Provided herein are compositions of CD1280 binding proteins and a Hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAg) and/or a Hepatitis B virus E antigen (HBeAg), or antigenic fragments or mutants thereof, attached to the CD180 binding protein, and methods for using the compositions to treat or limit the development of hepatitis-B virus (HBV)-related disorders.

Embodiments of the disclosure include methods and compositions for treatment of a medical condition related to the liver, including at least viral infections and liver cancer, for example. In specific embodiments, immunotherapies are provided for delivering polynucleotides locally to the liver, wherein the polynucleotides encode particular gene products that include bispecific antibodies, including those that target certain liver antigens, for example.

The invention relates to a group of synthetic polypeptides, derived from the pre-S1 region of HBV, that efficiently interfere with early steps of an HBV infection. The peptides of the invention can be used in diagnostics for the detection of antigens and/or antibodies.

The present disclosure provides T-cell modulatory multimeric polypeptides (T-Cell-MMPs) comprising an immunomodulatory polypeptide (MOD) that may be selected to exhibit reduced binding affinity to a cognate co-immunomodulatory polypeptide (Co-MOD) and a location for covalently attaching a molecule that can serve as an epitope, such as an epitope peptide. Once the epitope molecule is attached the resulting T-Cell-MMP-epitope conjugates are useful for modulating the activity of a T-cell by delivering immunomodulatory peptides, such as IL-2 or IL-2 variants that exhibit reduced binding affinity for IL-2R, to the T-cells in an epitope selective/specific manner, and accordingly, for modulating an immune response in an individual.

A pharmaceutical composition comprising: (a) an isolated peptide, wherein the peptide includes three or four arginine-rich domains (ARDs) from the carboxy-terminal region of hepatitis B virus core protein (HBc) and exhibits an anti-microbial activity; and (b) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

An antimicrobial peptide, the peptide comprising 2 to 20 variable domains, each variable domain is a sequence of 2 to 20 consecutive basic amino acids, wherein (a) the variable domains are separated from each other by a variable linker, (b) the variable linker can have 1 to 20 any amino acids other than two or more consecutive basic amino acids, and (c) the peptide has no more than 100 amino acids.

A pharmaceutical composition for use in killing and/or inhibiting the growth and/or proliferation of a microorganism in a subject in need thereof, or for treating a subject afflicted with a microbial infection is disclosed. The composition comprises: (a) an effective amount of an isolated peptide, wherein the peptide comprises the arginine-rich carboxy-terminal region of hepatitis B virus core protein (HBc) and exhibits an antimicrobial activity; and (b) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The peptide exhibits an activity against Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, and/or fungi.

The present invention relates to cyclic NTCP targeting peptides which are preS-derived peptides of hepatitis B virus (HBV). The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising at least one cyclic peptide. The present invention further relates to medical uses of said cyclic peptides and the pharmaceutical compositions, such as in the diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment of a liver disease or condition, and/or in the inhibition of HBV and/or HDV infection. The present invention further relates to methods of diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment of a liver disease or condition and/or the inhibition of HBV and/or HDV infection.

An inhibitor of Na+-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) for use in a method of treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis, atherosclerosis, or an NRLP3 inflammasome-associated disease in a subject.

An antimicrobial peptide, the peptide comprising 2 to 20 variable domains, each variable domain is a sequence of 2 to 20 consecutive basic amino acids, wherein (a) the variable domains are separated from each other by a variable linker, (b) the variable linker can have 1 to 20 any amino acids other than two or more consecutive basic amino acids, and (c) the peptide has no more than 100 amino acids.