Abstract: Provided are compositions, including products of manufacture and kits, and methods, comprising combinations of microbes, such as non-pathogenic, live bacteria and/or bacterial spores, for the control, amelioration, prevention, and treatment of a disease or condition, for example, a viral infection such as a COVID19 infection, and these non-pathogenic, live bacteria and/or bacterial spores can be administered to an individual, thereby resulting in a modification or modulation of the individual's gut microfloral population(s), and by modulating or modifying the individual's gut microbial population(s) using compositions, products of manufacture and methods as provided herein, the pharmacodynamics or effectiveness of a drug or a vaccine administered to the individual is altered, for example, the pharmacodynamics of the drug or vaccine is enhanced, the individual's ability to absorb a drug is modified or the dose efficacy of a drug or vaccine is increased.

Abstract: Provided are compositions, including products of manufacture and kits, and methods, comprising combinations of microbes, such as non-pathogenic, live bacteria and/or bacterial spores, for the control, amelioration, prevention, and treatment of a disease or condition, for example, a cancer. In alternative embodiment, these non-pathogenic, live bacteria and/or bacterial spores are administered to an individual in need thereof, thereby resulting in a modification or modulation of the individual's gut microfloral population(s). In alternative embodiments, by modulating or modifying the individual's gut microbial population(s) using compositions, products of manufacture and methods as provided herein, the pharmacodynamics of a drug administered to the individual is altered, thereby controlling, ameliorating, preventing and/or treating of that cancer.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and engineered microorganisms that enhance or improve the production of crotyl alcohol. The engineered microorganisms include genetic modifications in alcohol dehydrogenase, alkene reductase or both enzymatic activities. By such genetic modifications, a crotyl alcohol production pathway is provided or improved.

Abstract: In alternative embodiments, provided are non-natural or genetically engineered vinylisomerase-dehydratase enzymes, including alkenol dehydratases, linalool dehydratases and crotyl alcohol dehydratases. In alternative embodiments, provided are non-natural or genetically engineered polypeptides having an activity comprising, for example, a vinylisomerase-dehydratase, an alkenol dehydratase, a linalool dehydratase and/or a crotyl alcohol dehydratase activity, or a combination thereof. In alternative embodiments, also provided are non-natural or genetically engineered nucleic acids (polynucleotides) encoding polypeptides described herein, expression or cloning vehicles comprising or having contained therein nucleic acids as described herein, and non-natural or genetically engineered cells comprising or having contained therein nucleic acids as described herein. In alternative embodiments, also provided are methods for making various organic compounds, including methyl vinyl carbinol and butadiene.

Abstract: In alternative embodiments, provided are compositions, including products of manufacture and kits, and methods, for or comprising administering to an individual in need thereof an inhibitor of an inhibitory immune checkpoint molecule and/or a stimulatory immune checkpoint molecule and a formulation, wherein the formulation comprises at least two different species or genera of non-pathogenic, live bacteria, and each of the non-pathogenic, live bacteria comprise non-pathogenic colony forming live bacteria, a plurality of non-pathogenic germinable bacterial spores, or a combination thereof, and optionally the non-pathogenic bacteria or non-pathogenic bacteria arising from germination of the germinable spores can individually or together metabolize urolithin A from ellagic acid, or can individually or together synthesize urolithin A.

Abstract: The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having a butadiene, crotyl alcohol, 2,4-pentadienoate, 3-buten-2-ol, or 3-buten-1-ol, pathway. The microbial organism contains at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an enzyme in a pathway. The invention additionally provides a method for producing butadiene, crotyl alcohol, 2,4-pentadienoate, 3-buten-2-ol, or 3-buten-1-ol. The method can include culturing a butadiene, crotyl alcohol, 2,4-pentadienoate, 3-buten-2-ol, or 3-buten-1-ol-producing microbial organism, where the microbial organism expresses at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a pathway enzyme in a sufficient amount, and under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce butadiene, crotyl alcohol, 2,4-pentadienoate, 3-buten-2-ol, or 3-buten-1-ol.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and engineered microorganisms that enhance or improve the production of crotyl alcohol. The engineered microorganisms include genetic modifications in alcohol dehydrogenase, alkene reductase or both enzymatic activities. By such genetic modifications, a crotyl alcohol production pathway is provided or improved.

Abstract: The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having a butadiene, crotyl alcohol, 2,4-pentadienoate, 3-buten-2-ol, or 3-buten-1-ol, pathway. The microbial organism contains at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an enzyme in a pathway. The invention additionally provides a method for producing butadiene, crotyl alcohol, 2,4-pentadienoate, 3-buten-2-ol, or 3-buten-1-ol. The method can include culturing a butadiene, crotyl alcohol, 2,4-pentadienoate, 3-buten-2-ol, or 3-buten-1-ol-producing microbial organism, where the microbial organism expresses at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a pathway enzyme in a sufficient amount, and under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce butadiene, crotyl alcohol, 2,4-pentadienoate, 3-buten-2-ol, or 3-buten-1-ol.

Abstract: In alternative embodiments, provided are non-natural or genetically engineered vinylisomerase-dehydratase enzymes, including alkenol dehydratases, linalool dehydratases and crotyl alcohol dehydratases. In alternative embodiments, provided are non-natural or genetically engineered polypeptides having an activity comprising, for example, a vinylisomerase-dehydratase, an alkenol dehydratase, a linalool dehydratase and/or a crotyl alcohol dehydratase activity, or a combination thereof. In alternative embodiments, also provided are non-natural or genetically engineered nucleic acids (polynucleotides) encoding polypeptides described herein, expression or cloning vehicles comprising or having contained therein nucleic acids as described herein, and non-natural or genetically engineered cells comprising or having contained therein nucleic acids as described herein. In alternative embodiments, also provided are methods for making various organic compounds, including methyl vinyl carbinol and butadiene.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and engineered microorganisms that enhance or improve the production of crotyl alcohol. The engineered microorganisms include genetic modifications in alcohol dehydrogenase, alkene reductase or both enzymatic activities. By such genetic modifications, a crotyl alcohol production pathway is provided or improved.

Abstract: The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having a butadiene, crotyl alcohol, 2,4-pentadienoate, 3-buten-2-ol, or 3-buten-1-ol, pathway. The microbial organism contains at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an enzyme in a pathway. The invention additionally provides a method for producing butadiene, crotyl alcohol, 2,4-pentadienoate, 3-buten-2-ol, or 3-buten-1-ol. The method can include culturing a butadiene, crotyl alcohol, 2,4-pentadienoate, 3-buten-2-ol, or 3-buten-1-ol-producing microbial organism, where the microbial organism expresses at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a pathway enzyme in a sufficient amount, and under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce butadiene, crotyl alcohol, 2,4-pentadienoate, 3-buten-2-ol, or 3-buten-1-ol.

Abstract: The invention described herein relates to an RNA-based control device that senses the presence and/or concentration of at least one protein ligand, preferably through its protein-binding aptamer domain, and regulates a target gene expression through alternative splicing of the target gene in which the RNA-based control device is integrated. The device has uses in therapeutic as well as diagnostic applications.

Abstract: The invention described herein relates to an RNA-based control device that senses the presence and/or concentration of at least one protein ligand, preferably through its protein-binding aptamer domain, and regulates a target gene expression through alternative splicing of the target gene in which the RNA-based control device is integrated. The device has uses in therapeutic as well as diagnostic applications.