Abstract: This disclosure features fusion proteins comprising a base protein linked to or incorporated in a CH2 scaffold of IgG. The CH2 scaffold can derive from the macaque CH2 domain of IgG. The fusion proteins can effectively bind a single or multiple targets, and can be engineered to regulate effector functions as desired. The fusion proteins can have an increased serum half-life, solubility, stability, protease resistance, and/or expression as compared to the scaffolds alone and/or as compared to the base protein alone. This disclosure also features fusion proteins comprising a base protein, a CH2 scaffold and a discrete polyethylene glycol (dPEG) linked to the scaffold via a serine, tyrosine, cysteine, lysine, or a glycosylation site of the scaffold. This disclosure additionally features scaffolds linked to a discrete polyethylene glycol (dPEG) via a serine, tyrosine, cysteine, or lysine of the scaffolds or a glycosylation site of the scaffold.

Abstract: This disclosure features fusion proteins comprising a base protein linked to or incorporated in a CH2 scaffold of IgG. The CH2 scaffold can derive from the macaque CH2 domain of IgG. The fusion proteins can effectively bind a single or multiple targets, and can be engineered to regulate effector functions as desired. The fusion proteins can have an increased serum half-life, solubility, stability, protease resistance, and/or expression as compared to the scaffolds alone and/or as compared to the base protein alone. This disclosure also features fusion proteins comprising a base protein, a CH2 scaffold and a discrete polyethylene glycol (dPEG) linked to the scaffold via a serine, tyrosine, cysteine, lysine, or a glycosylation site of the scaffold. This disclosure additionally features scaffolds linked to a discrete polyethylene glycol (dPEG) via a serine, tyrosine, cysteine, or lysine of the scaffolds or a glycosylation site of the scaffold.

Abstract: Viable Gram-negative bacteria or components thereof comprising outer membranes that substantially lack a ligand, such as Lipid A or 6-acyl lipidpolysaccharide, that acts as an agonist of TLR4/MD-2. The bacteria may comprise reduced activity of arabinose-5-phosphate isomerases and one or more suppressor mutations, for example in a transporter thereby increasing the transporter's capacity to transport lipid IVA or in membrane protein YhjD. One or more genes (e.g., lpxL, lpxM, pagP, lpxP, and/or eptA) may be substantially deleted and/or one or more enzymes (e.g., LpxL, LpxM, PagP, LpxP, and/or EptA) may be substantially inactive. The bacteria may be competent to take up extracellular DNA, may be donor bacteria, or may be members of a library. The present invention also features methods of creating and utilizing such bacteria.

Abstract: This disclosure features fusion proteins comprising a base protein linked to or incorporated in a CH2 scaffold of IgG. The CH2 scaffold can derive from the macaque CH2 domain of IgG. The fusion proteins can effectively bind a single or multiple targets, and can be engineered to regulate effector functions as desired. The fusion proteins can have an increased serum half-life, solubility, stability, protease resistance, and/or expression as compared to the scaffolds alone and/or as compared to the base protein alone. This disclosure also features fusion proteins comprising a base protein, a CH2 scaffold and a discrete polyethylene glycol (dPEG) linked to the scaffold via a serine, tyrosine, cysteine, lysine, or a glycosylation site of the scaffold. This disclosure additionally features scaffolds linked to a discrete polyethylene glycol (dPEG) via a serine, tyrosine, cysteine, or lysine of the scaffolds or a glycosylation site of the scaffold.

Abstract: Novel CH2 domain template molecules wherein donor loops from a database of domains are transferred to a CH2 domain scaffold. At least one or up to three loops from a donor are transferred to the CH2 domain. The donor loops may be chosen based on length, e.g., the donor loop may have a length that is similar to that of a structural loop in the CH2 domain scaffold.

