Abstract: The present invention encompasses influenza vaccines, in particular avian influenza vaccines. The vaccine may be a subunit vaccine based on the hemagglutinin of influenza. The hemagglutinin may be expressed in plants including duckweed. The invention also encompasses recombinant vectors encoding and expressing influenza antigens, epitopes or immunogens which can be used to protect animals against influenza. It encompasses also a vaccination regimen compatible with the DIVA strategy, including a prime-boost scheme using vector and subunit vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses influenza vaccines, in particular avian influenza vaccines. The vaccine may be a subunit vaccine based on the hemagglutinin of influenza. The hemagglutinin may be expressed in plants including duckweed. The invention also encompasses recombinant vectors encoding and expressing influenza antigens, epitopes or immunogens which can be used to protect animals against influenza. It encompasses also a vaccination regimen compatible with the DIVA strategy, including a prime-boost scheme using vector and subunit vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses influenza vaccines, in particular avian influenza vaccines. The vaccine may be a subunit vaccine based on the hemagglutinin of influenza. The hemagglutinin may be expressed in plants including duckweed. The invention also encompasses recombinant vectors encoding and expressing influenza antigens, epitopes or immunogens which can be used to protect animals against influenza. It encompasses also a vaccination regimen compatible with the DIVA strategy, including a prime-boost scheme using vector and subunit vaccines.

Abstract: The invention pertains to anti-CD30 antibodies that lack fucosyl and xylosyl residues. The antibodies of the invention exhibit increased antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity, including the ability to lyse CD30-expressing cell lines that are not lysed by the fucosylated and xylosylated form of the antibodies. The invention also provides host cells that express the anti-CD30 antibodies that lack fucosyl and xylosyl residues, wherein the host cells are deficient for a fucosyltransferase and a xylosyltransferase. Methods of using the antibodies to inhibit the grown of CD30+ cells, such as tumor cells, are also provided.

Abstract: Methods, nucleic acid sequences, and transformed duckweed plant or duckweed nodule cultures for the expression and the secretion of biologically active polypeptides from genetically engineered duckweed are provided. Expression of recombinant polypeptides in duckweed is improved by modifying the nucleotide sequence of the expression cassette encoding the polypeptide for improved expression in duckweed. Recovery of biologically active polypeptides from duckweed is improved by linking the biologically active polypeptide to a signal peptide that directs the secretion of the polypeptide into the culture medium.

Abstract: The present invention describes methods for the cryopreservation of duckweed plants and duckweed plant tissues. The methods comprise freezing a dehydrated duckweed frond colony to a cryopreservative temperature to obtain a frozen frond colony comprising at least one cryopreserved duckweed plant or a cryopreserved duckweed plant tissue. The method can comprise a dehydration step whereby a duckweed frond colony is dehydrated, and in some embodiments, can further comprise a dormancy-induction step prior to or during the dehydration step. The method further can further comprise a recovery step, wherein the frozen frond colony is thawed and a viable duckweed plant or duckweed plant tissue is recovered. Cryopreserved duckweed plants and duckweed plant tissues, and viable duckweed plants and duckweed tissues recovered therefrom are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides biologically active variants of human ?-2b-interferon. The variants contain carboxy terminus truncations when compared with the amino acid sequence of full-length human ?-2b-interferon. It is the novel finding of the present invention that these truncated variants have the biological activity of full-length human ?-2b-interferon. The invention encompasses these biologically active variant ?-interferons, as well as polynucleotides encoding these interferons. Expression cassettes comprising these polynucleotides and host cells comprising the expression cassettes are also provided. The invention also provides compositions comprising variant ?-interferon polypeptides and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: The invention discloses a pharmaceutical composition for the controlled release of relatively toxic active compounds, in particular for bioactive proteins from the class of interferons. The composition comprises a biodegradable block copolymer constructed from poly(ethylene glycol) terephthalate (PEGT) and poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT). The composition is provided in the form of injectable microparticles, of an injectable liquid which may have self-gelling properties, or of a solid implant. The invention further provides a pharmaceutical kit comprising the composition, methods for preparing the composition, and the pharmaceutical uses relating thereto.

Abstract: The invention relates to controlled release formulations comprising a microparticle comprising a biodegradable polymer and one or more interferon compounds and methods of using the formulations.

Abstract: The present invention provides biologically active variants of human ?-2b-interferon. The variants contain carboxy terminus truncations when compared with the amino acid sequence of full-length human ?-2b-interferon. It is the novel finding of the present invention that these truncated variants have the biological activity of full-length human ?-2b-interferon. The invention encompasses these biologically active variant ?-interferons, as well as polynucleotides encoding these interferons. Expression cassettes comprising these polynucleotides and host cells comprising the expression cassettes are also provided. The invention also provides compositions comprising variant ?-interferon polypeptides and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for regulating expression of nucleotide sequences of interest in a plant are provided. Compositions include novel nucleic acid molecules, and variants and fragments thereof, for expression control elements isolated from the Lemnaceae ubiquitin, r-histone and chitinase genes. A method for expressing a nucleotide sequence of interest in a plant using the expression control elements disclosed herein is further provided. The method includes introducing into a plant or plant cell or nodule an expression construct comprising an expression control element of the present invention operably linked to a nucleotide sequence of interest. In particular, the compositions and methods find use in enhancing expression of nucleotide sequences of interest in duckweed. Also provided is a novel Lemnaceae signal peptide-encoding sequence and the signal peptide encoded thereby.

