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.

The invention relates to a chimeric protein comprising or consisting of, from N-terminal to C-terminal, (a) a N-terminal part of a Bordetella CyaA protein (b) a heterologous polypeptide, and (c) a C-terminal part of a Bordetella CyaA protein. The invention also relates to a polynucleotide encoding a deleted version of a Bordetella CyaA, as well as a polynucleotide encoding this chimeric protein. A composition comprising at least one chimeric protein(s) of the invention and the prophylactic and/or therapeutic uses of said composition are also part of the invention.

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.

The invention is directed to a method for the production of a pertussis vaccine and, in particular, a detoxified pertussis vaccine comprising detoxified pertussis toxin (PT), detoxified pertussis lipopolysaccharide (P-LPS), and detoxified pertussis adenylate cyclase toxin (P-ACT). The invention is also directed to the manufacture of a vaccine or the invention and methods for the administration of a detoxified vaccine to patients.

A protein according to one embodiment of the present invention has a photoactivated adenylyl cyclase activity, and consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 1 with 1-18 amino acid residues deleted from the C-terminus, or an amino acid sequence having 90% or more sequence identity therewith. According to the present invention, a novel photoactivated adenylyl cyclase having a higher photoactivation efficiency compared to a wild-type OaPAC protein can be provided.

Disclosed are methods of decreasing serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) level in a subject. The methods include inhibiting expression or function of an adenylate cyclase in the subject, wherein the inhibiting includes administration of an inhibitory nucleic acid molecule, such as an siRNA, to the subject.