The present disclosure relates to the isolation, preservation, compositions and uses of extracts from a newly discovered species of Justicia plants. The present disclosure also relates to compositions comprising the extracts of the new species of Justicia plant, as well as methods of producing and using such compositions for treating blood disorders and/or for other health, food and industrial uses.

Cationic polymers having one or more anionic ligand end groups, including a new class of carboxylated branched poly(beta-amino ester)s that can self-assemble into nanoparticles for efficient intracellular delivery of different biomolecules, including a variety of proteins is disclosed.

The present application relates to a compositions and methods comprising or expressing a hevamine A-related MoMo30 protein from Momordica balsamina. The MoMo30 protein is about 30 kDa in size, is stable after being autoclaved at 120° C. for 30 min, resists proteolytic cleavage by trypsin, exhibits mannose-sensitive binding to HIV gp120, exhibits hemagglutinin and chitinase activity, is capable of activating and stimulating T cell proliferation, is capable of preventing infection by HIV-1 or alleviating symptoms in an HIV-1 infected patients, and comprises an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4. The MoMo30 protein and/or a nucleic acid encoding the same may be used in methods for preventing or treating microbial infections by HIV, SARS-CoV-2 and other enveloped viruses, as well as other microorganisms comprising cell surface proteins containing glycan residues, such as mannose.

This invention relates generally to methods for increasing bioactivity of lunasin in liquid formulations, sonicated bioactive lunasin compositions and methods of using sonicated bioactive lunasin. More specifically, this invention relates to methods of increasing bioactivity of lunasin in liquid formulations by administering sonication. One embodiment the present invention provides a method of increasing the bioactivity of lunasin comprising: a) providing a composition comprising lunasin, b) putting said composition into solution, and c) administering sonication to the composition.

Nanoparticles and formulations for treating prostate cancer in a subject are disclosed. The nanoparticles contain a cage, such as a zeolitic imidazolate framework (“ZIF”), a surface modifying agent, a targeting ligand, and an active agent. The surface modifying ligand is attached to the outer surface of the cage and the targeting ligand is exposed to the surrounding environment. The active agent is encapsulated in the cage. The targeting ligand binds to a reproductive hormone or a receptor of a reproductive hormone. The active agents can be a ribosome inactivating protein, an apoptosis inducer, a hormone, a receptor ligand, or a nucleic acid, or a chemotherapy drug or a combination thereof, that kill and/or reduce or prevent growth or proliferation of gonadotroph cells and/or tumor cells, regulate FSH and/or LH secretion, and/or interfere with androgen production. Uses for formulations incorporating the nanoparticles for treating cancer in a subject are also disclosed.

Nanoparticles and formulations for non-surgical sterilization are disclosed herein. The nanoparticles for non-surgical sterilization contains a cage, such as a zeolitic imidazolate framework (“ZIF”), a surface modifying agent, a targeting ligand, and an active agent. The surface modifying agent is attached to the outer surface of the cage and the targeting ligand is exposed to the surrounding environment. The active agent is encapsulated in the cage. The targeting ligand binds to a reproductive hormone or a receptor of a reproductive hormone. The active agents can be a ribosome inactivating protein, an apoptosis inducer, a hormone, a receptor ligand, or a nucleic acid, or a combination thereof, that inactivates the ovaries or testes. Uses for the nanoparticles and formulations incorporating the nanoparticles for sterilizing a subject in need thereof are also disclosed.

The present invention provides methods and taste-modifying kits for facilitating cleansing of the gastrointestinal tract of a patient prior to a diagnostic, surgical or therapeutic procedure. The methods and taste-modifying kits can improve patient compliance, and thus, efficacy of the preparation. Specifically, the present methods make the gastrointestinal tract preparation composition palatable for the patient to consume. For example, for a patient preparing to undergo colonoscopy, the present methods make the bowel preparation solution taste significantly less salty.

Microorganisms are provided, such as lactic acid bacteria (e.g., Lactococcus lactis) containing an exogenous nucleic acid encoding an IL-10 polypeptide and an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a CeD-specific antigen (e.g., a gliadin polypeptide comprising at least one HLA-DQ2 specific epitope, at least one deamidated HLA-DQ2 specific epitope, at least one HLA-DQ8 specific epitope, at least one deamidated HLA-DQ8 specific epitope, or a combination of (a) at least one HLA-DQ2-specific epitope and/or at least one deamidated HLA-DQ2 specific epitope, and (b) at least one HLA-DQ8 specific epitope and/or at least one deamidated HLA-DQ8 specific epitope) polypeptide, wherein both exogenous nucleic acids are integrated into the bacterial chromosome. Such microbial strains are suitable for human therapy. Compositions (e.g., pharmaceutical compositions), methods of using the microorganisms and compositions are provided, e.g., for the treatment of celiac disease (CeD). The microorganism may be administered orally, delivering the microorganism into the gastrointestinal tract, where it is released and expresses the bioactive polypeptides.

Microorganisms are provided, such as lactic acid bacteria (e.g., Lactococcus lactis) containing an exogenous nucleic acid encoding an IL-10 polypeptide and an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a CeD-specific antigen (e.g., a gliadin polypeptide comprising at least one HLA-DQ2 specific epitope, at least one deamidated HLA-DQ2 specific epitope, at least one HLA-DQ8 specific epitope, at least one deamidated HLA-DQ8 specific epitope, or a combination of (a) at least one HLA-DQ2-specific epitope and/or at least one deamidated HLA-DQ2 specific epitope, and (b) at least one HLA-DQ8 specific epitope and/or at least one deamidated HLA-DQ8 specific epitope) polypeptide, wherein both exogenous nucleic acids are integrated into the bacterial chromosome. Such microbial strains are suitable for human therapy. Compositions (e.g., pharmaceutical compositions), methods of using the microorganisms and compositions are provided, e.g., for the treatment of celiac disease (CeD). The microorganism may be administered orally, delivering the microorganism into the gastrointestinal tract, where it is released and expresses the bioactive polypeptides.

Disclosed are a polysaccharide-peptide composite and a method of preparing the same. The polysaccharide-peptide composite is prepared from a bitter melon peptide (BMP) powder, gardenia fruit oil, a soybean polypeptide powder, an oat dietary fiber powder, a konjac powder, a corn silk, a mulberry leaf extract, a Poria cocos extract, a hawthorn extract, nutritional yeast and a pancreatin. The BMP powder is prepared by temperature-controlled hydrolysis, staged enzymatic hydrolysis and multiple filtrations. The gardenia fruit oil is prepared by staged enzymatic hydrolysis, multi-step centrifugation, filtration and stratification.