The present invention relates to control of pest infestation by inhibiting one or more biological functions. The invention provides methods and compositions for such control, By feeding one or more recombinant double stranded RNA molecules provided by the invention to the pest, a reduction in pest infestation is obtained through suppression of gene expression. The invention is also directed to methods for making transgenic plants that express the double stranded RNA molecules, and to particular combinations of transgenic pesticidal agents for use in protecting plants from pest infestation.

The invention relates to mutant forms of lysenin. The invention also relates to analyte characterisation using the mutant forms of lysenin.

The present invention encompasses a vaccine composition and method of use for treating heartworm infestation in mammals. The vaccine composition includes chimeric antigens engineered and manufactured using the genetic code (i.e., the amino acid or protein sequence) of the target sequence. After introduction of the vaccine composition containing the target antigen into the host (e.g., a canine), the host will generate antibodies as part of its robust immune response to the antigen. As the antibodies circulate through the host's plasma, heartworm larvae will consume the antibodies as they feed on the plasma. The antibodies will then act on internal targets of the worm recognized as antigens.

The present invention relates to control of pest infestation by inhibiting one or more biological functions. The invention provides methods and compositions for such control, By feeding one or more recombinant double stranded RNA molecules provided by the invention to the pest, a reduction in pest infestation is obtained through suppression of gene expression. The invention is also directed to methods for making transgenic plants that express the double stranded RNA molecules, and to particular combinations of transgenic pesticidal agents for use in protecting plants from pest infestation.

The invention provides a peptide comprising: a core amino acid sequence, which is identical or similar to the amino acid sequence of a member of the Cecropin family. The invention further provides a nucleic acid sequence encoding the peptide and a vector comprising said nucleic acid. The invention further provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising said peptide or said nucleic acid. The invention further provides methods of treating an infection, overcoming inherent or acquired resistance of a microorganism to an antibiotic agent or disinfecting a wound, the methods comprises administering the peptide to a subject in need thereof.

The invention provides a peptide comprising: a core amino acid sequence, which is identical or similar to the amino acid sequence of a member of the Cecropin family. The invention further provides a nucleic acid sequence encoding the peptide and a vector comprising said nucleic acid. The invention further provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising said peptide or said nucleic acid. The invention further provides methods of treating an infection, overcoming inherent or acquired resistance of a microorganism to an antibiotic agent or disinfecting a wound, the methods comprises administering the peptide to a subject in need thereof.

An isolated peptide or peptidomimetic, comprising an -nemertide moiety, wherein a) said -nemertide moiety has a sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1; or b) said -nemertide moiety has a sequence differing from SEQ ID NO:1 by residue substitutions, deletions or insertions numbering no more than 9 in total. Medical, pest control and research uses thereof.

The invention relates to mutant forms of lysenin. The invention also relates to analyte characterisation using the mutant forms of lysenin.

The present invention provides for concentrated aqueous silk fibroin solutions and an all-aqueous mode for preparation of concentrated aqueous fibroin solutions that avoids the use of organic solvents, direct additives, or harsh chemicals. The invention further provides for the use of these solutions in production of materials, e.g., fibers, films, foams, meshes, scaffolds and hydrogels.

The invention relates to mutant forms of lysenin. The invention also relates to analyte characterisation using lysenin.