Abstract: Provided herein are proteins that include different combinations of structural and nonstructural proteins from SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding the proteins of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, a polynucleotide encoding a protein is present as a viral vector, such as adenovirus. In one embodiment, a polynucleotide encoding a protein is present as a mRNA. Also provided are methods for using the proteins and polynucleotides of the present disclosure.

Abstract: Provided herein is a genetically modified Y. pestis that includes three alterations compared to a control Y. pestis. Two alterations include decreased mRNA, decreased protein, or a combination thereof, encoded by a lpp coding region and encoded by a msbB coding region. The third alteration is selected from an alteration of an intergenic region between the coding regions ypo1119 and ypo1120, and decreased mRNA, decreased protein, or a combination thereof, encoded by a coding region selected from pla, ypol717, ypmt1.80c, rbsA (ypo2500), ypo0498, vasK (ypo3603), ypo3164, hxuB (ypo3248), ypo1616, ypo1119, ypo1120, and ail. Also provided are compositions that include the genetically modified Y. pestis, and methods of using the genetically modified Y. pestis.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for using compositions that include a fusion protein having a YscF protein domain, a mature F1 protein domain, and a LcrV protein domain. In one embodiment the composition is used to confer immunity to plague, such as pneumonic plague, caused by Yersinia pestis. In one embodiment, the composition is administered to a mucosal surface, such as by an intranasal route. In one embodiment, the administration to a mucosal surface includes a vector that has a polynucleotide encoding a fusion protein, where the fusion protein includes a YscF protein domain, a mature F1 protein domain, and a LcrV protein domain. The administration is followed by a second administration by a different route, such as an intramuscular route. The second administration includes a fusion protein having the same three domains, and in one embodiment the fusion protein is the same one administered to a mucosal surface.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for using compositions that include a fusion protein having a YscF protein domain, a mature F1 protein domain, and a LcrV protein domain. In one embodiment the composition is used to confer immunity to plague, such as pneumonic plague, caused by Yersinia pestis. In one embodiment, the composition is administered to a mucosal surface, such as by an intranasal route. In one embodiment, the administration to a mucosal surface includes a vector that has a polynucleotide encoding a fusion protein, where the fusion protein includes a YscF protein domain, a mature F1 protein domain, and a LcrV protein domain. The administration is followed by a second administration by a different route, such as an intramuscular route. The second administration includes a fusion protein having the same three domains, and in one embodiment the fusion protein is the same one administered to a mucosal surface.

Abstract: Provided herein is a genetically modified Y. pestis that includes three alterations compared to a control Y. pestis. Two alterations include decreased mRNA, decreased protein, or a combination thereof, encoded by a lpp coding region and encoded by a msbB coding region. The third alteration is selected from an alteration of an intergenic region between the coding regions ypo1119 and ypo1120, and decreased mRNA, decreased protein, or a combination thereof, encoded by a coding region selected from pla, ypol717, ypmt1.80c, rbsA (ypo2500), ypo0498, vasK (ypo3603), ypo3164, hxuB (ypo3248), ypo1616, ypo1119, ypo1120, and ail. Also provided are compositions that include the genetically modified Y. pestis, and methods of using the genetically modified Y. pestis.

Abstract: Synthetic milittin and related peptides derived from the sequence of human phospholipase A2-activating protein (PLAP), free from the contaminating phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and/or present when the peptides are purified from natural sources, show inhibitory activity against PLA2. Inhibition of this enzyme, responsible for the hydrolysis of arachiodonate, an important precursor of eicosanoids, should lead to a decrease in the inflammatory response. In addition to their use as anti-inflammatory therapeutics, compositions containing the synthetic peptides may also be useful therapeutic tools for diagnosing inflammatory diseases (e.g., Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis).

Abstract: A prosthetic acetabular cup assembly, for receiving a ball attached to a femur, including components interlocked via a locking mechanism that includes a retaining ring fabricated at least in part using a polyaryletherketone material, such as PEEK. The locking mechanism is designed to meet predefined constraints such as assuring that substantially all motion is eliminated between assembled parts, assuring further that push-in/pull-out forces of assembly are within generally accepted industry standards, etc.

Abstract: A prosthetic acetabular cup assembly, for receiving a ball attached to a femur, including components interlocked via a locking mechanism that includes a retaining ring fabricated at least in part using a polyaryletherketone material, such as PEEK. The locking mechanism is designed to meet predefined constraints such as assuring that substantially all motion is eliminated between assembled parts, assuring further that push-in/pull-out forces of assembly are within generally accepted industry standards, etc.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for using compositions that include a fusion protein having a YscF protein domain, a mature F1 protein domain, and a LcrV protein domain. In one embodiment the composition is used to confer immunity to plague, such as pneumonic plague, caused by Yersinia pestis. In one embodiment, the composition is administered to a mucosal surface, such as by an intranasal route. In one embodiment, the administration to a mucosal surface includes a vector that has a polynucleotide encoding a fusion protein, where the fusion protein includes a YscF protein domain, a mature F1 protein domain, and a LcrV protein domain. The administration is followed by a second administration by a different route, such as an intramuscular route. The second administration includes a fusion protein having the same three domains, and in one embodiment the fusion protein is the same one administered to a mucosal surface.