Abstract: Provided are bacterial minicells derived from genome reduced (GR) having a reduced number of expressed genes and/or is a bacterium having one or more mutated min genes. In some embodiments, the minicell has a recombinant protein present in and/or on the surface of the minicell. In some embodiments, the recombinant protein is an antigen and in some embodiments, the minicell induces an enhanced immune response against the antigen when administered to a subject. In some embodiments, the bacterium has an autotransporter (AT) expression vector encoding the recombinant protein to express the recombinant protein on the surface of the bacterium and/or the minicell derived therefrom. Also provided are vaccine compositions that include bacterial minicells, methods for producing antibodies, methods for vaccinating subjects, and expression vectors encoding heterologous proteins.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for treating cancer are provided. Compositions comprising ceramide nanoliposomes are administered to a subject in need of such treatment. The composition administration also enhances immunotherapy. Further administering compositions in combination with tumor antigen specific T-cells, and/or compositions in combination with tumor antigen expressing cells, and/or said compositions in combination with antagonists of PD-1 provides for enhanced results. Administration of the compositions provides for effective treatment of tumors including regression and eradication of established tumors.

Abstract: Provided are methods for treating a disease, disorder, or condition associated with an acid ceramidase (AC) biological activity. The methods include administering to a subject in need thereof a composition including an AC inhibitor and at least one additional active agent, such as a C6-ceramide nanoliposome (CNL); an inhibitor of a Bcl-2 family protein; a hypomethylating agent; an intensive chemotherapeutic agent such as cytarabine (AraC) and/or daunorubicin; a Hedgehog pathway inhibitor; a targeted agent, such as a FLT2 inhibitor or a EDH1/2 inhibitor; and/or an antibody drug conjugate that targets, for example, CD-33. The composition can include N-[(2S,3R)-1,3-dihydroxyoctadecan-2-yl]2-chloroacetamide (SACLAC) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and at least one additional active agent. The disease, disorder, or condition associated with the AC biological activity can be a cancer, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Abstract: Provided are methods for treating diseases, disorders, and conditions associated with undesirable cellular proliferation in subjects in need thereof. In some embodiments, the methods include administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of a chemotherapeutic agent and a short chain ceramide. Also provided are methods for increasing total ceramide levels in cells, for increasing long chain ceramide to a very long chain ceramide ratios in cells, methods for enhancing apoptosis of cells, for prognosing subjects with diseases, disorders, and conditions associated with undesirable cellular proliferation with respect to treatments, for increasing sensitivities of drug-resistant tumor and/or cancer cells to chemotherapeutics, and compositions that have one or more short chain ceramides and one or more chemotherapeutically active agents.

Abstract: Provided are methods for preventing and/or reducing weight gain in subjects. In some embodiments, the methods include administering an effective amount of a composition that includes a long chain fatty acid of at least 22 carbons and/or a derivative thereof to prevent and/or reduce weight gain in the subject. In some embodiments, the long chain fatty acid is a monounsaturated omega 9 fatty acid, which in some embodiments is nervonic acid or a derivative thereof. Also provided are methods for preventing and/or reducing the development of obesity in subjects, for inhibiting reduction of very-long chain sphingolipids in subjects, for increasing content of one or more ceramides while simultaneously decreasing content of one or more C20-C26 ceramides in subjects, and for reducing blood glucose levels resulting from consumption of high fat diets in subjects.

Abstract: Provided are methods and compositions for inhibiting viral infections. In some embodiments, the methods include administering to a subject infected with and/or at risk for infection with a virus a composition having a glucosylceramidase inhibitor, a glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor, or any combination thereof via a route and in an amount effective for treating and/or inhibiting the viral infection in the subject. Also provided are methods for inhibiting viral infections of cells, methods for inhibiting endosomal fusion of viruses in cells, and compositions for use in treating and/or inhibiting viral infections of subjects and/or cells.

Abstract: Provided are nucleic acids and vectors that collectively encode various gene products related to converting styrene to polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). In some embodiments, the nucleic acids and vectors collectively encode a styrene monooxygenase polypeptide, a flavin reductase polypeptide, a styrene-oxide isomerase polypeptide, and a phenylacetaldehyde dehydrogenase polypeptide, an acetyl-CoA C-acetyltransferase polypeptide, a 3-ketoacyl-ACP reductase polypeptide, a class I poly(R)-hydroxyalkanoic acid synthase polypeptide, and optionally an influx porin polypeptide. Also provided are systems and methods for producing PHB from styrene, methods and systems for remediating polystyrene waste. In some embodiments, the systems are in vivo systems.

Abstract: Method of producing nanoparticle of drug and imaging agents are provided. The phosphorylated encapsulated drugs and imaging agents could be encapsulated at therapeutic levels, were encapsulated at higher amounts. The CPSNPs were more effective in treating cancer, in reducing cancer proliferation, arresting cancer cell growth than when not in the form of a CPSNP, and showed efficacious treatment of cancer cells at far lower dosage than free molecules. Calcium phosphosilicate and phosphate nanoparticles are disclosed and their method of use. The methods and nanoparticles are particularly efficacious where CPSNPs were used to encapsulate 5-FU metabolites such as FdUMP and gemcitabine metabolites.

