Researchers at the University of California, Davis have developed advanced compounds targeting neuraminidase activity to combat viral infections and understand cellular mechanisms.

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Researchers at the University of California, Davis have developed a unique approach to target solid tumors using novel Fas-targeting antibodies designed for improved selectivity and efficacy in immunotherapy.

This novel technology enables refined temporal control of protein-protein interactions that can be used to regulate cell therapies, including CAR T-cells and “cell factories”.

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Researchers at UC Irvine have identified Opthalmic acid (Ophthalmate, OA) for treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD), a degenerative neurological disorder that affects 1-2% of people over the age of 60. PD is characterized by progressive motor symptoms such as tremor, rigidity, slowness of movement and difficulty with balance. There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease, only treatments to help manage the symptoms. Pharmacological strategies for treating PD depend mainly on replacing lost dopamine due to the degeneration of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra compacta. Six decades after its initial use, L-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalalnine (L-DOPA), the dopamine precursor, remains the standard of care for treatment of PD motor symptoms. L-DOPA can readily cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and is converted to dopamine by aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AADC). Initial treatments with L-DOPA can provide great relief from motor symptoms, but over time its therapeutic effects diminish, and dyskinesia (abnormal involuntary movements) can increase in PD patients. Ophthalmic acid acts as a novel neurotransmitter to counteract the motor symptoms in animal models of PD, with a longer duration of action. Ophthalmic acid can be used as a novel drug for treatment of PD and other neurological disorders.

Researchers at UC Irvine have developed a novel biomaterial to heal and regenerate tissues for chronic wounds. The biomaterial, referred to as GelMA-AN, has immunomodulating properties engineered for complete incorporation into injured tissue while enhancing the regenerative healing activities of immune and stromal cells. It is based on a gelatin scaffold supplemented with Methacrylic Anhydride and immunomodulating apoptotic neutrophil cells. All components have high biocompatibility due to structural and biochemical similarities to the host wound environment. This combination of the hydrogel scaffold and apoptotic neutrophils has uncovered a wound healing mechanism that acts through immunomodulation to enhance regenerative healing. The mechanism works by modulating immune cells to drive them from inflammatory to healing activities that in turn stimulate stromal cells to repair the skin and regenerate health skin appendages such as vasculature.

Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide and the economic costs of treatment and post-stroke care are substantial. Every year, more that 14 million people are affected by stroke, and over 6 million stroke patients die from this condition and associated complications. 2-(2,3,5-trisubstituted phenyl)oxazole compounds potently inhibit 12/15-LOX. Hence, the compounds of this disclosure are advantageously useful to treat or prevent various disorders where 12/15-LOX is implicated in the pathology of the disorder (e.g.,stroke). 

Human Platelet-type 12-(S)-lipoxygenase (12-LOX) is a non-heme iron-containing oxygenase that catalyzes the regio- and stereo-specific addition of molecular oxygen to polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). 12-LOX belongs to a family of enzymes that also include 5- LOX and 15-LOX, which oxygenate arachidonic acid (AA) at their corresponding carbon positions. The hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HPETE) product is subsequently reduced by cellular peroxidases to form the hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE), which in the case of 12- LOX is 12-(S)-HETE.Although 12-LOX expression is predominantly restricted to platelets (~14,000 molecules per platelet), it is also expressed in some hematopoietic and solid tumors. To date, 12-LOX is the only LOX isoform identified to be present in platelets, and its activity is part of a number of platelet functions, including granule secretion, platelet aggregation, and normal adhesion through specific agonist-mediated pathways, such as collagen and the thrombin receptor, PAR4. Normal platelet activation plays a central role in the regulation of hemostasis, but uncontrolled activation can lead to pathologic thrombotic events, such as ischemic coronary heart disease.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have developed an approach to elicit powerful immune responses by engineering the binding capabilities of single chain trimer (SCT) proteins to CD8.

Rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is a method for quickly determining the most effective antibiotic therapy for patients with bacterial infections. These techniques enable the detection and quantification of antibiotic-resistant and susceptible bacteria metabolites at concentrations near or below ng/mL in complex media. Employing bacterial metabolites as a sensing platform, the system integrates machine learning data analysis processes to differentiate between antibiotic susceptibility and resistance in clinical infections within an hour. With the results, a clinician can prescribe appropriate medicine for the patient's bacterial infection.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a serious threat to human health without effective treatment. There is an urgent need for both real-time tracking and precise treatment of the SARS-CoV-2 infected cells to mitigate and ultimately prevent viral transmission. However, selective and responsive triggering and tracking of the therapeutic processin infected cells remains challenging.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have developed a technology to expedite COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment using viral spike protein (S-protein) targeted peptides Zika virus envelop protein.

A breakthrough technology using insulin-secreting cells and stem cells to enhance wound healing and reduce scar formation.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have developed multi-specific antibody molecules including bi-specific and tri-specific antibodies that could serve to co-localize effector T-cells, target tumor B-cells and would simultaneously enhance anti-tumor activity and proliferation, whilst minimizing potential systemic toxicities

Aberrant splicing contributes to the etiology of many inherited diseases. Pathogenic variants impact pre-mRNA splicing through a variety of mechanisms. Most notably, variants remodel the cis-regulatory landscape of pre-mRNAs by ablation or creation of splice sites, and auxiliary splicing regulatory sequences such as exonic or intronic splicing enhancers (ESE and ISE, respectively) and splicing silencers (ESS and ISS, respectively). Splicing-sensitive variants cripple the integrity of the gene, resulting in the production of a faulty message that is either unstable or encodes an internally deleted protein. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are a promising therapeutic modality for rescuing pathogenic aberrant splicing patterns as their direct base pairing abilities make them highly customizable and specific to targets. Although challenges such as toxicity, delivery and stability represent barriers to the clinical translation of ASOs, solutions to these challenges exist, as exemplified by the recent FDA approval of multiple ASO drugs.Generally, ASO's that target splicing mutations are limited to mutations in and around splicing enhancers and exonic mutations are commonly not targeted because of the idea that the mutation causes a significant change in protein function. 

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Researchers at UC Irvine have identified Tetracosapentaenoic acid (24:5 n-3) for treatment of age-related eye disorders such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. Lipids such as very long chain polyunsaturated acids (VLC-PUFAs) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) play a critical role in the eye during the human lifespan. Aging causes decrease in these lipids leading to age related eye disorders. Increased lipids or lipid precursors in the eye may improve retina function and overall vision health.

Researchers at UC Irvine have identified and tested the FDA approved thrombin inhibitor Dabigatran etexilate for treatment of pain related conditions, seizure conditions and exogenously induced chemical neurotoxicity. Dabigatran etexilate stabilizes function of neuronal Kv7 potassium channels which are low-voltage gated potassium channels that regulate neuronal firing. Kv7 channels generate reversible high frequency firing of neurons in response to various neurotransmitters and hormones. This transient hyperactivity sensitizes neurons so that they can facilitate responses to essential information. Dabigatran etexilate stabilizes the function of Kv7 channels. As it is already FDA approved, this treatment will be well tolerated.