Genetically modified cells that are compatible with multiple subjects, e.g., universal donor cells, and methods of generating said genetic modified cells are provided herein. The universal donor cells comprise at least one genetic modification within or near a gene that encodes one or more MHC-I or MHC-II human leukocyte antigens or a component or a transcriptional regulator of a MHC-I or MHC-II complex, wherein genetic modification comprises an insertion of a polynucleotide encoding a tolerogenic factor and/or survival factor. The universal donor cells may further comprise at least one genetic modification within or near a gene that encodes a survival factor, wherein said genetic modification comprises an insertion of a polynucleotide encoding a second tolerogenic factor and/or a different survival factor.

The present disclosure provides polypeptides having aminopeptidase activity and isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding the polypeptides. In some embodiments, the disclosure also provides to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the nucleic acid sequences as well as methods for producing the polypeptides. In some embodiments, the present disclosure further provides to methods of obtaining protein hydrolysates useful as flavor improving agents.

The present invention provides compositions comprising chimeric polypeptides that bind to free ubiquitin proteins or free ubiquitin-like proteins with high affinity, as well as chimeric polypeptides that bind to both free and conjugated ubiquitin proteins or free and conjugated ubiquitin-like proteins, and methods of using the chimeric polypeptides to determine the amount of free or total ubiquitin or free or total ubiquitin-like proteins in various types of samples.

The present disclosure provides methods of treating subjects having an immune disorder by administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an Endoplasmic Reticulum Aminopeptidase 2 (ERAP2) inhibitor in combination with an HLA-A29 or HLA-B27 inhibitory nucleic acid molecule.

A connecting polypeptide has SEQ ID NO:73. A proinsulin polypeptide includes a mature insulin A-chain, a mature insulin B-chain, and a connecting peptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 73 linking the mature A-chain and the mature B-chain, wherein the connecting peptide is not a native human proinsulin C-peptide. The proinsulin polypeptides according to the invention can be made in high titers and in high purity.

The present disclosure is directed to a relief system for the effective detection, prevention, and treatment of COVID-19, including (1) serological diagnostic assays for the detection of viral infection and epidemiological surveillance, (2) high-precision, site-directed peptide immunogen constructs for the prevention of infection by SARS-CoV-2, (3) receptor-based antiviral therapies for the treatment of the disease in infected patients, and (4) designer protein vaccine containing S1-RBD-sFc. The disclosed relief system utilizes amino acid sequences from SARS-CoV-2 proteins as well as human receptors for the design and manufacture of optimal SARS-CoV-2 antigenic peptides, peptide immunogen constructs, CHO-derived protein immunogen constructs, long-acting CHO-derived ACE2 proteins, and formulations thereof, as diagnostics, vaccines, and antiviral therapies for the detection, prevention, and treatment of COVID-19.

The present invention provides mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and extracellular vesicles comprising exogenous membrane embedded proteins. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising MSCs and extracellular vesicles are also provided. The present invention further provides a method of treating, preventing or ameliorating a viral infection, inflammation, and/or tissue fibrosis.

The disclosure provides peptides that are useful for the prevention of infection of coronaviruses, especially SARS-CoV-2. Also described is a method reducing probability of viral infection in a human subject, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition described herein.

The present disclosure provides expression vectors and bacterial sequence-free vectors, such as ministring DNA (msDNA), for producing virus-like particles (VLPs) as well as compositions and methods thereof. In some aspects, the methods include treating viral infections in subjects with the vectors, compositions, and VLPs.

The present invention provides compositions comprising cellular receptor mimics and methods for treating or preventing coronavirus infection or a disease or disorder associated with coronavirus infection such as COVID-19.