This book bridges the gap between fundamental research and biomedical and pharmacological applications on proteases. It represents a comprehensive overview of the multifaceted field of proteases in cellular environment and highlights the recently elucidated functions of complex proteolytic systems in different diseases. Several established investigators have elucidated the crucial role of proteases in biological processes, including how proteolytic function and regulation can be combined to develop new strategies of therapeutic interventions. Proteases form one of the largest and most diverse families of enzymes known. It is now clear that proteases are involved in every aspect of life functions of an organism. Under physiological conditions, proteases are regulated by their endogenous inhibitors; however, when the activity of proteases is not regulated appropriately, disease processes can result in. So, there is absolute need for a stringent control of proteolytic activities in cells and tissues. Dysregulation of proteases may cause derangement of cellular signalling network resulting in different pathophysiological conditions such as vascular remodelling, atherosclerotic plaque progression, ulcer and rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer disease, cancer metastasis, tumor progression and inflammation. Additionally, many infective microorganisms require proteases for replication or use proteases as virulence factors, which have facilitated the development of protease-targeted therapies for a variety of parasitic diseases.

Of the many special roles played by proteolytic enzymes in immune reactions, this book addresses different aspects of membrane peptidases, signal transduction via ligation of membrane peptidases (especially of dipeptidyl peptidase IV/CD26 and aminopeptidase N/CD13), and regulation of membrane peptidases in vivo and in vitro. A number of newly discovered peptidases (including cathepsin F, W and X, carboxypeptidase X, attractin) are described, with special emphasis given to the role of peptidases in immune and defense reactions and in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and other diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, pancreatitis, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and tumours of various origins. The focus on the involvement of a selection of proteolytic enzymes in immune reactions and diseases is a unique feature of this multifaceted work , which combines biochemical, immunological and clinical research reports with literary reviews of the field.

This is the first resource to provide researchers in academia and industry with an urgently needed update on drug intervention against trypanosomatides. As such, it covers every aspect of the topic from basic research findings, via current treatments to translational approaches in drug development and includes both human and livestock diseases. The outstanding editor and contributor team reads like a Who?s Who of the field, thus guaranteeing the outstanding quality of this ready reference.

This volume is the first to combine latest information on viral, microbial and cellular proteolytic enzymes as potential targets for human therapeutics. Proteases control a large array of physiological reactions, and are involved in a variety of pathological processes for which effective medications are currently needed and/or being sought after. Although protease inhibitors have been investigated for many years, few have been employed therapeutically. Recent break- through by HIV protease inhibitors as therapeutic drugs has re-encouraged the search for inhibitors of other proteolytic enzymes. Klaus von der Helm, who described the first viral protease has brought leading experts together to discuss not only the success and problems of clinical use and continuing prospects, but to review further potential drug targets. This volume provides detailed information and evaluations of key viral, bacterial, fungal, and cellular proteases as potential future drug candidates.

This volume provides a collection of contemporary perspectives on using activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) for biological discoveries in protein science, microbiology, and immunology. A common theme throughout is the special utility of ABPP to interrogate protein function and small-molecule interactions on a global scale in native biological systems. Each chapter showcases distinct advantages of ABPP applied to diverse protein classes and biological systems. As such, the book offers readers valuable insights into the basic principles of ABPP technology and how to apply this approach to biological questions ranging from the study of post-translational modifications to targeting bacterial effectors in host-pathogen interactions.