The disclosure is directed in non-limiting embodiments to compounds, compositions, and methods of treating conditions and diseases associated with activation of the gonadotropin GnRH receptor (GnRHR), particularly those involving GnRHR activating autoantibodies (GnRHR AAbs). In one non-limiting embodiment, the disease is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). The therapeutic compounds in at least certain embodiments include peptides which at least partially comprise D-amino acids, such as retro-inverso D-amino acid (RID) peptides, which are able to bind with high affinity to GnRHR AAbs.

The invention relates to a bridge assay that can be used on an automatic diagnostic apparatus in order to detect anti-thyrotropin receptor autoantibodies, wherein the chimeric TSH receptor used comprises the extracellular portion of the chimeric TSH receptor and is N-terminally fused to a protein causing secretion of the chimeric TSH receptor from culture cells, and the anchored chimeric TSH receptor is immobilized on paramagnetic particles.

The serotonin receptor 5HT2A (5HT2aR) and membrane NADPH oxidases (NOX enzymes) are found to be a target of autoantibodies present in Multiple Sclerosis patients. The present invention refers to peptides comprised in the extracellular regions of the human 5HT2aR and/or NOXs for diagnosis and therapy of Multiple Sclerosis.

Genetically encoded calcium indicator (GECI) polypeptides and the nucleic acid molecules encoding such polypeptides are provided. In addition, methods of using such nucleic acids and polypeptides in methods of screening for agonists or antagonists of G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) or ion channels and methods of monitoring neural activity also are provided.

Descried in certain example embodiments herein are engineered fish, particularly engineered catfish, that are engineered to contain modified myostatin, melanocortin-4 receptor, and/or one or more n-3 fatty acid biosynthesis pathway genes and/or gene products.

The disclosure relates cells or cellular systems that express both a membrane protein and a binding domain directed to the membrane protein. Also, methods are provided that use such cells or cellular systems to produce higher amounts of the membrane proteins. Further, the cells or cellular systems can be used as tools for the structural and functional characterization of membrane proteins, as well as for screening and drug discovery efforts targeting membrane proteins.

Disclosed are a fusion protein comprising a thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) fragment and the use thereof. More specifically, disclosed are a fusion protein comprising a TSHR fragment comprising an extracellular domain of a wild-type TSHR and having a substitution of an amino acid at specific position and an immunoglobulin Fc region or a carboxy-terminal cap (C-CAP), and the use thereof. The fusion protein has improved pharmaceutical efficacy, in-vivo persistence and protein stability and a pharmaceutical composition containing the fusion protein as an active ingredient is useful as a therapeutic agent or diagnostic reagent for the alleviation of Graves' disease and Graves' ophthalmopathy.

The present invention is directed to transduced T cells expressing at least 100,000 molecules of human somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2), which improves PET/CT imaging sensitivity. The present invention is also directed to transduced T cells expressing SSTR2 and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). In one embodiment, the CAR is specific to human ICAM-1 and the CAR comprises a binding domain that is scFv of anti-human ICAM-1, or an I domain of the αL subunit of human lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1. In another embodiment, the CAR is specific to human CD19, and the CAR comprises a binding domain that is scFv of anti-human CD19. The present invention is further directed to using the above transduced T cells for monitoring T cell distribution in a patient by PET/CT imaging and/or treating cancer.

This disclosure relates to an animal model of human disease. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a rodent model of mood disorders such as unipolar depression and an anxiety disorder. Disclosed herein are genetically modified rodent animals that carry a humanized G protein-coupled receptor 156 (GPR156) gene that encodes a mutant human GPR156 protein comprising Asp at an amino acid position corresponding to position 533 in a full length wild type human GPR156 protein.

This disclosure relates to an animal model of human disease. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a rodent model of mood disorders such as unipolar depression and an anxiety disorder. Disclosed herein are genetically modified rodent animals that carry a humanized G protein-coupled receptor 156 (GPR156) gene that encodes a mutant human GPR156 protein comprising Asp at an amino acid position corresponding to position 533 in a full length wild type human GPR156 protein.