Abstract: Compositions and methods related to anucelate cells (e.g., bacterial minicells) for pesticide degradation applications including related cells, polypeptides, and vectors.

Abstract: Compositions and methods related to anucelate cells (e.g., bacterial minicells) for pesticide degradation applications including related cells, polypeptides, and vectors.

Abstract: A method for treating and preventing diseases associated with neutrophil infiltration, particularly ocular diseases, is provided, which method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of ceramide or a derivative thereof. Also provided is a composition for treating diseases associated with neutrophil infiltration, the composition comprising ceramide or a derivative thereof.

Abstract: A patellar implant includes a body and at least one oblique anchoring pin. The body includes a bone-facing surface that is substantially planar and has a lateral end and a medial end. The body also includes an articulating surface opposite the bone-facing surface. The at least one oblique anchoring pin extends from the bone-facing surface at an acute angle toward the lateral end of the bone-facing surface. The at least one oblique anchoring pin includes a first end attached to the bone-facing surface and a second end spaced from the first end. A longitudinal axis extends from the first end to the second end. The longitudinal axis defines the acute angle with respect to the bone-facing surface. The at least one oblique anchoring pin extends into a surgically-prepared patella when the patellar implant is such that the surgically-prepared patella abuts the bone-facing surface.

Abstract: Provided are methods for treating cancers and/or tumors in subjects. In some embodiments, the methods include administering to a subject an effective amount of a ceramide nanoliposome (CNL), wherein the CNL has a lipid bilayer that includes one or more C2-C24 ceramides and encapsulates one or more anti-cancer and/or anti-tumor agents. Also provided are methods for treating cancers and/or tumors associated with receptor tyrosine kinase or nuclear receptor activities, methods for treating Prostate Cancer, methods for inhibiting growth of EGFR-dependent cancers and/or tumors, methods for inhibiting growth of androgen receptor negative cells, method for reducing or eliminating androgen receptor negative cells from subject, CNLs that encapsulate one or more anti-cancer and/or anti-tumor agents, wherein the CNLs include a lipid bilayer that has one or more C2-C24 ceramides, and pharmaceutical compositions that include the disclosed CNLs.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for treating cancer are provided. Compositions comprising ceramide nanoliposomes are administered to a subject in need of such treatment. The composition administration also enhances immunotherapy. Further administering compositions in combination with tumor antigen specific T-cells, and/or compositions in combination with tumor antigen expressing cells, and/or said compositions in combination with antagonists of PD-1 provides for enhanced results. Administration of the compositions provides for effective treatment of tumors including regression and eradication of established tumors.

Abstract: A patellar implant includes a body and at least one oblique anchoring pin. The body includes a bone-facing surface that is substantially planar and has a lateral end and a medial end. The body also includes an articulating surface opposite the bone-facing surface. The at least one oblique anchoring pin extends from the bone-facing surface at an acute angle toward the lateral end of the bone-facing surface. The at least one oblique anchoring pin includes a first end attached to the bone-facing surface and a second end spaced from the first end. A longitudinal axis extends from the first end to the second end. The longitudinal axis defines the acute angle with respect to the bone-facing surface. The at least one oblique anchoring pin extends into a surgically-prepared patella when the patellar implant is such that the surgically-prepared patella abuts the bone-facing surface.

Abstract: Method of producing nanoparticle of drug and imaging agents are provided. The phosphorylated encapsulated drugs and imaging agents could be encapsulated at therapeutic levels, were encapsulated at higher amounts. The CPSNPs were more effective in treating cancer, in reducing cancer proliferation, arresting cancer cell growth than when not in the form of a CPSNP, and showed efficacious treatment of cancer cells at far lower dosage than free molecules. Calcium phosphosilicate and phosphate nanoparticles are disclosed and their method of use. The methods and nanoparticles are particularly efficacious where CPSNPs were used to encapsulate 5-FU metabolites such as FdUMP and gemcitabine metabolites.

Abstract: Compositions and methods related to anucelate cells (e.g., bacterial minicells) for pesticide degradation applications including related cells, polypeptides, and vectors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liposomal formulation for oral delivery of a bioactive agent that considers pH stability and oxidative stability of a bioactive ingredient. These lipid formulations are superior to conventional liposomes due to their stability, thereby circumventing the need for intra-venous delivery of bioactive agents. In one embodiment, the methods and compositions of the present invention relate to the oral delivery of insulin or a prodrug thereof.

Abstract: Stable, non-toxic, calcium phosphate nanoparticles are formed that incorporate one or more oligonucleotides. RNAi nucleotides may be incorporated and, in particular, siRNA nucleotides. Since the siRNA nanoparticles dissociate leaving only naturally occurring residual materials, calcium and phosphate, along with the siRNA, they are particularly useful as carrier vehicles. The ability to incorporate more than one siRNA provides a means to block or knock down the translation of multiple targeted proteins at the same time.

Abstract: A method for treating and preventing diseases associated with neutrophil infiltration, particularly ocular diseases, is provided, which method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of ceramide or a derivative thereof. Also provided is a composition for treating diseases associated with neutrophil infiltration, the composition comprising ceramide or a derivative thereof.