Compounds of Formula IA, IB, II, III, IV, and/or V are described herein along with their methods of use. A compound of the present invention may cross-link under physiological conditions and/or in vivo.

Methods are provided for treating osteoarthritis by administering αKlotho protein and sTGFβ-R2 protein to a site within a mammal exhibiting symptoms of osteoarthritis, such as a knee joint. The αKlotho protein and the sTGFβ-R2 protein are both present at the osteoarthritic site.

Provided herein is a protein, referred to as a Pn3Pase protein, that degrades the capsular polysaccharide of serotype 3 Streptococcus pneumoniae. The disclosure includes a genetically modified cell that includes a Pn3Pase protein, and compositions that include the protein, the polynucleotide encoding the protein, the genetically modified cell, or a combination thereof. Also provided are methods for using a Pn3Pase protein, including methods for contacting a S. pneumoniae having a type III capsular polysaccharide with a Pn3Pase protein, increasing deposition of at least one complement component on the surface of a S. pneumoniae, treating an infection in a subject, treating a symptom in a subject, decreasing colonization of a subject by S. pneumoniae, or a combination thereof.

Disclosed herein are methods for treating or prophylactically treating age-related cognitive decline associated with dementia by administering recombinant viral vectors designed to deliver TERT and/or KL (Klotho) genes to the patient. The TERT and/or KL genes are packaged within one or more AAV viral vectors and administered to the CNS of the patient via intranasal and/or intrathecal injection. The therapy can provide improvements in cognitive function as evidenced by improved Folstein/MMSE scores over time.

The invention provides recombinant DNA molecules and constructs, as well as their nucleotide sequences, useful for modulating gene expression in plants. The invention also provides transgenic plants, plant cells, plant parts, and seeds comprising the recombinant DNA molecules operably linked to heterologous transcribable DNA molecules, as are methods of their use.

Nanoparticles coated with extracellular matrix (ECM) are provided, in some aspects, for the delivery of a therapeutic protein, nucleic acid, or drug. In some embodiments, the nanoparticles are delivered to a subject via inhalation or aerosol delivery. Also provided, in some aspects, are methods for treating acute lung injury comprising administering α-Klotho (αKlotho) protein or DNA to a subject.

The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods for modulating gene expression and in particular to compositions and methods for increasing expression of Klotho. In certain examples, the present disclosure provides a method of increasing expression of a Klotho gene in a cell the method comprising administering to the cell a binding molecule that binds to an RNA transcript transcribed from a chromosomal region within or near the Klotho gene, wherein the RNA transcript does not encode a Klotho protein.

Chimeric and other variant β-glucuronidase enzymes with enhanced properties as compared to unmodified enzyme are provided. The enzymes of the invention advantageously exhibit enhanced enzymatic activity, enhanced substrate range, enhanced pH range, enhanced temperature range and/or enhanced enzyme stability. Methods of using the variant enzymes for hydrolysis of glucuronide substrates, including opiates and benzodiazepines, are also provided.

A genetically modified mesenchymal stem cell including an exogenous nucleic acid including a Klotho encoding region operably linked to a promoter or promoter/enhancer combination, wherein the genetically modified mesenchymal stem cell exhibits increased Klotho expression compared to an unmodified mesenchymal stem cell. Also disclosed are methods of treating a patient including administering a therapeutically effective number of the genetically modified mesenchymal stem cells to the patient. The methods of treatment include treating the patient for a neurodegenerative disease; cancer; organ fibrosis; renal disease; age-related changes of organs or organ systems; to slow, reverse and/or inhibit aging; arteriosclerosis; dementia; diabetes mellitus; erectile dysfunction; autoimmune diseases or autoimmune-related diseases; an inflammatory disease of the lung and sepsis.

The present inventions relates to a method for the production of gellan gum, under mixing conditions, the method comprising a) providing a fermentation broth or other liquid medium containing gellan gum, b) if necessary adjusting the temperature and the pH of the fermentation broth/liquid medium to allow or facilitate enzymatic treatment in step c, c) adding one or more enzymes capable of reducing or abolishing the enzymatic activity of S. elodea derived arylsulfatase and/or β-glucuronidase, said one or more enzymes being added in an amount sufficient to reduce or abolish the enzymatic activity of S. elodea derived arylsulfatase and/or β-glucuronidase in the broth/liquid medium, and/or treating the broth/liquid medium at a temperature between 90° C. and 125° C. for a period of time sufficient to reduce or abolish the enzymatic activity of S. elodea derived arylsulfatase and/or β-glucuronidase in the broth/liquid medium, and d) optionally recovering the gellan gum from the gellan gum containing broth/liquid medium.