Abstract: The present invention covers means and methods to increase the efficiency of recombinant protein expression, in particular to optimize the industrial production of recombinant proteins in insect pupae, particularly in Trichoplusia ni (T. ni) pupae. Moreover, the present invention is also directed to the pupae itself comprising baculovirus, pupae infected, transformed, transduced or transfected with baculoviruses or bacmids, as well as devices suitable for performing the methods of the present invention.

Abstract: Reagents and methods are provided that allow for an improved expression of a recombinant protein. More specifically, the introduction of recombinant DNA elements into a host cell allows for the increased expression of a recombinant protein, an improvement of the correct folding of said protein and an increase in cell viability and proliferation of the host cell, These recombinant DNA elements can be introduced into host cells, for example, via a recombinant baculovirus, which has incorporated said elements. The recombinant DNA elements include nucleic acids encoding transcriptional regulators, such as IE-0 and IE-1, transcriptional enhancer elements, such as the homologous region (hr) and promoters.

Abstract: The present invention may be included in the field of biotechnology and it covers the improved production of recombinant proteins in insect cells or insect larvae as biofactories by a novel expression cassette. This expression cassette comprises nucleic acid sequences such as promoters, homologous regions (hr) as enhancers, and sequences encoding transcriptional regulators, for example, the baculovirus Ac-ie-01 cDNA, or any combination thereof, which are able to increase the quality and production efficiency of the recombinant proteins. Moreover, the present invention is also directed to the vectors themselves comprising the above mentioned nucleic acid sequences of the invention, cells or insects infected, transformed or transfected with those sequences or vectors, and methods for producing the recombinant proteins by using the aforesaid sequences, vectors, cells or insects.

Abstract: Reagents and methods are provided that allow for an improved expression of a recombinant protein in an insect, More specifically, the introduction of recombinant DNA elements into an insect larva allows for the increased expression of a recombinant protein, an improvement of the correct folding of said protein and an increase in the survival rate after infection of the insect These recombinant DNA elements can be introduced, for example, into insect larvae via a recombinant baculovirus, which has incorporated said elements. The recombinant DNA elements include nucleic acids encoding transcriptional regulators, such as IE-0 and IE-1, transcriptional, enhancer elements, such as the homologous region (hr) and promoters.

Abstract: New antiviral peptides interfering the binding of the virus to DLC8 are provided. A high number of pathogenic agents of viral origin use the dynein based intracellular transport machinery at some point of their infective cycle. The present invention consists of a new antiviral therapy consisting in the inhibition of viral infections produced by those virus that use the dynein system by mechanisms of interference mainly by preventing the interaction between the viral protein and the cellular DLC8 protein. The present invention discloses for the first time the blocking of the function of this interaction by peptides whose sequence comprises or consists of the totality or a partial sequence of the viral protein corresponding to the binding domain with DLC8.

Abstract: Fusion protein with directioning of vaccinal antigens toward antigen-presenting cells and the applications thereof. This invention relates to a gene construct that comprises, operatively bound, at least one nucleotide sequence (A) that encodes a polypeptide with SEQ ID NO: 1, which has a region that recognizes the ? chain of the class-II DR antigen present on the surface of antigen-presenting cells; and one nucleotide sequence (B) that encodes a vaccinal antigen of interest. Moreover, this invention relates to recombinant vectors useful for the expression of the gene construct of the invention, transgenic cells and plants transformed or transfected with said vectors, fusion proteins encoded by the gene construct of the invention and vaccines that comprise said fusion proteins.

Abstract: New antiviral peptides interfering the binding of the virus to DLC8. A high number of pathogenic agents of viral origin use the dynein based intracellular transport machinery at some point of their infective cycle. The present invention consists of a new antiviral therapy consisting in the inhibition of viral infections produced by those virus that use the dynein system by mechanisms of interference mainly by preventing the interaction between the viral protein and the cellular DLC8 protein. The present invention discloses for the first time the blocking of the function of this interaction by peptides whose sequence comprises or consists of the totality or a partial sequence of the viral protein corresponding to the binding domain with DLC8.

Abstract: Insect-derived promoters for foreign proteins expression in insect cells. Regulatory polynucleotide sequences which drive the expression of major insect proteins (hexamerins) at specific evolution stages of larva have been isolated from insects (Trichoplusia ni) in the present invention. Said regulatory polynucleotide sequences promote stronger foreign gene expression in the baculovirus system than the conventional polyhedrin promoter. Additionally, the combination of the new larva-derived promoters of the invention with the pL promoter increased baculovirus expression levels up to 61%-375% (depending on the time of infection) with respect to conventional baculoviruses used in the biotechnology industry. Promoter pB2 also drives gene expression at earlier times than polyhedrin promoter, being this feature a great advantage for correct protein folding and posttranslational modification.

Abstract: Fusion protein with directioning of vaccinal antigens toward antigen-presenting cells and the applications thereof. This invention relates to a gene construct that comprises, operatively bound, at least one nucleotide sequence (A) that encodes a polypeptide with SEQ ID NO: 1, which has a region that recognises the ? chain of the class-II DR antigen present on the surface of antigen-presenting cells; and one nucleotide sequence (B) that encodes a vaccinal antigen of interest. Moreover, this invention relates to recombinant vectors useful for the expression of the gene construct of the invention, transgenic cells and plants transformed or transfected with said vectors, fusion proteins encoded by the gene construct of the invention and vaccines that comprise said fusion proteins.

Abstract: Monomeric VHH domain derived from anti-VP6 camelid antibodies, dimeric domain, immunisation method, rotavirus detection method, vaccine composition, prevention and treatment methods for rotavirus infections, wherein said domain may be any of the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID No. 1, SEQ ID No. 2, SEQ ID No. 3 or SEQ ID No. 4, and wherein said domains bind to protein VP6 of Group A rotavirus.