Abstract: The invention provides methods of formulating an anti-inflammatory composition for treating inflammatory conditions in a specific organ or tissue. The method involves selecting at least one pathogen that is pathogenic in the specific organ or tissue; producing an antigenic composition comprising antigenic determinants that together are specific for the pathogen; and formulating the antigenic composition for administration as an anti-inflammatory composition capable of eliciting an anti-inflammatory response in the specific organ or tissue. In embodiments of the invention the pathogen may be an endogenous pathogen, such as an endogenous bacterial pathogen. The pathogen may be an exogenous pathogen, such as a bacterial pathogen, viral pathogen, a fungal pathogen, or a helminth pathogen.

Abstract: The invention relates to derivatives of GLP-1 like peptides which are C-terminally extended analogs of native GLP-1. The derivatives comprise two side chains, one at a position corresponding to position 42, and one at a position corresponding to position 18, 23, 27, 31, 36, or 38, wherein both positions are when compared to GLP-1(7-37). The side chains comprise a C19, C20, or C22 diacid protracting moiety and optionally a linker. The invention also relates to intermediate products in the form of novel GLP-1 analogs incorporated in the derivatives of the invention, as well as pharmaceutical compositions and medical uses of the derivatives. The derivatives have very long half-lives while maintaining a satisfactory potency, which makes them potentially suitable for once-monthly administration.

Abstract: A system, including methods and compositions, for treatment of ischemia.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fluorescent silica-based nanoparticle that allows for precise detection, characterization, monitoring and treatment of a disease such as cancer. The nanoparticle has a range of diameters including between about 0.1 nm and about 100 nm, between about 0.5 nm and about 50 nm, between about 1 nm and about 25 nm, between about 1 nm and about 15 nm, or between about 1 nm and about 8 nm. The nanoparticle has a fluorescent compound positioned within the nanoparticle, and has greater brightness and fluorescent quantum yield than the free fluorescent compound. The nanoparticle also exhibits high biostability and biocompatibility. To facilitate efficient urinary excretion of the nanoparticle, it may be coated with an organic polymer, such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The small size of the nanoparticle, the silica base and the organic polymer coating minimizes the toxicity of the nanoparticle when administered in vivo.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the preparation and use of recombinant variants of group 5 allergens of the Poaceae (true grasses), which are characterized by reduced IgE reactivity compared with known wild-type allergens and at the same time substantially retained reactivity with T-lymphocytes.

Abstract: A process for producing plasmid DNA E. coli cells comprises a pre-culture and fed-batch process. The culture media of the batch phase and the culture medium added during the feeding phase are chemically defined. The culture medium of the feeding phase contains a growth-limiting substrate and is added, for at least a fraction of the feeding phase, at a feeding rate that follows a pre-defined exponential function, thereby controlling the specific growth rate at a pre-defined value. The process results in high yield and homogeneity of plasmid DNA.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a nucleic acid detection method which takes advantage of the high specificity of hybridization techniques, reduces the time length and the number of steps required for detection of PCR products, and allows for easy and highly accurate detection by visual observation without the need of special equipment; and a nucleic acid detection device or kit. The invention provides a method for detecting a target nucleic acid in a sample, which includes performing amplification of the target nucleic acid sequence to synthesize an amplification product having a partially double-stranded structure where a single-stranded region is added to each end of the target sequence, and hybridizing a nucleic acid sequence bound to a development medium and a nucleic acid sequence labeled with a labeling compound with the single-stranded regions of the amplification product to form a sandwich hybridization complex; and a detection device thereof.

Abstract: Engineered peptides that bind with high affinity (low equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd)) to the cell surface receptors of fibronectin (?5?1) or vitronectin (?v?3 and ?v?5 integrins) are disclosed as useful as imaging tissue. These peptides are based on a molecular scaffold into which a subsequence containing the RGD integrin-binding motif has been inserted. The subsequence (RGD mimic) comprises about 9-13 amino acids, and the RGD contained within the subsequence can be flanked by a variety of amino acids, the sequence of which was determined by sequential rounds of selection (in vitro evolution). The molecular scaffold is preferably based on a knottin, e.g., EETI (Trypsin inhibitor 2 (Trypsin inhibitor II) (EETI-II) [Ecballium elaterium (Jumping cucumber)], AgRP (Agouti-related protein), and Agatoxin IVB, which peptides have a rigidly defined three-dimensional conformation. It is demonstrated that EETI tolerates mutations in other loops and that the present peptides may be used as imaging agents.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for detecting, identifying, and quantifying Brassica A genomic DNA are described. The methods are specific to the Brassica A genome and do not cross-react with other Brassica species, crops or weedy relatives that could contribute to contamination of a canola field.

