Some embodiments described herein relate to cells which have been genetically engineered to release a polypeptide when a population of the cells reaches a desired density. In some embodiments, the released polypeptide may be a therapeutic polypeptide. In some embodiments, the therapeutic polypeptide kills tumor cells or which inhibits the growth of tumor cells.

Some embodiments described herein relate to cells which have been genetically engineered to release a polypeptide when a population of the cells reaches a desired density. In some embodiments, the released polypeptide may be a therapeutic polypeptide. In some embodiments, the therapeutic polypeptide kills tumor cells or which inhibits the growth of tumor cells.

The present invention concerns uses of immune suppressive domains. In particular, the present invention concerns a use of an immune suppressive domain (ISD) for immune suppression and for reduction of inflammation.

A carrier molecule composition. Specific implementations may include: a carrier molecule including at least one cell penetrating peptide (CPP) where the carrier molecule may include at least one hydrophobic domain and where the carrier is non-covalently associated with a biologically active molecule in one of a micelle and a liposome.

A carrier molecule composition. Specific implementations may include: a carrier molecule including at least one cell penetrating peptide (CPP) where the carrier molecule may include at least one hydrophobic domain and where the carrier is non-covalently associated with a biologically active molecule in one of a micelle and a liposome.

Compositions and methods for treating or reducing the severity or likelihood of occurrence of a parasitic worm or helminth infection in a subject are described. The methods include administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a killed or inactivated recombinant bacterium expressing a crystal protein such as a Bacillus thuringiensis crystal protein (Cry) in the cytosol of the bacterium. The crystal proteins may be full length, truncated, variant, or sub-variant Cry proteins. Examples of crystal proteins include Cry5B, Cry21, Cry14A, Cry6A, and Cry13A. The recombinant bacteria may be treated with an anti-microbial agent before or during administration to a subject.

This invention provides compositions comprising at least one protein nanoparticle comprising a protein and a stealth polymer. In certain embodiments, the nanoparticle further comprises a therapeutic agent, such as but not limited to a miRNA and/or siRNA. In other embodiments, the nanoparticle further comprises a cell surface receptor ligand. Also included in the invention are methods of preparing the compositions of the present invention, and methods of treating, ameliorating or preventing a disease or disorder in a subject using the compositions of the present invention.

This invention provides compositions comprising at least one protein nanoparticle comprising a protein and a stealth polymer. In certain embodiments, the nanoparticle further comprises a therapeutic agent, such as but not limited to a miRNA and/or siRNA. In other embodiments, the nanoparticle further comprises a cell surface receptor ligand. Also included in the invention are methods of preparing the compositions of the present invention, and methods of treating, ameliorating or preventing a disease or disorder in a subject using the compositions of the present invention.

Synthetic alphavirus-derived replicon expression systems comprising nucleic acid sequences encoding at least one modified nonstructural protein, and synthetic nucleic acid sequences encoding at least one heterologous protein are described. Methods of producing at least one heterologous protein in a cell, or of inducing an immune response in a subject by administering and/or expressing the synthetic alphavirus-derived replicon expression systems are provided.

This document provides AAVs and methods and materials for making and using AAVs. For example, AAVs containing a capsid polypeptide that includes an amino acid segment having a DPIVMIDNDKPIT sequence (or a variant thereof) are provided. This document also provides compositions containing an AAV described herein, nucleic acid molecules encoding an AAV described herein, conjugating polypeptides, nucleic acid molecules encoding a conjugating polypeptide described herein, and methods for making a composition that includes two or more different AAVs covalently linked together.