Abstract: The present invention relates to the fields of molecular medicine and targeted delivery of therapeutic or diagnostic agents to cells outside the vascular system and into the parenchymal tissue of organs within the body. More specifically, the present invention relates to improved TfR-binding moieties capable of crossing the blood brain barrier (BBB) and capable of carrying and releasing cargo specifically targeted to the parenchymal tissue of the brain. The present invention relates to a transcytosis selection method to obtain VNARs against mammalian blood brain barrier (BBB) receptors using phage display libraries as well as against receptors found in other directional cell barrier systems like the gastrointestinal tract and other organs. The VNARs may be used alone or as components in compositions or as conjugates that target the particular receptor transport systems for delivery of therapeutics or diagnostics to the brain (in the case of BBB receptors) or other tissues.

Abstract: Disclosed are variant thermostable cellulases, nucleic acids encoding the variants and methods for producing the variants. The variant thermostable cellulases have the amino acid sequence of a glycosyl hydrolase of family 12 wherein one or more amino acid residues which are not part of the catalytic domain are deleted. In specific embodiments, the variant thermostable cellulase is a variant of Cel12A of Rhodothermus marinus.

Abstract: Disclosed are variant thermostable cellulases, nucleic acids encoding the variants and methods for producing the variants. The variant thermostable cellulases have the amino acid sequence of a glycosyl hydrolase of family 12 wherein one or more amino acid residues which are not part of the catalytic domain are deleted. In specific embodiments, the variant thermostable cellulase is a variant of Cel12A of Rhodothermus marinus.