Abstract: The application identifies novel fragments of alpha-synuclein in patients with Lewy Body Disease (LBD) and transgenic animal models thereof. These diseases are characterized by aggregations of alpha-synuclein. The fragments have a truncated C-terminus relative to full-length alpha-synuclein. Some fragments are characterized by a molecular weight of about 12 kDa as determined by SDS gel electrophoresis in tricine buffer and a truncation of at least ten contiguous amino acids from the C-terminus of natural alpha-synuclein. The site of cleavage preferably occurs after residue 117 and before residue 126 of natural alpha-synuclein. The identification of these novel fragments of alpha-synuclein has a number of application in for example, drug discovery, diagnostics, therapeutics, and transgenic animals.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound having the structure: wherein X is a therapeutic agent containing at least one amine nitrogen and the amine nitrogen on the therapeutic agent covalently bonds directly to carbon ?; Z is CH3 or CF3; R1 is —H, —NR2R3, —NH—C(?O)—R4, —NH—C(?O)—OR4, —CH2—C(?O)—NR5R6, —OR7, —CO2R7, C1-6 alkyl, C2-6 alkenyl, C2-6 alkynyl, aryl, or heteroaryl, wherein R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 are each, independently, —H, C1-6 alkyl, C2-6 alkenyl, C2-6 alkynyl, heteroalkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, aryl, alkylaryl, heteroaryl, alkylheteroaryl, an amino acid or an oligopeptide; wherein an amine of the amino acid or oligopeptide is substituted or unsubstituted; and n is an integer from 0 to 6; or a diastereomer, enantiomer or pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound.

Abstract: An object of the present invention to discover a short peptide having an anti-aging effect and to provide a novel anti-aging agent comprising the peptide as an active ingredient. The inventors have discovered that a peptide consisting of an amino acid sequence ELKLIFLHRLKRLRKRLKRK (SEQ ID NO: 1) or a partial sequence thereof and having one or more effects selected from the group consisting of promoting fibroblast growth, promoting hyaluronic acid production and contracting a collagen gel, or a derivative or salt of the peptide is useful as an active ingredient of an anti-aging agent.

Abstract: The invention provided herein presents a novel family of antifouling agents based on hydroxylated and fluorinated compounds.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions of GHRH agonists and peptides, and methods to treat disorders, such as ischemia and reperfusion injury. In one embodiment, a method of treating a reperfusion injury in a subject in need may involve administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one GHRH agonist peptide to the subject. In additional embodiment, a method of promoting vasculogenesis in a mammal may involve administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one GHRH agonist peptide to the subject. In a further embodiment, a method of promoting differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into endothelial cells may involve contacting mesenchymal stem cells with at least one GHRH agonist peptide.

Abstract: The invention relates to variants of an antibody or antigen-binding fragment that binds specifically to an endosialin tumor endothelial marker 1 (TEM1), and prophylactic, diagnostic, and therapeutic methods using the same.

Abstract: A method of treating a bacterial infection in a subject is disclosed. The method comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide being between 3 and 5 amino acids, wherein at least one amino acid of the 3 and 5 amino acids is selected from the group consisting of tryptophan, cysteine, proline and methionine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of compounds that block the ?9?10 subtype of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) for treating pain, such as neuropathic pain and inflammatory pain, and inflammatory disorders, such as arthritis. The present invention also relates to screening compounds to identify analgesic agents that block the ?9?10 subtype of the nAChR.

