The invention relates to compounds that are analogs of a cyclic peptide, cyclo[EKTOVNOGN], AFPep, that has anti-estrotrophic activity. The analogs of the invention include peptides and peptidomimetics that inhibit estrogen receptor-dependent cell proliferation. The compounds of the invention are useful for treating cell proliferative disorders or physiological conditions characterized by undesirable or unwanted estrogen induced cell proliferation, including breast cancer.

This disclosure relates to antibodies, antigen-binding fragments, protein constructs, and chimeric antigen receptors that bind to a complex comprising an AFP peptide and an MHC molecule, and the uses thereof.

The disclosure provides a reversal group of biomarkers comprising a reversal pair and a reversal triplet, wherein the reversal pair and reversal triplet exhibit a change in reversal value between pregnant females at risk for pre-term birth and term controls. Also provided is a method of determining probability for preterm birth in a pregnant female, the method comprising measuring in a biological sample obtained from the pregnant female, a reversal value for a reversal pair and a reversal triplet to determining the probability of preterm birth in the pregnant female.

The present disclosure provides T-cell modulatory multimeric polypeptides that comprise an immunomodulatory polypeptide and that comprise an epitope-presenting alpha-feto protein peptide. A T-cell modulatory multimeric polypeptide is useful for modulating the activity of a T cell, and for modulating an immune response in an individual.

Disclosed are pharmaceutical and synergistic compositions human recombinant alpha-fetoprotein expressed in eukaryotic cells for preparation of therapeutic agents for use in oncology, immunotherapy, stem cell therapy, and cosmetology and also for the diagnosis of cancer and embryogenic pathologies.

Compositions which comprise a hydro-phobic taxane such as paclitaxel are produced by non-covalent complexing between the taxane and alpha-fetoprotein c at a ratio of about 4 moles of taxane per mole of AFP. The complexes are water soluble and suitable for injection. Uses of the compositions for treating a subject presenting with an AFP receptor positive and taxane responsive ease cell are also disclosed.

The invention provides a lipid bilayer mimicking the lipid composition of the placenta. The lipid composition provides an in vitro placenta model using the lipid composition of the placental cell membrane.

Nucleic acid and protein sequences relating to a cation channel which is sperm-specific (CatSper2) are disclosed. The CatSper2 protein is shown to be specifically expressed in sperm. Nucleic acids, vectors, transformed cells, transgenic animals, polypeptides, and antibodies relating to the CatSper2 gene and protein are disclosed. Also provided are methods of in vitro fertilization and contraception, methods of identifying modulators of CatSper2 activity, methods of genotyping subjects with respect to CatSper2, methods of diagnosing and treating CatSper2-mediated disorders, including infertility, as well as methods of doing business related to CatSper2-mediated disorders.

Nucleic acid and protein sequences relating to a cation channel which is sperm-specific (CatSper2) are disclosed. The CatSper2 protein is shown to be specifically expressed in sperm. Nucleic acids, vectors, transformed cells, transgenic animals, polypeptides, and antibodies relating to the CatSper2 gene and protein are disclosed. Also provided are methods of in vitro fertilization and contraception, methods of identifying modulators of CatSper2 activity, methods of genotyping subjects with respect to CatSper2, methods of diagnosing and treating CatSper2-mediated disorders, including infertility, as well as methods of doing business related to CatSper2-mediated disorders.

The present invention relates to a synthetic peptide analog of the Preimplantation factor (PIF) peptide with a sequence length of maximum 20 amino acids consisting in the sequence Xaa.sub.1 Xaa.sub.2 R.sub.3 I.sub.4 K.sub.5 P.sub.6 Xaa.sub.7-20 (SEQ ID No1): wherein Xaa can be any amino acid for use in the treatment and/or prevention of Retinitis Pigmentosa and a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more synthetic peptide analog from PIF peptides and one or more acceptable carriers.