Compositions and methods for efficiently producing and delivering double stranded RNA (dsRNA) are provided. Vector constructs useful for in vitro and in vivo expression of dsRNA are described. Also described are cell expression systems for efficient and cost-effective production of dsRNA in living cells and methods and compositions for providing the expressed dsRNA to target organisms. The described compositions and methods can be used to produce RNA molecules for screening or other uses, and to amplify RNA sequences for analysis.

Provided herein are methods for the production of a vector with a size of at least 16 kb from bacterial cells comprising the consecutive steps of a) obtaining bacterial cells comprising a vector with a size of at least 16 kb, comprising an inducible origin of replication, b) inoculating culture medium with the bacterial cells comprising the vector, c) culturing the bacterial cells in the culture medium, d) adding one or more inducers of said inducible origin of replication to the culture medium when the bacterial culture has reached an optical density at 600 nm (OD600) of at least 20, e) further culturing the bacterial cells in the culture medium, f) optionally separating the bacterial cells from the culture medium, and g) recovering the plasmid from the bacterial cells. Also provided herein are vectors with a size of at least 16 kb comprising an inducible origin of replication for use in such methods.

Provided herein are methods for the production of a vector with a size of at least 16 kb from bacterial cells comprising the consecutive steps of a) obtaining bacterial cells comprising a vector with a size of at least 16 kb, comprising an inducible origin of replication, b) inoculating culture medium with the bacterial cells comprising the vector, c) culturing the bacterial cells in the culture medium, d) adding one or more inducers of said inducible origin of replication to the culture medium when the bacterial culture has reached an optical density at 600 nm (OD600) of at least 20, e) further culturing the bacterial cells in the culture medium, f) optionally separating the bacterial cells from the culture medium, and g) recovering the plasmid from the bacterial cells. Also provided herein are vectors with a size of at least 16 kb comprising an inducible origin of replication for use in such methods.

The present disclosure describes methods and systems for use in the production of adeno-associated virus (AAV) particles, including recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) particles. In certain embodiments, the production process and system use Spodoptera frugiperda insect cells (such as Sf9 or Sf21) as viral production cells. In certain embodiments, the production process and system use Baculoviral Expression Vectors (BEVs) in the production of AAV particles. In certain embodiments, the production process and system allow for the controlled expression of AAV capsid proteins, such as VP1, VP2 and VP3.

The invention provides a genetically modified micro-organism for intracellular biosynthesis of a cellular metabolite, comprising a synthetic error correction system having a penalty gene, whose expression leads to arrested growth or cell death (e.g. a toxin gene) in combination with a survival gene, whose expression provides an antidote that restores cell viability and normal growth (e.g. a cognate antitoxin gene). Alternatively, the system has a survival gene, alone, whose expression is essential for growth (i.e. essential gene). The synthetic error correction system further comprises a biosensor, whose function is to induce expression of the survival gene which leads to cell growth, only, when the cell produces a pre-defined level of a given metabolite. The invention further encompasses: a method for producing the genetically modified micro-organism; a method for producing a cellular metabolite with the genetically modified micro-organism; and use of the genetically modified micro-organism for producing a cellular metabolite.

The invention provides a genetically modified micro-organism for intracellular biosynthesis of a cellular metabolite, comprising a synthetic error correction system having a penalty gene, whose expression leads to arrested growth or cell death (e.g. a toxin gene) in combination with a survival gene, whose expression provides an antidote that restores cell viability and normal growth (e.g. a cognate antitoxin gene). Alternatively, the system has a survival gene, alone, whose expression is essential for growth (i.e. essential gene). The synthetic error correction system further comprises a biosensor, whose function is to induce expression of the survival gene which leads to cell growth, only, when the cell produces a pre-defined level of a given metabolite. The invention further encompasses: a method for producing the genetically modified micro-organism; a method for producing a cellular metabolite with the genetically modified micro-organism; and use of the genetically modified micro-organism for producing a cellular metabolite.

A method for the expression of a protein of interest by a bacterium, notable in that it comprises the culturing of a bacterium temporarily or continuously expressing an Hsp protein, in that said bacterium also comprises a nucleic acid sequence, encoding a protein of interest, under the control of a lac promoter and in that said bacterium is cultured in a medium which does not contain IPTG or a metabolized molecule in such a way as to automatically induce the induction of transcription from the lac promoter.

A method for the expression of a protein of interest by a bacterium, notable in that it comprises the culturing of a bacterium temporarily or continuously expressing an Hsp protein, in that said bacterium also comprises a nucleic acid sequence, encoding a protein of interest, under the control of a lac promoter and in that said bacterium is cultured in a medium which does not contain IPTG or a metabolized molecule in such a way as to automatically induce the induction of transcription from the lac promoter.

A genome-based expression system for production of a protein of interest (POI) in a prokaryotic host, comprising at least an RNA polymerase (RNAP) gene, a gene encoding a POI, comprising a coding sequence, a promoter operably linked to said coding sequence, wherein said promoter is recognized by the RNAP expressed from the RNAP gene, and at least one lac operator (lacO) within the sequence of said promoter; and a lad gene encoding a lac repressor protein (LacI) comprising a coding sequence, a lacI promoter operably linked to the lad coding sequence, wherein the lacI promoter is a wild-type lacI promoter or a lacI promoter which increases LacI expression; wherein the expression rate of the POI is regulated by an inducer binding LacI.

A genome-based expression system for production of a protein of interest (POI) in a prokaryotic host, comprising at least an RNA polymerase (RNAP) gene, a gene encoding a POI, comprising a coding sequence, a promoter operably linked to said coding sequence, wherein said promoter is recognized by the RNAP expressed from the RNAP gene, and at least one lac operator (lacO) within the sequence of said promoter; and a lad gene encoding a lac repressor protein (LacI) comprising a coding sequence, a lacI promoter operably linked to the lad coding sequence, wherein the lacI promoter is a wild-type lacI promoter or a lacI promoter which increases LacI expression; wherein the expression rate of the POI is regulated by an inducer binding LacI.