Abstract: The present invention provides modified Vasoactive Intestinal Peptides (VIPs), encoding polynucleotides and vectors, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same. The invention further provides methods of making and using the modified VIP agents. In accordance with the invention the VIP exhibits an extended circulatory half-life, receptor-binding or biological potency, and/or altered receptor binding profile with respect to unmodified VIP.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the general field of therapy of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and/or Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Thus, the invention relates to a molecule selected from the trappin-2 protein or an active fraction thereof, a member of the WAP family proteins or an active fraction thereof or a member of the Serpin family proteins or an active fraction thereof for the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The invention also relates to a recombinant food-grade bacterium comprising a gene selected from a gene coding for the trappin-2 protein or an active fraction thereof, a gene coding for a member of the WAP family proteins or an active fraction thereof, or a gene coding for a member of the Serpin family proteins or an active fraction thereof.

Abstract: A polypeptide with a predominantly hydrophobic sequence long enough to span a membrane lipid bilayer as a transmembrane helix (TM) and comprising one or more dissociable groups inserts across a membrane spontaneously in a pH-dependant fashion placing one terminus inside cell. The polypeptide conjugated with various functional moieties delivers and accumulates them at cell membrane with low extracellular pH. The functional moiety conjugated with polypeptide terminus placed inside cell are translocated through the cell membrane in cytosol. The peptide and its variants or non-peptide analogs can be used to deliver therapeutic, prophylactic, diagnostic, imaging, gene regulation, cell regulation, or immunologic agents to or inside of cells in vitro or in vivo in tissue at low extracellular pH.

Abstract: The invention is directed to synthetic promoter constructs for enhanced transgene expression in plants and to expression cassettes comprising the synthetic promoter constructs. The expression cassettes may include various elements for improved expression, stability of the expressed protein or efficient purification of the expressed protein, including signal sequences, protease cleavage sites for release of the target protein, trafficking peptides for trafficking of the expressed protein to various plant compartments, and/or various tags. The invention further relates to methods of expression of transgenic proteins in plants with the use of the synthetic promoter constructs and expression cassettes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to DNA sequences encoding Vmp-like polypeptides of pathogenic Borrelia, the use of the DNA sequences in recombinant vectors to express polypeptides, the encoded amino acid sequences, application of the DNA and amino acid sequences to the production of polypeptides as antigens for immunoprophylaxis, immunotherapy, and immunodiagnosis. Also disclosed are the use of the nucleic acid sequences as probes or primers for the detection of organisms causing Lyme disease, relapsing fever, or related disorders, and kits designed to facilitate methods of using the described polypeptides, DNA segments and antibodies.

Abstract: The present invention includes a novel class of highly specific protease inhibitors. In one embodiment, the inhibitors of the invention are ?-helical in structure. In another embodiment, the present invention represents the first demonstration of a highly specific cysteine protease inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to plants with increased levels of water soluble carbohydrates, particularly fructan, in the stem and leaf sheath. The present invention also provides methods of identifying and/or producing these plants. In particular, the present invention relates to a novel class of polypeptides designated MYB13 which upregulate the expression of enzymes involved in fructan synthesis. The present invention further relates to a novel promoter element that can be used to express genes predominantly in the stem and leaf sheath during the early reproductive stage of a plant.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide methods for preventing or treating a steroid-resistant or steroid-dependent inflammatory bowel disease. The object can be achieved by a method for preventing or treating a steroid-resistant or steroid-dependent inflammatory bowel disease in a patient in need of the prevention or treatment of the inflammatory bowel disease, comprises administering an effective amount of adrenomedullin, a modified product thereof having an activity of suppressing steroid-resistant or steroid-dependent inflammation, or a salt thereof having an activity of suppressing steroid-resistant or steroid-dependent inflammation, to the patient.

Abstract: Modified Protein A, Protein G, Protein L, or Protein A/G that lacks antibody binding activity, and methods of the modified protein's use for purifying antibodies is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides mutant cereal plants and mature grain thereof, characterised by enhanced levels of the enzyme phytase in the grain, and methods for inducing, detecting and selecting the mutant cereal plants. The invention further relates to animal feed comprising said grain having enhanced amounts of phytase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery that relaxin is associated with the development or maturation of body tissues. Knockouts of the gene encoding relaxin result in various abnormalities in the development of various tissues. The present invention provides methods of modulating apoptosis by administering a relaxin agonist or antagonist to a subject.

