Targeting or binding peptides to neutrophil elastase for specific targeting of activated neutrophils includes amino acid sequences substantially similar to a reactive center loop portion of alpha-1 anti-trypsin (AAT).

Provided herein are compositions and methods to that target microbial proteases to ameliorate the intestinal barrier dysfunction and restore mucosal integrity. They are useful to treat and prevent diseases and disorders caused by pathogenic bacteria in the gastrointestinal system of a subject.

The present invention describes rhomboid protease inhibitors having high specificity and inhibition characteristics providing novel antibiotics, anti-malarial pharmaceutical agents, and provides a strategy for designing RiBns (rhomboid-inhibiting boronates) to target rhomboid selectively in unrelated organisms.

The invention relates to an inhibitor of Factor XII (FXII) for use in treating or preventing chronic kidney disease, renal fibrosis, glomerulosclerosis, renal scarring, ischemia/reperfusion injury in native or transplant kidneys and/or acute kidney injury, a kit for use in treating or preventing chronic kidney disease, renal fibrosis, glomerulosclerosis, renal scarring, ischemia/reperfusion injury in native or transplant kidneys, acute kidney injury, renal fibrosis as a result of rejection of a kidney transplant/allograft, and/or fibrosis of a kidney transplant/allograft as a result of rejection or recurrent underlying disease comprising one inhibitor of Factor XII, and an anti-Factor XII (FXII) antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof for use in treating or preventing chronic kidney disease, renal fibrosis, glomerulosclerosis, renal scarring, ischemia/reperfusion injury in native or transplant kidneys and/or acute kidney injury comprising one inhibitor of Factor XII.

The present invention relates to a bacterium, in which the expression and/or the activity of surface proteases is/are inhibited, to its preparation process and to the uses of this bacterium.

The present invention provides fusion polypeptides for inhibiting angiogenesis, fusion protein nanocages having peptides for inhibiting angiogenesis, and diagnostic and therapeutic (theranostic) uses thereof.

A2M polypeptide compositions containing a non-natural bait region are disclosed. Methods of producing wild-type and variant A2M polypeptides and polynucleotides containing a non-natural bait region are also disclosed. The bait regions of the variant A2M polypeptides demonstrate enhanced protease inhibitory characteristics compared to wild-type A2M. Variant A2M polypeptides that demonstrate longer half-lives upon administration to an organism compared to wild-type A2M are disclosed. The A2M compositions are useful in treating a number of diseases and conditions including inflammation, chronic wounds, and diseases with a pathology associated with proteases.

This invention relates to molecules, particularly polypeptides, more particularly fusion proteins that include a serpin polypeptide or an amino acid sequence that is derived from a serpin and second polypeptide comprising of at least one the following: an Fc polypeptide or an amino acid sequence that is derived from an Fc polypeptide; a cytokine targeting polypeptide or a sequence derived from a cytokine targeting polypeptide; a WAP domain containing polypeptide or a sequence derived from a WAP containing polypeptide; and an albumin polypeptide or an amino acid sequence that is derived from a serum albumin polypeptide. This invention also relates to methods of using such molecules in a variety of therapeutic and diagnostic indications, as well as methods of producing such molecules.

Disclosed are knottin peptides containing non-natural amino acids so that they can be formed by chemical conjugation into two or more knottin monomers. The knottin monomers comprise a non-natural amino acid such as an aminooxy residue within the polypeptide sequence. The exemplified dimers were produced by oxime formation between two aldehyde groups present on a polyether linker and an aminooxy functional group that was site-specifically incorporated the knottin. Knottins variants based on EETI (Ecballium elaterium trypsin inhibitor) and AgRP (Agouti-related protein) were engineered to contain integrin-binding loops. These dimers were shown to have increased binding strength to integrins on U87MG tumor cells, achieving significant increases in inhibition of cell adhesion and proliferation. Also disclosed are knottin monomers comprising an aminooxy residue; these may be conjugated to molecules such as doxorubicin.

Use of a fructose disaccharide or fructooligosaccharide, for increasing protein production in Bifidobacterium longum subsp longum.