In one aspect, the invention provides a peptide comprising a chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA)-targeting signal domain; a protein-binding domain that selectively binds to a target cytosolic protein; and a cell membrane penetrating domain (CMPD). In another aspect, the invention provides methods for reducing the intracellular expression level of an endogenous target protein in vitro and in an animal, wherein the method involves administration of the peptide. Methods are also provided for treating a pathological condition in an animal, the methods comprising administering the peptide to the animal. In one embodiment, the pathological condition is a neurodegenerative disease. In another embodiment of the invention, the target cytosolic protein is death associated protein kinase 1 and the CMPD is protein transduction domain of the HIV-1 Tat protein.

Described herein are methods and compositions for the use of treating and/or preventing Clostridium difficile infections, including recurrent C. difficile infections, in a subject. Aspects of the technology relate to administering to a subject in need thereof a composition comprising a defined therapeutic microbiota comprising, e.g. Clostridial species. Also described herein are biomarker profiles, including a biomarker profile comprising two groups of Clostridial species, that is predictive of the likelihood of recurrent C. difficile infection and/or susceptibility to initial C. difficile infection.

This document provides methods and materials involved in identifying mammals having lung adenocarcinoma characterized by neuroendocrine differentiation as well as methods and materials involved in treating mammals having lung adenocarcinoma characterized by neuroendocrine differentiation. For example, methods and materials for using ASCL1 and RET expression levels to identify lung cancer patients having lung adenocarcinoma characterized by neuroendocrine differentiation are provided.

The invention relates to generation and use of cellular and humoral responses for the prevention and treatment of P. gingivalis related conditions and diseases.

In one aspect, the invention provides a method of making a bioactive peptide-bearing antibody, or fragment thereof, comprising (a) engrafting the amino acid sequence of at least one bioactive peptide of interest into (i) at least one of CDR-H1, CDR-H2 or CDR-H3 of a heavy chain variable region comprising one or more chicken framework regions and/or (ii) at least one of CDR-L1, CDR-L2 or CDR-L3 of the light chain variable region comprising one or more chicken framework regions, and (b) determining whether the antibody has substantially the same biological activity as the bioactive peptide.

An enzyme system for the extraction of proteins from distillers grains and roots. The enzyme system is a three component system containing a first component of protease enzyme and a buffer, a second component comprised of a deactivating agent, and a third component comprised of neutralizing agent.

An isolated nucleic acid that includes an open reading frame encoding a lanthipeptide protease polypeptide for scarless tag removal from a polypeptide is presented. Reagents, expression constructs and methods are also provided for preparing a scarless tag polypeptide product from a tagged polypeptide precursor containing a lanthipeptide protease cleavage site. The reagents are directed to novel lanthipeptide proteases and expression constructs and polypeptide precursors that include highly specific lanthipeptide protease substrate recognition sequence. Methods are provided that enable scarless tag removal from a cognate lanthipeptide, a non-cognate lanthipeptide or a heterologous polypeptide that includes extraneous amino acid sequences, such as leader peptides and tags.

The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having protease activity and isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding the proteases. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells, including plant and animal cells, comprising the nucleic acid sequences, as well as methods for producing and using the proteases, in particular the use of the proteases in animal feed.

Plant-protective compositions comprising lysozyme and methods of their use are provided. Lysozyme is a naturally-derived material forming a desirable non-toxic barrier that eliminates various plant pests and may promoting plant growth. Formulations are provided, which may include carriers, inert ingredients and formulation components, and/or active ingredients. Methods of protecting a plant, plant part, seed, or site where plants are to be grown from a pest using the compositions are also provided. Exemplary plants include those of the Cannabis genus.

The disclosure provides a fusion protein comprising at least one antigenic fragment of a protein from a bacterium from genus Streptococcus, as well as means for its expression. Outer membrane vesicles and vaccines comprising the fusion protein are also disclosed, as well as a method of vaccination using such vaccines.