Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide for unique lipooligosaccharide/lipid A-based mimetics for use as adjuvants. Methods of generating lipooligosaccharide/lipid A-based mimetics are provided that utilize recombinantly engineered bacteria to produce the mimetics, including, for example, addition of one or more particular enzymes such as acyltransferases, deacylases, phosphatases, or glycosyltransferases.

Abstract: The present invention provides peptides with an anti-obesity and/or anti-diabetic activity consisting of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2, and optionally modified at their C- or N-terminal ends.

Abstract: Methods, compositions and kits for regulating complement activity or treating a complement activity disorder in a subject using soluble, membrane-independent CD59 protein, methods of assaying human macular degeneration (MD), and methods and kits for assaying potential therapeutic agents for treatment of human MD are provided herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved polysaccharides (e.g., gellan and diutan) produced by mutant gene N, M or I Sphingomonas strains containing at least one genetic modification that favors slime-forming polysaccharide production. Methods of making the mutant Sphingomonas strains and the culture broth containing such mutant Sphingomonas strains are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new generation of chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) referred to as multi-chain CARs. Such CARs, which aim to redirect immune cell specificity and reactivity toward a selected target exploiting the ligand-binding domain properties, comprise separate extracellular ligand binding and signaling domains in different transmembrane polypeptides. 91The signaling domains are designed to assemble in juxtamembrane position, which forms flexible architecture closer to natural receptors, that confers optimal signal transduction. The invention encompasses the polynucleotides, vectors encoding said multi-chain CAR and the isolated cells expressing them at their surface, in particularly for their use in immunotherapy. The invention opens the way to efficient adoptive immunotherapy strategies for treating cancer and viral infections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the conversion of the substrate specificity of desaturases. Specifically, the present invention pertains to a method for the conversion of the substrate specificity of a ?5 and/or ?6 desaturase to the substrate specificity of a ?4 desaturase, the method comprising: identifying regions and/or amino acid residues which control the substrate specificity of (i) the ?5 and/or ?6 desaturase and (ii) the ?4 desaturase; and replacing in the amino acid sequence of the mentioned ?5 and/or ?6 desaturase, the regions and/or amino acid residues which control the substrate specificity of the ?5 and/or ?6 desaturase, by the corresponding regions and/or amino acid residues which control the substrate specificity of the ?4 desaturase, thereby converting the substrate specificity of the ?5 and/or ?6 desaturase to the substrate specificity of the ?4 desaturase.

Abstract: In certain aspects the invention provides immunogenic compositions comprising CH848 HIV-1 envelopes and their use in methods to induce immune responses in subjects, e.g., human subjects.

Abstract: The invention relates to a genetically engineered bacterium having an enzyme that converts 3-hydroxyisovaleryl-CoA to 3-hydroxyisovalerate and an enzyme that converts 3-hydroxyisovalerate to isobutylene. Typically, the bacterium is capable of producing isobutylene from a gaseous substrate containing CO, CO2, and/or H2, such as syngas or an industrial waste gas.

Abstract: The present application relates to plant growth promoting microbes (PGPMs), compositions comprising these PGPMs and methods of using these PGPMs and/or compositions for enhancing plant health, plant growth and/or plant yield, and/or for preventing, inhibiting, or treating the development of plant pathogens or the development of phytopathogenic diseases. This application also provides non-naturally occurring plant varieties that are artificially infected with a PGPM descried herein, as well as seed, reproductive tissue, vegetative tissue, regenerative tissues, plant parts, or progeny thereof.

Abstract: Provided are: a method for producing a mycrosporine-like amino acid (MAA) that includes a step in which microbes are cultivated that produce MAA on the outside of bacterial cells, a step in which the bacterial cells and extracellular culture fluid are separated, and a step in which the MAA is recovered from the extracellular culture fluid; an MAA indicated by formula (1), an MAA produced using this method, or an ultraviolet-absorbing composition including the MAA indicated by formula (1); and a composition including the MAA produced using this method or the MAA indicated by formula (1), for preventing at least one symptom or disease selected from a group comprising acute skin reactions, aging of the skin, and skin cancer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new optical tool for detecting and quantifying pyruvate in samples, in tissues and in cellular and subcellular compartments, with high spatial and temporal resolution, this is a Forster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)-based pyruvate sensor comprising a bacterial PdhR transcription factor between any suitable donor and acceptor fluorescent proteins moieties. The invention also relates to methods of use of this novel optical tool for the quantification of the activity of pyruvate transporters, for the quantification of the rates of cellular pyruvate production and consumption, and for the direct quantification of the rate of mitochondrial pyruvate consumption in intact cells.

Abstract: The present invention described herein relates to the composition that interact with molecules that suppress the immune system.

