A fusion protein including granzyme B, a cell penetrating peptide, a cleavage site, and a targeting moiety, a composition for cell membrane penetration comprising the fusion protein, and an anticancer composition comprising the fusion protein.

Cell-targeted cytotoxic agents, including sortase serine protease constructs, are provided. Such compounds can be used in methods for targeted cell killing such as for treatment cell of proliferative diseases (e.g., cancer). In some aspects, recombinant sortase serine proteases, such as Granzyme B polypeptides, are provided that exhibit improved stability and cell toxicity.

The technology provided herein relates to novel anti-parasitic complexes, in particular recombinant fusion proteins suitable as human and/or animal drugs against a parasite of the phylum Apicomplexa, in particular against Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) comprising at least one component A and at least one component B, characterized in that component A has a binding activity for cellular surface structures presented on the surface of a parasite of the phylum Apicomplexa or for parasitic antigens presented on a parasitized host cell, and component B is a compound having anti-parasitic activity.

The present invention is directed generally to cell-targeted cytotoxic constructs comprising a targeting polypeptide, a linking polypeptide and a cytotoxic polypeptide. Preferably, (a) the targeting polypeptide is a R-spondin1 (RSPO1), R-spondin2 (RSPO2) or yoked chorionic gonadotropin (YCG), the linking polypeptide comprises LPXT (SEQ ID NO: 56) or NPXT (SEQ ID NO: 60) as well as others, where X is any amino acid, the linking polypeptide being positioned between the targeting ligand and (c) the cytotoxic moiety is an auristatin or a truncated serine protease, the serine protease having an IIGG (SEQ ID NO: 91), IVGG (SEQ ID NO: 92) or ILGG (SEQ ID NO: 93) at its N-terminus. Such constructs can be used in methods for targeted cell killing such as for treatment cell of proliferative diseases (e.g., cancer).

Compositions and methods are provided for the cell-mediated targeted killing of diseased cells based on the presence of an intracellular antigen, rather than a surface-bound marker. The targeting cells are modified to express a cytotoxic protein that is delivered into a targeted cell, and after delivery is selectively activated by the presence of a cytoplasmic protein of interest. In one embodiment of the invention, the cytotoxic molecule is a Granzyme B (GrB) polypeptide. In the compositions of the invention, GrB is modified to render its cytotoxic enzymatic functions inactive, until the presence of an intracellular antigen unlocks the GrB molecule to enable enzymatic activities.

The present invention provides an adjuvant that can cause immune activation or particularly T cell immune activation. The present invention provides an adjuvant that can cause particularly antigen-specific immune activation or particularly T cell immune activation.

Compositions and methods are provided for the cell-mediated targeted killing of diseased cells based on the presence of an intracellular antigen, rather than a surface-bound marker. The targeting cells are modified to express a cytotoxic protein that is delivered into a targeted cell, and after delivery is selectively activated by the presence of a cytoplasmic protein of interest. In one embodiment of the invention, the cytotoxic molecule is a Granzyme B (GrB) polypeptide. In the compositions of the invention, GrB is modified to render its cytotoxic enzymatic functions inactive, until the presence of an intracellular antigen unlocks the GrB molecule to enable enzymatic activities.

Mitochondria modified by a targeting protein, according to one embodiment of the present invention, can be effectively delivered to a target. In addition, when a protein of interest bound to the modified mitochondria is delivered into a cell, various activities can be exhibited. The modified mitochondria can effectively cause cancer tissue death, and thus can also be used as an anticancer agent. Furthermore, various activities are exhibited according to a protein of interest loaded on modified mitochondria, and thus the modified mitochondria can be applied in the treatment of various diseases. Additionally, a fusion protein comprising a protein of interest and a fusion protein comprising a targeting protein, according to one embodiment of the present invention, can be used in order to modify mitochondria. Moreover, mitochondria modified with the fusion proteins exhibits various effects in a target cell.

Cell-targeted serine protease constructs are provided. Such constructs can be used in methods for targeted cell killing such as for treatment cell of proliferative diseases (e.g., cancer). In some aspects, recombinant serine proteases, such as Granzyme B polypeptides, are provided that exhibit improved stability and cell toxicity. Methods and compositions for treating lapatinib or trastuzumab-resistant cancers are also provided.

Various embodiments disclosed relate to a nanoparticle-protein complex for intracellular protein delivery. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a nanoparticle-protein complex including a nanoparticle including an amine-containing ligand. The nanoparticle-protein complex also includes a protein comprising a carboxylic acid-containing tag.