Aspects of the invention relate to compositions comprising one or more live bacterial strains for topical administration to the skin, wherein the one or more live bacterial strains are Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) bacterial strains, and methods for use.

Aspects of the invention relate to compositions comprising one or more live bacterial strains for topical administration to the skin, wherein the one or more live bacterial strains are Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) bacterial strains, and methods for use.

The subject invention concerns materials and methods for treating depression, stress disorders, such as PTSD, anxiety disorders, and/or a neurodegenerative disease or condition in a person or animal. In one embodiment, a person or animal in need of treatment is administered one or more compounds or drugs, or a composition comprising the one or more compounds or drugs, that inhibit FKBP51 activity or function. The subject invention also concerns a method for inhibiting activity of the FKBP51 protein in a cell. The subject invention also concerns methods of screening for compounds or drugs that inhibit the FKBP51 protein.

The subject invention concerns materials and methods for treating depression, stress disorders, such as PTSD, anxiety disorders, and/or a neurodegenerative disease or condition in a person or animal. In one embodiment, a person or animal in need of treatment is administered one or more compounds or drugs, or a composition comprising the one or more compounds or drugs, that inhibit FKBP51 activity or function. The subject invention also concerns a method for inhibiting activity of the FKBP51 protein in a cell. The subject invention also concerns methods of screening for compounds or drugs that inhibit the FKBP51 protein.

Methods are provided for assessing a clinical response to a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist (GRA) in a human subject and for diagnosing Cushing's syndrome.

Methods are provided for assessing a clinical response to a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist (GRA) in a human subject and for diagnosing Cushing's syndrome.

The disclosure describes the effects of transcription mediated from a promoter on the transcription mediated by divergently coupled supercoiling-sensitive promoter. Transcription initiated from a promoter inhibits transcription mediated by a specific supercoiling-sensitive promoter that is divergently coupled to the promoter. A gyrase inhibitor relieves this inhibition and substantially increases the transcription mediated by the specific supercoiling-sensitive promoter that is divergently coupled to another promoter. Accordingly, the invention pertains to a method for identifying a compound as a gyrase inhibitor or not a gyrase inhibitor based on differential expression of genes under the control of divergently coupled promoters in the presence of the compound. Another embodiment of the invention provides an assay for identifying one or more compounds from a library of compounds as a gyrase inhibitor. Polynucleotides and cells containing such polynucleotides that are suitable for carrying out the methods described herein are also provided.

The present invention is in the field of triacylglyccrol synthesis. In particular the invention relates to the identification of DIESL as a new triacylglycerol synthase. The invention also relates to the identification of TMX1 as a negative regulator of DIESL mediated triacylglycerol synthesis. Screening assays for identifying agents that modulate the activity of DIESL and/or of TMX1, or that modulate the interaction between DIESL and TMX1 are also provided.

The present invention is in the field of triacylglyccrol synthesis. In particular the invention relates to the identification of DIESL as a new triacylglycerol synthase. The invention also relates to the identification of TMX1 as a negative regulator of DIESL mediated triacylglycerol synthesis. Screening assays for identifying agents that modulate the activity of DIESL and/or of TMX1, or that modulate the interaction between DIESL and TMX1 are also provided.

To provide a method for quickly and accurately evaluating a condition of skin dryness and a method for efficiently searching a substance to improve dry skin. A method for evaluating a condition of skin dryness, the method comprising measuring the expression levels of AGR2 and/or AGR3 in skin cells collected from subjects.