Abstract: Methods for producing proteins, for example, recombinant meningococcal 2086 proteins, using fed-batch fermentation with continuous input of an inducer after achieving a threshold parameter, and continuous input of a carbon source, for example, a constant rate input, to improve protein yields, as well as high density protein compositions for use in the methods of the present invention, are provided.

Abstract: The instant invention provides methods and compositions for modulation of the immune system. Specifically, the present disclosure provides methods and compositions for increasing T cell mediated immune response useful in the treatment of cancer and chronic infection.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides agents capable of promoting endogenous steroid production (such as endogenous testosterone production) without altering the endogenous luteinizing hormone. The present disclosure also provides associated therapeutic methods as well as screening assays for identifying further therapeutic agents for the prevention, treatment and/or alleviations of symptoms associated with hypogonadism.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides various molecular constructs having a targeting element and an effector element. Methods for treating various diseases using such molecular constructs are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a protein molecule composition having a defined glycosylation pattern, comprising (a) introducing in a host cell which is an immortalized human blood cell at least one nucleic acid encoding at least a part of said protein; and (b) culturing said host cell under conditions which permit the production of said protein molecule composition; and (c) isolating said protein molecule composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a modified microorganism having, compared to its wild-type, a reduced activity of the enzyme that is encoded by the wcaJ-gene. The present invention also relates to a method for producing an organic compound and to the use of a modified microorganism.

Abstract: 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), a precursor of serotonin, is produced in a microbial host cell. A modified bacterial phenylalanine 4-hydroxylase (P4H) catalyzes the tryptophan 5-hydroxylation reaction. Optionally the host cell includes a cofactor regeneration mechanism, allowing continuous production of 5-HTP without supplementation of exogenous cofactors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for targeted inactivation of transcription factor using an artificial small interfering peptide and a use thereof. According to the present invention, an artificial small interfering peptide (a-siPEP) as a truncated from of the transcription factor for regulating transcription by dimerization was produced. It was also confirmed that, as a-siPEP forms a heterodimer with a transcription factor, DNA binding and transport into a nucleus of the transcription factor are inhibited, so that inactivation of the transcription factor is achieved at protein level. The method for inhibiting transcription factor activity using a-siPEP can replace a gene knock-out method and it allows protein-level inhibition of a transcription factor. Also, it is a transcription regulation method with high precision and high efficiency that can be applied for both monocot and dicot plants.

Abstract: This invention relates to the Agrobacterium bacterium to be used in plant transformation method comprising three types of plasmids. The Agrobacterium bacterium of this invention comprises plasmids of (1) to (3) shown below: (1) a plasmid comprising the following components: (i) the virB gene, the virC gene, the virD1 gene, the virD2 gene, the virD3 gene, the virG gene and the virJ gene of pTiBo542, and (ii) an origin of replication; (2) a disarmed Ti plasmid or a disarmed Ri plasmid of Agrobacterium bacterium; and (3) a plasmid having a T-DNA region consisting of a desired DNA; wherein each of the plasmids of (1) to (3) has a replication mechanism that enables a mutual coexistence with each other.

Abstract: Antigenic polypeptides comprising linear immunodominant epitopes of Borrelia outer surface protein A (OspA) or Borrelia outer surface protein C (OspC) are useful as vaccines against Lyme disease, and as diagnostics for detecting Borrelia infections. The OspA and OspC antigenic polypeptides typically comprise a plurality of peptides representing epitope containing regions from multiple distinct phyletic groups. The antigenic polypeptides may also include epitopes from both Borrelia OspA and Borrelia OspC.

Abstract: A group of polypeptides and a complex formed by the polypeptides and human serum albumin, a method for improving the solubility of the group of polypeptides in a salt solution by combining the polypeptides with human serum albumin, a method for preparing the complex formed by the group of polypeptides and human serum albumin, and an application of the group of polypeptides and the complex formed by the polypeptides and human serum albumin in the preparation of drugs for suppressing tumor metastasis and treating leukemia are described.

Abstract: A synthetic peptide for stimulating melanogenesis is provided. The synthetic peptide consists of the amino acid sequence of AsnSerAlaThrGluArgGlu (SEQ ID NO: 1). Also provided are methods and compositions for stimulating melanogenesis in a subject.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to nutritional supplement including a peptide component. The nutritional supplement further includes a source of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. The disclosure further relates to methods of protecting against obesity and its related metabolic disorders and inflammatory diseases in a target subject by providing the nutritional supplement(s) disclosed herein to a target subject, which includes a pediatric subject.

