Aspergillus flavus is an opportunistic, saprophytic fungus that infects maize and other fatty acid-rich food and feed crops and produces toxic and carcinogenic secondary metabolites known as aflatoxins. In vitro studies showed a five-fold increase in antifungal activity of AGM182 (vs. tachyplesin1) against A. flavus. Transgenic maize plants expressing AGM182 under maize Ubiquitin-1 promoter were produced through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. PCR products confirmed integration of the AGM182 gene, while RT-PCR of maize RNA confirmed the presence of AGM182 transcripts. Maize kernel screening assay using a highly aflatoxigenic A. flavus strain (AF70) showed up to 72% reduction in fungal growth in the transgenic AGM182 seeds compared to isogenic negative control seeds.

Porous implantable devices for housing one or more therapeutic agents are disclosed herein. The implantable devices include a porous outer wall defining an interia or void. The interior void houses a carrier material carrying a first therapeutic agent. The implantable devices are made by patterning at least a portion of a polymerizable substrate into a polymerized three-dimensional porous outer wall surrounding an interior void. This can be achieved by two-photon polymerization techniques. A first therapeutic agent is then added to the interior void, which is then sealed. Methods of treating diseases using the implantable devices are disclosed herein. The methods include implanting the implantable device at a target area and locally releasing a therapeutically effective dosage of a first therapeutic agent from the interior void. The implantable devices can also be used in methods of screening potentially therapeutic agents for desired biological responses.

This invention relates to a topical gel drug product preparation containing a composition comprising an isolated polypeptide having a carboxy-terminal amino acid sequence of an alpha connexin (ACT peptide), peptide stabilizers, excipients, buffering agents, and the like. A formulation and preparation steps are disclosed for the manufacturing of a stable, elegant, and pourable topical gel. The resulting formulation possesses long term stability suitable for aesthetic as well as therapeutic applications including the prevention of scaring and accelerated healing of wounds. Methods for treatment of chronic wounds, including chronic ulcers, are also provided.

Methods of treating a fungal infection in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising one or more antifungal peptides selected from the group consisting of BmKn2, dBmKn2, Kn2-7, and dKn2-7 are described. Antifungal pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms, including field-deployable dosage forms, comprising one or more of these antifungal peptides are also described.

To provide a muscle tissue-regenerating agent containing a fibroin protein.

A muscle tissue-regenerating agent containing a modified fibroin protein.

The present invention relates to methods of treating or preventing hematopoietic stem cell transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (HSCT-TMA) in a subject, which comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of an agent which is a protein comprising amino acids 19 to 168 of the amino acid sequence in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO: 2) or a functional equivalent of this protein. Said protein of FIG. 2 of the present application has been designated in the prior art as Coversin, Nomacopan, EV576 or OmCI protein. Alternatively the agent is a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein comprising amino acids 19 to 168 of the amino acid sequence in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO: 2) or a functional equivalent of this protein.

The present invention relates to methods of treating or preventing hematopoietic stem cell transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (HSCT-TMA) in a subject, which comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of an agent which is a protein comprising amino acids 19 to 168 of the amino acid sequence in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO: 2) or a functional equivalent of this protein. Said protein of FIG. 2 of the present application has been designated in the prior art as Coversin, Nomacopan, EV576 or OmCI protein. Alternatively the agent is a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein comprising amino acids 19 to 168 of the amino acid sequence in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO: 2) or a functional equivalent of this protein.

The present disclosure reports that (1) recombinant Fh15 significantly prevented bacteremia, suppressed LPS levels in plasma and the production of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin, which are key signatures of inflammation and bacterial infection, respectively; (2) reduced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines; and (3) increased innate immune cell populations in blood, which suggests a role in promoting a prolonged steady state in rhesus macaques even in the presence of inflammatory stimuli. This is the first report demonstrating that a F. hepatica-derived molecule possesses potential as anti-inflammatory drug against sepsis in an NHP-model. Prophylactic effects of rFh15 administered in a non-human preclinical primate model of sepsis support its use as a biotherapeutic.

The present invention relates to a composition including melittin as an active ingredient for removing an M2-type tumor-associated macrophage (TAM), and more specifically, the present invention relates to a composition exhibiting an effect of selectively suppressing only M2-type tumor-associated macrophages among tumor-associated macrophages. The composition according to the present invention only suppresses M2-type tumor-associated macrophages without affecting M1-type tumor-associated macrophages or cancer cells, thus exhibiting anti-cancer and metastasis suppressing effects by blocking angiogenesis through control of the microenvironment of cancer cells, while reducing the side-effects of existing anti-cancer effects.

The invention provides chimeric antigen receptor(s) (CAR(s)) that comprise a fusion protein of CTX or any functional variant thereof or a CTX-like peptide or any functional variant thereof as the extracellular antigen recognition moiety of the CAR. CAR(s) comprising CTX, a CTX-like peptide or functional variants of the foregoing are collectively referred to herein as “CTX-CAR(s).” Such CTX-CAR(s) may further comprise additional moieties or domains in the extracellular domain, a transmembrane domain and at least one intracellular signaling domain. Such CTX-CAR(s) may be expressed in a host cell, such as, but not limited to, an immune effector cell. The present invention also provides methods of treatment (such as, for example, methods for treating cancer) by providing to the patient in need thereof immune effector cells that arc engineered to express a CTX-CAR described herein.