The invention relates to truncated growth factors and variants thereof. The invention also relates to methods of making and using the truncated growth factors. The invention further relates to compositions including a protease and a growth factor comprising a bone morphogenic protein (BMP) or a variant thereof. The invention also relates to methods of using the composition.

The present invention relates to metalloproteases and the use thereof in cleaning processes, such as laundry and dish wash. The invention also relates to detergent compositions and cleaning compositions comprising a metalloprotease.

The present invention provides a detergent having a high detergency against corneum-derived stains, a method for evaluating the ability of an enzyme or a composition comprising the enzyme to degrade corneum-derived stains. A detergent comprising an M23A subfamily protease as an active ingredient. A method for evaluating the ability of an enzyme or a composition containing the enzyme to degrade corneum-derived stains, comprising obtaining the degrading activities of the test enzyme or the composition comprising the test enzyme on a reference peptide and one or more substrate peptides and evaluating the ability of the test enzyme or the composition comprising the test enzyme to degrade corneum-derived stains based on the degrading activities of the test enzyme or the composition comprising the test enzyme on the reference peptide and the substrate peptide, wherein the reference peptide is GGGGG or GGGG, the one or more substrate peptides are selected from the group consisting of GGGXG, GXGGG, GGXG, and GXGG, and X is any amino acid residue other than glycine.

Provided herein are methods and assays for isolating and culturing seborrheic keratosis cells ex vivo. Also provided herein are screening assays using cultured seborrheic keratosis cells and methods for treating seborrheic keratosis in a subject.

Provided herein are methods and assays for isolating and culturing seborrheic keratosis cells ex vivo. Also provided herein are screening assays using cultured seborrheic keratosis cells and methods for treating seborrheic keratosis in a subject.

Provided is a detergent having a high detergency against corneum-derived stains and a method for evaluating the ability of an enzyme to degrade corneum-derived stains. The detergent a M23A subfamily protease as an active ingredient. The method for evaluating the ability of the enzyme to degrade corneum-derived stains comprises obtaining the degrading activities of the test enzyme on a reference peptide and one or more substrate peptides and evaluating the ability of the test enzyme to degrade corneum-derived stains based on the degrading activities of the test enzyme on the reference peptide and the substrate peptide, wherein the reference peptide is GGGGG or GGGG, the one or more substrate peptides are selected from the group consisting of GGGXG, GXGGG, GGXG, and GXGG, and X is any amino acid residue other than glycine.

Provided herein are methods and assays for isolating and culturing seborrheic keratosis cells ex vivo. Also provided herein are screening assays using cultured seborrheic keratosis cells and methods for treating seborrheic keratosis in a subject.

The present invention relates to methods of reducing, delaying, preventing and/or inhibiting the progression of a Cryptococcus infection into the central nervous system (CNS) of a subject by inhibiting the activity of a M36 fungalysin metalloprotease (e.g., MPR1) secreted by the Cryptococcus. The invention further provides methods of increasing, promoting and/or enhancing delivery of a therapeutic agent across the blood-brain-barrier, comprising systemically administering the therapeutic agent in conjunction with a M36 fungalysin metalloprotease (e.g., MPR1), or an enzymatically active fragment thereof.

Provided herein are methods and assays for isolating and culturing seborrheic keratosis cells ex vivo. Also provided herein are screening assays using cultured seborrheic keratosis cells and methods for treating seborrheic keratosis in a subject.

The invention relates to truncated growth factors and variants thereof. The invention also relates to methods of making and using the truncated growth factors. The invention further relates to compositions including a protease and a growth factor comprising a bone morphogenic protein (BMP) or a variant thereof. The invention also relates to methods of using the composition.