fibroblasts responsible for formation of the fibrosis plaque. The present invention also provides methods for identifying individuals susceptible to fibrosis.

Abstract: A peptide Met-Lys-Pro, which is obtained by chemical synthesis ot hydrolysis of casein, is used as the active ingredient of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or hypotensive drugs.

Abstract: A protein hydrolysate comprising at least two types of peptides, characterized in that the rate of hydrolysis of protein is from 30 to 45%, the number average molecular weight is 300 or less, and the ratio of a weight average molecular weight to the number average molecular weight is greater than 1 and 2 or less, has excellent emulsifiability, and antigenicity thereof is low enough to be used for people who has predisposition to allergic diseases. This protein hydrolysate is obtained by hydrolysis of a protein starting material to a rate of hydrolysis in the range of 30 to 45%, and then bringing it into contact simultaneously or separately with two types of porous synthetic adsorbent respectively having an average pore radius of 2 to 8 nm and an average pore radius of 20 to 30 nm, the total surface area of the two porous synthetic adsorbents being in a range of 300 to 3000 m2 per 1 g (protein equivalent) of the obtained protein hydrolysate, and recovering the non-adsorbed component.

Abstract: A method for producing a peptide mixture from a starting protein by (1) adding at least one protease to an aqueous solution of at least one starting protein to hydrolyse the starting protein, (2) measuring the amount of a free amino acid selected from the group consisting of lysine, phenylalanine, leucine and arginine produced during the hydrolysis of the starting protein, (3) calculating the amount of the free amino acid with respect to the total amount of amino acid contained in the starting protein, and (4) terminating the hydrolysis when the calculated amount of the free amino acid with respect to the total amount of the amino acid contained in the starting protein falls within a predetermined range. The inventive method provides a starting protein hydrolysate of uniform and consistent quality.

Abstract: A method for producing a peptide mixture from whey protein by (1) adding at least one protease to an aqueous solution of at least one whey protein to hydrolyze the whey protein, (2) measuring the amount of a free amino acid selected from the group consisting of lysine, phenylalanine, leucine and arginine produced during the hydrolysis of the whey protein, (3) calculating the amount of the free amino acid with respect to the total amount of the amino acid contained in the whey protein, and (4) terminating the hydrolysis when the calculated amount of the free amino acid with respect to the total amount of the amino acid contained in the whey protein falls within a predetermined range. The inventive method provides a whey protein hydrolysate of consistent quality.