Some embodiments include compounds that can inhibit the growth of bacterial and/or inhibit or reduce microbial infections caused by one or more microorganisms (e.g., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Cryptococcus neoformans) and methods of using these compounds to treat microbial infection and outbreaks and/or to reduce the formation of biofilms. Other embodiments include synthesis of the compounds that can inhibit the growth of one or more microorganisms and/or inhibit or reduce microbial infections.

A process is provided for separating hydrophobic material from a mixture of hydrophobic and hydrophilic material using peptide-based amphiphilic organogelators.

The invention relates to methods, compounds, compositions and vehicles for delivering 3-amino-1-propanesulfonic acid (3APS) in a subject, preferably a human subject. The invention encompasses compound that will yield or generate 3APS, either in vitro or in vivo. Preferred compounds include amino acid prodrugs of 3APS for use, including but not limited to the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Methods of treating aging related skin changes and of increasing skin thickness with topical administration of N-acyldipeptide derivatives are described. Compositions comprising N-acyldipeptide derivatives, are therapeutically effective for increasing skin thickness, and for treating extrinsic and intrinsic aging and aging related skin changes, such as fine lines, wrinkles, photoaging, hyperpigmentation, laxity, age spots, lentigines, mottled skin, and cellulite.

Provided herein are tripeptide epoxy ketone protease inhibitors, methods of their preparation, related pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of using the same. For example, provided herein are compounds of Formula (X):

##STR00001##

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and compositions including the same. The compounds and compositions provided herein may be used, for example, in the treatment of diseases including inflammation and neurodegenerative disease.

The proteasome inhibitors of this invention include peptide-based compounds with a short linear sequence of amino acids. An oxo or thio group is attached to the N-terminal amino acid. A protein-reactive electrophilic group such as an epoxyketone, an aziridinylketone, or a beta-lactone is attached to the C-terminal amino acid. Upon contact with a proteasome complex in a target cell, the electrophilic group reacts with a functional group in or near a binding pocket or active site of the proteasome, forming a covalent bond and thereby inactivating the proteasome. These and other proteasome inhibitors can be screened for binding affinity and an ability to selectively eliminate senescent cells or cancer cells. Compounds that selectively remove senescent cells can be developed for the treatment of conditions such as osteoarthritis, ophthalmic disease, pulmonary disease, and atherosclerosis.

Adjuvant compounds are described, as well as their conjugates comprising peptide antigens or other immunomodulatory moieties. Also described are methods of modulating immune responses in a subject in need thereof, as well as methods of treating cancer, viral or bacterial infections comprising administering the adjuvant compounds or the conjugates to a subject in need thereof.

The invention provides sulfoxyalkyl organonitro and related compounds, compositions containing such compounds, and methods for using such compounds and compositions to treat medical disorders, such as a neurodegenerative disorder, autoimmune disease, infection, or cancer in a patient. Exemplary sulfoxyalkyl organonitro compounds described herein include ((2-(3,3-dinitroaze-tidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)sulfinyl)-D-alanine and variants thereof.

Methods of treating aging related skin changes and of increasing skin thickness with topical administration of N-acyldipeptide derivatives are described. Compositions comprising N-acyldipeptide derivatives, are therapeutically effective for increasing skin thickness, and for treating extrinsic and intrinsic aging and aging related skin changes, such as fine lines, wrinkles, photoaging, hyperpigmentation, laxity, age spots, lentigines, mottled skin, and cellulite.

Methods of treating aging related skin changes and of increasing skin thickness with topical administration of N-acyldipeptide derivatives and retinol are described. Combinations of retinol and N-acyldipeptide derivatives, are therapeutically effective for increasing skin thickness, and for treating extrinsic and intrinsic aging and aging related skin changes, such as fine lines, wrinkles, photoaging, hyperpigmentation, laxity, age spots, lentigines, mottled skin, and cellulite.