The invention provides novel methods and compositions for introduction, transfer or delivery of one or more biomolecules into wounded recipient plant cell(s). Methods for production of a wounded recipient cell culture and the creation of one or more mutations, edits, transgenic insertions, or other genetic changes in the recipient cell(s) are also provided. Product cells produced by such methods, and resulting cells and regenerated plants, plant parts, and progeny plants are further provided. Molecular and genetic analyses, analysis of phenotypes and traits, and use of screenable and selection markers, are also provided to confirm transfer of the biomolecule in to the recipient cell(s) and generation of the mutation, edit, transgenic insertion, or other genetic change in the recipient cell(s), and/or progeny thereof, and in plants or plant parts developed or regenerated from the foregoing.

Provided are chloroplasts engineered to recombinantly express mammalian colostrum and milk polypeptides, photosynthetic organisms containing such chloroplasts, and compositions comprising such organisms and methods for producing such organisms. In certain embodiments, provided is a chloroplast comprising one or more polynucleotides encoding one or more mammalian milk or colostrum polypeptides selected from osteopontin, lactadherin, cathelicidin-1, lysozyme, lactoperoxidase, lingual antimicrobial peptide (LAP), alpha-lactalbumin, and soluble CD14.

Protein replacement therapy for patients with hemophilia or other inherited protein deficiencies is often complicated by pathogenic antibody responses, including antibodies that neutralize the therapeutic protein or that predispose to potentially life-threatening anaphylactic reactions by formation of IgE. Using murine hemophilia B as a model, we have developed a prophylactic protocol against such responses that is non-invasive and does not include immune suppression or genetic manipulation of the patient's cells. Oral delivery of coagulation factor IX (F. IX) expressed in chloroplasts, bioencapsulated in plant cells, effectively blocked formation of inhibitory antibodies in protein replacement therapy. Inhibitor titers were mostly undetectable and up to 100-fold lower in treated mice when compared to controls. Moreover, this treatment eliminated fatal anaphylactic reactions that occurred after 4 to 6 exposures to intravenous F. IX protein. While only 20-25% of control animals survived after 6-8 F. IX doses, 90-95% of tolerized mice survived 12 injections without signs of allergy or anaphylaxis. This high-responder strain of hemophilia B mice represents the first hemophilic animal model to study anaphylactic reactions. The plant material was effective over a range of oral antigen doses (equivalent to 5-80 μg recombinant F.IX/kg), and controlled inhibitor formation and anaphylaxis long-term, up to 7 months. Oral antigen administration caused a deviant immune response that suppressed formation of IgE and inhibitory antibodies. This cost-effective and efficient approach to oral delivery of protein antigens to the gut should be applicable to several genetic diseases that are prone to pathogenic antibody responses during treatment.

Improved methods of producing nucleic acid molecules, proteins and peptides in host cells and genetically engineered plants, vectors and constructs therefor.

Emerging evidence indicates that diminished activity of the vasoprotective axis of the renin-angiotensin system, constituting angiotensin converting enzyme2 (ACE2) and its enzymatic product, angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] contribute to pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, clinical success for long-term delivery of ACE2 or Ang-(1-7) would require stability and ease of administration to increase patient compliance. Chloroplast expression of therapeutic proteins enables their bioencapsulation within plant cells to protect from acids and gastric enzymes; fusion to a transmucosal carrier facilitates effective systemic absorption. Oral feeding of rats with bioencapsulated ACE2 or Ang-(1-7) attenuated monocrotaline (MCT)-induced increase in right ventricular systolic pressure, decreased pulmonary vessel wall thickness and improved right heart function in both prevention and reversal protocols. Furthermore, combination of ACE2 and Ang-(1-7) augmented the beneficial effects against cardio-pulmonary pathophysiology induced by MCT administration.

Experiments have also been performed which indicate that this approach is also suitable for the treatment or inhibition of experimental uveitis and autoimmune uveoretinitis These studies provide proof-of-concept for a novel low-cost oral ACE2 or Ang-(1-7) delivery system using transplastomic technology for pulmonary and ocular disease therapeutics.

In one aspect, a composition can include an organelle, and a nanoparticle having a zeta potential of less than −10 mV or greater than 10 mV contained within the organelle. In a preferred embodiment, the organelle can be a chloroplast and the nanoparticle can be a single-walled carbon nanotube associated with a strongly anionic or strongly cationic polymer.

Compositions and methods for improving plastid transformation in difficult to transform plants are disclosed.

The present invention relates to transgenic microalgae for the production of cell wall degradative enzymes having a heat-stable cellulolytic activity (HCWDEs) and their relative uses in the biodegradation of cellulose or lignocellulose sources in the industrial field.

A method of expressing an agronomically or non-agronomically beneficial trait in a plant plastid comprising expressing an exogenous nucleic acid in the plant to produce non-photosynthetic mutant plants, and using callus grown from the mutant plants as recipients for introduction of a construct having a functional copy of the mutated gene and a gene conferring an agronomically or non-agronomically beneficial trait. Embodiments provide for mutations in chloroplast-encoded genes, as well as mutations in nuclear-encoded genes targeted to the chloroplast that are required for photosynthesis, plants and plant parts produced from such methods, as well as kits for performing the methods as described.

Methods for improving transgene in chloroplasts are disclosed along with improved transgenes so produced and methods of use thereof for the treatment of disease. Specifically, the methods comprising analyzing the native sequence of a nucleic acid encoding a protein of interest and replacing codons in said sequence with those preferentially used in psbA genes in chloroplasts in higher plants.