Augusta University Research Institute, Inc.

Medical College of Georgia Research Institute, Inc.

Georgia Regents Research Institute, Inc.

Lin Mei

Wen-Cheng Xiong

Bin Zhang

Chengyong Shen

Wen-Chen Xiong

Yan-Mei Tao

Yanmei Tao

Cheng-Yong Shen

Shi-Wen Luo

Jae-Ho Lee

The present invention includes methods for the detection of neurotransmission or developmental disorders, including, but not limited to, myasthenia gravis that is seronegative for autoantibodies to the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) and/or muscle specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK), the method including detecting autoantibodies that bind to LRP4, or an epitope thereof. Also included are methods for the treatment of an individual suffering from a neurotransmission disorder, the method including detecting in a bodily fluid of the individual autoantibodies that bind to LRP4, or an epitope thereof, and administering to the patient an effective amount an immunosuppressant and/or another appropriate therapeutic modality. Also included are antibodies that bind to autoantibodies to LRP4 and kits for the detection of neurotransmission or developmental disorders.

Detection and treatment of LRP4-associated neurotransmission disorders

Compositions that inhibit or block the interaction between Erbin and ErbB2 and methods of their use are provided. Preferred compositions include peptides that inhibit or block Erbin and ErbB2 interaction under physiologic conditions in a subject. One embodiment provides an isolated peptide fragment of ErbB2 including the C-terminal 15 amino acids of ErbB2. The peptide fragment can be about 15 to 27 amino acids in length.

Methods of using ERBB2 conjugate peptides

Methods and compositions for male or female contraception are provided. The compositions include an effective amount of netrin-1 to reduce or inhibit sperm concentration in semen of males or to inhibit or reduce fusion of male gametes with female gametes in a female subject Still another embodiment provides a method for diagnosing male infertility by determining the amount of netrin-1 in a sample of epididymal fluid or semen from a male subject, comparing the amount of netting-1 in the sample to levels of netrin-1 in samples of epididymal fluid or semen from fertile males, wherein levels of netrin-1 in the sample from the male subject that are higher or lower than levels of netrin-1 in samples from fertile males are indicative of male infertility in the male subject.

Netrin-1 compositions and methods of use thereof

Modulating the interaction between ErbB2 and Erbin is an effective method for treating one or more symptoms of ErbB2-mediated disorders. It has been discovered that Erbin stabilizes ErbB2 in vivo and inhibiting the formation of heterodimers between Erbin and ErbB2 reduces or inhibits the biological activity of ErbB2 relative to control levels. Reducing the biological activity of ErbB2 is useful in the treatment of conditions characterized by the overexpression or misregulation of ErbB2. These conditions include, but are not limited to breast cancer and prostate cancer. Alternatively, agonist of Erbin that promote or enhance the interaction of Erbin with ErbB2 can be useful in the treatment of certain neurological disorders. It has also been discovered that Erbin plays a role in the myelination of neurons of the peripheral nervous system.

Methods and compositions for modulating ErbB2 activity

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Evans, GA, United States of America

Lin Mei