Compositions and methods that can be used to treat or prevent a viral infection are described herein. Prostacyclin/prostaglandin analogs can be used to treat infection by viruses such as SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2. For example, pharmaceutical compositions containing beraprost or salts thereof can be used to treat infection by SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes the “COVID-19” disease).

Compositions and methods that can be used to treat or prevent a viral infection are described herein. Prostacyclin/prostaglandin analogs can be used to treat infection by viruses such as SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2. For example, pharmaceutical compositions containing beraprost or salts thereof can be used to treat infection by SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes the “COVID-19” disease).

The current application is directed to a method for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), comprising: providing isolated endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs); treating the EPCs with prostacyclin, wherein the treated EPCs exhibit a hyperproliferative phenotype with enhanced angiogenic property; and administering a composition comprising the treated EPCs into a subject suffering from PAH.

The current application is directed to a method for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), comprising: providing isolated endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs); treating the EPCs with prostacyclin, wherein the treated EPCs exhibit a hyperproliferative phenotype with enhanced angiogenic property; and administering a composition comprising the treated EPCs into a subject suffering from PAH.

The current application is directed to a method for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), comprising: providing isolated endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs); treating the EPCs with prostacyclin, wherein the treated EPCs exhibit a hyperproliferative phenotype with enhanced angiogenic property; and administering a composition comprising the treated EPCs into a subject suffering from PAH.

The present invention relates, in its broadest aspects, to steroidal glycosides useful in the treatment of skin disorders. Particularly, the invention relates to the use of certain steroidal glucosides, per se, or in the form aglycona, derivatives of spirostanol, of its precursor furastanol, or mixtures thereof, used in the treatment of skin disorders, for instance, psoriasis. The invention further relates to formulations containing steroidal glycosides, the process of obtaining extract from the Furcraea foetida plant, and a method of treating skin disorders.

The present invention provides a clinically applicable, safe and convenient, pharmaceutical composition for disease site-specific treatment. The pharmaceutical composition for disease site-specific treatment comprises a stealth liposome having a prostaglandin I2 receptor agonist encapsulated therein.

Disclosed is a genetically modified host organism for expressing an anthracyclinone analogue. The genetically modified host organism comprises (i) synthetic nucleic acids; (ii) a biosynthetic pathway encoded by the synthetic nucleic acids, the (ii) biosynthetic pathway comprising a ketosynthase alpha, a ketosynthase beta/chain-length factor, an acyl carrier protein, a 3-oxoacyl-ACP synthase, a propionyl-CoA acyltransferase, a 9-ketoreductase, an aromatase/cyclase, and a second/third-ring cyclase; and (iii) a promoter positioned upstream of and operatively associated with the (ii) biosynthetic pathway. A method and corresponding synthetic nucleic acids are also disclosed.

Disclosed is a genetically modified host organism for expressing an anthracyclinone analogue. The genetically modified host organism comprises (i) synthetic nucleic acids; (ii) a biosynthetic pathway encoded by the synthetic nucleic acids, the (ii) biosynthetic pathway comprising a ketosynthase alpha, a ketosynthase beta/chain-length factor, an acyl carrier protein, a 3-oxoacyl-ACP synthase, a propionyl-CoA acyltransferase, a 9-ketoreductase, an aromatase/cyclase, and a second/third-ring cyclase; and (iii) a promoter positioned upstream of and operatively associated with the (ii) biosynthetic pathway. A method and corresponding synthetic nucleic acids are also disclosed.

Provided herein are synthetic peptides and methods for treating cardiorespiratory diseases, particularly cardiopulmonary disorder (CPD) by use of the synthetic peptides. The present synthetic peptide has the amino acid sequence of X.sub.1EX.sub.2LRVANEVTLN (SEQ ID NO: 1), in which X.sub.1 is tyrosine (Y) or phenylalanine (F), and X.sub.2 is alanine (A) or cysteine (C). In preferred embodiments, an effective amount of the present synthetic peptide is administered to a subject suffering from CPD to ameliorate or alleviate symptoms associated therewith.