A vaccine is disclosed that promotes CD4+ T cell-independent host defense mechanisms to defend against infection by fungi such as Pneumocystis spp. The vaccine may be used to prevent or to treat fungal infections. The novel vaccine can provide protective immunity, even for immunocompromised individuals such as HIV patients having reduced levels of CD4+ T cells.

There is provided amino acid cleaving reagents with improved cleavage activity, allowing for more structural information to be obtained from polypeptides in sequencing reactions.

The present invention belongs to the field of biotechnology. More specifically, the present invention provides a protease, a non-naturally occurring fusion protein comprising a corresponding protease recognition site, expression vectors encoding same, host cells comprising said expression vectors, kit of parts as well as methods applying the protease, fusion protein, and uses thereof, as defined in the claims. The presently disclosed protease/protease recognition site is particularly useful in methods requiring an orthogonal set of proteases, and is suitable for use in both prokaryotic and selected eukaryotic expression systems

The present invention is directed to antibodies and fragments thereof and humanized versions thereof having binding specificity for IL-6. Another embodiment of this invention relates to the antibodies described herein, and binding fragments thereof, comprising the sequences of the V.sub.H, V.sub.L and CDR polypeptides described herein, and the polynucleotides encoding them. The invention also contemplates conjugates of anti-IL-6 antibodies and binding fragments thereof conjugated to one or more functional or detectable moieties. The invention also contemplates methods of making said anti-IL-6 antibodies and binding fragments thereof. Embodiments of the invention also pertain to the use of anti-IL-6 antibodies, and binding fragments thereof, for the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of diseases and disorders associated with IL-6. These antibodies may bind at least one of soluble IL-6, cell surface expressed IL-6, IL-6/IL-6R and/or prevent the association of IL-6 and IL-6R, the association of IL-6/IL-6R and gp130 and or the formation of IL-6/IL-6R/gp130 multimers and thereby inhibit a biological effect associated with any of the foregoing.

The present invention provides for a mechanism to reduce glycerol production and increase nitrogen utilization and ethanol production of recombinant microorganisms. One aspect of this invention relates to strains of S. cerevisiae with reduced glycerol productivity that get a kinetic benefit from higher nitrogen concentration without sacrificing ethanol yield. A second aspect of the invention relates tometabolic modifications resulting in altered transport and/or intracellular metabolism of nitrogen sources present in corn mash.

The present invention provides for a mechanism to reduce glycerol production and increase nitrogen utilization and ethanol production of recombinant microorganisms. One aspect of this invention relates to strains of S. cerevisiae with reduced glycerol productivity that get a kinetic benefit from higher nitrogen concentration without sacrificing ethanol yield. A second aspect of the invention relates tometabolic modifications resulting in altered transport and/or intracellular metabolism of nitrogen sources present in corn mash.

The method for preparation of a recombinant protein from a precursor, preferably mammalian insulins, including human insulins and their analogues, characterised in that a protease is used which hydrolyses one or more peptide bonds in this protein, wherein the protease disrupts the peptide bond from the C-end side of a basic amino acid, when the amino acid is the second one after other basic or neutral amino acid, and such an order enables specific recognition of both amino acids by the protease. The invention is applicable in biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry.

The present invention relates to genetically modified host cells, in particular yeast cells, comprising at least one isolated polynucleotide encoding a Killer Expression protease (Kex2p) or a fragment and/or variant thereof which has at least one Kex2p functional activity and at least one isolated polynucleotide encoding a Protein Disulfide-Isomerase (Pdi1) or a fragment and/or variant thereof which has at least one Pdi functional activity. Also provided herein are genetically modified host cells comprising at least one isolated polynucleotide encoding a Killer Expression protease (Kex2p) or a fragment and/or variant thereof which has at least one Kex2p functional activity, at least one isolated polynucleotide encoding a Protein Disulfide-Isomerase (Pdi1) or a fragment and/or variant thereof which has at least one Pdi1 functional activity and at least one isolated polynucleotide encoding a Endoplasmic Reticulum Oxidoreductin (Ero1) or a fragment and/or variant thereof which has at least one Ero1 functional activity.

The present invention relates to genetically modified host cells, in particular yeast cells, comprising at least one isolated polynucleotide encoding a Killer Expression protease (Kex2p) or a fragment and/or variant thereof which has at least one Kex2p functional activity and at least one isolated polynucleotide encoding a Protein Disulfide-Isomerase (Pdi1) or a fragment and/or variant thereof which has at least one Pdi functional activity. Also provided herein are genetically modified host cells comprising at least one isolated polynucleotide encoding a Killer Expression protease (Kex2p) or a fragment and/or variant thereof which has at least one Kex2p functional activity, at least one isolated polynucleotide encoding a Protein Disulfide-Isomerase (Pdi1) or a fragment and/or variant thereof which has at least one Pdi1 functional activity and at least one isolated polynucleotide encoding a Endoplasmic Reticulum Oxidoreductin (Ero1) or a fragment and/or variant thereof which has at least one Ero1 functional activity.

A vaccine is disclosed that promotes CD4+ T cell-independent host defense mechanisms to defend against infection by fungi such as Pneumocystis subspecies (spp.). The vaccine may be used to prevent or to treat fungal infections. The novel vaccine can provide protective immunity, even for immunocompromised individuals such as HIV patients having reduced levels of CD4+ T cells.