Various embodiments relate to p-phenylene ethynylene compounds as bioactive and detection agents. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of inducing germination of microbial spores including contacting the microbial spores with a p-phenylene ethynylene compound. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method for detecting an enzyme, a method of protein analysis, or a method of detecting a chemical agent, including introducing a p-phenylene ethynylene compound to a composition including an enzyme substrate, and analyzing the fluorescence of the p-phenylene ethynylene compound. Various embodiments provide sensors that include a p-phenylene ethynylene compound and an enzyme substrate.

The present invention relates to a compound represented by formula (E). The present invention also relates to a compound represented by the formula (E) for use in the treatment or prevention of diseases linked to protein aggregation and/or neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, the present invention relates to pharmaceutical and diagnostic compositions comprising the compound of the invention as well as to a kit. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of imaging deposits of aggregated protein. A kit for preparing a detectably labelled compound of the present invention is also disclosed.

The invention provides a method that gives direct information about the intervention of a potential drug on the secondary structure distribution of a targetbiomolecule, i.e., for a disease with misfolded protein, such as neurodegenerative diseases in a complex body fluid. The secondary structural change is monitored by vibrational spectroscopy. The method can be applied for prescreening of drug candidates for targeting of specific biomolecules. The effect of the drug on the secondary structure distribution is monitored label-free in real time and provides thereby direct information about the efficacy of the potential drug.

A therapeutic composition for the treatment of the symptoms of prion diseases and the method for preparing the therapeutic agents is disclosed. The therapeutic composition is a stable pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more digestive and/or pancreatic enzymes. The therapeutic composition may be manufactured by a variety of encapsulation technologies. Delivery of the therapeutic composition may be made orally, through injection, by adherence of a medicated patch or other method. Further, a method of using fecal chymotrypsin level as a biomarker for the presence of a prion disease, or the likelihood of an individual to develop a prion disease is disclosed.

Methods of measuring the amount of singly- or multiply-phosphorylated p217+ tau protein in a sample are provided. Methods of detecting or diagnosing tauopathies, methods of determining the effectiveness of a treatment of a tauopathy, and methods of determining whether a subject is suitable for anti-p217+ tau antibody therapy are also provided. Also described are antibodies for use in the methods and kits comprising the antibodies.

This document relates to methods and materials for detecting the presence or absence of misfolded polypeptides in a sample. For example, methods and materials for amplifying a sample (e.g., a biological sample or an environmental sample) such that misfolded polypeptides present in the sample can aggregate to form fibrils and/or globular polypeptide aggregates and contacting the amplified sample with a solution containing metal nanoparticles (e.g., gold nanoparticles) or one or more organic dyes (e.g., Congo Red) to detect the presence or absence of fibrils and/or globular polypeptide aggregates are provided. In some cases, methods and materials for determining if a mammal (e.g., a human) has a proteinopathy based, at least in part, in the presence or absence of misfolded polypeptides in a sample obtained from the mammal are provided.

Provided are anti-human -synuclein-specific binding molecules, e.g., antibodies or antiben-binding fragments, variants or derivatives thereof, as methods related thereto. Further provided are anti-human -synuclein binding molecules which bind to specific N-terminal and C-terminal epitopes on human -synuclein. The binding molecules described herein can be used in pharmaceutical and diagnostic compositions for -synuclein targeted immunotherapy and diagnosis, respectively.

The invention relates to a method for detection of abnormal PrP in a sample of blood or urine, said method comprising: (a) diluting the sample with buffer to comprise final concentrations of (i) 10 mM to 500 mM buffer agent; (ii) 1% to 10% w/v bovine serum albumin; and (iii) 1% to 8% w/v CHAPS; (b) adding steel particles and incubating to allow PrP binding; (c) washing the steel particles to remove diluted sample; and (d) detecting abnormal PrP captured on the steel particles using antibody capable of binding said abnormal PrP. The invention also provides compositions and kits.

Provided herein, for example, are methods generally relating to the expansion and/or regeneration of central nervous system (CNS) cells, such as nerve cells, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, using an activator of cereblon (CRBN), such as an inhibitor of a CRBN substrate or downstream protein. Also provided herein, for example, are methods related to the expansion of neural stem cells, neural progenitor cells, or neural precursor cells and/or differentiation of these cells into CNS cells using a BRD7 antagonist, Ikaros antagonist, or CRBN activator. In certain embodiments, the methods further comprise differentiation of certain stem cells into the neural stem cells, neural progenitor cells, or neural precursor cells using a BRD7 antagonist, Ikaros antagonist, or CRBN activator. Also provided herein, for example, are methods of preventing or treating a CNS cell defective disease, disorder or condition, or a symptom thereof, using a BRD7 antagonist, Ikaros antagonist, or CRBN activator.

The present embodiments disclose methods for estimating PrP.sup.Sc concentration in fluids and tissues by quantitative PMCA.