Abstract: Provided herein are Metschnikowia species that produce xylitol from xylose when cultured, as well as methods to make and use these Metschnikowia species.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recombinant Bacillus subtilis JY011802 that can produce sublancin in a high yield, which was deposited at the China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center on Oct. 31, 2018 with an accession number of CGMCC No. 16667, and an application thereof. The yield of the sublancin produced by the recombinant Bacillus subtilis can reach 3100 mg/L.

Abstract: The present invention provides several non-naturally occurring sulfotransferase enzymes that have been engineered to react with aryl sulfate compounds as sulfo group donors, instead of the natural substrate 3?-phosphoadenosine 5?-phosphosulfate (PAPS), and with heparosan-based polysaccharides, particularly heparan sulfate, as sulfo group acceptors. Each of the engineered sulfotransferase enzymes have a biological activity characterized by the position within the heparosan-based polysaccharide that receives the sulfo group, including glucosaminyl N-sulfotransferase activity, hexuronyl 2-O sulfotransferase activity, glucosaminyl 6-O sulfotransferase activity, or glucosaminyl 3-O sulfotransferase activity. Methods of using the engineered sulfotransferases to produce sulfated heparosan-based polysaccharides, including polysaccharides having anticoagulant activity, are also provided.

Abstract: This disclosure provides compositions that include a polynucleotide including or encoding a Cas12a tracrRNA, and methods for their use in sequence-specific genome editing, especially of eukaryotic genomic sequences. In particular, this disclosure provides Cas12a tracrRNA-containing compositions and methods for their use in Cas12a-mediated editing of a target sequence, wherein the editing efficiency is increased in comparison to controls lacking the Cas12a tracrRNA.

Abstract: The present application provides materials and methods for treating a patient with one or more conditions associated with SCN9A whether ex vivo or in vivo. In addition, the present application provides materials and methods for editing and/or modulating the expression of SCN9A gene in a cell by genome editing.

Abstract: A new system for identification and treatment against cancer, specifically the mutation or deletion of an antioncogene. An ideal candidate is a patient with family history for hereditary mutations in a known antioncogene. The first method of this system identifies the mutation of a patient's at-risk antioncogene by causing a natural fluorescence only when the specific at-risk antioncogene has mutated or deleted. The second method of this system utilizes a virus to attack and dissolve cancer cells with special markers to avoid the damage to normal cells, thereby achieving the purpose of treating cancer.

Abstract: Many strains of the human pathogen Neisseria meningitidis carry a compact Cas9 (NmeCas9) that can serve to limit genetic exchange via natural transformation. Cas9 orthologues (including NmeCas9) have recently been adopted for RNA-guided genome engineering and DNA binding, adding to the need to define better their activities and properties. The present invention examines DNA cleavage activities and substrate requirements of NmeCas9, including a set of unusually complex PAM recognition patterns. Unexpectedly, NmeCas9 is found able to cleave single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) targets in a manner that is RNA-guided but both PAM- and tracrRNA-independent. Beyond the requirement for guide-target pairing, this activity has no apparent sequence requirements, and the cleavage sites are measured from the 5? end of the DNA substrate's RNA-paired region.

Abstract: Provided herein are multivalent particles and compositions of multivalent particles for blocking viral infection.

Abstract: Provided are compositions, methods, and kits for improving CRISPR-based editing of DNA targets by a CRISPR-associated (Cas) enzyme. The improvement is made by combining the Cas enzyme and a CRISPR targeting RNA a heterologous DNA repair enzyme that is at least one of RecBCD, AddAB, or AdnAB. The heterologous DNA repair enzyme may have inactivated nuclease activity. The method can include using a DNA repair template to introduce one or more changes into the edited DNA. Cells that contain components of the improved CRISPR systems are included, as are kits for making such cells.

Abstract: Engineered Streptococcus canis Cas9 (ScCas9) variants include an ScCas9 protein with its PID being the PID amino acid composition of Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpCas9)-NG, an ScCas9 protein having a threonine-to-lysine substitution mutation at position 1227 in its amino acid sequence (Sc+), and an ScCas9 protein having a threonine-to-lysine substitution mutation at position 1227 and a substitution of residues ADKKLRKRSGKLATE [SEQ ID No. 4] in position 365-379 in the ScCas9 open reading frame (Sc++). Also included are CRISPR-associated DNA endonucleases with a PAM specificity of 5?-NG-3? or 5?-NNG-3? and a method of altering expression of a gene product by utilizing the engineered ScCas9 variants.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of molecular biology, preparative biochemistry, biotechnology, and biopharmacology, namely to the creation of recombinant proteins of the family of wheat (Triticum aestivum) cysteine proteases in soluble form, and preparations of the protein triticain-alpha consisting of a fragment of wheat triticain-alpha and methods for the production thereof. The invention can be used for research purposes to study the functioning of papain-like cysteine proteases, as well as in medicine for developing therapeutic enzyme preparations, and is a method of producing, in soluble form, recombinant functionally active variants of wheat (Triticum aestivum) cysteine proteases, including the engineering of plasmid DNA for cloning in expression systems of E. coli and P. Pastoris. By transforming cells of E. coli of the strain Rossetta gami B (DE3) and cells of P.

