Polypeptides having the ability to specifically form connections of glucosyl units in alpha 1,3 on an acceptor having at least one hydroxyl moiety are presented. The polypeptides include i) the pattern I of sequence SEQ ID NO: 1, ii) the pattern II of sequence SEQ ID NO: 2, iii) the pattern III of sequence SEQ ID NO: 3, and iv) the pattern IV of sequence SEQ ID NO: 4, or derivates from one or several of said patterns, wherein the polypeptide furthermore has an aspartic residue (D) at position 5 of the pattern II (SEQ ID NO: 2), a glutamic acid residue (E) at position 6 of the pattern III (SEQ ID NO: 3) an an aspartic acid residue (D) at position 6 of the pattern IV (SEQ ID NO: 4). Methods for producing acceptors connected to glucosyl units in alpha 1,3 using the polypeptides are also provided.

The invention in the various aspects provides nanogel compositions that are safe for topical, local, and/or systemic delivery, and which can be targeted to select tissues or cells, including pathogens. In some embodiments, conjugation of antibiotics to the nanogel surface, and in particular antibiotics that disrupt outer membranes of Gram negative bacteria or antibiotics that inhibit cell wall synthesis, provide for highly effective targeting and killing of bacterial pathogens, including drug-resistant bacteria.

Compositions are disclosed herein comprising poly alpha-1,3-1,6-glucan with a weight average degree of polymerization (DP.sub.w) of at least 1000. This glucan polymer comprises at least 30% alpha-1,3 linkages and at least 30% alpha-1,6 linkages. Further disclosed are glucosyltransferase enzymes that synthesize poly alpha-1,3-1,6-glucan. Ether derivatives of poly alpha-1,3-1,6-glucan and methods of using such derivatives as viscosity modifiers are also disclosed.

The invention is directed to a competitive glucose binding affinity assay comprising a glucose receptor (typically mannan binding lectin) labeled with an assay fluorophore and a modified glucose analog (typically dextran) labeled with a reference fluorophore. In certain embodiments, the glucose analog is dextran and is coupled to both a reference fluorophore and a quencher dye (e.g. hexamethoxy crystalviolet-1). Optionally the reference fluorophore is blue shifted relative to the assay fluorophore.

Compositions comprising oxidized dextran compounds are disclosed herein. Oxidized dextran compounds are produced by contacting dextran under aqueous conditions with at least one N-oxoammonium salt, at least one periodate compound, and/or at least one peroxide compound.

A method for producing insoluble alpha-1,3-glucan is disclosed. Embodiments of the method comprise providing (i) oligosaccharides that comprise alpha-1,3 and alpha-1,6 glycosidic linkages, or (ii) oligosaccharides derived from a glucosyltransferase reaction; and contacting at least water, sucrose, a glucosyltransferase enzyme, and the oligosaccharides provided in the first step. Glucosyltransferase reaction compositions embodying such a method, and insoluble products thereof, are also disclosed. Yield and other product benefits can be realized when practicing the disclosed subject matter.

The present invention provides novel compositions and methods for producing protein-polysaccharide conjugates in aqueous solutions. Also provided are methods for limiting the Maillard reaction to the very initial stage, the formation of the Schiff base. Provided are methods to obtain a simple product of Schiff base with white color, and compositions obtained using the methods of the present invention.

The disclosure provides hydrogel compositions comprising polysaccharides with repeat units and methods of synthesis and usage.

A graft copolymer comprising: a core polymer comprising a crosslinked or non-crosslinked polysaccharide, a plurality of primary graft polymers covalently grafted to the core polymer, a plurality of secondary graft polymers covalently grafted to each primary graft polymer, an injectable dermal aesthetic formulation comprising such a graft copolymer and a method of preparing such a graft copolymer.

Methods for the cross-metathesis of polysaccharides with one or more olefin-terminated side chains and cross-metathesized products are described. In an exemplary embodiment, a method for the synthesis of cellulose -carboxyesters via olefin cross-metathesis is described. Conditions of the reactions were relatively mild and the olefin-substituted polysaccharides and the appropriate monomeric olefin partners appear to follow Grubbs rules as summarized herein. The compounds and methods may be useful for structure-property studies, particularly those aimed at developing polymers for drug delivery, such as for controlled-release drug delivery systems, controlled-release coatings, increasing bioavailability of drugs, and maintaining drug supersaturation in the GI tract.