Abstract: The present invention provides plant-made elafin-Fc fusion proteins for treating inflammatory diseases, e.g., inflammatory lung diseases. In certain embodiments, the fusion proteins comprise one or more point mutations, which confer improved properties, such as increased resistance to oxidation, cleavage, and increased half-life. The present invention additionally provides polynucleotides encoding the fusion proteins, recombinant cells and expression vectors, and transgenic plants comprising the fusion protein coding sequences. The present invention further provides methods for the production of the fusion proteins.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel chemically inducible plant viral amplicon (CMViva) expression system that permits controllable, high level expression of foreign genes in plant hosts. This system employs agro-infiltration of plants to provide a transient production of a protein of interest, such as a human blood protein. This system provides a major advantage over existing plant expression systems because it allows for consistent expression of foreign or heterologous proteins in plant hosts.

Abstract: The present invention provides plant-made elafin-Fc fusion proteins for treating inflammatory diseases, e.g., inflammatory lung diseases. In certain embodiments, the fusion proteins comprise one or more point mutations, which confer improved properties, such as increased resistance to oxidation, cleavage, and increased half-life. The present invention additionally provides polynucleotides encoding the fusion proteins, recombinant cells and expression vectors, and transgenic plants comprising the fusion protein coding sequences. The present invention further provides methods for the production of the fusion proteins.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel chemically inducible plant viral amplicon (CMViva) expression system that permits controllable, high level expression of foreign genes in plant hosts. This system employs agro-infiltration of plants to provide a transient production of a protein of interest, such as a human blood protein. This system provides a major advantage over existing plant expression systems because it allows for consistent expression of foreign or heterologous proteins in plant hosts.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of increasing the extraction of an apoplast-targeted recombinant protein in a plant tissue and to methods of increasing the purity of an apoplast-targeted recombinant protein recovered from a plant tissue. The methods involve contacting plant tissue with a rinse fluid on a plurality of occasions to release recombinant protein from the apoplast into the rinse fluid to create an apoplast wash fluid. The resulting content of the recombinant protein in the apoplast wash fluid is higher than the content of the recombinant protein in the apoplast wash fluid from comparable plant tissue contacted with rinse fluid on a single occasion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel chemically inducible plant viral amplicon (CMViva) expression system that permits controllable, high level expression of foreign genes in plant hosts. This system employs agro-infiltration of plants to provide a transient production of a protein of interest, such as a human blood protein. This system provides a major advantage over existing plant expression systems because it allows for consistent expression of foreign or heterologous proteins in plant hosts.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of increasing the purity of an apoplast-targeted recombinant protein recovered from a plant tissue, and increasing the yield of recovery of an apoplast-targeted recombinant protein from a plant tissue.

Abstract: Described herein are viral amplicon-based protein expression systems and methods useful for producing heterologous proteins, such as enzymes, by agroinfiltration. The methods involve producing an Agrobacterium with a Ti plasmid encoding a heterologous protein, infecting plant cells with the Agrobacterium, allowing expression of the heterologous protein, and recovering the heterologous protein from the plant cells. In one embodiment, the protein produced is an endoglucanase.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of increasing the production of an apoplast-targeted recombinant protein in a plant tissue and to methods of increasing the purity of an apoplast-targeted recombinant protein recovered from a plant tissue.

Abstract: Described herein are methods useful for producing proteins, such as enzymes, by agrofiltration. The methods involve producing an Agrobacterium with a Ti plasmid encoding a cellulase, infecting plant cells with the Agrobacterium, allowing expression of the cellulase, and recovering the cellulase from the plant cells. In one embodiment, the protein produced is an endoglucanase.

Abstract: Described herein are viral amplicon-based protein expression systems and methods useful for producing heterologous proteins, such as enzymes, by agroinfiltration. The methods involve producing an Agrobacterium with a Ti plasmid encoding a heterologous protein, infecting plant cells with the Agrobacterium, allowing expression of the heterologous protein, and recovering the heterologous protein from the plant cells. In one embodiment, the protein produced is an endoglucanase.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel chemically inducible plant viral amplicon (CMViva) expression system that permits controllable, high level expression of foreign genes in plant hosts. This system employs agro-infiltration of plants to provide a transient production of a protein of interest, such as a human blood protein. This system provides a major advantage over existing plant expression systems because it allows for consistent expression of foreign or heterologous proteins in plant hosts.

