A transformant obtained by introducing a DNA of (a1), (a2), or (a3) below, and (b) an alcohol dehydrogenase gene, into a bacterium of the genus Hydrogenophilus, can efficiently produce isobutanol utilizing carbon dioxide as a sole carbon source. (a1) DNA which consists of a base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; (a2) DNA which consists of a base sequence having 90% or more identity with SEQ ID NO: 1, the DNA encoding a polypeptide having 2-keto-acid decarboxylase activity; (a3) DNA which hybridizes with a DNA consisting of a base sequence complementary to SEQ ID NO: 1 under stringent conditions, and which encodes a polypeptide having 2-keto-acid decarboxylase activity.

Live attenuated viruses for protection against the novel coronavirus, designated as Sars-CoV-2 by the World Health Organization (WHO) are provided. The live attenuated chimeric virus strains are based on a live attenuated influenza B virus (LAIVB), used a master backbone, which includes deletion of the viral virulence element, the NS1 (non-structural protein 1) (DeLNS1-B), engineered to express one or more antigens of the Sars-CoV-2 (herein, CoV2Ag). The chimeric virus strain is referred to generally herein, as DelNS1-B-Sars-CoV-2-CoV2Ag. The DelNS1-B-Sars-CoV-2-CoV2Ag strain preferably shows spontaneous cold adaption with preference to grow at 30-33° C. The DelNS1-B-Sars-CoV-2-CoV2Ag strain can be used to protect a subject in need thereof, against a challenge of Sars-CoV-2. DelNS1-B-Sars-CoV-2-CoV2Ag is an important strategy for making highly attenuated and immunogenic live attenuated vaccines with the ability to induce protective immunity against Sars-CoV-2.

Live attenuated viruses for protection against the novel coronavirus, designated as Sars-CoV-2 by the World Health Organization (WHO) are provided. The live attenuated chimeric virus strains are based on a live attenuated influenza B virus (LAIVB), used a master backbone, which includes deletion of the viral virulence element, the NS1 (non-structural protein 1) (DeLNS1-B), engineered to express one or more antigens of the Sars-CoV-2 (herein, CoV2Ag). The chimeric virus strain is referred to generally herein, as DelNS1-B-Sars-CoV-2-CoV2Ag. The DelNS1-B-Sars-CoV-2-CoV2Ag strain preferably shows spontaneous cold adaption with preference to grow at 30-33° C. The DelNS1-B-Sars-CoV-2-CoV2Ag strain can be used to protect a subject in need thereof, against a challenge of Sars-CoV-2. DelNS1-B-Sars-CoV-2-CoV2Ag is an important strategy for making highly attenuated and immunogenic live attenuated vaccines with the ability to induce protective immunity against Sars-CoV-2.

The present invention provides methods for inducing regression of tumors in human subjects, the methods utilize a modified mesogenic strain of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) with modified F protein cleavage site, which is non-pathogenic to poultry (lentogenic), but exhibits oncolytic properties. The disclosed methods provide safe, effective and reliable means to induce regression of a tumor in an individual in need thereof. These methods overcome the drawbacks of using pathogenic strains of viruses for human therapy.

The present invention provides methods for inducing regression of tumors in human subjects, the methods utilize a modified mesogenic strain of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) with modified F protein cleavage site, which is non-pathogenic to poultry (lentogenic), but exhibits oncolytic properties. The disclosed methods provide safe, effective and reliable means to induce regression of a tumor in an individual in need thereof. These methods overcome the drawbacks of using pathogenic strains of viruses for human therapy.

The present disclosure provides compositions, for example vaccine compositions comprising live, attenuated coronavirus. The disclosure also provides methods of using coronavirus vaccines, including methods of treating and/or preventing coronavirus infections, and provides methods of preparing coronavirus vaccines.

The disclosure relates to a fusion protein comprising a VP1 binding protein and an exogenous peptide, wherein the exogenous peptide comprises a cargo-securing peptide (CSP) and/or an endosome translocating peptide (ETP) and to virus like particles (VLP) comprising the fusion protein for use as drug delivery system. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding the fusion protein, suitable expression vectors, host cells, production methods for the fusion protein and the VLP comprising the fusion protein.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a vaccine antigen, which includes a step of fragmenting a biological membrane associated with said vaccine antigen by treating said biological membrane with at least one calixarene of formula (II): wherein: X is a —(CH2)-CO2Y group and Y is an alkaline metal or one of the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein said resulting vaccine antigen also includes a fragment of the biological membrane associated with said antigen. The present invention also relates to a vaccine that can be produced by implementing the method, including a calixarene of formula (II) in carrier format, with a quantity of 0.1 to 1,000 μg in the total weight of the vaccine. The present invention further relates to the use of a calixarene as defined above for the preparation of a vaccine or a vaccine antigen, and to the vaccine for use as a drug in the treatment or prevention of an infectious disease.

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The present invention relates to a method for preparing a vaccine antigen, which includes a step of fragmenting a biological membrane associated with said vaccine antigen by treating said biological membrane with at least one calixarene of formula (II): wherein: X is a —(CH2)-CO2Y group and Y is an alkaline metal or one of the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein said resulting vaccine antigen also includes a fragment of the biological membrane associated with said antigen. The present invention also relates to a vaccine that can be produced by implementing the method, including a calixarene of formula (II) in carrier format, with a quantity of 0.1 to 1,000 μg in the total weight of the vaccine. The present invention further relates to the use of a calixarene as defined above for the preparation of a vaccine or a vaccine antigen, and to the vaccine for use as a drug in the treatment or prevention of an infectious disease.

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The present invention relates to the use of a nucleic acid molecule encoding a first reporter gene, bordered by at least one first pair and one second pair of sequences targeting a site-specific recombinase in order to detect cells of a mammal infected with a virus responsible for an immunodeficiency.