The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for directed to synthetic block copolymer proteins, expression constructs for their secretion, recombinant microorganisms for their production, and synthetic fibers (including advantageously, microfibers) comprising these proteins that recapitulate many properties of natural silk. The recombinant microorganisms can be used for the commercial production of silk-like fibers.

The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for directed to synthetic block copolymer proteins, expression constructs for their secretion, recombinant microorganisms for their production, and synthetic fibers (including advantageously, microfibers) comprising these proteins that recapitulate many properties of natural silk. The recombinant microorganisms can be used for the commercial production of silk-like fibers.

The present invention relates to an improved process for purification of bacterial capsular polysaccharides, more specifically capsular polysaccharides of gram negative bacteria. The process comprises of concentration and dia filtration of harvest, treatment with anionic detergent and strong alkali followed by centrifugation, diafiltration and cationic detergent based precipitation of bacterial polysaccharides. The process results in significant reduction of endotoxin, protein and nucleic acid impurities thereby providing higher recovery of capsular polysaccharide with the desired O-acetyl levels. Said process is scalable, non-enzymatic, and employs fewer purification steps.

The present disclosure describes protein-based resin compositions. In particular, the compositions employ methacrylated or acrylated protein, a strengthening agent, a plasticizer, and an initiator. The protein-based resin compositions may be used for making solid articles that are biodegradable and possess a high degree of tensile strength and water resistance. Methods of preparing the biodegradable protein-based plastic articles are also disclosed.

Heat treated pulse flour, pulse protein isolates obtained from heat treated pulse flour, food compositions containing such isolates, and methods for preparing heat treated pulse flours and pulse protein isolates are disclosed. The amount of volatile small molecule compounds present in the heat treated pulse flour are decreased or increased.

The present invention provides capsular polysaccharides from Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes identified using NMR. The present invention further provides polysaccharide-protein conjugates in which capsular polysaccharides from one or more of these serotypes are conjugated to a carrier protein such as CRM197. Polysaccharide-protein conjugates from one or more of these serotypes may be included in multivalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines having polysaccharides from multiple additional Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes.

The present invention discloses a matrix comprising a modified polysaccharide consisting of repeating disaccharide units whereby in at least 11% of the disaccharide units one primary alcohol group is oxidized into a carboxylic acid group.

Therapeutic compositions and/or formulations are provided, comprising: at least one cross-linked protein matrix, wherein the at least one cross-linked protein matrix comprises at least one protein residue and at least one saccharide-containing residue, and methods of producing the same. The cross-linked protein matrix may be derived from cross-linking a full length or substantially full length protein, such as tropoelastin, elastin, albumin, collagen, collagen monomers, immunoglobulins, insulin, and/or derivatives or combinations thereof, with a saccharide containing cross-linking agent, such as a polysaccharide cross-linking agent derived from, for example, hyaluronic acid or a cellulose derivative. The therapeutic compositions may be administered topically or by injection. The present disclosure also provides methods, systems, and/or kits for the preparation and/or formulation of the compositions disclosed herein.

Therapeutic compositions and/or formulations are provided, comprising: at least one cross-linked protein matrix, wherein the at least one cross-linked protein matrix comprises at least one protein residue and at least one saccharide-containing residue, and methods of producing the same. The cross-linked protein matrix may be derived from cross-linking a full length or substantially full length protein, such as tropoelastin, elastin, albumin, collagen, collagen monomers, immunoglobulins, insulin, and/or derivatives or combinations thereof, with a saccharide containing cross-linking agent, such as a polysaccharide cross-linking agent derived from, for example, hyaluronic acid or a cellulose derivative. The therapeutic compositions may be administered topically or by injection. The present disclosure also provides methods, systems, and/or kits for the preparation and/or formulation of the compositions disclosed herein.

The disclosure provides methods of producing protein-based bioplastics and protein-based biofilms by culturing a microorganism to produce microbial biomass. In particular, the disclosure relates to protein-based bioplastics and protein-based biofilms produced by fermentation of a gaseous substrate comprising one or more of CO, CO.sub.2, and H.sub.2, especially by a Gram-positive, anaerobic, and/or Clostridium microorganism.