Provided herein are klotho polypeptide compositions and methods for improving cognitive function in an individual comprising treatment of with klotho polypeptides.

Chimeric and other variant -glucuronidase enzymes with enhanced properties as compared to unmodified enzyme are provided. The enzymes of the invention advantageously exhibit enhanced enzymatic activity, enhanced substrate range, enhanced pH range, enhanced temperature range and/or enhanced enzyme stability. Methods of using the variant enzymes for hydrolysis of glucuronide substrates, including opiates and benzodiazepines, are also provided.

Provided herein is a protein, referred to as a Pn3Pase protein, that degrades the capsular polysaccharide of serotype 3 Streptococcus pneumoniae. The disclosure includes a genetically modified cell that includes a Pn3Pase protein, and compositions that include the protein, the polynucleotide encoding the protein, the genetically modified cell, or a combination thereof. Also provided are methods for using a Pn3Pase protein, including methods for contacting a S. pneumoniae having a type III capsular polysaccharide with a Pn3Pase protein, increasing deposition of at least one complement component on the surface of a S. pneumoniae, treating an infection in a subject, treating a symptom in a subject, decreasing colonization of a subject by S. pneumoniae, or a combination thereof.

Blends of enzymes of the same enzyme class (same EC number), such as beta-glucuronidase enzyme blends, are provided that exhibit synergistic levels of activity across a range of substrates as compared to the activity levels of each enzyme in the blend individually. The blends also may exhibit a greater effective substrate range, as well as greater effective pH and/or temperature ranges as compared to single enzyme preparations. Predictive methods for determining optimal enzyme blends, methods for preparing enzyme blends, enzyme blend compositions, enzyme blend formulations and methods of using such enzyme blends are provided.

Formulations of -glucuronidase enzymes that exhibit long-term stability at both high and low temperatures as either aqueous or lyophilized formulations are provided. The formulations of the invention comprise a -glucuronidase enzyme, such as a mutant -glucuronidase enzyme, an amphoteric compound, L-histidine,-alanine and a sugar. Methods of preparing the formulations, as well as methods of using the formulations for hydrolysis of glucuronide substrates, including opiates and benzodiazepines, are also provided.

Recombinant Klotho proteins, nucleic acids encoding the same, cell lines and cultures expressing the same, and method of manufacturing and administering the same are disclosed. Proteins have at least 80% amino acid sequence identity to a portion of human alpha Klotho and preferably a solubility or half-life-extending feature such as glycosylation and/or fusion protein tag. Treatment protocols include determining Klotho levels in a subject, calculating a dosage of the protein sufficient to raise the Klotho level in the subject to a predetermined level, administering the dosage to the subject, determining a rate of protein decline in the subject following administration of the protein, calculating a time and/or amount of a subsequent dosage of the protein, and/or administering the subsequent dosage to the subject. Proteins and related treatments for addressing aging-associated and other conditions are disclosed.

A method of producing Klotho protein includes preparing a Klotho plasmid DNA vector, culturing cells, transfecting the cells with the Klotho plasmid DNA vector in a cell culture medium, growing the transfected cells, and harvesting the cell culture supernatant by removing the transfected cells. The Klotho plasmid DNA vector has a mammalian selection marker and a Klotho open reading frame. The cells are primary fibroblast cells and/or mesenchymal stromal cells. A method of manufacturing a cosmetic composition includes combining Klotho protein or the cell culture supernatant with a cosmetically acceptable vehicle. A method of treating a patient to improve the condition and appearance of aging skin includes topically administering the cosmetic composition to the patient. By upregulating the Klotho gene in vitro and incorporating the Klotho protein and growth factors into a composition, transepidermal water loss, skin atrophy, and free radical damage to the skin may be addressed.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a useful protein by a plant, including culturing a plant body capable of producing a useful protein in a container while keeping at least a part of the plant body immersed in a liquid medium to allow the plant body to grow. According to the present invention, a useful protein can be stably and efficiently produced by using a plant.

Provided herein are klotho polypeptide compositions and methods for improving cognitive function in an individual comprising treatment of with klotho polypeptides.

The invention is to methods of gene silencing in arthropods using dsRNA. The method is include contacting the arthropod with, and/or directly feeding the arthropod, the dsRNA to the arthropods to deliver the dsRNA to arthropod tissues. It is envisaged that the methods of the invention will have use in determining the biological function of genes in arthropods. Methods of pest control of arthropods, and of protecting arthropods against parasites and predators are provided. Transgenic arthropods expressing dsRNA molecules are also provided by the present invention.