Abstract: The present invention relates to veterinary decorin compositions and methods of their production.

Abstract: In a method for producing a whey protein hydrolysate, a whey substrate, selected from the group consisting of whey, commercially available whey powder, whey protein isolate, whey protein preparations, and ?-Lactalbumin obtained from whey, is enzymatically hydrolyzing at least with alcalase and trypsin as enzymes at a ratio of g enzymes/g whey substrate between 1:10 and 1:10,000 and at a temperature of between 30° C. and 70° C. within an incubation period of between 18 hours and 30 hours, until a hydrolysis degree of more than 50% of the protein of the whey substrate have a molecular weight of less than 4 kDa. The enzymes are inactivated by heating the enzymes to a temperature of 80° C. to 100° C. after the desired hydrolysis degree has been reached.

Abstract: A process for treating a protein before hydrolytic digestion, the process comprising exposing the protein to at least one cycle of microwave irradiation to produce a microwave treated protein containing one or more bioactive peptides. Further hydrolyzing the microwave treated protein to release at least one of the one or more bioactive peptides. A pharmaceutical composition, supplement and food product including the microwave treated protein or the one or more released bioactive peptides.

Abstract: There is provided a method for covalent immobilization of at least one molecule comprising at least one amino group, said method comprising the sequential steps of: a) providing a surface comprising —SH groups, b) oxidizing the surface comprising —SH groups using redox reactions in the presence of noble metal ions, and c) contacting the surface with at least one molecule comprising at least one amino group to obtain a covalent binding of the at least one molecule to the surface, wherein said at least one amino group is involved in obtaining said covalent bond. The immobilized molecules are immobilized via stable covalent bonds. The method is more versatile since it can be performed as a one step method. All reaction steps are performed in aqueous solution. All steps can be performed at room temperature. The chemicals used are less expensive and less toxic compared to the prior art.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detection of a basic peptide by mixing a sample suspected to contain the basic peptide and a reagent containing denatured albumin and detecting turbidness due to a complex of the basic peptide and denatured albumin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved decorin compositions and methods of their production.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling feelings of pain in infants or diseased or elderly persons using a complete nutrition or a nutritional supplement. The method comprises administering increased levels of folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 or their functional equivalents.

Abstract: A method for preparing a biologically active complex, said method comprising a recombinant protein having the sequence of ?-lactalbumin, such as human ?-lactalbumin or a fragment thereof but which lacks intra-molecular disulfide bonds, and oleic acid, and process for preparing this are described and claimed. The recombinant protein suitably has cysteines found in the native protein changed to other amino acids, such as alanine. Improvements in recombinant expression, process rationalisation and yields of biologically active complexes, as well as the complexes obtained are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel use of an immunoglobulin Fc fragment, and more particularly, a pharmaceutical composition comprising an immunoglobulin Fc fragment as a carrier. The pharmaceutical composition comprising an immunoglobulin Fc fragment as a carrier remarkably extends the serum half-life of a drug while maintaining the in vivo activity of the drug at relatively high levels. Also, when the drug is a polypeptide drug, the pharmaceutical composition has less risk of inducing immune responses compared to a fusion protein of the immunoglobulin Fc fragment and a target protein, and is thus useful for developing long-acting formulations of various polypeptide drugs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition and methods or uses thereof in the prophylaxis and treatment of psoriasis and other auto-immune inflammatory disorders. The composition may be comprised of TGF-?1, TGF-?2, and dairy derived proteins comprising a large proportion of ?-lactoglobulin.

Abstract: Use of alpha-lactalbumin in a dietary, health-food or pharmaceutical type of composition to promote the cellular absorption of glucose, to improve the regulation of glycemia, to prevent the appearance of insulin resistance and/or type II diabetes.