Abstract: An introducer deploys an endoluminal device in a distal location from a proximal location. The introducer comprises a retrograde portion, an anterograde portion axially moveable relative to the retrograde portion, a shaft having a distal tip and an anterograde sheath attached to the distal tip, and anchoring means in at least one of the retrograde portion or the anterograde portion for anchoring the device during deployment from its proximal end to its distal end. An inner sheath may be mounted concentrically over the shaft with the endoluminal device mounted concentrically over the inner sheath. The anchoring device may comprise an inflatable balloon mounted radially inside the retrograde portion, a tether, or an extended portion of the endoluminal device confined by a notch in the interface of two sheaths in the retrograde portion of the introducer, or may comprise a holder in the anterograde portion.

Abstract: An introducer deploys an endoluminal device in a distal location from a proximal location. The introducer comprises a retrograde portion, an anterograde portion axially moveable relative to the retrograde portion, a shaft having a distal tip and an anterograde sheath attached to the distal tip, and anchoring means in at least one of the retrograde portion or the anterograde portion for anchoring the device during deployment from its proximal end to its distal end. An inner sheath may be mounted concentrically over the shaft with the endoluminal device mounted concentrically over the inner sheath. The anchoring device may comprise an inflatable balloon mounted radially inside the retrograde portion, a tether, or an extended portion of the endoluminal device confined by a notch in the interface of two sheaths in the retrograde portion of the introducer, or may comprise a holder in the anterograde portion.

Abstract: An introducer deploys an endoluminal device in a distal location from a proximal location. The introducer comprises a retrograde portion, an anterograde portion axially moveable relative to the retrograde portion, a shaft having a distal tip and an anterograde sheath attached to the distal tip, and anchoring means in at least one of the retrograde portion or the anterograde portion for anchoring the device during deployment from its proximal end to its distal end. An inner sheath may be mounted concentrically over the shaft with the endoluminal device mounted concentrically over the inner sheath. The anchoring device may comprise an inflatable balloon mounted radially inside the retrograde portion, a tether, or an extended portion of the endoluminal device confined by a notch in the interface of two sheaths in the retrograde portion of the introducer, or may comprise a holder in the anterograde portion.

Abstract: Described herein are methods useful for producing proteins, such as enzymes, by agrofiltration. The methods involve producing an Agrobacterium with a Ti plasmid encoding a cellulase, infecting plant cells with the Agrobacterium, allowing expression of the cellulase, and recovering the cellulase from the plant cells. In one embodiment, the protein produced is an endoglucanase.

Abstract: A method for deployment of a multi-part endoluminal device includes deploying a first portion of the device sequentially from its distal end to its proximal end, then deploying a second portion of the device sequentially from its proximal end to its distal end so that its distal end overlaps the first portion proximal end. The system for deploying the endoluminal device includes a first introducer loaded with a first endoluminal device and adapted to deploy the first device sequentially from the distal end to the proximal end, and a second introducer loaded with a second endoluminal device and adapted to anchor the second endoluminal device proximal end while deploying the second endoluminal device sequentially from the proximal end to the distal end.

Abstract: An introducer deploys an endoluminal device in a distal location from a proximal location. The introducer comprises a retrograde portion, an anterograde portion axially moveable relative to the retrograde portion, a shaft having a distal tip and an anterograde sheath attached to the distal tip, and anchoring means in at least one of the retrograde portion or the anterograde portion for anchoring the device during deployment from its proximal end to its distal end. An inner sheath may be mounted concentrically over the shaft with the endoluminal device mounted concentrically over the inner sheath. The anchoring device may comprise an inflatable balloon mounted radially inside the retrograde portion, a tether, or an extended portion of the endoluminal device confined by a notch in the interface of two sheaths in the retrograde portion of the introducer, or may comprise a holder in the anterograde portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for semi-continuous culture of plant cells in a nutrient medium. The pH of the medium is monitored during the cell culture as a way of monitoring the expression of a product of interest by the cells.

Abstract: A method for deployment of a multi-part endoluminal device comprises deploying a first portion of the device sequentially from its distal end to its proximal end, then deploying a second portion of the device sequentially from its proximal end to its distal end so that its distal end overlaps the first portion proximal end. The system for deploying the endoluminal device comprises a first introducer loaded with a first endoluminal device and adapted to deploy the first device sequentially from the distal end to the proximal end, and a second introducer loaded with a second endoluminal device and adapted to anchor the second endoluminal device proximal end while deploying the second endoluminal device sequentially from the proximal end to the distal end.