Abstract: Viable Gram-negative bacteria or components thereof comprising outer membranes that substantially lack a ligand, such as Lipid A or 6-acyl lipidpolysaccharide, that acts as an agonist of TLR4/MD2. The bacteria may comprise reduced activity of arabinose-5-phosphate isomerases and one or more suppressor mutations, for example in a transporter thereby increasing the transporters capacity to transport Lipid IVA or in membrane protein YhjD. One or more genes (e.g., IpxL, IpxM, pagP, IpxP, and/or eptA) may be substantially deleted and/or one or more enzymes (e.g., LpxL, LpxM, PagP, LpxP, and/or EptA) may be substantially inactive. The bacteria may be competent to take up extracellular DNA, may be donor bacteria, or may be members of a library. The present invention also features methods of creating and utilizing such bacteria.

Abstract: Viable Gram-negative bacteria or components thereof comprising outer membranes that substantially lack a ligand, such as Lipid A or 6-acyl lipidpolysaccharide, that acts as an agonist of TLR4/MD-2. The bacteria may comprise reduced activity of arabinose-5-phosphate isomerases and one or more suppressor mutations, for example in a transporter thereby increasing the transporter's capacity to transport lipid IVA or in membrane protein YhjD. One or more genes (e.g., lpxL, lpxM, pagP, lpxP, and/or eptA) may be substantially deleted and/or one or more enzymes (e.g., LpxL, LpxM, PagP, LpxP, and/or EptA) may be substantially inactive. The bacteria may be competent to take up extracellular DNA, may be donor bacteria, or may be members of a library. The present invention also features methods of creating and utilizing such bacteria.

Abstract: The present invention relate to small binding proteins comprising two or more protein domains derived from a CH2 domain or CH2-like domain of an immunoglobulin in which the CH2 domains have been altered to recognize one or more target proteins and, in some embodiments, retain, or have modified, certain secondary effector functions.

Abstract: Novel CH2 domain template molecules wherein donor loops from a database of domains are transferred to a CH2 domain scaffold. At least one or up to three loops from a donor are transferred to the CH2 domain. The donor loops may be chosen based on length, e.g., the donor loop may have a length that is similar to that of a structural loop in the CH2 domain scaffold.

Abstract: Viable Gram-negative bacteria or components thereof comprising outer membranes that substantially lack a ligand, such as Lipid A or 6-acyl lipidpolysaccharide, that acts as an agonist of TLR4/MD2. The bacteria may comprise reduced activity of arabinose-5-phosphate isomerases and one or more suppressor mutations, for example in a transporter thereby increasing the transporters capacity to transport Lipid IVA or in membrane protein YhjD. One or more genes (e.g., IpxL, IpxM, pagP, IpxP, and/or eptA) may be substantially deleted and/or one or more enzymes (e.g., LpxL, LpxM, PagP, LpxP, and/or EptA) may be substantially inactive. The bacteria may be competent to take up extracellular DNA, may be donor bacteria, or may be members of a library. The present invention also features methods of creating and utilizing such bacteria.

Abstract: Methods of covalently-stabilizing alpha-helical, chimeric peptides constrained within a homotrimeric or heterotrimeric coiled-coil structure are disclosed. The coiled-coil structures made by the methods disclosed within this specification mimic all or a portion of the internal, trimeric coiled-coil motif contained within the fusogenic conformation of an enveloped virus membrane-fusion protein, particularly the internal coiled-coil domain of the HIV gp41 ectodomain. The HIV-derived, chimeric peptides disclosed comprise a non-HIV, soluble, trimeric form of a coiled-coil fused in helical phase to all or a portion of the N-helix of HIV gp41 and are covalently-stabilized in a homotrimeric or heterotrimeric coiled-coil structure through the formation of disulfide or chemoselective bonds between said peptides.

Abstract: Methods of covalently-stabilizing alpha-helical, chimeric peptides constrained within a homotrimeric or heterotrimeric coiled-coil structure are disclosed. The coiled-coil structures made by the methods disclosed within this specification mimic all or a portion of the internal, trimeric coiled-coil motif contained within the fusogenic conformation of an enveloped virus membrane-fusion protein, particularly the internal coiled-coil domain of the HIV gp41 ectodomain. The HIV-derived, chimeric peptides disclosed comprise a non-HIV, soluble, trimeric form of a coiled-coil fused in helical phase to all or a portion of the N-helix of HIV gp41 and are covalently-stabilized in a homotrimeric or heterotrimeric coiled-coil structure through the formation of disulfide or chemoselective bonds between said peptides.