Abstract: The invention concerns lactic acid bacteria strains capable of regulating the production of NO and inflammatory cytokines by enterocytes, depending on the inflammatory condition of said enterocytes. The strains can also be incorporated in food supplements such as fermented dairy products used for regulating inflammatory response and non-specific immunity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of alpha-lactalbumin in the preparation of preparations to be used in therapeutic or prophylactic treatment and/or for diagnostic use for infections, preferably of the respiratory tract, caused by bacteria, in particular S. pneumoniae and/or H. influenzae. The present invention further relates to essentially pure protein complexes comprising alpha-lactalbumin and the use of these protein complexes for therapeutically or prophylactically treating a bacterial infection, especially infections of the respiratory tract caused by S. pneumoniae and/or H. influenzae.

Abstract: A tissue adhesive sealant includes a cross-linkable protein in a solution that when combined with a cross-linking agent solution including an aldehyde and amino acid containing species reactive with the aldehyde cross-links to form a seal. The sealant is well suited for bonding tissue alone or in combination with a patch. The ratio between the aldehyde and the amino acid containing species is between 20:1 and 1:1 on an aldehyde moiety:amino acid or peptide subunit molar basis. Particularly strong seals are formed when the protein and cross-linking agent are present in a molar ratio of between 15:1 and 1:1.

Abstract: A method for producing an oligomeric form of ?-lactalbumin which is in the molten globule-like state is described. The method suitably comprises exposing a source of ?-lactalbumin in which the ?-lactalbumin is preferably in the molten globule-like state, to an ion exchange medium which has been pre-treated with casein or an active component thereof, such as oleic acid, and recovering ?-lactalbumin in an oligomeric form therefrom. Pre-treatment of the ion exchange medium, particularly with casein derived from human milk, has been found to significantly improve yields of the oligomeric form of ?-lactalbumin and means that it can be readily isolated from readily available sources such as bovine ?-lactalbumin. This form of ?-lactalbumin is useful therapeutically, in particular as an antibacterial agent and also as an anti-cancer therapeutic.

Abstract: Pepetides having bifidogenic properties are obtainable by the process of adding proteases to cow'milk or human milk, followed by incubation, centrifugation, acidification, purification by reverse phase HPLC and cation-exchange HPLC, culturing Bifidobacterium bifidum and E. coli in the presence of collected bifidogenic fractions, and isolation of the peptides having bifidogenic properties, and the isolated peptides can be amidated, acetylated, sulfated, phosphorylated, glycosylated, oxidized, or fragmented and still maintain their bifidogenic properties, and combination peptides having bifidogenic properties are obtainable by chemically bonding the peptides having bifidogenic properties, the amidated, acetylated, sulfated, phosphorylated, glycosylated, oxidized, or fragmented peptides having bifidogenic properties, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides antiulcer agents which can be orally administered while producing few side effects. These antiulcer agents contain &agr;-lactalbumin as an active ingredient, preferably in an amount of at least 0.5 mg/g.

Abstract: An agent comprising a protein complex comprising an oligomeric form of &agr;-lactalbumin (MAL) and a further reagent which is combined with MAL such that it is carried into the nucleoplasm of cells which are susceptible to MAL. Agents of the type, where the further reagent is a therapeutic or labelling reagent, can be used in diagnosis and therapy in particular of cancer.

Abstract: Disulfide proteins showed mitigated allergenicity and increased digestibility by pepsin following reduction by thioredoxin. The sulfhydryl groups newly formed on reduction by thioredoxin (at 4° C.) or dithiothreitol (DTT) (at 55° C.) were blocked with a physiological disulfide, such as cystamine or oxidized glutathione (GSSG) to obtain stable forms of the disarmed allergen. When derivatized with cystamine, BLG was separated from its oxidized and reduced forms on non-reducing SDS-PAGE and appeared to lack sulfhydryl groups. Although less effective GSSG, gave similar results. Allergenicity of the two derivatives was compared with that of the oxidized, reduced and reoxidized forms of BLG by skin testing dogs from a colony sensitized to cow's milk. Both the cystamine and GSSG derivatized BLG showed decreased allergenicity and increased sensitivity to pepsin as compared to controls. The reoxidized form resembled the derivatives in having lower allergenicity.

