The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical combination comprising a recombinant Gram-negative bacterial strain and an immune checkpoint modulator (ICM) and their use in a method for the prevention, delay of progression or treatment of cancer in a subject.

The present invention is directed generally to eukaryotic host cells comprising artificial endosymbionts and methods of introducing artificial endosymbionts into eukaryotic host cells. The invention provides artificial endosymbionts that introduce a phenotype to host cells that is maintained in daughter cells. The invention additionally provides eukaryotic host cells containing magnetotactic bacteria.

In one aspect, the invention relates to a peptide that forms a calcium-dependent hydrogel using a rationally engineered beta roll peptide. In the absence of calcium, the peptide is intrinsically disordered. Upon addition of calcium, the peptide forms a corkscrew-like structure. In one embodiment, one face of the beta roll is mutated to comprise leucine residues. In some embodiments, a leucine zipper forming helical domain to the engineered beta roll forms hydrogels by physical cross-linking in calcium rich environments.

Methods, compositions and kits are provided for treating a subject exposed to or at risk for exposure to a disease agent, methods, compositions and kits having a pharmaceutical composition including at least one recombinant binding protein or a source of expression of the binding protein, wherein the binding protein neutralizes at least one or a plurality of disease agents that are toxins, for example at least one of a Botulinum toxin or an Anthrax toxin.

The present invention provides the use of the gene or protein of adenylate kinase 6 (AK6) or the combination of AK6 and other 14 genes or proteins related to male infertility for (i) preparing the agent or kit for detecting male infertility; and/or (ii) preparing the pharmaceutical composition for contraception.

The present invention is directed generally to eukaryotic host cells comprising artificial endosymbionts and methods of introducing artificial endosymbionts into eukaryotic host cells. The invention provides artificial endosymbionts that introduce a phenotype to host cells that is maintained in daughter cells. The invention additionally provides eukaryotic host cells containing magnetotactic bacteria.

Described herein are peptides and antibodies for prevention and/or therapeutic treatment of mammals, including humans, against systemic lupus erythematosus, as well as diagnosing the presence or absence of antibodies related to increased or decreased risk of developing SLE and/or to disease grading, staging, and/or prognosis.

The present disclosure describes immunogenic portions of Bordetella adenylate cyclase toxin (ACT), and neutralizing antibodies specific for such polypeptides. The antibodies can be used for diagnosis and anti-Bordetella therapies. Further provided are vaccine compositions including recombinant Bordetella adenylate cyclase toxin polypeptides.

In one aspect, the invention relates to a peptide that forms a calcium-dependent hydrogel using a rationally engineered beta roll peptide. In the absence of calcium, the peptide is intrinsically disordered. Upon addition of calcium, the peptide forms a corkscrew-like structure. In one embodiment, one face of the beta roll is mutated to comprise leucine residues. In some embodiments, a leucine zipper forming helical domain to the engineered beta roll forms hydrogels by physical cross-linking in calcium rich environments.

Methods and constructs are provided for controlling processes in live animals, plants or microbes via genetically engineered near-infrared light-activated or light-inactivated proteins including chimeras including the photosensory modules of bacteriohytochromes and output modules that possess enzymatic activity and/or ability to bind to DNA, RNA, protein, or small molecules. DNA encoding these proteins are introduced as genes into live animals, plants or microbes, where their activities can be turned on by near-infrared light, controlled by the intensity of light, and turned off by near-infrared light of a different wavelength than the activating light. These proteins can regulate diverse cellular processes with high spatial and temporal precision, in a nontoxic manner, often using external light sources. For example, near-infrared light-activated proteins possessing nucleotidyl cyclase, protein kinase, protease, DNA-binding and RNA-binding activities are useful to control signal transduction, cell apoptosis, proliferation, adhesion, differentiation and other cell processes.