Abstract: A method for producing an ordered protein lattice, the method comprising: (a) providing a first component comprising a subunit of a homooligomeric protein assembly fused to a first subunit of a heterooligomeric protein assembly, and a second component comprising a second subunit of the heterooligomeric protein assembly, wherein the homooligomeric protein assembly and the heterooligomeric protein assembly are each symmetrical in two or three dimensions and share a rotational symmetry axis of the same order; (b) mixing said first monomer and said second monomer to produce a mixture; and (c1) (i) heating the mixture to a temperature about 2° C. to about 10° C. below the visible dissociation temperature; (ii) cooling the mixture by about 10° C. to about 20° C.; and (iii) repeating steps (i) and (ii) at least 10 times; or (c2) (i) heating the mixture to a temperature about 2° C. to about 30° C. or more below the visible dissociation temperature; and (ii) holding the mixture at a temperature about 2° C.

Abstract: The invention provides peptide vaccines comprising the signal peptide domain of selected target antigens of intracellular pathogens. The peptide vaccines of the invention contain multiple class II and class I-restricted epitopes and are recognized and presented by the majority of the vaccinated human population. The invention provides in particular anti tuberculosis vaccines. The invention further provides compositions comprising the vaccines as well as their use to treat or prevent infection.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a microorganism strain that accumulates a high molecular weight PHA, and a PHA production method using the microorganism. The present invention provides a method for producing a PHA copolymer, which includes culturing a microorganism, wherein at least a portion of either of the following genes (a) and (b) of the microorganism has been altered by substitution, deletion, insertion, and/or addition to reduce or eliminate the activity of a PHA degrading enzyme encoded by the gene: (a) a PHA degrading enzyme gene encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 in the sequence listing; and (b) a gene encoding a polypeptide having at least 85% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 in the sequence listing and having PHA degrading enzyme activity.

Abstract: A system for determining a similarity between a name phrase and a comparison name phrase, for each name in the name phrase, scores the name. The scoring is based on the field frequency of the name in a name database, where the field frequency indicates a given name frequency and/or a surname frequency in the database. The system uses the scoring to determine a transition from a given name to a surname in the name phrase. The system determines a primary given name and a primary surname in the name phrase based on the scoring and the transition. The system uses the primary given name and primary surname to determine a similarity between the name phrase and a comparison name phrase, where the comparison name phrase comprises a comparison given name and a comparison surname.

Abstract: A method for identifying a risk factor for diseases, disorders or conditions, such as those caused by human immunodeficiency virus, using the polymerase chain reaction and specific primers. Methods for treating patients having these diseases, disorders or conditions by antimicrobial treatment of the risk factor by combined antiviral and antibacterial treatment or by sustaining or stimulating the subject's immune system. Methods for screening biological products including red blood cell preparations. Primers and methods for detecting nucleic acids or microbial agents associated with red blood cells, such as those associated with red blood cells in subjects infected with HIV and undergoing antiretroviral therapy.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a vaccine comprising an antigen and one or more bimolecular adjuvant. Also disclosed herein are methods for increasing an immune response in a subject. The methods may comprise administering the vaccine to the subject in need thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to therapies for the treatment of tumor, autoimmune diseases, or other diseases. In some embodiments, the present disclosure can relate to subject-specific selection of humanized antibodies targeting clonal lineage specific marker proteins.

Abstract: LEDGF peptides with anti-protein aggregation activity and methods of use are provided. The LEDGF peptides disclosed herein demonstrate an ability to treat degenerative diseases and diseases with various cellular stresses including oxidative stress and protein-aggregation stress. In addition, extended release formulations, including formulations suitable for ophthalmic administration are provided.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention include a system comprising a positioning device configured to a hold a sample and adjust a position of a sample in response to receiving a drift compensation signal; a first light source disposed to transilluminate the sample; a second light source disposed to epi-illuminate the sample; an optical system configured to receive light from the sample and generate a three-dimensional point spread function from the light from the sample; an image sensor disposed relative to the optical system that produces an image from the light collected from the sample via the optical system; and logic electrically coupled with the image detector and the positioning device, the logic configured to determine one or more drift compensation values from images imaged by the image detector, and configured to send one or more drift compensation signals to the positioning device.

Abstract: This disclosure provides anti-MUC1 binding agents (e.g., antibodies and chimeric antigen receptors) and methods of treatment, prophylaxis, detection, and diagnosis using the same.

Abstract: The invention relates to recombinant microorganisms and methods for producing manoyl oxide.

Abstract: The invention discloses kappa light chain-binding polypeptide comprising a mutated binding domain of Peptostreptococcus protein L, wherein at least one asparagine residue of a parental domain defined by, or having at least 95% or 98% sequence homology with, SEQ ID NO: 2-6 or 2 has been mutated to another amino acid residue which is not asparagine, proline or cysteine.

Abstract: It can be useful to regulate the growth of microbial cells. Some embodiments herein provide genetically engineered microbial cells that can produce bacteriocins to control the growth of microbial cells. In some embodiments, microbial cells are contained within a desired environment. In some embodiments, contaminating microbial cells are neutralized. In some embodiments, a first microbial cell type regulates the growth of a second microbial cell type so as to maintain a desired ratio of the two cell types.

