A therapeutic agent for the treatment of the symptoms of addiction and the method for preparing the therapeutic agent is disclosed. The therapeutic agent is a stable pharmaceutical preparation containing, but not limited to, digestive/pancreatic enzymes. The therapeutic agent may be manufactured by a variety of encapsulation technologies. Delivery of the therapeutic agent may be made orally, through injection, by adherence of a medicated patch or other method. Further, a method of using of a biomarker, the presence of chymotrypsin in the gastrointestinal tract to determine the presence of symptoms of addiction, and the likelihood of relapsing into addiction is disclosed.

A process is provided for releasably encapsulating a biological entity. The process comprises combining a solution of a surfactant in a non-polar solvent with a precursor material and the biological entity to form an emulsion. The emulsion comprises a polar phase dispersed in a non-polar phase, wherein the polar phase comprises the biological entity. The particles comprising the biological entity are then formed from the polar phase.

A process is provided for releasably encapsulating a biological entity. The process comprises combining a solution of a surfactant in a non-polar solvent with a precursor material and the biological entity to form an emulsion. The emulsion comprises a polar phase dispersed in a non-polar phase, wherein the polar phase comprises the biological entity. The particles comprising the biological entity are then formed from the polar phase.

The invention provides novel compositions of bioactive polypeptides and proteins with improved stability and shelf-life. The compositions are based on liquid vehicles selected from semifluorinated alkanes. These vehicles are remarkably effective in protecting polypeptides and proteins from degradation and/or aggregation. The compositions are useful for topical administration, e.g. into an eye, or by parenteral injection, e.g. via the subcutaneous or intramuscular route.

Compositions and methods for treating or preventing E. coli infections are provided. The compositions can be formulated as pharmaceutical compositions or as disinfectants, sanitizers, detergents or antiseptics, and can be used to eradicate or reduce E. coli populations and thereby treat or prevent infection by E. coli. The compositions include one or more digestive enzymes, e.g., one or more protease, lipases, and amylases. Methods of use of the compositions are also provided.

Compositions and methods for treating or preventing E. coli infections are provided. The compositions can be formulated as pharmaceutical compositions or as disinfectants, sanitizers, detergents or antiseptics, and can be used to eradicate or reduce E. coli populations and thereby treat or prevent infection by E. coli. The compositions include one or more digestive enzymes, e.g., one or more protease, lipases, and amylases. Methods of use of the compositions are also provided.

The invention provides combination therapy for use in treating a bacterial biofilm in a subject comprising (a) a polypeptide having serine protease activity and (b) one or more antibiotic compounds. Also provided are compositions and methods of use of the same.

The present invention has revealed that an antiviral agent containing a serine protease such as subtilisin, nattokinase, and trypsin has an effect of inactivating non-envelope type viruses, and that combining such an antiviral agent containing a serine protease with a cationic polymer enhances the inactivation effect of the antiviral agent against non-envelope type viruses. As a result, an antiviral agent that is highly safe, that has a high virus inactivation ability, and that contains a component that is inexpensive in terms the manufacturing cost and a cationic polymer, was discovered.

The present invention has revealed that an antiviral agent containing a serine protease such as subtilisin, nattokinase, and trypsin has an effect of inactivating non-envelope type viruses, and that combining such an antiviral agent containing a serine protease with a cationic polymer enhances the inactivation effect of the antiviral agent against non-envelope type viruses. As a result, an antiviral agent that is highly safe, that has a high virus inactivation ability, and that contains a component that is inexpensive in terms the manufacturing cost and a cationic polymer, was discovered.

A method for producing ACE Inhibitor peptides from a protein source or plasma is disclosed. The method utilizes proteolysis by intestinal, blood-circulating, or membrane-bound proteases. The initial synthesis step could require obtaining a protein source either from a human or animal. A protease is added to either a given plasma protein or plasma and incubated. Following incubation, the protease activity must be quenched using a protease inhibitor to inactivate the protease. After incubation with protease inhibitor, the solution will contain a mixture of bioactive ACE inhibitory peptides and inert peptides. This mixture may be purified to select for the ACE inhibitory peptides through centrifugation. The mixture may also be sterilized to remove any microbial contaminants. The ACE inhibitory peptides can be mixed with protein powders, incorporated into baked good and put into other food products to provide food products with the added benefit of lowering blood pressure.