Abstract: Subject of the present invention is an in vitro method for therapy follow-up in septic patients wherein the concentration of mature ADM 1-52 and/or mature ADM 1-52-Gly in a sample of bodily fluid of said septic patient is determined using an assay comprising two binders that bind to two different regions within the region of mature adrenomedullin and/or adrenomedullin-Gly that is aminoacid 21-52-amid SEQ ID No. 1 or aminoacid 21-52-Gly SEQ ID No. 2 wherein each of said regions comprises at least 4 or 5 amino acids. Subject of the present invention are further assays and calibration methods.

Abstract: Disclosed are fusion proteins that include albumin fused to a polypeptide that has insulin activity. The fusion proteins may include albumin fused to insulin or an insulin analog. In particular, the fusions proteins may include albumin fused to a single chain insulin analog. The fusion proteins may exhibit extended insulin activity in vivo or in vitro relative to insulin that is not fused to albumin. The fusion proteins may be formulated as aerosol compositions.

Abstract: There is presently provided a probe comprising an isolated sphingolipid binding domain (SBD) polypeptide, wherein the isolated SBD polypeptide is capable of binding to a sphingolipid, and methods and uses relating to such a probe.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to peptides having anti-inflammatory activity, compositions containing one or more of the peptides, and use of the peptides to treat conditions associated with excessive inflammation in animals, particularly humans and other mammals.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting neoplastic, cancer, and/or tumorgenic cell proliferation, cell growth and motility in a subject includes administering to a cancer cell expressing Pro-PrP and FLNa a therapeutically effective amount of a Pro-PrP regulating agent.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel synthetic lytic peptide fragments of full-length peptides with the capacity to modulate angiogenic activity in mammals. The invention also relates to the use of such peptides in pharmaceutical compositions and in methods for treating diseases or disorders that are associated with angiogenic activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a melanoma antigen peptide comprising the amino acids sequence selected in the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 14 or SEQ ID NO: 15 or a function-conservative variant thereof. Moreover the invention also relates to a melanoma antigen peptide according to the invention for use in the prevention or the treatment of melanoma in patient.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods to obtain an expression score to evaluate gene expression in a tissue specimen obtained from a person having or suspected of having cancer.

Abstract: A modified protein of an extracellular domain of protein A, which has the reduced ability to bind to immunoglobulin in an acidic region, compared with the wild-type extracellular domain of protein A, without impairing a selective antibody-binding activity in a neutral region. On the basis of three-dimensional structure coordinate data on a complex of the extracellular domain of protein A bound with the Fc region of immunoglobulin G, the modified protein is obtained by the substitution of amino acid residues that are located within the range of 10 angstroms from the Fc region and have a 20% or more ratio of exposed surface area, by histidine residues. Preferably, the modified protein is obtained by the substitution of amino acid residues at sites identified from the analysis of sequences selected from a library constituted by the protein group, by histidine residues. These substitutions may be combined.

Abstract: Novel polypeptides which have an excellent angiogenesis-inducing activity and an excellent antibacterial activity and medical uses thereof are disclosed. The amino acid sequences of the novel polypeptides are shown in any one of SEQ ID NOs:1 to 6. These polypeptides have angiogenesis-inducing and antibacterial activities. Such polypeptides are useful for the prevention, amelioration or treatment of skin wounds caused by a cut wound, surgical wound, erosion, burn, decubitus, intractable wound, skin ulcer, leg ulcer, diabetic ulcer, occlusive arterial disease or arteriosclerosis obliteran, and for the prevention, amelioration or treatment of bacterial infection in such skin wounds, and the like.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods for cyclization of polymers such as peptides.

Abstract: The present invention provides a production method of a protected amino acid, protected peptide or peptide, including precipitation and solid-liquid separation of C-protected amino acid or C-protected peptide in a solvent containing water-containing acetonitrile, after removing the N-terminal protecting group from N-protected C-protected amino acid or N-protected C-protected peptide wherein the C-terminal carboxy group is protected by an anchor group.

