The Uab Research Foundation

University of Tennessee Research Foundation

University of Alabama

US Army Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Chief, Office of Research, Marketing & Policy Dev Walter Reed Army Institute of Research

Juntendo University School of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine

Jan Novak

Page W Caufield

Yusuke Suzuki

Robert J Wyatt

Zina Moldoveanu

Stephen Olson

Jiri Mestecky

Bruce A Julian

Yasuhiko Tomino

Hitoshi Suzuki

Zhixin Zhang

Matthew B Renfrow

Run Fan

Milan Tomana

Provided are methods of diagnosing IgA nephropathy in a subject. Optionally, the methods comprise isolating an IgG from the subject and determining whether the IgG binds to a galactose-deficient IgA1. Optionally, the methods comprise providing a biological sample from the subject and detecting in the sample a mutation in a IGH gene, wherein the mutation is in a nucleotide sequence encoding a complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3) of a IGH variable region. Optionally, the methods comprise determining a level of IgG specific for a galactose-deficient IgA1 in the subject. Also provided are methods of treating or reducing the risk of developing IgA nephropathy in a subject.

Diagnosing and treating IGA nephropathy

Certain bacteria indigenous to humans produce antimicrobial substances called bacteriocins which inhibit other bacteria, including members of their own species. Mutacins are a class of antibiotic substances made by Disclosed is the purification and biochemical characterization of a novel lanthionine-containing mutacin peptide from The purified peptide is pH- and temperature-stable and its amino acid composition indicates the presence of lanthionine and &bgr;-methyllanthionine. Also provided are methods of making and using the purified polypeptide.

Lanthionine antibiotic compositions and method

Certain bacteria indigenous to humans produce antimicrobial substances called bacteriocins which inhibit other bacteria, including members of their own species. Mutacins are a class of antibiotic substances made by Streptococcus mutans. Disclosed is the purification and biochemical characterization of a novel lanthionine-containing mutacin peptide from S. mutans. The purified peptide is pH- and temperature-stable and its amino acid composition indicates the presence of lanthionine and .beta.-methyllanthionine. Also provided are methods of making and using the purified polypeptide.

Lanthionine antibiotic compositions and methods

Growing community of inventors

Pelham, AL, United States of America

Jan Novak