Provided herein is a method to reduce the endotoxin contamination in plasmid preparations. In the described method, plasmid DNA and endotoxins are bound to an anionic exchange matrix and are brought into contact with a wash buffer, comprising a combination of branched secondary alcohol ethoxylates with varying ethylene oxide chain lengths, wherein the branched secondary alcohol ethoxylates with the shorter ethoxylate chain is present in the washing buffer in excess compared to the branched secondary alcohol ethoxylate with the longer ethoxylate chain. The resulting purified plasmid has minimal endotoxin contamination levels and is considered endotoxin-free. Furthermore, provided are wash buffers comprising a combination of branched secondary alcohol ethoxylates with varying ethylene oxide chain lengths, kits comprising such wash buffers and the use of such wash buffers for reducing the endotoxin contamination in plasmid preparations.

An improved strain of E. coli for autoinduction of protein expression but also of autolytic enzymes thereby enabling combined autolysis and auto DNA/RNA hydrolysis. This combination of these two mechanisms improves cellular lysis and DNA removal and expounds the benefits of two stage production of a protein product. This system enables greater than 95% lysis and hydrolysis due to tightly controlled expression the genes. The autolytic genes may encode a lysozyme and a benzonase.

An improved strain of E. coli for autoinduction of protein expression but also of autolytic enzymes thereby enabling combined autolysis and auto DNA/RNA hydrolysis. This combination of these two mechanisms improves cellular lysis and DNA removal and expounds the benefits of two stage production of a protein product. This system enables greater than 95% lysis and hydrolysis due to tightly controlled expression the genes. The autolytic genes may encode a lysozyme and a benzonase.

The present disclosure provides methods for releasing intracellular proteins. The method allows isolation of the protein of interest from the cell without the requirement for mechanical disruption of the cells, without the need for isolation of the cells from the culture media, and without the need for removal of the cells from the culture media.

The present disclosure provides methods for releasing intracellular proteins. The method allows isolation of the protein of interest from the cell without the requirement for mechanical disruption of the cells, without the need for isolation of the cells from the culture media, and without the need for removal of the cells from the culture media.

Bifidobacterium longum strains and cell wall fractions isolated from Bifidobacterium longum strains are useful in the prophylaxis or treatment of a respiratory viral infection in a subject. They are also useful in the prophylaxis of a secondary bacterial infection associated with a respiratory viral infection in a subject, especially a subject who is susceptible to respiratory infections.

Bifidobacterium longum strains and cell wall fractions isolated from Bifidobacterium longum strains are useful in the prophylaxis or treatment of a respiratory viral infection in a subject. They are also useful in the prophylaxis of a secondary bacterial infection associated with a respiratory viral infection in a subject, especially a subject who is susceptible to respiratory infections.

A method for determining the flexion or extension of a joint of a human or animal subject, comprising: applying a plurality of strain gauges to the joint in a known configuration; applying a first inertial measurement unit, IMU, to each strain gauge; receiving strain data from each of the strain gauges; receiving motion data from each of the IMUs; and calculating the flexion or extension of the joint in dependence on the received strain data, motion data and the configuration of the strain gauges.

A method of extracting a cytoplasmic or periplasmic protein. The method comprises provision of a first cell suspension comprising cells, the cells containing a cytoplasmic or periplasmic protein of interest to be extracted, the first cell suspension having a first temperature, and heating of the first cell suspension to an operating temperature, at which operating temperature at least a fraction of the cells is subject to heat-induced lysis and at least a fraction of the cytoplasmic or periplasmic protein of interest to be extracted is not subject to irreversible denaturation. The heating of the first cell suspension comprises provision of an aqueous solution, the aqueous solution having a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature, and mixing of the first cell suspension with the aqueous solution, thereby obtaining a second cell suspension, the second cell suspension having a third temperature that is higher than the first temperature. A system for extracting a cytoplasmic or periplasmic protein. The system comprises, i.a., a static mixer.

A method of extracting a cytoplasmic or periplasmic protein. The method comprises provision of a first cell suspension comprising cells, the cells containing a cytoplasmic or periplasmic protein of interest to be extracted, the first cell suspension having a first temperature, and heating of the first cell suspension to an operating temperature, at which operating temperature at least a fraction of the cells is subject to heat-induced lysis and at least a fraction of the cytoplasmic or periplasmic protein of interest to be extracted is not subject to irreversible denaturation. The heating of the first cell suspension comprises provision of an aqueous solution, the aqueous solution having a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature, and mixing of the first cell suspension with the aqueous solution, thereby obtaining a second cell suspension, the second cell suspension having a third temperature that is higher than the first temperature. A system for extracting a cytoplasmic or periplasmic protein. The system comprises, i.a., a static mixer.