The present invention is directed to an isolated synthetic tripeptide of formula H-D-Phe-N-Methyl-L-Val-L-Ala-OMe (SEQ ID NO:1), or a derivative thereof, and to the corresponding lipotripeptides, which are specific to Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map)S-type strain, as well as derivatives and conjugates thereof. The invention also concerns the use of these antigens in different methods and tests for detecting Map infection, especially by detecting humoral response and cell mediated response of infected animals. The invention is also directed to a genetic signature of Map and a mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy signature of Map presence or infection.

Glutamine antagonists and their use for treating oncological, immunological, and neurological diseases are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for treating an oncological, immunological, infectious or neurological disease or disorder, the method comprising administering to a subject in need of treatment thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a glutamine antagonist of the disclosure or the pharmaceutical composition thereof. Also disclosed are methods of enhancing the effects of an immune checkpoint inhibitor, enabling a subject to respond to an immune checkpoint inhibitor, or enabling the toxicity or the dose or number of treatments with an immune checkpoint inhibitor to be reduced, comprising administering to a subject in need of treatment thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a glutamine antagonist of the disclosure or the pharmaceutical composition thereof, and an immune checkpoint inhibitor. Also disclosed are methods for treating an oncological, immunological, infectious or neurological disease or disorder that is refractory to checkpoint inhibitor therapy, the method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof, and having the refractory disease or disorder, a therapeutically effective amount of a glutamine antagonist of the disclosure or the pharmaceutical composition thereof.

Described herein are Mpro cysteine protease inhibitors and methods of utilizing such inhibitors in the treatment of diseases, disorders, or conditions. Also described herein are pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds.

Embodiments disclosed herein provide a peptoid compound comprising a structure shown in Formula I and a detection chip having the peptoid compound coupled onto its surface. The peptoid compound has a strong binding ability with EpCAM protein on the surface of circulating tumor cells. The diagnostic technology of colorectal adenocarcinoma, gastric adenocarcinoma, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, lung adenocarcinoma, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, stem cell cancer, retinoblastoma, or primary esophageal squamous cell carcinoma based on the peptoid compound can realize rapid detection or diagnosis. In addition, the peptoid compound can be made by a simple synthesis method with high preparation efficiency and low production cost.

##STR00001##

Described is a labeling technique which can facilitate the metabolism in the liver after administration to patients without the reduction in the antibody function, thereby reducing accumulation of radionuclides in an organ such as the liver, and a modified antibody containing an IgG antibody and an IgG-binding peptide bound to the IgG antibody. The IgG-binding peptide has an amino acid sequence consisting of 13 to 17 amino acid residues, such as GPDCAYH(Xaa1)GELVWCTFH (SEQ ID NO: 2) wherein Xaa1 represents a lysine residue, a cysteine residue, an aspartic acid residue, a glutamic acid residue, 2-aminosuberic acid, or diaminopropionic acid, and a compound represented by the following formula (II-1) is linked at a position of the lysine residue via a modification linker to the N terminus of the IgG-binding peptide. ##STR00001##

Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention include substituted riluzole prodrugs useful for the treatment of cancers including melanoma, breast cancer, brain cancer, and prostate cancer through the release of riluzole. Prodrugs of riluzole have enhanced stability to hepatic metabolism and are delivered into systemic circulation by oral administration, and then cleaved to release riluzole in the plasma via either an enzymatic or general biophysical release process.

The invention provides a method for the cleavage of Fmoc group characterized by using a solution comprising 3-(diethylamino)propylamine. In particular, it provides a method for the preparation of peptides in solid phase wherein Fmoc protected amino acids are used and the Fmoc group is cleaved by a solution comprising 3-(diethylamino)propylamine.

Provided herein is an inhibitor compound targeting Hip1, with the inhibitor compound comprising a tripeptide targeting sequence that directs the compound to the active site of Hip1 and a C-terminal electrophilic warhead conjugated to the targeting sequence, the warhead configured to inactive the enzyme.

The present invention provides compounds of formula (I)

##STR00001## wherein X.sup.1 to X.sup.8 and R.sup.1 to R.sup.8 are as described herein, as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Further the present invention is concerned with the manufacture of the compounds of formula (I), pharmaceutical compositions comprising them and their use as medicaments for the treatment of diseases and infections caused by Acinetobacter baumannii.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention include substituted riluzole prodrugs useful for the treatment of cancers including melanoma, breast cancer, brain cancer, and prostate cancer through the release of riluzole. Prodrugs of riluzole have enhanced stability to hepatic metabolism and are delivered into systemic circulation by oral administration, and then cleaved to release riluzole in the plasma via either an enzymatic or general biophysical release process.