The present invention is based, in part, on the discovery of peptide tags that increase the half-life and/or mean residence time of proteins or nucleic acids in the eye. In certain aspects the invention peptide tags increase the half-life and/or mean residence time of antibodies and antigen binding fragments, therapeutic proteins, protein receptors, DARPins and/or aptamers in the eye.

The present invention is based, in part, on the discovery of peptide tags that increase the half-life and/or mean residence time of proteins or nucleic acids in the eye. In certain aspects the invention peptide tags increase the half-life and/or mean residence time of antibodies and antigen binding fragments, therapeutic proteins, protein receptors, DARPins and/or aptamers in the eye.

Disclosed herein are bacterial proteins that increase pancreatic beta (β) cell number and/or proliferation, methods of increasing β cell number and/or proliferation using such proteins, and methods of treating or inhibiting diabetes in a subject by administering such proteins to the subject. In some embodiments, the protein has at least 80% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth as any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-7, or fragments thereof. Recombinant vectors including a nucleic acid encoding the protein (such as a nucleic acid encoding a protein with at least 80% sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-7 or fragments thereof) operably linked to a heterologous promoter are also disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of identifying compounds that increase β cell number and/or proliferation by determining the effect of test compounds on β cell number or proliferation in zebrafish pancreas.

Disclosed herein are bacterial proteins that increase pancreatic beta (β) cell number and/or proliferation, methods of increasing β cell number and/or proliferation using such proteins, and methods of treating or inhibiting diabetes in a subject by administering such proteins to the subject. In some embodiments, the protein has at least 80% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth as any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-7, or fragments thereof. Recombinant vectors including a nucleic acid encoding the protein (such as a nucleic acid encoding a protein with at least 80% sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-7 or fragments thereof) operably linked to a heterologous promoter are also disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of identifying compounds that increase β cell number and/or proliferation by determining the effect of test compounds on β cell number or proliferation in zebrafish pancreas.

The disclosure relates to, among other things, agents that modulate the homophilic interaction between two CRACC polypeptides, methods for making such agents, and therapeutic applications in which the agents are useful. For example, the agents described herein are useful for modulating an immune response in a mammal. Also featured are screening methods for identifying additional agents capable of modulating the activation of an immune cell exposed to an antigen.

The disclosure relates to, among other things, agents that modulate the homophilic interaction between two CRACC polypeptides, methods for making such agents, and therapeutic applications in which the agents are useful. For example, the agents described herein are useful for modulating an immune response in a mammal. Also featured are screening methods for identifying additional agents capable of modulating the activation of an immune cell exposed to an antigen.

This disclosure provides ActRII-binding proteins such as anti-ActRIIA and anti-ActRIIB antibodies, and compositions and methods for making the ActRII-binding proteins. In certain aspects the ActRII-binding proteins inhibit, or antagonize ActRII activity. In addition, the disclosure provides compositions and methods for diagnosing and treating diseases and conditions associated muscle wasting; a fibrotic condition; an inflammatory, cardiovascular, pulmonary, musculoskeletal, neurologic, ocular, skeletal, autoimmune, or metabolic disease or condition; wound healing; and cancer, and other ActRII-mediated diseases and conditions.

This disclosure provides ActRII-binding proteins such as anti-ActRIIA and anti-ActRIIB antibodies, and compositions and methods for making the ActRII-binding proteins. In certain aspects the ActRII-binding proteins inhibit, or antagonize ActRII activity. In addition, the disclosure provides compositions and methods for diagnosing and treating diseases and conditions associated muscle wasting; a fibrotic condition; an inflammatory, cardiovascular, pulmonary, musculoskeletal, neurologic, ocular, skeletal, autoimmune, or metabolic disease or condition; wound healing; and cancer, and other ActRII-mediated diseases and conditions.

The present invention provides compositions of a therapeutic agent and a polymeric stabilizing agent for stabilizing the reservoir of an implantable drug delivery system. The present invention also includes an implantable drug delivery system incorporating the composition of the present invention, as well as methods of treating diabetes using the compositions and implantable drug delivery system of the present invention.

Described herein are novel compositions comprising, for example, PDCL3 polypeptides having VEGFR-2 inhibitory activity, inhibitory PDCL3 antibodies and PDCL3-binding fragments thereof, or PDCL3 inhibitory nucleic acid molecules, and methods of their use in anti-angiogenesis and anti-tumor proliferation and invasiveness therapies, such as the treatment of cancer, as well as the treatment of those vascular diseases where pathological angiogenesis plays a role, such as in carotid artery disease, macular degeneration, and plaque neovascularization. Also described herein are novel compositions comprising engineered PDCL3 polypeptides having enhanced chaperone activity, recombinant cells comprising such engineered PDCL3 polypeptides having enhanced chaperone activity, and methods thereof for therapeutic protein production and in vitro protein synthesis.