Abstract: An HLA-binding peptide binding to a HLA-A type molecule, the HLA-binding peptide includes at least one type of amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 80, and consists of not less than 8 and not more than 11 amino acid residues. All of these amino acid sequences herein mentioned are the predicted amino acid sequences binding to a human HLA-A type molecule with the prediction program using the certain active learning method.

Abstract: A cell-penetrating peptide is described. Also described is a pro-apoptotic agent including the cell-penetrating peptide and a pro-apoptotic peptide linked thereto. The pro-apoptotic agent is useful for inhibition of in vitro cell proliferation and for treatment of tumors.

Abstract: The invention relates to polypeptides comprising an N-terminal portion and a C-terminal portion, wherein said N-terminal portion comprises the signature sequence QGP[P or L] and the amino acid sequence of said C-terminal portion is at least 70% identical to SEQ ID NO: 1, and uses thereof.

Abstract: This invention is a selective A? oligomer kit and immunoassay method capable of reliably and sensitively detecting A? oligomers in a biological sample of a patient. In one embodiment the inventive assay uses a pair of anti-A? oligomer antibodies, as capture and detection antibodies, to detect and quantify A? oligomers. The method can be used to differentiate Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients from non-AD patients and/or to stratify AD patients according to the severity of their disease.

Abstract: Provided herein are peptides that have activity as mast cell activating proteins (MCAP), as well as compositions, adjuvant compositions, vaccines, and pharmaceutical formulations that include the peptides. Also provided are methods of using the peptides, including methods for eliciting an immune response to an immunogen in a mammal upon administration.

Abstract: Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) is used as a method to deliver a direct infusion of therapeutic agents to the central nervous center thus circumventing the blood-blood barrier. A non-PEGylated liposomal composition comprising at least one saturated neutral phospholipid and at least one saturated anionic phospholipid and a therapeutic or diagnostic agent encapsulated therein is used to overcome toxicity associated with high peak drug concentration delivered locally CED as well as to increase tissue distribution volume for an improved sustained drug release. In one embodiment, the liposome composition comprises a molar ratio of DSPC:DSPG:CHOL of 7:2:1 and the therapeutic or diagnostic agent is selected from topotecan, conotoxin, gadodiamide or rhodamine, and is used in the treatment of epilepsy.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions designed for treating a subject suffering from skin conditions, disorders or diseases. The compositions include fetal skin cell proteins obtained from fetal skin cells after induced cell lysis.

Abstract: Compositions, recombinant vaccines and live attenuated pathogens comprising one or more isolated nucleic acid molecules that encode an immunogen in combination with an isolated nucleic acid molecule that encodes IL-15Ra or a functional fragment thereof are disclosed. Methods of inducing an immune response in an individual against an immunogen, using such compositions are disclosed.

Abstract: Engineered peptides that bind with high affinity (low equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd)) to the cell surface receptors of fibronectin (?5?1) or vitronectin (?v?3 and ?v?5 integrins) are disclosed as useful as imaging tissue. These peptides are based on a molecular scaffold into which a subsequence containing the RGD integrin-binding motif has been inserted. The subsequence (RGD mimic) comprises about 9-13 amino acids, and the RGD contained within the subsequence can be flanked by a variety of amino acids, the sequence of which was determined by sequential rounds of selection (in vitro evolution). The molecular scaffold is preferably based on a knottin, e.g., EETI (Trypsin inhibitor 2 (Trypsin inhibitor II) (EETI-II) [Ecballium elaterium (Jumping cucumber)], AgRP (Agouti-related protein), and Agatoxin IVB, which peptides have a rigidly defined three-dimensional conformation. It is demonstrated that EETI tolerates mutations in other loops and that the present peptides may be used as imaging agents.

Abstract: The genes the expression of which is reduced or disappeared in immortal cells including cancer cells are isolated, their DNA sequences are determined, the genes are expressed to produce cell proliferation inhibitory proteins, and the genes and the proteins are utilized as agents for diagnosis or treatment, including the genetic diagnosis of or the gene therapy of diseases such as cancer.