The disclosure pertains to conformational epitopes in alpha-synuclein, antibodies thereto and methods of making and using immunogens and antibodies specific thereto. In particular antibodies raised to cyclic compounds comprising at least 3 amino acids of EKTKEQ (SEQ ID NO: 1) selectively recognize misfolded oligomeric alpha-synuclein and are able to inhibit alpha-synuclein propagation and toxicity.

Melanocortin receptor-specific cyclic peptide

##STR00001##

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions or formulations and methods of preventing, ameliorating or treating melanocortin receptor-medicated diseases, indications, conditions and syndromes, including ocular indications, utilizing the cyclic peptide of the foregoing formula.

Disclosed herein, inter alia, are methods of use and composition of novel inhibitors that target the Smac binding site of a variety of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins that contain a Bir domain, including XIAP, cIAP1, cIAP2, or other IAP proteins.

This invention provides isolated and characterized secreted molecules from probiotic bacteria for use in compositions and methods for the treatment and/or prevention of infection by harmful pathogenic bacteria. The isolated secreted molecules can also be used in nutritional or medical food products which provide probiotics to the gastrointestinal tract of a mammal.

The invention relates to novel benzodiazepine derivatives with antiproliferative activity and more specifically to novel benzodiazepine compounds of formula (I)-(VI). The invention also provides conjugates of the benzodiazepine compounds linked to a cell-binding agent. The invention further provides compositions and methods useful for inhibiting abnormal cell growth or treating a proliferative disorder in a mammal using the compounds or conjugates of the invention.

The present disclosure provides thirteen synthetic peptides which have been shown to be FGF18 agonists. These synthetic peptides and topical compositions for decreasing, eliminating, or suppressing hair growth are disclosed herein. Methods for reducing hair growth, improving the appearance of skin, kits, and related cosmetic formulations are also provided herein.

This invention provides isolated and characterized secreted molecules from probiotic bacteria for use in compositions and methods for the treatment and/or prevention of infection by harmful pathogenic bacteria. The isolated secreted molecules can also be used in nutritional or medical food products which provide probiotics to the gastrointestinal tract of a mammal.

A PSMA-specific agent comprising a compound according to Formula I or Formula II: wherein S.sub.1 is absent or is an organic spacer group comprising 3-10 carbons; A is an amino acid chain comprising 1 to 5 amino acids wherein at least one of the amino acids is selected from glutamic acid and aspartic acid; S2 is absent or is an organic spacer group comprising 1 to 15 carbons and/or 0 to 2 amino acids; I.sub.1 is an imaging group; and I.sub.2 is absent or is an imaging group. The PSMA-specific agents can be used to image PSMA within a tissue region and/or for the treatment of a cancer, such as prostate cancer.

##STR00001##

Described herein are peptides from secretory phospholipase A.sub.2-IB and antibodies that can be used to reduce the contribution of the gastrointestinal tract to inflammatory processes including systemic inflammatory responses. Specifically, antibodies that bind specifically a peptide from secretory phospholipase A.sub.2-IB prevent death in a mouse model of LPS-induced endotoxemia. The antibodies described herein are particularly useful to treat systemic inflammatory response syndromes, including sepsis.

The present invention generally relates to compounds that are useful for inhibiting one or more trypsin-like S1 serine proteases, HGFA, matriptase, hepsin, KLK5 and/or TMPRSS2 as well as cysteine proteases including trypsin-like cysteine proteases (e.g. Cathepsin B). The present invention also relates to various methods of using the inhibitor compounds to treat or prevent viral infections, including those caused by coronaviruses and influenza, conditions associated with KLK5, various malignancies, pre-malignant conditions, and cancer.