Abstract: Described is a method for the preparation of a mixture of peptides having a cysteine content between 7-20 w/w % from a protein source, comprising cysteine containing proteins, comprising the steps of: a) cleaving the proteins of the protein source into peptides; b) digesting the peptides obtained in step a) by an exopeptidase, the action of which is at least attenuated at the position of a cysteine in the peptide, therewith forming digested peptides having a terminal cysteine; c) purifying the digested peptides, and the use of the preparation as active component in a medicament, especially for the treatment of conditions mediated by oxidative damage and for the elevation of cellular glutathion levels in the human or animal body.

Abstract: Antibacterial protein complexes designated as Anti-adhesive Lactalbumin Like Protein (ALLP) are obtained by ion-exchange chromatography of casein and alpha-lactalbumin. Casein isolated from human milk by acid precipitation is subjected to ion-exchange chromatography using an NaCl gradient to obtain six fractions. Fraction six contains the antibacterial protein complex and is recovered. Ion-exchange chromatography of human or bovine alpha-lactalbumin using an NaCl gradient resulted in a fraction that was retained and eluted that contained an antibacterial multimeric protein complex. The protein complexes inhibit attachment of S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae to human respiratory tract epithelial cells when tested in vitro, and the protein complexes can be used to treat a bacterial infection in the respiratory tract. The protein complexes are administered in a pharmaceutical composition or in a food or feed-stuff.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for modifying whey protein preparations to improve their foaming and other functional properties utilizing limited proteolytic hydrolysis. The invention also provides modified whey protein preparations and and food products that comprise them.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of shock heat treatment of polypeptides, to a stable polypeptide in a fluid medium, to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a stable polypeptide, to use of shock heat treatment for stabilizing a polypeptide, and to an industrial or large scale method of manufacturing a polypeptide comprising applying shock heat treatment during the manufacturing of the polypeptide.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is the use of a protein material whose rate of digestion has been reduced, for the preparation of an enteral composition which makes it possible to modulate the postprandial plasma amino acid level, said protein material having been previously treated so as to convert the fast-digesting proteins which it contains to slow-digesting proteins, characterized in that the slow-digesting protein material is a material containing microparticulate gelled proteins combined with polysaccharides under conditions of thermodynamic incompatibility.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for using lactoferrin as a therapeutic and/or prophylactic compound to treat and/or prevent infections caused by enteropathogens such as H. pylori. The present invention is directed to the treatment or prevention of diseases and disorders resulting from infection by enteropathogens such as H. pylori including histological gastritis, functional dyspepsia, duodenal ulcers, gastric ulcers, gastric cancer, chronic renal failure, HIV, pernicious anemia, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and colonic polyps. The present invention is further directed to novel formulations and compositions comprising lactoferrin and pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients and/or adjunct companion therapies such as one or more antibiotics.

Abstract: Compositions containing human milk proteins, including the so-called host resistance factors of human milk, prepared by chemically synthesizing the human milk proteins or by genetic engineering techniques for producing recombinant human milk proteins, are useful for supplementing or enhancing the diet of infants, particularly very-low-birth-weight infants. The human milk proteins include the host resistance factors (HRF) found in human milk, such as lactoferrin (LF), lactoperoxidase (LP), lysozyme (LZ), immunoglobulin-A (IgA), alpha-lactalbumin, alpha, beta, kappa-caseins, and others. The compositions may also include components other than the human milk proteins useful for improved infant nutrition. In the utilization of the compositions of this invention, the compositions would be administered to an infant in at least an amount that the infant would receive if fed substantially only fresh human milk.

