Abstract: The present invention relates to a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide having cellulase activity and which is thermostable, wherein said nucleic acid molecule comprises or has a nucleotide sequence selected from: i) a nucleotide sequence which encodes an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO. 2 or as set forth in SEQ ID NO. 8; ii) a nucleotide sequence which encodes an amino acid sequence having at least 80% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of (i); iii) a nucleotide sequence which encodes a part of the amino acid sequence of (i); iv) a nucleotide sequence which encodes a part of the amino acid sequence of (ii) wherein said part has at least 90% identity to an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 4, SEQ ID NO. 6, SEQ ID NO. 14, SEQ ID NO. 16, SEQ ID NO. 18 or SEQ ID NO. 20; v) a nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO. 1 or as set forth in SEQ ID NO.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of preparing biocement. The methods disclosed herein employ microbial or enzymatic means first to generate acid which dissolves CaCO3, and then to degrade urea, producing CO3? ions which increase the pH and lead to the reprecipitation of CaCO3. The precipitation of CaCO3 acts as a cementation process which can bind together particulate materials to yield mortars, concretes and suchlike. The invention further provides construction materials formed by the methods of the invention, and bacterial strains which can be used in the methods of the invention to generate organic acids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide having cellulase activity and which is thermostable, wherein said nucleic acid molecule comprises or has a nucleotide sequence selected from: i) a nucleotide sequence which encodes an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO. 2 or as set forth in SEQ ID NO. 8; ii) a nucleotide sequence which encodes an amino acid sequence having at least 80% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of (i); iii) a nucleotide sequence which encodes a part of the amino acid sequence of (i); iv) a nucleotide sequence which encodes a part of the amino acid sequence of (ii) wherein said part has at least 90% identity to an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 4, SEQ ID NO. 6, SEQ ID NO. 14, SEQ ID NO. 16, SEQ ID NO. 18 or SEQ ID NO. 20; v) a nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO. 1 or as set forth in SEQ ID NO.

Abstract: Disclosed are uses of microproteins preferably microproteins forming a cystine knot (i.e. belonging to the family of inhibitor cystine knot (ICK) polypeptides) or polynucleotides encoding said microproteins for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing a disease that can be treated or prevented by inhibiting the activity of tryptase as well as corresponding methods of treatment. Also disclosed are uses of the microproteins for inhibiting tryptase activity, for purifying tryptase, as a carrier molecule for tryptase and for deleting or quantifying tryptase in a sample, including corresponding diagnostic applications. Furthermore disclosed are fusion proteins comprising an inactive barnase as well as fusion proteins comprising barnase and a microprotein. Also encompassed are nucleic acid molecules encoding such a fusion protein, as well as corresponding vectors, host cells, preparation methods and uses of the fusion protein.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polypeptide comprising at least two microproteins, which preferably comprise an amino acid sequence having a specific binding activity to a target protein. Furthermore, disclosed are polynucleotides encoding such a polypeptide as well as pharmaceutical compositions and kits comprising said polypeptide or polynucleotide. Also disclosed herein are methods of treatments and second medical uses applying the disclosed polypeptide or polynucleotide. Additionally, the disclosure of the present application relates to a method for forming a covalent bond in a microprotein which can be used for producing the disclosed polypeptides.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polypeptide comprising at least two microproteins, which preferably comprise an amino acid sequence having a specific binding activity to a target protein. Furthermore, disclosed are polynucleotides encoding such a polypeptide as well as pharmaceutical compositions and kits comprising said polypeptide or polynucleotide. Also disclosed herein are methods of treatments and second medical uses applying the disclosed polypeptide or polynucleotide. Additionally, the disclosure of the present application relates to a method for forming a covalent bond in a microprotein which can be used for producing the disclosed polypeptides.

Abstract: Disclosed are uses of microproteins preferably microproteins forming a cystine knot (i.e. belonging to the family of inhibitor cystine knot (ICK) polypeptides) or polynucleotides encoding said microproteins for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing a disease that can be treated or prevented by inhibiting the activity of tryptase as well as corresponding methods of treatment. Also disclosed are uses of the microproteins for inhibiting tryptase activity, for purifying tryptase, as a carrier molecule for tryptase and for deleting or quantifying tryptase in a sample, including corresponding diagnostic applications. Furthermore disclosed are fusion proteins comprising an inactive barnase as well as fusion proteins comprising barnase and a microprotein. Also encompassed are nucleic acid molecules encoding such a fusion protein, as well as corresponding vectors, host cells, preparation methods and uses of the fusion protein.

Abstract: The inventive method allows peptides or polypeptides to be exposed on the surface of gram-negative host bacteria using specific intimin-based anchor modules. Intimins with shortened carboxy terminals have been found to be particularly suitable anchor modules for passenger domains in the exterior E. coli cell membrane. According to the method, host bacteria are transformed using vectors, on which are located a fused nucleic acid sequence consisting of a sequence segment which codes for an intimin with a shortened carboxy terminal and a nucleic acid sequence segment which codes for the passenger peptide that is to be exposed. The invention permits a particularly large number of passenger domains to be exposed on the cell surface of the bacteria, without adversely affecting the viability of the bacteria.

Abstract: The inventive method allows peptides or polypeptides to be exposed on the surface of gram-negative host bacteria using specific intimin-based anchor modules. Intimins with shortened carboxy terminals have been found to be particularly suitable anchor modules for passenger domains in the exterior E.coli cell membrane. According to said method, host bacteria are transformed using vectors, on which are located a fused nucleic acid sequence consisting of a sequence segment which codes for an intimin with a shortened carboxy terminal and a nucleic acid sequence segment which codes for the passenger peptide that is to be exposed. The invention permits a particularly large number of passenger domains to be exposed on the cell surface of the bacteria, without adversely affecting the viability of the bacteria.