Abstract: Methods, nucleic acid sequences, and transformed duckweed plant or duckweed nodule cultures for the expression and the secretion of biologically active polypeptides from genetically engineered duckweed are provided. Expression of recombinant polypeptides in duckweed is improved by modifying the nucleotide sequence of the expression cassette encoding the polypeptide for improved expression in duckweed. Recovery of biologically active polypeptides from duckweed is improved by linking the biologically active polypeptide to a signal peptide that directs the secretion of the polypeptide into the culture medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for the production of recombinant plasminogen, microplasminogen, and fragments thereof in a duckweed expression system. It is the novel finding of the present invention that a duckweed expression system may be used to produce high levels of plasminogen and microplasminogen. The duckweed-produced plasminogen and microplasminogen can be activated to produce a polypeptide having protease activity. Thus, the invention encompasses methods for the expression of plasminogen, microplasminogen, and fragments thereof in duckweed, duckweed plants that are transformed with expression cassettes for the expression of plasminogen, microplasminogen, and fragments thereof, and nucleic acids comprising nucleotide sequences encoding plasminogen, microplasminogen, and fragments thereof, where these nucleotide sequences are modified to enhance their expression in duckweed.

Abstract: Methods for altering the N-glycosylation pattern of proteins in higher plants are provided. The methods comprise introducing into the plant a recombinant construct that provides for the inhibition of expression of ?1,3-fucosyltransferase (FucT) and ?1,2-xylosyltransferase (XylT) in a plant. Use of these constructs to inhibit or suppress expression of both of these enzymes, and isoforms thereof, advantageously provides for the production of endogenous and heterologous proteins having a “humanized” N-glycosylation pattern without impacting plant growth and development. Stably transformed higher plants having this protein N-glycosylation pattern are provided. Glycoprotein compositions, including monoclonal antibody compositions, having substantially homogeneous glycosylation profiles, and which are substantially homogeneous for the G0 glycoform, are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides biologically active variants of human ?-2b-interferon. The variants contain carboxy terminus truncations when compared with the amino acid sequence of full-length human ?-2b-interferon. It is the novel finding of the present invention that these truncated variants have the biological activity of full-length human ?-2b-interferon. The invention encompasses these biologically active variant ?-interferons, as well as polynucleotides encoding these interferons. Expression cassettes comprising these polynucleotides and host cells comprising the expression cassettes are also provided. The invention also provides compositions comprising variant ?-interferon polypeptides and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: The invention described herein provides a C-terminally truncated interferon having a deletion of 7, 8, or 9 amino acids and having enhanced biological activity, and the polynucleotides encoding such an interferon. Also provided are methods for producing and using such truncated interferon. In some embodiments, the truncated interferon is produced in a plant.

Abstract: Methods for altering the N-glycosylation pattern of proteins in higher plants are provided. In some embodiments, the methods comprise introducing into a duckweed plant a recombinant RNAi construct that provides for the inhibition of expression of ?1,3-fucosyltransferase (FucT) and ?1,2-xylosyltransferase (XylT). Use of these RNAi constructs to inhibit or suppress expression of both of these enzymes, and isoforms thereof, advantageously provides for the production of endogenous and heterologous proteins having a “humanized” N-glycosylation pattern without impacting plant growth and development. Stably transformed higher plants, including duckweed plants, having this protein N-glycosylation pattern are provided. Glycoprotein compositions, including monoclonal antibody compositions, having substantially homogeneous glycosylation profiles, and which are substantially homogeneous for the G0 glycoform, are also provided.

Abstract: The invention discloses a pharmaceutical composition for the controlled release of relatively toxic active compounds, in particular for bioactive proteins from the class of interferons. The composition comprises a biodegradable block copolymer constructed from poly(ethylene glycol) terephthalate (PEGT) and poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT). The composition is provided in the form of injectable microparticles, of an injectable liquid which may have self-gelling properties, or of a solid implant. The invention further provides a pharmaceutical kit comprising the composition, methods for preparing the composition, and the pharmaceutical uses relating thereto.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for the production of recombinant plasminogen, microplasminogen, and fragments thereof in a duckweed expression system. It is the novel finding of the present invention that a duckweed expression system may be used to produce high levels of plasminogen and microplasminogen. The duckweed-produced plasminogen and microplasminogen can be activated to produce a polypeptide having protease activity. Thus, the invention encompasses methods for the expression of plasminogen, microplasminogen, and fragments thereof in duckweed, duckweed plants that are transformed with expression cassettes for the expression of plasminogen, microplasminogen, and fragments thereof, and nucleic acids comprising nucleotide sequences encoding plasminogen, microplasminogen, and fragments thereof, where these nucleotide sequences are modified to enhance their expression in duckweed.

Abstract: The invention discloses a pharmaceutical composition for the controlled release of relatively toxic active compounds, in particular for bioactive proteins from the class of interferons. The composition comprises a biodegradable block copolymer constructed from poly(ethylene glycol) terephthalate (PEGT) and poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT). The composition is provided in the form of injectable microparticles, of an injectable liquid which may have self-gelling properties, or of a solid implant. The invention further provides a pharmaceutical kit comprising the composition, methods for preparing the composition, and the pharmaceutical uses relating thereto.