Abstract: A dry protein product useful as a thickening agent and fat substitute is provided. The powder can be readily reconstituted at room temperature, or refrigerated conditions, and can be used in frozen or refrigerated foods, at room temperature, and in cooking applications. When reconstituted the product preferably has a creamy, non-gritty texture, although texture and consistency of the product can be adjusted depending upon the desired application. The dry powder of the invention may be prepared by hydrolyzing a protein preparation (typically, a whey protein preparation) to produce a hydrolyzed whey protein preparation; then gelling the hydrolyzed whey protein preparation to form a whey protein gel; then drying the whey protein gel; and powdering the whey protein gel. Food products containing the powder in hydrated form, including both frozen dessert products, beverages and cooked products, are also disclosed.

Abstract: Glutathione (GSH) is a tripeptide of extreme importance as a catalyst, reductan, and reactant. It can be depleted intracellulary either by forming a direct complex with an electrophilic agent (accomplished investigationally by agents such as bromobenzene or diethyl maleate), by way of inhibition of synthesis, or by subjecting cells to oxidant stress. Most cells, except for epithelia cells, do not have a direct transport capacity for intact GSH. Non-epithelial cells must either transport precursor substrates for GSH synthesis or salvage amino acids from circulating GSH for reuse in intracellular resynthesis. Dietary cysteine is a rate limiting substrate for the synthesis of glutathione and also inhibits GSH efflux. Although GSH is synthesized from precursors in virtually all cells, the liver is the main source of plasma GSH. Protection and support of liver function is paramount to elevating GSH levels.

Abstract: Utilization of albumin as a stable plasma transporter with a therapeutic function that is derived from a membrane receptor. The present invention is exemplified by the description of new therapeutic agents that can be used in the treatment of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome: hybrid macromolecules composed of albumin derivatives coupled to derivatives of the CD4 receptor having a normal or a higher affinity for the HIV-1 virus.

Abstract: Compositions containing human milk proteins, including the so-called host resistance factors of human milk, prepared by chemically synthesizing the human milk proteins or by genetic engineering techniques for producing recombinant human milk proteins, are useful for supplementing or enhancing the diet of infants, particularly very-low-birth-weight infants. The human milk proteins include the host resistance factors (HRF) found in human milk, such as lactoferrin (LF), lactoperoxidase (LP), lysozyme (LZ), immunoglobulin-A (IgA), alpha-lactalbumin, alpha, beta, kappa-caseins, and others. The compositions may also include components other than the human milk proteins useful for improved infant nutrition. In the utilization of the compositions of this invention, the compositions would be administered to an infant in at least an amount that the infant would receive if fed substantially only fresh human milk.

Abstract: A method of preventing the transmission of or treating herpesvirus, such as herpes simplex virus infection, or Chlamydia trachomatis comprising administering to a patient a composition which comprises: (i) a protein or peptide containing lysines and an N-terminal amino group, wherein at least one of the lysines or the N-terminal amino group of the protein or peptide, such as casein, .beta.-lactoglobulin, powdered milk or whey, is modified by contact with an aromatic acid anhydride compound, such as trimellitic anhydride, trimellitic anhydride chloride or 3-hydroxyphthalic anhydride and/or (ii) a protein or peptide containing arginines, which is modified by an arginine modifying agent containing at least one carboxyl group, such as p-carboxyphenylglyoxal.

Abstract: A process for the fractionation of proteins from an aqueous solution of whey is described. The process includes mixing the solution with carbon dioxide under pressure, heating the mixture to increase the pressure, releasing the pressure and lowering the temperature of the mixture, then separating a supernatant liquor from a precipitate which results from the process.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of treatment of patients having lesions resulting from cancer cells and to an application as an anti-cancer composition of undenatured whey protein concentrate.

Abstract: A whey protein hydrolysate is described which is free of allergenics while preserving the structures susceptible of exerting anticipatory regulations to maximize the tolerance and protein metabolism, and mixtures thereof with casein and/or soy protein hydrolysates. Whey protein hydrolysates according to the invention have an amino acid composition comprising at least 2% by weight of tryptophan, less than 5% by weight of threonine, less than 2.8% by weight of methionine whereby 40 to 60% by weight of the amino acids are in the form of tetra- to decapeptides.

