Provided are methods for lyophilization of an aqueous thrombin solution, thrombin solutions for use in such lyophilization methods, and solid thrombin compositions produced by such methods.

The present invention relates to a method for producing recombinant human prethrombin-2 protein and having human ?-thrombin activity by the plant-based expression systems.

During the process of coagulation, prothrombin is activated to ?-thrombin by prothrombinase. Key residues in the structure of prothrombin allow for modulation of the activation of prothrombin. In certain embodiments, a recombinant prothrombin with at least one point mutation or deletion is provided.

The present invention relates to a composition comprising fibrinogen for increasing the sensitivity of microorganisms for an antimicrobial compound. The invention may be used to alleviate the problem of antimicrobial resistance of microbial biofilms or aggregates, for example of microbial biofilms on medical devices, in particular indwelling devices, or in wound beds. The device or wound bed may be (pre-)coated with fibrinogen to increase antimicrobial susceptibility. The antimicrobial may be supplied separately from or together with the fibrinogen.

The present invention is an inducible coexpression system, capable of controlled induction of expression of each gene product.

The present disclosure describes improved SELEX methods for producing aptamers that are capable of binding to target molecules and improved photoSELEX methods for producing photoreactive aptamers that are capable of both binding and covalently crosslinking to target molecules. Specifically, the present disclosure describes methods for producing aptamers and photoaptamers having slower dissociation rate constants than are obtained using prior SELEX and photoSELEX methods. The disclosure further describes aptamers and photoaptamers having slower dissociation rate constants than those obtained using prior methods. In addition, the disclosure describes aptamer constructs that include a variety of functionalities, including a cleavable element, a detection element, and a capture or immobilization element.

The present invention is directed to compounds useful in stabilizing thrombin activity, thrombin compositions comprising the compounds, methods of using the compounds and methods of identifying compounds capable of stabilizing thrombin activity. The compounds are preferably isolated peptides comprising or interacting with the gamma loop of thrombin.

The invention relates to sterile powder compositions suitable for medical use comprising thrombin and fibrinogen, and to methods for producing the same, wherein the thrombin powder is produced from a liquid feedstock, wherein the feedstock comprises a solution or a suspension of thrombin, preferably a solution, wherein the powder is produced by removal of liquid by a process selected from aseptic spray drying or aseptic fluid bed drying, and wherein the powder resulting from removal of liquid from the feedstock exhibits at least 80% of the thrombin potency or activity of the liquid feedstock, and wherein the fibrinogen powder is produced by removal of liquid from a feedstock, wherein the feedstock comprises a solution or a suspension of fibrinogen, preferably a solution, by aseptic spray drying or aseptic fluid bed drying, and wherein said composition is packaged as a sterile final pharmaceutical product for medical use.

The present disclosure describes improved SELEX methods for producing aptamers that are capable of binding to target molecules and improved photoSELEX methods for producing photoreactive aptamers that are capable of both binding and covalently crosslinking to target molecules. Specifically, the present disclosure describes methods for producing aptamers and photoaptamers having slower dissociation rate constants than are obtained using prior SELEX and photoSELEX methods. The disclosure further describes aptamers and photoaptamers having slower dissociation rate constants than those obtained using prior methods. In addition, the disclosure describes aptamer constructs that include a variety of functionalities, including a cleavable element, a detection element, and a capture or immobilization element.

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a disease-treating agent which exerts an excellent effect in treating diseases requiring an emergency surgery such as heart failure and which is efficacious at a certain level for a large number of patients. The present invention pertains to a kit for preparing a disease-treating agent, said kit comprising a) a fibrinogen solution, b) a thrombin solution and c) mesenchymal stem cells, in separate forms respectively. It is preferred that c) the mesenchymal stem cells are allogeneic to a subject to be treated. Also, the present invention pertains to a kit for preparing a disease-treating agent, said kit being to be used by, when in use, suspending c) the mesenchymal stem cells in either a) the fibrinogen solution or b) the thrombin solution, and then spraying the cell suspension thus obtained directly to a disease site substantially simultaneously with either b) the thrombin solution or a) the fibrinogen solution that is not used in the suspending step.