The present invention includes methods and compositions for increasing longevity of a cell and increasing cellular resistance to stress. In certain embodiments, the invention includes a method to induce gene expression of a homolog of Pachytene Checkpoint 2 (pch-2) or bmk-1 gene. The present invention also includes methods to treat oxidative stress or induce cellular death or apoptosis by administering a composition comprising a modulator of pch-2 or bmk-1 homolog gene expression.

The instant disclosure provides methods and compositions for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Marfan syndrome and related diseases, disorders and conditions. The disclosure further provides pharmaceutical compositions and kits for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Marfan syndrome and related diseases, disorders and conditions.

The present invention relates to a method of treating or preventing a neurological condition mediated by a tau-dependent signalling complex in neurons of a subject, comprising treating the subject to: (a) promote phosphorylation of one or more amino acids residues of tau, wherein the phosphorylation of the amino acid residues causes disruption of the tau-dependent signalling complex in neurons of the subject; or (b) introduce a variant of tau that causes disruption of the tau-dependent signalling complex in neurons of the subject. The invention also relates to vectors, compositions and kits for treating or preventing a neurological condition mediated by a tau-dependent signalling complex in neurons of a subject.

The present invention relates to a method of treating a tauopathy in a subject, a method of improving cognitive ability in a subject suffering from cognitive impairment associated with a tauopathy, a method of reducing tau aggregates and neurofibrillary tangles. The method comprises administering an agent which promotes phosphorylation of tau at threonine in the sequence SSPGSPGTPGSRSR of the tau; and/or introduces a phosphomimetic of a phosphorylated tau, wherein the phosphorylated tau is tau that has been phosphorylated at threonine in the sequence SSPGSPGTPGSRSR of the tau.

Inhibitors of MAPK3 (ERK1 MAP kinase), in particular polypeptides having the ability to stimulate the global ERK signalling pathway in the brain and their use as neuroprotective and/or cognitive enhancing agents, are disclosed. Related polynucleotides, vectors, host cells and pharmaceutical compositions able to inhibit MAPK3, causing the stimulation of the global ERK signalling pathway, are also disclosed. Additionally, use of the afore inhibitors or stimulators in the treatment of neurodegenerative or neuropsychiatric disorders and cognitive impairment is also disclosed.

The subject of the present invention is a peptide, natural or synthetic, which comprises an amino acid sequence that has at least 80% sequence identity with the sequence SDRSLHLEANEKGENVNVHVTKTRADKSKIKVSVRQYADINEKGEAQYKCP-VAQLE (SEQ ID NO: 1). A further object of the present invention is said peptide which has at least 80% sequence identity with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 which is a JNK3 inhibitor for use in the prevention and / or treatment of neurodegenerative or neurodevel-opmental diseases.

Polymeric nanoparticles encapsulating inhibitory ribonucleic acids (RNAs) and methods of their manufacture and use are provided. Advantageous properties of the nanoparticles include: 1) high encapsulation efficiency of inhibitory RNAs into the nano articles, 2) small size of the nanoparticles that increases cell internalization, and 3) sustained release of encapsulated inhibitory RNAs by the nanoparticles that allows for administration of an effective amount of inhibitory RNAs to cells or tissues over extended periods of time. Encapsulation efficiency of inhibitory RNAs into the nanoparticles is greatly increased by complexing the inhibitory RNAs to polycations prior to encapsulation. Methods of using the polymeric nanoparticles for treating or inhibiting diseases or disorders are provided.

A method of identifying a subject having cancer who is likely to benefit from treatment with a combination therapy with a RAF inhibitor and a second inhibitor is provided. A method of treating cancer in a subject in need thereof is also provided and includes administering to the subject an effective amount of a RAF inhibitor and an effective amount of a second inhibitor, wherein the second inhibitor is a MEK inhibitor, a CRAF inhibitor, a CrkL inhibitor or a TPL2/COT inhibitor. A method of identifying a kinase target that confers resistance to a first inhibitor is also provided.

Isolated mutant ERK polypeptides and nucleic acids encoding the mutant ERK polypeptides are provided. Methods of screening cancer-containing samples for an ERK polypeptide mutation that confers resistance to treatment with a first MAPK pathway inhibitor are provided. Methods of optimizing treatment of a subject having cancer and methods of identifying compounds useful in treating cancer are also provided.

A method of identifying a subject having cancer who is likely to benefit from treatment with a combination therapy with a RAF inhibitor and a second inhibitor is provided. A method of treating cancer in a subject in need thereof is also provided and includes administering to the subject an effective amount of a RAF inhibitor and an effective amount of a second inhibitor, wherein the second inhibitor is a MEK inhibitor, a CRAF inhibitor, a CrkL inhibitor or a TPL2/COT inhibitor. A method of identifying a kinase target that confers resistance to a first inhibitor is also provided.