Abstract: A process for fractionation of dairy whey is described which enables various whey constituents, in particular, alpha-lactalbumin and beta-lactoglobulin, to be recovered in substantially pure form. Lactose may also be recovered. The mineral content of raw whey is reduced so that the calcium content is less than 120 parts per million. Thereafter, the whey is treated to allow the lactose to crystallize out for removal and selectively to flocculate the alpha-lactalbumin, leaving a liquor containing substantially pure beta-lactoglobulin.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of colostral milk or colostral milk preparations from the cow, or fractions containing immunoglobulin prepared therefrom, as a liver protective preparation for the prevention and treatment of liver function disturbances in liver diseases, especially for the prevention of the sequelae of these diseases, such as portal encephalopathy.

Abstract: High quality protein products are obtained from whey by subjecting whey to cross flow filtration in microfilter. The whey and retentate are brought to circulate in a circulation path on one side of the membrane area of the microfilter, while whey which has passed through the membrane area (permeate) is circulating in a second path on the other side of the membrane area in such a way that the pressure drop through the whole membrane area is kept constant and below 0.8 bar. With this technique, there is obtained a fractionation of milk serum protein such that denatured milk serum protein and fat are retained in the retentate and undenatured milk serum protein passes through the membrane into the permeate. With a subsequent treatment there is obtained a whey protein product which is rich is .alpha.-lactalbumin and .beta.-lactoglobulin and has a low fat content.

Abstract: The attachment of H. influenzae to human cells, such as oropharyngeal cells, may be inhibited by native human .beta.-casein, a recombinant form of human .beta.-casein, and hydrolysates of both. The human .beta.-casein or hydrolysate may be contained in a liquid enteral nutritional product such as an infant formula. The enteral nutritional product may be used, for example, in the prevention and treatment of otitis media in infants. The human .beta.-casein or hydrolysate may also be administered as a throat spray or nasally using drops or a spray.

Abstract: A method for the healing of wounds caused by corneal injury, which includes administering to a mammalian patient in need thereof an effective wound healing amount of lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase or a combination of lactoferrin and lactoperoxidase as active ingredients, either alone or in admixture with at least one excipient.

Abstract: The infection of mammalian cells by RSV may be inhibited by native human .beta.-casein, a recombinant form of human .beta.-casein, and hydrolysates of both. The human .beta.-casein or hydrolysate may be contained in a liquid enteral nutritional product such as an infant formula. The enteral nutritional product may be used, for example, in the prevention and treatment of respiratory tract infection in infants. The human .beta.-casein or hydrolysate may also be administered as a throat spray or nasally using drops or a spray.

Abstract: The infection of mammalian cells by RSV may be inhibited by native human .beta.-casein, a recombinant form of human .beta.-casein, and hydrolysates of both. The human .beta.-casein or hydrolysate may be contained in a liquid enteral nutritional product such as an infant formula. The enteral nutritional product may be used, for example, in the prevention and treatment of respiratory tract infection in infants. The human .beta.-casein or hydrolysate may also be administered as a throat spray or nasally using drops or a spray.

Abstract: A protein which inhibits milk secretion by lactating cows and which is present in the eighth (6B, Figure) significant peak when a nominally 10-30 KDa fraction of the whey proteins of the milk is resolved on a "Mono Q" anion exchange column using 10 mM imidazole buffer, pH 7.0 and a sodium chloride elution gradient.

Abstract: A proteinaceous product comprises a stable, substantially clear, thermally irreversible gel formed by the reaction product of protein and reducing sugar, preferably containing from 2 to 25% gel-forming protein by weight. Particles or pieces of edible material may be embedded in the gel, or the gel may be divided into pieces and incorporated as an ingredient in a food product, and the product can be rendered commercially sterile while remaining substantially clear. Such products can be produced by a process which comprises reacting an aqueous dispersion of a protein or proteinaceous material with a reducing sugar or source thereof in the presence of a denaturing agent (e.g. a chaotropic agent), and/or denaturing conditions (e.g. alkaline pH).

