Anthrax, whether resulting from natural or bioterrorist-associated exposure, is a constant threat to human health. Bacillus anthracis is the causative agent of anthrax. It is surrounded by a polypeptide capsule of poly-gamma-D-glutamic acid (gamma-D-PGA), which is essential for virulence, is poorly immunogenic and has anti-phagocytic properties. Antibodies to the capsule have been shown to enhance phagocytosis and killing of encapsulated bacilli.

Engineered chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that are expressed in cytotoxic T cells and natural killer (NK) cells have been used to specifically target tumor cells. However, CAR-T and CAR-NK cells are still subject to down regulation by their inhibitory receptors after injection into patients.

Heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) is a group of lipid-anchored proteoglycans, engaged in a variety of key biological functions on cell surface. HSPG-mediated endocytosis of neurotoxic protein aggregates has been linked to aging related neurodegenerative diseases. Labeling HSPG is a promising technique to trace cell profile in cell research, monitor its trafficking in live cells and in tissues. Researchers at the NIDDK have discovered a method in which a positively charged fluorescent protein binds specifically to HSPG on cell surface.

Simian T-cell lymphotropic viruses (STLV) are nonhuman primate retroviruses closely related to the human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV). Types I, II, and III of HTLV have been found in humans and are believed to have originated from cross-species transmission of STLV from infected nonhuman primates. The HTLV viruses are known to cause leukemia, lymphoma, and neurological disorders.

The technology describes the composition of small molecule compounds that are antagonists of the P2Y14 receptor. Also provided are methods of using the compounds, including a method of treating a disorder, such as inflammation, diabetes, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, a lipid disorder, obesity, a condition associated with metabolic syndrome, and asthma, and a method of antagonizing P2Y14 receptor activity in a cell.

The technology discloses composition of compounds that fully antagonize the human P2Y14 receptor, with moderate affinity with insignificant antagonism of other P2Y receptors. Therefore, they are highly selective P2Y14 receptor antagonists. Even though there is no P2Y14 receptor modulators in clinical use currently, selective P2Y14 receptor antagonists are sought as potential therapeutic treatments for asthma, cystic fibrosis, inflammation and possibly diabetes and neurodegeneration.

The rapid worldwide spread and impact of COVID-19 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has created a need for accurate, reliable, and readily accessible testing on a massive scale.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has created an immense public health, social, and economic burden. Variants of concern continue to emerge that have increased transmissibility, pathogenicity, or both and that reduce the effectiveness of current therapeutics and vaccines. Thus, there is a great need for broadly protective therapeutics.

Using a computational design methodology, SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins containing engineered amino acid changes to the receptor binding domain (RBD) were designed. These engineered spike proteins improved the immune response upon immunization of animals. An engineered RBD was also expressed at greater yield, had increased temperature stability, and improved the immune response upon immunization of animals. Specifically, the disclosed RBD designs can be produced approximately 7 times more efficiently than the native sequence, facilitating vaccine manufacturing on a global scale.

Interferons (IFNs) are a family of cytokines that function in response to an immune challenge such as a viral or bacterial infection. Type I IFNs are produced by immune cells (predominantly monocytes and dendritic cells) as well as fibroblasts and signal through a specific cell surface receptor complex (IFNAR) that consist of IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 chains. Type-I IFNs exert several common effects including antiviral, antiproliferative, and immunomodulatory activities. However, Type I IFNs also have pro-inflammatory effects, especially in the presence of TNF-a.