The present invention relates to novel peptide antagonists that inhibit binding of acetylcholine to the active site of the muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. The peptide antagonists of the invention are useful in cosmetic compositions that prevent or improve the appearance of skin wrinkles and related skin conditions. The invention further relates to cosmetic and pharmaceutical compositions comprising a peptide antagonist of the invention, and methods for their use.

Methods and compositions are provided which employ a silencing element that, when ingested by a plant insect pest, such as a Coleopteran plant pest or a Diabrotica plant pest, decrease the expression of a target sequence in the pest. Disclosed are various target polynucleotides set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1-33 disclosed herein, (but not including the forward and reverse primers.) or variants and fragments thereof, or complements thereof, wherein a decrease in expression of one or more of the sequences in the target pest controls the pest (i.e., has insecticidal activity). Plants, plant parts, bacteria and other host cells comprising the silencing elements or an active variant or fragment thereof of the invention are also provided.

Structurally stabilized, e.g., stapled, peptides with the ability to translocate through microbial cell membranes to the interior of microbial cells and exert a biological activity there are provided, as are methods of designing, making and using such peptides.

The present disclosure relates to methods and compositions comprising naturally occurring light absorbing molecules for preventing damages from light exposure. Specific embodiments of this disclosure include fluorescent proteins from Brachiostoma lanceolatum.

The present invention provides for a composition, as disclosed herein, for delivery of an active agent. The composition includes a peptide coacervate, wherein the peptide coacervate includes one or more peptides derived from histidine-rich proteins, and an active agent encapsulated in the peptide coacervate. Further provided are a method for encapsulation of an active agent in a peptide coacervate, a method for delivery of an active agent, and a method for treating or diagnosing a condition or disease in a subject in need thereof.

The present invention relates to “a heterodimer which combines a Factor G α-subunit containing an amino acid sequence that is the same as or substantially the same as an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 4 with a Factor G β-subunit containing an amino acid sequence that is the same as or substantially the same as an amino acid sequence represented by any one of SEQ ID NO: 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, or 16, a method of measuring a β-glucan using the heterodimer, and a kit for measuring a β-glucan containing the heterodimer”.

Cell-targeted cytotoxic agents, including sortase serine protease constructs, are provided. Such compounds can be used in methods for targeted cell killing such as for treatment cell of proliferative diseases (e.g., cancer). In some aspects, recombinant sortase serine proteases, such as Granzyme B polypeptides, are provided that exhibit improved stability and cell toxicity.

A method of inactivating harmful microorganisms of a filtration medium including pathogenic bacteria and viruses is disclosed which includes placing a predetermined quantity of a hybridized fluorescent silk on to a filtration medium, applying light for a predetermined amount of time to the placed quantity of the hybridized fluorescent silk, and passing a fluid through the medium, wherein the fluid is one of substantially air or substantially water,

wherein the hybridized fluorescent silk is one of KillerRed, SuperNova, KillerOrange, Dronpa, TurboGFP, mCherry, or any combination thereof.

The present invention pertains to fields of biochemistry and molecular biology, relates to an αO-superfamily conotoxin peptide, pharmaceutical composition thereof, preparation method and use thereof. The present invention further relates to a propeptide of the conotoxin peptide, nucleic acid construct thereof, expression vector and transformed cell thereof, and fusion protein thereof. The present invention further relates to a method for blocking acetylcholine receptors as well as a use of the conotoxin peptide in the manufacture of a medicament. The new αO-superfamily conotoxin peptide of the present invention is capable of specifically blocking acetylcholine receptor (nAChRs) (e.g., α9α10 nAChR), and NMDA receptor (e.g., NR2C NMDAR), and has activity for treatment of neuralgia, addiction, and activity for treatment of chemotherapy of cancers, breast cancer, lung cancer, wound healing, epilepsia, ischemia, and thus is promising in the manufacture of analgesic, a medicament for treatment of addiction, and a tool drug for neuroscience.

This disclosure concerns nucleic acid molecules and methods of use thereof for control of coleopteran pests through RNA interference-mediated inhibition of target coding and transcribed non-coding sequences in coleopteran pests. The disclosure also concerns methods for making transgenic plants that express nucleic acid molecules useful for the control of coleopteran pests, and the plant cells and plants obtained thereby.