The present technology relates to commercial-scale methods for purifying botulinum toxin compositions obtained from cell cultures. Purification methods according to the present disclosure are based on a series of filtration and chromatographic separation steps that produce a high-purity botulinum toxin composition, which comprises botulinum toxin protein molecules (˜150 kDa) in solution, which is free, essentially free, or substantially free of botulinum toxin complexes and animal products, and without precipitating or lyophilizing botulinum toxin protein molecules. The purification method according to the present disclosure uses no precipitation, lyophilization, or centrifugation steps, permitting production of highly pure, highly active, free botulinum toxin protein molecules (˜150 kDa) in solution, without the need for reconstitution by the end user.

The present technology relates to commercial-scale methods for purifying botulinum toxin compositions obtained from cell cultures. Purification methods according to the present disclosure are based on a series of filtration and chromatographic separation steps that produce a high-purity botulinum toxin composition, which comprises botulinum toxin protein molecules (˜150 kDa) in solution, which is free, essentially free, or substantially free of botulinum toxin complexes and animal products, and without precipitating or lyophilizing botulinum toxin protein molecules. The purification method according to the present disclosure uses no precipitation, lyophilization, or centrifugation steps, permitting production of highly pure, highly active, free botulinum toxin protein molecules (˜150 kDa) in solution, without the need for reconstitution by the end user.

The present invention claims a novel process for the production and purification of microbial collagenase (Microbial Collagenase EC 3.4.24.3) produced by the non-pathogenic aerobic bacterium Vibrio alginolyticus chemovar. iophagus (NCIMB Number: 11038, synonym LMG 3418, hereinafter called Vibrio alginolyticus), which said process provides high production levels of collagenase with a stable, reproducible, cheap fermentation process. The collagenase produced from Vibrio alginolyticus according to the process described herein also presents a specific activity superior to that of other microbial collagenases, is stable in aqueous solution, and can be frozen without significant damage. A further subject of the present invention is pharmaceutical compositions containing collagenase obtained according to the production and purification process described, for the purpose of therapeutic treatment of disorders characterised by collagen accumulation or for the treatment of blemishes/imperfections that benefit from reducing local collagen accumulations.

The present invention claims a novel process for the production and purification of microbial collagenase (Microbial Collagenase EC 3.4.24.3) produced by the non-pathogenic aerobic bacterium Vibrio alginolyticus chemovar. iophagus (NCIMB Number: 11038, synonym LMG 3418, hereinafter called Vibrio alginolyticus), which said process provides high production levels of collagenase with a stable, reproducible, cheap fermentation process. The collagenase produced from Vibrio alginolyticus according to the process described herein also presents a specific activity superior to that of other microbial collagenases, is stable in aqueous solution, and can be frozen without significant damage. A further subject of the present invention is pharmaceutical compositions containing collagenase obtained according to the production and purification process described, for the purpose of therapeutic treatment of disorders characterised by collagen accumulation or for the treatment of blemishes/imperfections that benefit from reducing local collagen accumulations.

The invention relates to a new method of delivering an analyte to a transmembrane pore in a membrane. The method involves the use of microparticles.

The invention relates to a new method of delivering an analyte to a transmembrane pore in a membrane. The method involves the use of microparticles.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides isolated replication defective non-integrating segmented viruses comprising a genome where at least one of the viral segments comprises a heterologous nucleotide sequence comprising a nucleotide segment that encodes an effector protein. Also provided are methods of using these viruses.

Polypeptides, and methods for their use, are disclosed that have an amino acid sequence at least 75% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, are provided, wherein (a) the polypeptide degrades a PFQFQLPY (SEQ ID NO: 140) peptide and/or a PFPQPQQPF (SEQ ID NO: 68) at pH 4; (b) residue 467 is Ser, residue 267 is Glu, and residue 271 is Asp; and (c) the polypeptide comprises an amino acid change from SEQ ID NO: 1 at one or more residues selected from the group consisting of 221, 262E, 268, 269, 270, 319A, 320, 354E/Q/R/Y, 358S/Q/T, 368F/Q, 399, 402, 406, 424, 449, 461, 463, 105, 171, 172, 173, 174, and 456.

Polypeptides, and methods for their use, are disclosed that have an amino acid sequence at least 75% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, are provided, wherein (a) the polypeptide degrades a PFQFQLPY (SEQ ID NO: 140) peptide and/or a PFPQPQQPF (SEQ ID NO: 68) at pH 4; (b) residue 467 is Ser, residue 267 is Glu, and residue 271 is Asp; and (c) the polypeptide comprises an amino acid change from SEQ ID NO: 1 at one or more residues selected from the group consisting of 221, 262E, 268, 269, 270, 319A, 320, 354E/Q/R/Y, 358S/Q/T, 368F/Q, 399, 402, 406, 424, 449, 461, 463, 105, 171, 172, 173, 174, and 456.

The present invention pertains to a vaccine comprising an immunologically effective amount of an IgM protease antigen of Streptococcus suis, for use in a method for protecting pigs against a pathogenic infection with Streptococcus suis by administering the vaccine only once, wherein the vaccine comprises at most 120 μg per dose of the antigen.