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a whey protein composition comprising a suitable concentration of whey protein concentrate wherein the whey protein concentrate contains proteins which are present in an essentially undenatured state and wherein the biological activity of the whey protein concentrate is dependent on the overall amino acid and small peptides pattern resulting from the contribution of all its protein components and a method of producing said whey protein composition. The invention also relates to several applications of said composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the recovery of .alpha.-lactalbumin and/or .beta.-lactoglobulin enriched whey protein concentrate from a whey protein product. The process comprises the following steps:a) incubating a solution comprising whey protein product with a calcium-binding ionic exchange resin in its acid form to initiate the instabilization of .alpha.-lactalbumin,b) adjusting the pH of the treated protein product solution to a value between 4.3 and 4.8, after separation of the resin,c) incubating the protein product solution at a temperature between 10 and 50.degree. C. to promote the flocculation of .alpha.-lactalbumin,d) fractionating the proteins in the protein product solution at pH 4.3-4.8, providing an .alpha.-lactalbumin enriched fraction and a .beta.-lactoglobulin enriched fraction,e) raising the pH of the .alpha.-lactalbumin enriched fraction sufficiently to solubilize the .alpha.-lactalbumin fraction, andf) optionally raising the pH of the .beta.

Abstract: Bioactive agents, having growth-promoting activity upon Bifidobacteria, consisting of one or more lactoferrin-compounds selected from the group consisting of bovine lactoferrin, bovine apolactoferrin and bovine Fe-lactoferrin, which can be used as it is as agents to promote proliferation of Bifidobacteria both in vivo and in vitro, and as additives to prepare compositions, materials and products to afford growth-promoting activity thereto, and to improve survivability of Bifidobacteria, if contained therein.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a whey protein composition comprising a suitable concentration of whey protein concentrate wherein the whey protein concentrate contains proteins which are present in an essentially undenatured state and wherein the biological activity of the whey protein concentrate is dependent on the overall amino acid and small peptides pattern resulting from the contribution of all its protein components and a method of producing said whey protein composition. The invention also relates to several applications of said composition.

Abstract: A protein conjugate or mixture useful in immunotherapy composed of a biological response modifier (BRM) and an allergen is disclosed. In use the protein conjugate or mixture is combined with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Cytokines, bacterial, fungal and viral immunopotentiators and thymus hormones are disclosed as suitable BRM's for use in the invention.

Abstract: Glutathione (GSH) is a tripeptide of extreme importance as a catalyst, reductan, and reactant. It can be depleted intra-cellularly either by forming a direct complex with an electrophilic agent (accomplished investigationally by agents such as bromobenzene or diethyl maleate), by way of inhibition of synthesis, or by subjecting cells to oxidant stress. Most cells, except for epithelia cells, do not have a direct transport capacity for intact GSH. Non-epithelial cells must either transport precursor substrates for GSH synthesis or salvage amino acids from circulating GSH for reuse in intracellular resynthesis. Dietary cysteine is a rate limiting substrate for the synthesis of glutathione and also inhibits GSH efflux. Although GSH is synthesized from precursors in virtually all cells, the liver is the main source of plasma GSH. Protection and support of liver function is paramount to elevating GSH levels.

Abstract: Glutathione (GSH) is a tripeptide of extreme importance as a catalyst, reductan, and reactant. It can be depleted intracellulary either by forming a direct complex with an electrophilic agent (accomplished investigationally by agents such as bromobenzene or diethyl maleate), by way of inhibition of synthesis, or by subjecting cells to oxidant stress. Most cells, except for epithelia cells, do not have a direct transport capacity for intact GSH. Non-epithelial cells must either transport precursor substrates for GSH synthesis or salvage amino acids from circulating GSH for reuse in intracellular resynthesis. Dietary cysteine is a rate limiting substrate for the synthesis of glutathione and also inhibits GSH efflux. Although GSH is synthesized from precursors in virtually all cells, the liver is the main source of plasma GSH. Protection and support of liver function is paramount to elevating GSH levels.