Disclosed herein is a method for inhibiting or preventing Vibrio cholera toxin production in a subject, the method comprising enterally administering to the subject a pharmaceutically effective amount of a fatty acid dissolved or suspended in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the fatty acid contains 10 to 30 carbon atoms, such as an unsaturated fatty acid such as a cis-2-unsaturated fatty acid, such as a fatty acid having the formula:

##STR00001##

wherein n is an integer of 6-26, and the fatty acid optionally includes a second carbon-carbon double bond resulting from removal of two hydrogen atoms on adjacent carbon atoms. Also disclosed herein is a method for treating or preventing a Vibrio infection comprising administering to a subject in need of treatment an effective amount of a genetically engineered bacterium, wherein the genetically engineered bacterium comprises an exogenous nucleic acid encoding an enzyme that produces a diffusible signal factor (DSF) by introducing a cis-2 double bond to a fatty acid.

Disclosed herein is a method for inhibiting or preventing Vibrio cholera toxin production in a subject, the method comprising enterally administering to the subject a pharmaceutically effective amount of a fatty acid dissolved or suspended in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the fatty acid contains 10 to 30 carbon atoms, such as an unsaturated fatty acid such as a cis-2-unsaturated fatty acid, such as a fatty acid having the formula:

##STR00001##

wherein n is an integer of 6-26, and the fatty acid optionally includes a second carbon-carbon double bond resulting from removal of two hydrogen atoms on adjacent carbon atoms. Also disclosed herein is a method for treating or preventing a Vibrio infection comprising administering to a subject in need of treatment an effective amount of a genetically engineered bacterium, wherein the genetically engineered bacterium comprises an exogenous nucleic acid encoding an enzyme that produces a diffusible signal factor (DSF) by introducing a cis-2 double bond to a fatty acid.

Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for enhancing gene targeting. The method entails co-administrating to a cell a targeting molecule and a means of enhancing the function of the targeting molecule upon delivery to the cell. The means of enhancing the function of the targeting molecule including one or more of a stressor that induces cellular stress, a proton sponge molecule, and an endosome or lysosome inhibitor. Compositions disclosed include a targeting molecule and one or more of a stressor that induces cellular stress, a proton sponge molecule, and an endosome or lysosome inhibitor.

Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for enhancing gene targeting. The method entails co-administrating to a cell a targeting molecule and a means of enhancing the function of the targeting molecule upon delivery to the cell. The means of enhancing the function of the targeting molecule including one or more of a stressor that induces cellular stress, a proton sponge molecule, and an endosome or lysosome inhibitor. Compositions disclosed include a targeting molecule and one or more of a stressor that induces cellular stress, a proton sponge molecule, and an endosome or lysosome inhibitor.

Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for enhancing gene targeting. The method entails co-administrating to a cell a targeting molecule and a means of enhancing the function of the targeting molecule upon delivery to the cell. The means of enhancing the function of the targeting molecule including one or more of a stressor that induces cellular stress, a proton sponge molecule, and an endosome or lysosome inhibitor. Compositions disclosed include a targeting molecule and one or more of a stressor that induces cellular stress, a proton sponge molecule, and an endosome or lysosome inhibitor.

It is provided an anti-aging composition comprising at least one plant extract and a carrier, the at least one plant extract is at least one of Serenoa repens, Hypericum perforatum, Ilex paraguariensis, Ocimum tenuiflorum, Solidago virgaurea, Citrus sinensis, Humulus lupulus, Vitis vinifera, Andrographis paniculata, Hydrastis canadensis, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Berberis vulgaris, Crataegus monogyna, Taraxacum erythrospermum, Ilex paraguariensis, and a combination thereof.

It is provided an anti-aging composition comprising at least one plant extract and a carrier, the at least one plant extract is at least one of Serenoa repens, Hypericum perforatum, Ilex paraguariensis, Ocimum tenuiflorum, Solidago virgaurea, Citrus sinensis, Humulus lupulus, Vitis vinifera, Andrographis paniculata, Hydrastis canadensis, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Berberis vulgaris, Crataegus monogyna, Taraxacum erythrospermum, Ilex paraguariensis, and a combination thereof.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of enhancing a subject's macular pigment optical density, the method comprising administering to the subject a pharmaceutically effective amount of one or more Xanthophyll carotenoids. Preferably, the Xanthophyll carotenoids are selected from the group consisting of lutein (L), zeaxanthin (Z), and meso-zeaxanthin (MZ), and enantiomers, metabolites, esters, pharmaceutically acceptable salts and derivatives thereof. In certain embodiments, the Xanthophyll carotenoids such as lutein (L), zeaxanthin (Z), and meso-zeaxanthin (MZ) are each in substantially pure enantiomeric form.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of enhancing a subject's macular pigment optical density, the method comprising administering to the subject a pharmaceutically effective amount of one or more Xanthophyll carotenoids. Preferably, the Xanthophyll carotenoids are selected from the group consisting of lutein (L), zeaxanthin (Z), and meso-zeaxanthin (MZ), and enantiomers, metabolites, esters, pharmaceutically acceptable salts and derivatives thereof. In certain embodiments, the Xanthophyll carotenoids such as lutein (L), zeaxanthin (Z), and meso-zeaxanthin (MZ) are each in substantially pure enantiomeric form.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of enhancing a subject's macular pigment optical density, the method comprising administering to the subject a pharmaceutically effective amount of one or more Xanthophyll carotenoids. Preferably, the Xanthophyll carotenoids are selected from the group consisting of lutein (L), zeaxanthin (Z), and meso-zeaxanthin (MZ), and enantiomers, metabolites, esters, pharmaceutically acceptable salts and derivatives thereof. In certain embodiments, the Xanthophyll carotenoids such as lutein (L), zeaxanthin (Z), and meso-zeaxanthin (MZ) are each in substantially pure enantiomeric form.