Abstract: The present invention concerns materials and method for delivery and internalization of an agent into a cell even in the presence of an immune response, such as antibodies or antisera or immune cells that bind to the agent. The agent can be a compound, drug, peptide, protein, nucleic acid, antigen, immunogen, or other biological molecule. In one embodiment, the agent is operatively linked to a lectin-based carrier. The present invention can be used for delivery and cellular internalization of any entity where an immune response to the entity is present or is likely to be produced or developed. The present invention also concerns methods and materials for providing for an adjuvant and carrier for vaccinations of a person or animal.

Abstract: The current invention involves the use of protein lectins produced by plants including the non-toxic carbohydrate binding subunits (B subunits) of plant “AB toxins” (PTB lectins) as delivery vehicles for mobilizing associated drug substances for delivery to animal and human cells. The resulting protein fusions or conjugates retain lectin carbohydrate specificity for binding to cells and cellular trafficking activity so as to deliver an associated drug compound to the site of disease manifestation. One embodiment of this invention concerns the ability of ricin toxin B subunit, as a model PTB lectin, to deliver enzyme replacement therapeutic drugs to cells of several organs of the body including the brain and central nervous system, eyes, ears, lungs, bone, heart, kidney, liver, and spleen for treating lysosomal diseases.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns materials and methods for treating or preventing disease and conditions associated with various sulfatase enzymes that are defective or that are not properly expressed in a person or animal. In one embodiment, the disease is Sanfilippo A (MPS-IIIA) disease. The subject invention also concerns materials and methods for treating or preventing multiple sulfatase deficiency (MSD) in a person or animal. Compounds of the invention include a fusion protein comprising i) a mammalian sulfatase, or an enzymatically active fragment or variant thereof, and ii) a plant lectin or a binding subunit thereof. In a specific embodiment, the mammalian sulfatase is a human sulfatase, or an enzymatically active fragment or variant thereof. Polynucleotides encoding the fusion proteins are also contemplated for the subject invention. The subject invention also concerns materials and methods for producing proteins of the invention.

Abstract: The current invention involves the use of protein lectins produced by plants including the non-toxic carbohydrate binding subunits (B subunits) of plant “AB toxins” (PTB lectins) as delivery vehicles for mobilizing associated drug substances for delivery to animal and human cells. The resulting protein fusions or conjugates retain lectin carbohydrate specificity for binding to cells and cellular trafficking activity so as to deliver an associated drug compound to the site of disease manifestation. One embodiment of this invention concerns the ability of ricin toxin B subunit, as a model PTB lectin, to deliver enzyme replacement therapeutic drugs to cells of several organs of the body including the brain and central nervous system, eyes, ears, lungs, bone, heart, kidney, liver, and spleen for treating lysosomal diseases.

Abstract: The present invention concerns materials and method for delivery and internalization of an agent into a cell even in the presence of an immune response, such as antibodies or antisera or immune cells that bind to the agent. The agent can be a compound, drug, peptide, protein, nucleic acid, antigen, immunogen, or other biological molecule. In one embodiment, the agent is operatively linked to a lectin-based carrier. The present invention can be used for delivery and cellular internalization of any entity where an immune response to the entity is present or is likely to be produced or developed. The present invention also concerns methods and materials for providing for an adjuvant and carrier for vaccinations of a person or animal.

Abstract: The current invention involves the use of protein lectins produced by plants including the non-toxic carbohydrate binding subunits (B subunits) of plant “AB toxins” (PTB lectins) as delivery vehicles for mobilizing associated drug substances for delivery to animal and human cells. The resulting protein fusions or conjugates retain lectin carbohydrate specificity for binding to cells and cellular trafficking activity so as to deliver an associated drug compound to the site of disease manifestation. One embodiment of this invention concerns the ability of ricin toxin B subunit, as a model PTB lectin, to deliver enzyme replacement therapeutic drugs to cells of several organs of the body including the brain and central nervous system, eyes, ears, lungs, bone, heart, kidney, liver, and spleen for treating lysosomal diseases.