Abstract: A method of using lactase for generating galactooligosaccharide as well as the preparation and an application of the lactase are provided. Lactase (BglD305 derived from Bacillus circulans B2301 and BglD derived from Bacillus circulans ATCC 31382) molecules from two sources are taken as the basis for molecular evolution, so as to obtain new lactase enzyme molecules with high galactooligosaccharide synthesis efficiency and good expression performance. The high-producing strain lactase is further constructed, the lactase can be efficiently synthesized during the submerged fermentation, and the enzyme molecule is secreted into the culture medium, the high-activity enzyme preparation is directly prepared from the fermentation supernatant, and the lactase expression level can achieve 2208 U/mL. As the result, the fermentation manufacturing cost of lactase is reduced, the fermentation manufacturing process is simplified, and the quality of the lactase preparation is improved.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides gene edited modified immune cells or precursors thereof (e.g., gene edited modified T cells) comprising an exogenous T cell receptor (TCR) and/or a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) having specificity for a target antigen, and an insertion and/or deletion in one or more endogenous gene loci, wherein the endogenous gene loci encode regulators of T cell function, thereby resulting in immune cells having enhanced function. Compositions and methods of treatment are also provided. The present invention provides methods of screening for TCR- or CAR-T cells with enhanced immune function (e.g., T cell efficacy, T cell memory, and/or T cell persistence).

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of modifying DNA methylation by contacting a catalytically inactive site specific nuclease fused to an effector domain having methylation or demethylation activity and one or more guide sequences.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a long-chain dibasic acid with low content of long-chain dibasic acid impurity of shorter carbon chain, to the preparation of a long-chain dibasic acid producing strain by directed evolution of POX gene and homologous recombination, and to the production of a long-chain dibasic acid with low content of long-chain dibasic acid impurity of shorter carbon chain by using the strain. The present invention also relates to a strain containing a mutated promoter, wherein, when a long-chain dibasic acid is produced by fermentation of this strain, the content of the acid impurity of shorter carbon chain in the fermentation product is significantly reduced.

Abstract: Compositions and methods related to Cas proteins, nucleic acids encoding the Cas proteins, and modified host cells comprising the Cas proteins and/or encoding nucleic acids are disclosed. Cas proteins are useful in a variety of applications. Cas proteins bind guide RNAs that in turn provide functional specificity to the Cas proteins, nucleic acids encoding the Cas guide RNAs, and modified host cells comprising the Cas guide RNAs and/or encoding nucleic acids. The Cas polypeptides and corresponding guide RNAs can be used in a variety of applications.

Abstract: Provided herein are modified cleavases for removing amino acids from peptides, polypeptides, and proteins. Also provided are methods of using the modified cleavases for treating polypeptides, and kits comprising the modified cleavase. In some embodiments, the methods and the kits also include other components for macromolecule sequencing and/or analysis.

Abstract: This invention pertains to mutant Cas9 nucleic acids and proteins for use in CRISPR/Cas endonuclease systems, and their methods of use. In particular, the invention pertains to an isolated mutant Cas9 protein, wherein the isolated mutant Cas9 protein is active in a CRISPR/Cas endonuclease system, wherein the CRISPR/Cas endonuclease system displays reduced off-target editing activity and maintained on-target editing activity relative to a wild-type CRISPR/Cas endonuclease system. The invention also includes isolated nucleic acids encoding mutant Cas9 proteins, ribonucleoprotein complexes and CRSPR/Cas endonuclease systems having mutant Cas9 proteins that display reduced off-target editing activity and maintained on-target editing activity relative to a wild-type CRISPR/Cas endonuclease system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of antimicrobial agents active against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. In particular, the present invention relates to polypeptides comprising the CHAP domain of LysK endolysin, the M23 endopeptidase domain of lysostaphin, the cell wall binding domain (CBD) of ALE-1, and a further peptide selected from the group consisting of an antimicrobial peptide, an amphipathic peptide, a cationic peptide, a hydrophobic peptide, a sushi peptide and a defensin. In addition, the present invention relates to nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides, vectors comprising such nucleic acids, and corresponding host cells, compositions and devices. Finally, the present invention relates to applications of the inventive polypeptides, in particular in the pharmaceutical field.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a device for modulating intracellular gene expression, the device having a calcium actuator component and a transcription reprogramming component. In another embodiment, a method for modulating intracellular gene expression, where the method includes inducing a system having a calcium actuator component and a transcription reprogramming component with at least one of light and a chemical, causing an increase in Ca2+, and translocating the transcription reprogramming component from cytosol to the nucleus.