Methods of using of guanylin family peptides to induce food or odor preferences in mammals are provided, along with methods for inducing feeding responses in mammals, and methods of controlling pest populations of mammals, such as rodents.

Methods of using of guanylin family peptides to induce food or odor preferences in mammals are provided, along with methods for inducing feeding responses in mammals, and methods of controlling pest populations of mammals, such as rodents.

The present disclosure relates to a method for preparing an antimicrobial complex strain from kefir, which includes: 1) providing and, optionally filtering, kefir or kefir whey; 2) introducing a fermentable sugar into the kefir or kefir whey, wherein based on the weight of the kefir or kefir whey, at least a saturation amount of said fermentable sugar is used, and allowing curd to gather at the top, so as to form a pre-fermentation composition; and 3) enabling the pre-fermentation composition to ferment until a microbial membrane that is capable of growth develops at the top and a whey liquid forms underneath, and the whey liquid demonstrates antimicrobial activity and has a pH of about 3.0, wherein during the fermentation, if needed, further adding said kefir or kefir whey and/or said fermentable sugar.

Compositions and methods for controlling pests are provided. The methods involve transforming organisms with a nucleic acid sequence encoding an insecticidal protein. In particular, the nucleic acid sequences are useful for preparing plants and microorganisms that possess insecticidal activity. Thus, transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, plant tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions are insecticidal nucleic acids and proteins of bacterial species. The sequences find use in the construction of expression vectors for subsequent transformation into organisms of interest including plants, as probes for the isolation of other homologous (or partially homologous) genes. The pesticidal proteins find use in controlling, inhibiting growth or killing Lepidopteran, Coleopteran, Dipteran, fungal, Hemipteran and nematode pest populations and for producing compositions with insecticidal activity. Structure based methods for engineering insecticidal proteins of the disclosure to have modified physical properties are provided.

Compositions and methods for controlling pests are provided. The methods involve transforming organisms with a nucleic acid sequence encoding an insecticidal protein. In particular, the nucleic acid sequences are useful for preparing plants and microorganisms that possess insecticidal activity. Thus, transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, plant tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions are insecticidal nucleic acids and proteins of bacterial species. The sequences find use in the construction of expression vectors for subsequent transformation into organisms of interest including plants, as probes for the isolation of other homologous (or partially homologous) genes. The pesticidal proteins find use in controlling, inhibiting growth or killing Lepidopteran, Coleopteran, Dipteran, fungal, Hemipteran and nematode pest populations and for producing compositions with insecticidal activity. Structure based methods for engineering insecticidal proteins of the disclosure to have modified physical properties are provided.

Provided are compositions that include an effective amount of a peptide or polypeptide derived from a Bordetella ACT AC domain, optionally wherein the peptide or polypeptide is 80-100% identical to an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 1-5 and 44-53. Also provided are methods of using the same for preventing and/or treating a diseases, disorders, and conditions associated with the presence and/or development of biofilm; and for reducing the incidence of nosocomial infections; for inhibiting biofilm development and/or for reducing or eliminating biofilm present on medical, dental, and industrial surfaces.

Provided are compositions that include an effective amount of a peptide or polypeptide derived from a Bordetella ACT AC domain, optionally wherein the peptide or polypeptide is 80-100% identical to an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 1-5 and 44-53. Also provided are methods of using the same for preventing and/or treating a diseases, disorders, and conditions associated with the presence and/or development of biofilm; and for reducing the incidence of nosocomial infections; for inhibiting biofilm development and/or for reducing or eliminating biofilm present on medical, dental, and industrial surfaces.

Disclosed herein are the nucleotide sequences of the Chromobacterium subtsugae genes. In addition, the amino acid sequences of proteins encoded by the C. subtsugae genes are provided. Nucleic acids, vectors and polypeptides comprising the aforementioned sequences are also provided. Homologues, functional fragments and conservative variants of the aforementioned sequences are also provided. Compositions having pesticidal, bioremedial and plant growth-promoting activities comprising C. subtsugae genes and proteins, and methods for the use of these compositions, are also provided.

Disclosed herein are the nucleotide sequences of the Chromobacterium subtsugae genes. In addition, the amino acid sequences of proteins encoded by the C. subtsugae genes are provided. Nucleic acids, vectors and polypeptides comprising the aforementioned sequences are also provided. Homologues, functional fragments and conservative variants of the aforementioned sequences are also provided. Compositions having pesticidal, bioremedial and plant growth-promoting activities comprising C. subtsugae genes and proteins, and methods for the use of these compositions, are also provided.

Provided herein are methods for using RNAi molecules targeting a proteasome beta 5 (PSMB5) gene for controlling Coleopteran insects, methods for producing RNAi molecules targeting PSMB5, and compositions comprising RNAi molecules targeting PSMB5.