Abstract: The current invention involves the use of protein lectins produced by plants including the non-toxic carbohydrate binding subunits (B subunits) of plant “AB toxins” (PTB lectins) as delivery vehicles for mobilizing associated drug substances for delivery to animal and human cells. The resulting protein fusions or conjugates retain lectin carbohydrate specificity for binding to cells and cellular trafficking activity so as to deliver an associated drug compound to the site of disease manifestation. One embodiment of this invention concerns the ability of ricin toxin B subunit, as a model PTB lectin, to deliver enzyme replacement therapeutic drugs to cells of several organs of the body including the brain and central nervous system, eyes, ears, lungs, bone, heart, kidney, liver, and spleen for treating lysosomal diseases.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns materials and methods for treating or preventing disease and conditions associated with various sulfatase enzymes that are defective or that are not properly expressed in a person or animal. In one embodiment, the disease is Sanfilippo A (MPS-IIIA) disease. The subject invention also concerns materials and methods for treating or preventing multiple sulfatase deficiency (MSD) in a person or animal. Compounds of the invention include a fusion protein comprising i) a mammalian sulfatase, or an enzymatically active fragment or variant thereof, and ii) a plant lectin or a binding subunit thereof. In a specific embodiment, the mammalian sulfatase is a human sulfatase, or an enzymatically active fragment or variant thereof. Polynucleotides encoding the fusion proteins are also contemplated for the subject invention. The subject invention also concerns materials and methods for producing proteins of the invention.

Abstract: The current invention involves the use of protein lectins produced by plants including the non-toxic carbohydrate binding subunits (B subunits) of plant “AB toxins” (PTB lectins) as delivery vehicles for mobilizing associated drug substances for delivery to animal and human cells. The resulting protein fusions or conjugates retain lectin carbohydrate specificity for binding to cells and cellular trafficking activity so as to deliver an associated drug compound to the site of disease manifestation. One embodiment of this invention concerns the ability of ricin toxin B subunit, as a model PTB lectin, to deliver enzyme replacement therapeutic drugs to cells of several organs of the body including the brain and central nervous system, eyes, ears, lungs, bone, heart, kidney, liver, and spleen for treating lysosomal diseases.

Abstract: The current invention involves the use of protein lectins produced by plants including the non-toxic carbohydrate binding subunits (B subunits) of plant “AB toxins” (PTB lectins) as delivery vehicles for mobilizing associated drug substances for delivery to animal and human cells. The resulting protein fusions or conjugates retain lectin carbohydrate specificity for binding to cells and cellular trafficking activity so as to deliver an associated drug compound to the site of disease manifestation. One embodiment of this invention concerns the ability of ricin toxin B subunit, as a model PTB lectin, to deliver enzyme replacement therapeutic drugs to cells of several organs of the body including the brain and central nervous system, eyes, ears, lungs, bone, heart, kidney, liver, and spleen for treating lysosomal diseases.

Abstract: The invention is a plant-based production of biologically active avian interleukin-12 protein and functional units for increasing the protective and/or immunological response in an animal, for use as an adjuvant with a vaccine to control avian infectious diseases, and methods of producing and using the same. Specifically, avian interleukin-12 was produced from a plant-based expression system and demonstrated that it stimulates production of immune responses in birds.

Abstract: The invention relates to the production of enzymatically active recombinant human and animal lysosomal enzymes involving construction and expression of recombinant expression constructs comprising coding sequences of human or animal lysosomal enzymes in a plant expression system. The plant expression system provides for post-translational modification and processing to produce a recombinant gene product exhibiting enzymatic activity. The invention is demonstrated by working examples in which transgenic tobacco plants having recombinant expression constructs comprising human hGC and IDUA nucleotide sequences produced enzymatically active modified human glucocerebrosidase and human .alpha.-L-iduronidase. The recombinant lysosomal enzymes produced in accordance with the invention may be used for a variety of purposes, including but not limited to enzyme replacement therapy for the therapeutic treatment of human and animal lysosomal storage diseases.