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.

An engineered strain that produces a xanthan gum is constructed by genetic engineering methods. Upon testing, it is found that the monosaccharide composition and repeating units of the xanthan gum are the same as those of an ordinary xanthan gum, but a molecular weight of the xanthan gum is greater than 2.010.sup.7 Da, which is higher than a molecular weight range (0.210.sup.7-2.010.sup.7 Da) of the ordinary xanthan gum reported in the literature. Therefore, the xanthan gum is considered an ultra-high molecular weight xanthan gum, expanding application fields of the xanthan gum. A molecular marker for detecting a producing strain or processed products of the ultra-high molecular weight xanthan gum can rapidly identify an engineered strain synthesizing the ultra-high molecular weight xanthan gum and their mildly processed products.