Augusta University Research Institute, Inc.

Medical College of Georgia Research Institute, Inc.

Georgia Regents Research Institute, Inc.

Wen-Cheng Xiong

Lin Mei

Chengyong Shen

Bin Zhang

Cheng-Yong Shen

Yan-Mei Tao

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

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Evans, GA, United States of America

Wen-Cheng Xiong