The disclosure relates to systems and methods for improving the manufacturing of silk solutions and powders containing silk fibroin obtained from silkworm cocoons. The solutions and powders can be used to improve the post-harvest preservation of perishables and to improve the performance of packaging, including biodegradable packaging.

In some embodiments, a composition is disclosed that includes pure silk fibroin-based protein fragments that are substantially devoid of sericin, wherein the composition has an average weight average molecular weight ranging from about 17 kDa to about 38 kDa, wherein the composition has a polydispersity of between about 1.5 and about 3.0, wherein the composition is substantially homogeneous, wherein the composition between 0 ppm to about 500 ppm of inorganic residuals, and wherein the composition includes between 0 ppm to about 500 ppm of organic residuals. In some embodiments, a composition is disclosed that includes silk fibroin-based protein fragments and is suitable for use in consumer applications. In some embodiments, a preserved composition is disclosed that includes silk fibroin-based protein fragments. In some embodiments, a method of preserving a solution using silk fibroin-based protein fragments is disclosed.

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 present invention relates to a polypeptide comprising a silk polypeptide and an antigen. Further, the present invention relates to an article comprising the polypeptide. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the article. In addition, the present invention relates to the article or pharmaceutical composition for use as a pharmaceutical, for inducing an immune response and/or for use in a prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment of a disease.

The present invention refers to compositions comprising recombinant biopolymers made of combinations of monomers of the type “Elastin-like recombinamers” (ELR), monomers comprising the “silk” sequence and/or monomers comprising the HLF sequence that belongs to a natural class of proteins named zippers. Said compositions are useful as bio-ink for 3D printing. Furthermore, the present invention also refers to methods for obtaining the composition of the invention, as well as the 3D biomaterial and to the different uses of the composition and the obtained biomaterial.

Described herein are methods for reducing inflammation by administration of an effective amount of silk-derived proteins (SDP) or a fraction thereof to a subject having an inflammatory condition. The methods include the treatment of inflammatory conditions and wounds, including corneal wounds, comprising the topical administration of an effective amount of SDP material as described herein.

The present disclosure relates to methods for producing recombinant proteins, as well as compositions used in and produced by such methods. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to methods for producing high secreted yields of recombinant proteins, and the compositions provided herein include recombinant host cells that comprise polynucleotide sequences encoding proteins operably linked to at least 2 distinct secretion signals.

A method of inactivating harmful microorganisms of a filtration medium including pathogenic bacteria and viruses is disclosed which includes placing a predetermined quantity of a hybridized fluorescent silk on to a filtration medium, applying light for a predetermined amount of time to the placed quantity of the hybridized fluorescent silk, and passing a fluid through the medium, wherein the fluid is one of substantially air or substantially water,

wherein the hybridized fluorescent silk is one of KillerRed, SuperNova, KillerOrange, Dronpa, TurboGFP, mCherry, or any combination thereof.

The present invention provides methods for producing a silk protein spinning dope solution suitable for producing high toughness fibres, the thus produced silk protein spinning dope solution, methods for producing fibres using said silk protein spinning dope solution.

Isolated polypeptides are disclosed comprising an amino acid sequence encoding a monomer of a fibrous polypeptide attached to a heterologous polysaccharide binding domain. Composites comprising same, methods of generating same and uses thereof are all disclosed.