The present application relates to a superoxide dismutase 1 variant and a method for producing glutathione or derivatives thereof using the same.

The invention provides a method for treating a medical condition, disease, or disorder mediated by a misfolded form of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in a subject in need of treatment. The method optionally comprises administering to the subject a composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle and an agent selected from (1) an exogenous antibody or fragment thereof that binds selectively to the misfolded form of SOD, and/or (2) an immunogen that elicits production of an endogenous antibody that binds selectively to the misfolded form of SOD, and/or (3) a nucleic acid sequence encoding (1) or (2). In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods of treating diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using amyotrophic disease-specific epitopes, and compositions including these epitopes. The invention also provides antibodies that bind to monomeric or misfolded SOD1, and not on the molecular surface of native homodimeric SOD1. In addition, the invention includes methods of diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in a subject. Also, the invention provides methods of identifying substances for the treatment or prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and kits using the binding proteins of the invention.

The invention relates to a method for obtaining a superoxide dismutase (SOD)-concentrated protein extract having a specific activity of at least 700 UI/mg protein, said method comprising a single step of extraction from a plant selected from any species of the Plumbaginaceae family.

The present invention relates to an original and specific mixture of purified superoxide dismutases (SODs) of plant origin, characterised in that said mixture is essentially made up of three superoxide dismutases: a manganese superoxide dismutase, a copper and zinc superoxide dismutase and an iron superoxide dismutase provided in two isoforms, which can be obtained from an extract of the hybrid variety F1 of Cucumis melo MA 7950 or the cells thereof cultured in vitro or by transfer and expression of the genes of said SODs in prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells. The specific mixture according to the invention imparts to the compositions containing same a greater effectiveness in the treatment or prevention of diseases linked to inflammatory and/or oxidative stress, such as radiation-induced fibroses, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, atherosclerosis, labial herpes and myopathies, as well as in nutritional, pharmaceutical, veterinary or cosmetic uses.

Microorganisms are genetically engineered to continuously produce fatty acids, fatty alcohols, cultured protein, or any combination thereof by microbial fermentation, particularly by microbial fermentation of a gaseous substrate. The microorganisms are C1-fixing. The production of fatty acids, fatty alcohols, and cultured proteins can be improved. This can be improved by varying promoters or nutrient limiting means.

A human platelet lysate preparation that contains human plasma is provided. This preparation can be generated from human platelets by concentrating and washing them under defined conditions to control the degree of human plasma present. The washed platelet concentrate is then subjected to a freeze-thaw cycle to produce platelet lysate which is centrifuged and filtered through 0.65, 0.45 and 0.2 filters, aliquoted and stored frozen at <20 C. until thawed for use. This invention describes the novel finding that the controlled addition of human plasma to the lysate preparation significantly enhances the cell growth potency of the lysate preparation. This lysate can be used as a media supplement to replace fetal bovine serum (FBS) or other non-human serum additives used for the culture of mammalian cells. This invention also describes the formulation and use of the lysate preparation as a topical application for skin care, and wound healing, including anti-wrinkling, anti-scarring and wound resolution applications of the invention.

Provided are modified virus-like particles (VLPs) of paramyxoviruses, compositions containing them, methods of using the VLPs for delivery of any particular protein of interest to any of a variety of cells, kits that contain expression vectors for making, using and detecting VLPs, and methods for screening for anti-viral compounds using the VLPs. The modified VLPs contain a contiguous recombinant polypeptide that contains i) all or a segment of a C-terminal domain of a paramyxovirus nucleocapsid protein and ii) a polypeptide sequence of a distinct protein. Non-covalent complexes of paramyxovirus M protein and fusion proteins that contain a C-terminal domain of a paramyxovirus nucleocapsid protein and a polypeptide sequence of a distinct protein are provided, as are non-covalent complexes of cells, and cell receptors, with modified VLPs.

The invention provides a method for treating a medical condition, disease, or disorder mediated by a misfolded form of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in a subject in need of treatment. The method optionally comprises administering to the subject a composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle and an agent selected from (1) an exogenous antibody or fragment thereof that binds selectively to the misfolded form of SOD, and/or (2) an immunogen that elicits production of an endogenous antibody that binds selectively to the misfolded form of SOD, and/or (3) a nucleic acid sequence encoding (1) or (2). In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods of treating diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using amyotrophic disease-specific epitopes, and compositions including these epitopes. The invention also provides antibodies that bind to monomeric or misfolded SOD1, and not on the molecular surface of native homodimeric SOD1. In addition, the invention includes methods of diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in a subject. Also, the invention provides methods of identifying substances for the treatment or prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and kits using the binding proteins of the invention.

DNA constructs as well as methods for the production of unicellular organisms capable of producing hydrogen peroxide resistance proteins are disclosed. DNA constructs as well as methods for integration of the DNA constructs into the genomes of unicellular organisms for the expression of hydrogen peroxide production proteins are also disclosed. In addition, DNA constructs as well as methods for integration of the DNA constructs into the genomes of unicellular organisms for the expression of hydrogen peroxide resistance and hydrogen peroxide production proteins are disclosed.

Provided are modified virus-like particles (VLPs) of paramyxoviruses, compositions containing them, methods of using the VLPs for delivery of any particular protein of interest to any of a variety of cells, kits that contain expression vectors for making, using and detecting VLPs, and methods for screening for anti-viral compounds using the VLPs. The modified VLPs contain a contiguous recombinant polypeptide that contains i) all or a segment of a C-terminal domain of a paramyxovirus nucleocapsid protein and ii) a polypeptide sequence of a distinct protein. Non-covalent complexes of paramyxovirus M protein and fusion proteins that contain a C-terminal domain of a paramyxovirus nucleocapsid protein and a polypeptide sequence of a distinct protein are provided, as are non-covalent complexes of cells, and cell receptors, with modified VLPs.