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.

Compositions, methods, and kits are provided for assaying calpain-5 activity and inhibition. In particular, novel peptide substrates are provided for detecting calpain-5, measuring calpain-5 activity, and screening for inhibitors of calpain-5 to identify potential therapeutic agents for treating retinal diseases and other diseases associated with calpain-5 hyperactivity. Additionally, novel inhibitors of calpain-5 are also provided.

Provided herein, in some embodiments, are AFFIMER® polypeptides that binds to the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) and extends the half-life of the polypeptides. Also provided herein, in some embodiments, are compositions containing the polypeptides, methods of using the polypeptides, and methods of producing the polypeptides.

Methods for differentiating full-length high molecular weight kininogen (HMWK) and cleaved HMWK in a sample are provided herein. Such methods may comprise treating a biological sample with a protease to generate a plurality of digested peptides, and measuring one or more signature peptides, which are indicative of cleaved HMWK and/or full-length HMWK.

The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for the treatment of diseases and genetic disorders linked to CSTB loss and/or misfunction. The methods and compositions of the present disclosure include rAAV vectors and rAAV viral vectors comprising transgene nucleic acid molecules encoding CSTB polypeptides.

Disclosed herein are inventive polypeptides (e.g., comprising a thermal sensitive ion channel or variant thereof and a domain 5 of kininogen 1 or variant or fragment thereof) and nucleic acid molecules encoding inventive polypeptides. Also disclosed are methods for modulating a cell comprising administering certain compositions (e.g., pharmaceutical compositions of the nucleic acid molecule) and applying a static magnetic field or an electromagnetic field. Methods for treating diseases or disorders in an animal (e.g., a human) comprising administering certain compositions (e.g., pharmaceutical compositions of the nucleic acid molecule) and applying a static magnetic field or an electromagnetic field, are further disclosed.

The disclosure provides compositions and methods for the detection of renal disease and periodontal disease in mammals.

The present disclosure provides a chimeric polypeptide comprising a helical bundle which comprises between about two and about seven alpha-helices and a bioactive peptide, wherein one or more of the alpha helices form one or more inter-helix hydrogen bonds and comprise at least one phosphorylation site and wherein the bioactive peptide is conformationally placed inside the helical bundle so that the bioactive peptide is not activated or exposed. The disclosure also provides a nucleotide sequence encoding the chimeric polypeptide, a vector comprising the nucleotide sequence, a cell comprising the nucleotide sequence, and method of making, using, or designing the chimeric polypeptide.

Provided herein, in some embodiments, are fusion proteins comprising recombinantly engineered variant of stefin polypeptide (an AFFIMER® polypeptide) that binds to PD-L1 and a polypeptide that binds to human serum albumin (HSA). Also provided herein, in some embodiments, are compositions containing the fusion proteins, methods of using the fusion proteins, and methods of producing the fusion proteins.

Provided herein, in some embodiments, are recombinantly engineered variant of stefin polypeptides (AFFIMER® polypeptides) that binds to human serum albumin and extends the half-life of the polypeptides. Also provided herein, in some embodiments, are composition containing the polypeptides, methods of using the polypeptides, and methods of producing the polypeptides.