Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

Other

Stacey L Schultz-Cherry

Curtis R Brandt

Jeremy C Jones

Matthew Koci

David D Roberts

Henry C Krutzsch

Joanne Murphy-Ullrich

Bruce S Seal

Laura Kelley

The present disclosure generally relates to peptides having antiviral properties. More particularly, the invention relates to peptides exhibiting activity against influenza viruses, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the peptides, and to methods of using the peptides to prevent and/or treat influenza viral infections.

Antiviral peptides against influenza virus

The present disclosure generally relates to peptides having adjuvant properties, vaccines comprising the adjuvant peptides, and their use in prophylaxis or therapy for influenza. More particularly, the invention relates to adjuvant peptides that induce aggregation of influenza virus. The peptides can be included in influenza vaccines to increase the immune response to the vaccine.

Peptide adjuvant for influenza vaccination

A serological method to detect exposure to turkey astrovirus-2 (TAsV-2) is provided.

Method to detect antibodies specific for type-2 turkey astrovirus

A unique turkey astrovirus has been isolated and sequenced. Primers and probes have been developed using the isolated nucleic acid sequence of the astrovirus and a reverse transcriptase PCR has been developed to detect the presence of avian astrovirus in commercial flocks. Furthermore, purified antigenic polypeptides have been synthesized from each of the open reading frames 1a,1b and 2 of the novel virus.

Avian astrovirus

The invention provides a method of stimulating TGF-&bgr; activity, comprising contacting latent TGF-&bgr; with an amount of an activating peptide from TSP effective to convert latent TGF-&bgr; to active TGF-&bgr;. Also provided is a method of inhibiting the stimulation of TGF-&bgr; activity, comprising contacting latent TGF-&bgr; with an amount of an inhibiting peptide from TSP effective to inhibit conversion of latent of TGF-&bgr; to active TGF-&bgr;. The invention also provides a method of enhancing wound healing, comprising the step of administering to the wound site an amount of an activating peptide from TSP effective to convert latent TGF-&bgr; to active TGF-&bgr;, the activation of TGF-&bgr; resulting in enhanced wound healing. A method of preventing excessive fibrosis stimulated by TGF-&bgr; in pathology is also provided, comprising administering to a site of potential fibrosis an amount of inhibiting peptide from TSP effective to inhibit conversion of latent TGF-&bgr; to active TGF-&bgr;, resulting in reduced fibrosis. The invention also provides a method of blocking TGF-&bgr;-mediated inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation comprising contacting the endothelial cells with an inhibiting peptide effective to inhibit conversion of latent TGF-&bgr; to active TGF-&bgr;, resulting in proliferation of endothelial cells.

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Germantown, TN, United States of America

Stacey L Schultz-Cherry