Abstract: The invention provides flagellin-based fusion proteins (FBFP) are useful for a variety of purposes, in bioremediation to remove metal ions from a liquid, to express an enzyme or an immunogen, nucleic acids encoding the FBFP, vectors containing the nucleic acids, and host cells harboring the vectors. Furthermore, the invention provides methods for obtaining over-expression and surface display of heterologous polypeptides in Gram-positive bacterial cells in Bacillus halodurans in particular. In addition, the invention features gene-disrupted bacterial are useful for expressing the recombinant FBFP on their surfaces. Also included in the invention genetic constructs are useful for making FBFP and methods of using the FBFP.

Abstract: A method of producing a flagellin-based chimeric protein includes culturing a B. halodurans BhFD05 (?hag, ?fliD, ?wprA, ?alp, ?apr, ?vpr, ?asp) strain deposited under Accession Number 41533 at the NCIMB. The strain is caused to express and secrete high levels of a flagellin-based chimeric protein into an extracellular growth medium. The flagellin-based chimeric protein comprises a heterologous peptide (i) inserted in-frame into a flagellin variable region which is flanked on its N-terminal side by an N-terminal fragment of a flagellin polypeptide and, optionally, flanked on its C-terminal side by a C-terminal fragment of a flagellin polypeptide, or (ii) fused to the C-terminal of a flagellin polypeptide.

Abstract: The invention provides flagellin-based fusion proteins (FBFP) useful for a variety of purposes, in bioremediation to remove metal ions from a liquid, to express an enzyme or an immunogen, nucleic acids encoding the FBFP, vectors containing the nucleic acids, and host cells harboring the vectors. Furthermore, the invention provides methods for obtaining over-expression and surface display of heterologous polypeptides in Gram-positive bacterial cells in Bacillus halodurans in particular. In addition, the invention features gene-disrupted bacteria useful for expressing the recombinant FBFP on their surfaces. Also included in the invention are genetic constructs useful for making FBFP and methods of using the FBFP.