The present invention covers means and methods to increase the efficiency of recombinant protein expression, in particular to optimize the industrial production of recombinant proteins in insect pupae, particularly in Trichoplusia ni (T. ni) pupae. Moreover, the present invention is also directed to the pupae itself comprising baculovirus, pupae infected, transformed, transduced or transfected with baculoviruses or bacmids, as well as devices suitable for performing the methods of the present invention.

The invention provides a Noctuid dsx splice cassette for expression of a gene of interest on a sex-specific basis, gene expression systems for imparting a self-limiting trait to transformed Noctuidae, as well as transgenic Noctuidae and methods of suppressing populations of Noctuidae and reducing, inhibiting or eliminating crop damage caused by the Noctuid insects.

The invention provides a light generating system for arthropod keeping, configured to generate system light, wherein in a first operational mode the light generating system is configured to provide the system light having a spectral power distribution, wherein the spectral power distribution comprises: a first spectral power E.sub.1 in a first wavelength range of 360-780 nm; a second spectral power E.sub.2 in a second wavelength range of 360-400 nm; a third spectral power E.sub.S in a third wavelength range of 400-480 nm; a fourth spectral power E.sub.M in a fourth wavelength range of 480-580 nm; a fifth spectral power E.sub.L in a fifth wavelength range of 580-700 nm; a sixth spectral power E.sub.6 in a sixth wavelength range of 620-700 nm; a seventh spectral power E.sub.7 in a seventh wavelength range of 700-780 nm; and wherein: 1.75≤E.sub.M/E.sub.S≤20; E.sub.2/E.sub.1≤0.005; E.sub.7/E.sub.1≤0.022; and E.sub.L/E.sub.1≤0.3; or 0.3<E.sub.L/E.sub.1≤0.8, and 3.4≤E.sub.6/E.sub.S≤14, and wherein the sixth wavelength range comprises a peak between 650-690 nm.

The disclosure relates to genetically modified bacteria, genetically modified arthropods, and methods for controlling and/or reducing arthropod populations.

This disclosure is directed to split intein protein production systems using transgenic target organisms such as Bombyx mori. A vector set for transforming a target organism includes: a first vector having a first donor sequence that encodes (i) a first non-native protein and (ii) at least one split intein domain; a second vector having a second donor sequence that encodes (i) a second non-native protein and (ii) at least one split intein domain. The respective split intein domains encoded by the first and second vectors are configured to associate with one another and ligate the first and second non-native proteins to thereby form a fused protein.

Described herein are methods of producing transgenic Bombyx mori by targeting and modifying genomic regions associated with sericin proteins. Embodiments include vectors utilized for modifying one or more sericin genes. Embodiments include plasmid constructs utilized for molecular cloning of donor sequences configured for replacement of or insertion into a targeted sericin gene and utilized for transfection of Bombyx mori with the donor sequences. Embodiments include transgenic Bombyx mori that have been transfected with the donor sequences and are capable of producing a non-native protein product with minimized or prevented production of sericin.

The invention provides a gene expression system that imparts homozygous, sex-specific lethality in arthropods, particularly Tephritid insects, such as Ceratitis capitata. The arthropod strains produce males that are also engineered to be sterile. The sterile may be released to mate with wild female to suppress propagation of the arthropod population.

Disclosed are methods, compositions, and systems for transforming silkworms to produce spider silk and analogs of spider silk. In certain embodiments, the method may include inserting a DNA sequence coding for at least a portion of a spider silk fibroin polypeptide, or an analog of a spider silk fibroin polypeptide, positioned between at least a portion of the 5′ and 3′ ends of a silkworm fibroin gene to generate a fusion gene construct having a sequence that encodes for a polypeptide comprising both spider silk fibroin and silkworm silk fibroin sequences. In certain embodiments, the fused gene is able to replace a native gene present in the silkworm such that the transformed silkworm expresses a polypeptide comprising a spider silk fibroin polypeptide, or an analog thereof, and expresses significantly less of the native silkworm silk.

Described herein are methods and compositions for autocatalytic genome editing and neutralizing autocatalytic genome editing. The autocatalytic genome editing may be based on genomic integration of a construct containing multiple elements or on a trans-complementation approach, in which genetic elements can be propagated separately. The disclosure provides a method for autocatalytic genome editing based on the CRISPR/CAS9 system, and methods of use thereof, in animals, humans, and plants for eliminating pathogens, targeting suppression of crop pests, strategies to combat virus (e.g., HIV) and other diseases (e.g., cancer) caused by retrovirus, as well as to generate homozygous mutations that are transmitted to nearly all offspring.

The present invention provides a transgenic invertebrate model for Alzheimer's disease and a method for screening a therapeutic agent for Alzheimer's disease using the model. The present invention provides a transgenic invertebrate, in which genes encoding enzymes involved in production of a ganglioside are introduced and the ganglioside is expressed.