Abstract: An isolated microorganism that expresses enzymes of the reductive glycine pathway is disclosed. The microorganism is capable of converting formate to pyruvate or glycerate via the formation of glycine and serine. Methods of generating same are further described.

Abstract: The present invention provides, among other things, methods of purifying messenger RNA (mRNA) including the steps of (a) precipitating mRNA from an impure preparation; (b) subjecting the impure preparation comprising precipitated mRNA to a purification process involving membrane filtration such that the precipitated mRNA is captured by a membrane; and (c) eluting the captured precipitated mRNA from the membrane by re-solubilizing the mRNA, thereby resulting in a purified mRNA solution. In some embodiments, a purification process involving membrane filtration suitable for the present invention is tangential flow filtration.

Abstract: A bacteria referred to here as Bacillus subtilis 6A-1 is provided, compositions thereof and processes for use of the bacteria, spores, cells, extracts and enzymes. The compositions which comprise the bacteria, spores, cells, extracts and/or enzymes are capable of degrading polysaccharides. Such compositions are capable of degrading cellulose, including plant-produced cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose. The bacteria produces at least two cellulose-degrading protein fractions. Cellulose degrading activity continues across pH2 to pH13.

Abstract: The application relates to antimicrobial agents against Gram-negative bacteria, in particular to fusion proteins composed of an enzyme having the activity of degrading the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria and a peptide stretch fused to the enzyme at the N- or C-terminus, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same. Moreover, it relates to nucleic acid molecules encoding such a fusion protein, vectors comprising said nucleic acid molecules and host cells comprising either said nucleic acid molecules or said vectors. In addition, it relates to such a fusion protein for use as a medicament, in particular for the treatment or prevention of Gram-negative bacterial infections, as diagnostic means or as cosmetic substance. The application also relates to the treatment or prevention of Gram-negative bacterial contamination of foodstuff, of food processing equipment, of food processing plants, of surfaces coming into contact with foodstuff, of medical devices, of surfaces in hospitals and surgeries.

Abstract: The present invention relates to animal protein-free cell culture media comprising polyamines and a plant- and/or yeast-derived hydrolysate. The invention also relates to animal protein-free culturing processes, wherein cells can be cultivated, propagated and passaged without adding supplementary animal proteins in the culture medium. These processes are useful in cultivating cells, such as recombinant cells or cells infected with a virus, and for producing biological products by cell culture processes.

Abstract: The invention provides a recombinant, acetogenic bacterium that consumes a substrate comprising CH4 and converts at least a portion of the CH4 to a product. In particular, the bacterium of may comprise one or more of exogenous methane monooxygenase (MMO), exogenous nitrite reductase (NIR), and exogenous nitric oxide dismutase (NOD). The invention further provides a method for producing a product comprising providing a substrate comprising CH4 to a culture comprising a recombinant, acetogenic bacterium, whereby the bacterium converts at least a portion of the CH4 to a product.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to suppression of cellular transformation and dysplasia by topical application of Lefty. In particular, the present disclosure provides compositions and methods for topically applying Lefty to treat and prevent cancers.

Abstract: Provided herein are genetically modified arenaviral vectors suitable as vaccines for prevention and treatment of cytomegalovirus infections and reactivation. Also provided herein are pharmaceutical compositions and methods for the treatment of cytomegalovirus infections and reactivation. Specifically, provided herein are pharmaceutical compositions, vaccines, and methods of treating cytomegalovirus infections and reactivation.

Abstract: The invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising at least one promoter that is active in fungal cells of the trichoderma species, wherein a nucleic acid sequence encoding an N-acetylglucosamine-2-epimerase and/or an N-acetylneuraminic acid synthase is operatively bound to each promoter. The at least one promoter that is active in fungal cells is a constitutive promoter.

Abstract: A blood analyzer comprises a sample preparing part configured to prepare a measurement sample from a blood sample, an staining dye and diluent, a detecting part configured to detect the fluorescent light intensity and the scattered light intensity, an output part, and an analyzing part configured to identify the population including red blood cells infected by ring-form malaria parasite based on the fluorescent light intensity and the scattered light intensity, and output to the output part the information relating to infection of Plasmodium falciparum based on the scattered light distribution of particles associated with the identified population that includes red blood cells infected by the ring-form malaria parasite.

Abstract: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major health concern, especially in very young, elderly, or immunocompromised patients. The present disclosure provides, inter alia, certain highly effective vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions in Streptococcus pneumoniae. The antigens may be used therapeutically or prophylactically.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to reconfigurable chassis that allow for rapid construction and optimization of biocircuits.