Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a recombinant gas vesicle nanoparticle, and the recombinant gas vesicle nanoparticle prepared by the method of the present disclosure is a nano-sized protein particle that it is biologically non-toxic and safe. Further, its outer surface protein, GvpC, can be recombined to include the exogenous protein to reconstitute gas vesicle nanoparticles presenting/mounting the exogenous protein on the surface, so that it can be used as various antigen-loaded vaccine compositions that are active under physiological conditions, therapeutic target-specific carriers, including a sensor for target-specific therapy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to variants of the model halophile Halobacterium sp. NRC-1 that have been exposed to cycles of irradiation with high doses of 18-20 MeV electrons. These novel isolated halobacterium exhibit increased resistance to radiation and may be used for bioremediation of toxic and highly radioactive waste sites and/or for studying and modulating the mechanism involved in such resistance.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a recombinant vector capable of directing the synthesis of gas vesicles in a non-floating cells. Cells transformed by the vector of the invention are also provided. The present invention is further directed to a method for conferring buoyancy to non-floating cells. The method of the instant invention is useful in harvesting cells, for example in fermentation processes, and in bioremediation, for example in conferring buoyancy to hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria.

Abstract: The invention features a composition that includes a substantially pure recombinant gas vesicles which have at least one heterologous peptide inserted into at one of their structural proteins. The recombinant gas vesicle, when administered to a mammal, is capable of eliciting antibodies which specifically bind to the heterologous peptide. The heterologous peptide can be any peptide against which one wishes to raise antibodies, e.g., a peptide found in the gp12O protein of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Abstract: The invention relates to a mutant glutamine synthetase (GS) enzyme which is resistant to inhibition by herbicidal GS inhibitors, such as phosphinothricin (PPT), genetic sequences coding therefor, plants cells and prokaryotes transformed with the genetic sequences, and herbicidal GS inhibitor-resistant plant cells and plants.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mutant glutamine synthetase (GS) enzyme which is resistant to inhibition by herbicidal GS inhibitors, such as phosphinothricin (PPT), genetic sequences coding therefor, plants cells and prokaryotes transformed with the genetic sequences, and herbicidal GS inhibitor-resistant plant cells and plants.