This document provides methods and materials related to genetic variations of developmental disorders.

For example, this document provides methods for using such genetic variations to assess susceptibility of developing Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The present invention features an antibody mimetic, or an antigen binding fragment thereof, that specifically binds to an allosteric site of Aurora A kinase, therapeutic compositions comprising this antibody mimetic, and the use of the monobody to modulate Aurora A kinase for the treatment of cancer.

Novel cyclic peptides, cyclic peptide conjugates and compositions containing them for treating neurological diseases in a subject include an Odorranalectin (OL) sequence or modified OL sequence as a scaffold and a biologically active peptide or protein and/or therapeutic agent conjugated thereto. Methods of treatment of neurological diseases are based on intranasal delivery of a cyclic peptide or cyclic peptide conjugate as described herein. Combinatorial libraries that include a plurality of cyclic peptides have also been developed and can be used to screen for a ligand(s) for a receptor of interest.

The present invention provides methods and compositions relating to an assay for hERG channel protein sensitivity to small molecule pharmacological agents. In one embodiment, the invention includes an engineered hERG channel protein. In another embodiment, the invention includes a method of identifying small molecule pharmacological agents that interfere with repolarization of cardiac cells.

The invention provides a method that gives direct information about the intervention of a potential drug on the secondary structure distribution of a targetbiomolecule, i.e., for a disease with misfolded protein, such as neurodegenerative diseases in a complex body fluid. The secondary structural change is monitored by vibrational spectroscopy. The method can be applied for prescreening of drug candidates for targeting of specific biomolecules. The effect of the drug on the secondary structure distribution is monitored label-free in real time and provides thereby direct information about the efficacy of the potential drug.

The present invention relates inter alia to the treatment or prevention of influenza virus infection (including subtypes influenza A virus, influenza B virus, avian strain H5N1, A/H1N1, H3N2 and/or pandemic influenza) using compounds which inhibit the activity of p59-HCK and to a method of screening for a candidate drug substance intended to prevent or treat influenza virus infection in a subject, said method comprising identifying a test substance capable of inhibiting p59-HCK activity.

The present invention is directed to compounds that specifically target DUSP5 and act as antagonists of that enzyme. Such compounds are useful in the treatment of various conditions including, but not limited to vascular anomalies, cancer, and macular degeneration.

The present invention provides assays utilizing SPR to detect protein-ligand interactions as well as compositions utilized is such assays.

The screening method of the present invention is useful for screening drugs such as insulin secretagogues having an insulin secretagogue activity with minimized side effects (hypoglycemia induction, etc.). The transformant in which a polynucleotide encoding the fusion protein used for the screening method is introduced, the screening kit comprising the transformant, etc. are also useful for screening excellent drugs.

The present invention relates to an antiviral composition and a screening method thereof for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that occurred in Wuhan, China in 2019. An extract from leaves or unfertilized female flowers of Cannabis sativa L. or its fraction, and the cannabinoids (CBDs) molecules isolated from it have high binding strength and stability to SARS-CoV-2 MP.sup.pro, thereby inhibiting its action as the main protease, to provide a useful lead molecule that can be used alone or in combination with other drugs to treat SARS-CoV-2.