Novel insecticidal proteins that are toxic to lepidopteran pests are disclosed. The DNA encoding the insecticidal proteins can be used to transform prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms to express the insecticidal proteins. The recombinant organisms or compositions containing the recombinant organisms or the insecticidal proteins alone or in combination with an appropriate agricultural carrier can be used to control lepidopteran pests in various environments.

Compositions of purified biologically active Wnt proteins are provided. Wnt proteins are found to be hydrophobic and post-translationally modified by addition of a lipid moiety at a conserved cysteine residue. Methods for isolation of Wnt utilize detergents that maintain the solubility of the modified protein.

Compositions consisting of bioactive molecules derived from the microbiota of a mammal are provided herein. When administered orally with a colonic delivery system, the compositions are useful for the prophylaxis and treatment of diseases, in particular inflammatory, autoimmune and infectious diseases. The compositions comprise combinations of small molecules and bacterial antigens formulated in colonic delivery systems. Use of the compositions results in any or all of: induction of immune tolerance; strengthening of the gut mucosal barrier integrity; reduction of inflammation; and amelioration of a disease state caused by inflammation, an autoimmune reaction or an infectious agent.

Compositions consisting of bioactive molecules derived from the microbiota of a mammal are provided herein. When administered orally with a colonic delivery system, the compositions are useful for the prophylaxis and treatment of diseases, in particular inflammatory, autoimmune and infectious diseases. The compositions comprise combinations of small molecules and bacterial antigens formulated in colonic delivery systems. Use of the compositions results in any or all of: induction of immune tolerance; strengthening of the gut mucosal barrier integrity; reduction of inflammation; and amelioration of a disease state caused by inflammation, an autoimmune reaction or an infectious agent.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the inhibition of the infectivity of a herpesvirus. In certain embodiments, the compositions and methods provide a CRISPR-associated peptide and a guide nucleic acid, which induce the mutation of herpesvirus genome, thereby inhibiting the infectivity of the herpesvirus. Further disclosed are Cas peptides including Cas9 or a variant thereof comprising one or more point mutations relative to wildtype Streptococcus pyogenes Cas 9 (spCas9), and Cpf1 or a variant thereof.

The present invention relates to the field of cancer. More specifically, the present invention provides compositions and methods for treating cancer using albumin-proaerolysin prodrugs. Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention provides prodrug compositions. In certain embodiments, a prodrug composition comprises a prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-activated pro-aerolysin (PA), wherein a PSA cleavable linker replaces the native furin cleavage site within PA; and human serum albumin (HSA) or a fragment thereof fused to the N-terminus of the PSA-activated PA.

The present invention relates to the field of cancer. More specifically, the present invention provides compositions and methods for treating cancer using albumin-proaerolysin prodrugs. Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention provides prodrug compositions. In certain embodiments, a prodrug composition comprises a prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-activated pro-aerolysin (PA), wherein a PSA cleavable linker replaces the native furin cleavage site within PA; and human serum albumin (HSA) or a fragment thereof fused to the N-terminus of the PSA-activated PA.

In certain embodiments a dental strip for the prevention or reduction of dental caries is provided. In certain embodiments the dental strip is constructed to deliver effective amounts of specifically targeted antimicrobial peptides (or simple antimicrobial peptides) and comprises an orally compatible backing layer, a delivery layer disposed on one surface of the backing layer where the delivery layer comprises an orally compatible polymer, or combination of polymers, and a specifically targeted antimicrobial peptide (and/or simple antimicrobial peptide) capable of binding and killing Streptococcus mutans. In certain embodiments the dental strip additionally comprises a release liner.

Described herein are compositions and methods for diagnosing late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD), treating LOAD and assessing efficacy of therapeutic agents used to treat LOAD.

The present invention relates to uses of threonyl-tRNA synthetase (TARS) derived from Akkermansia muciniphila or a fragment thereof as an active ingredient for prevention, alleviation, and treatment of an inflammatory disease. The Akkermansia muciniphila TARS or a fragment thereof according to the present invention promotes the differentiation of M2 macrophages, which are anti-inflammatory macrophages, to multiply macrophages, thereby increasing the secretion of IL-10 as an anti-inflammatory cytokine, leading to the proliferation of B cells to result in an anti-inflammatory effect, and thus was verified to show alleviation effects of not only inflammatory diseases but also immune diseases, infectious diseases, and metabolic diseases accompanied by inflammation, and to have excellent effects in the prevention or treatment of an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).