The present disclosure relates in part to methods of treating, preventing, and/or ameliorating SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or related inflammatory syndromes by administration of a Maackia amurensis seed lectin (MASL). MASL has a strong affinity for sialic acid modified proteins and may be used as an antiviral agent. This lectin targets the ACE2 receptor, decreases ACE2 expression and glycosylation, suppresses binding of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, and decreases expression of inflammatory mediators by oral epithelial cells that cause ARDS in COVID-19 patients.

The present disclosure relates in part to methods of treating, preventing, and/or ameliorating SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or related inflammatory syndromes by administration of a Maackia amurensis seed lectin (MASL). MASL has a strong affinity for sialic acid modified proteins and may be used as an antiviral agent. This lectin targets the ACE2 receptor, decreases ACE2 expression and glycosylation, suppresses binding of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, and decreases expression of inflammatory mediators by oral epithelial cells that cause ARDS in COVID-19 patients.

The present invention relates to the process to prepare recombinant lectin having amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the process comprises fed-batch fermentation of a clone in a host cell at specific feeding rate with carbon to Nitrogen ratio of 3:1 to 6:1. The invention also relates to the process of purification of recombinant lectin having amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

The present invention relates to the process to prepare recombinant lectin having amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the process comprises fed-batch fermentation of a clone in a host cell at specific feeding rate with carbon to Nitrogen ratio of 3:1 to 6:1. The invention also relates to the process of purification of recombinant lectin having amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

A modified lectin protein is provided having at least one amino acid modification in an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1 or in an amino acid sequence having at least 60% homology thereto. The amino acid modification is selected from one of more of the following: at least one amino acid modification in a carbohydrate binding site; at least one amino acid modification in the N-terminus; at least one amino acid modification at position 76; or at least one amino acid modification at position 44 or 89. The modified lectin protein does not consist of the amino acid sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 2 to 4.

A modified lectin protein is provided having at least one amino acid modification in an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1 or in an amino acid sequence having at least 60% homology thereto. The amino acid modification is selected from one of more of the following: at least one amino acid modification in a carbohydrate binding site; at least one amino acid modification in the N-terminus; at least one amino acid modification at position 76; or at least one amino acid modification at position 44 or 89. The modified lectin protein does not consist of the amino acid sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 2 to 4.

Described herein are engineered microbe-targeting or microbe-binding molecules, kits comprising the same and uses thereof. Some particular embodiments of the microbe-targeting or microbe-binding molecules comprise a carbohydrate recognition domain of mannose-binding lectin, or a fragment thereof, linked to a portion of a Fc region. In some embodiments, the microbe-targeting molecules or microbe-binding molecules can be conjugated to a substrate, e.g., a magnetic microbead, forming a microbe-targeting substrate (e.g., a microbe-targeting magnetic microbead). Such microbe-targeting molecules and/or substrates and the kits comprising the same can bind and/or capture of a microbe and/or microbial matter thereof, and can thus be used in various applications, e.g., diagnosis and/or treatment of an infection caused by microbes such as sepsis in a subject or any environmental surface. Microbe-targeting molecules and/or substrates can be regenerated after use by washing with a low pH buffer or buffer in which calcium is insoluble.

Described herein are engineered microbe-targeting or microbe-binding molecules, kits comprising the same and uses thereof. Some particular embodiments of the microbe-targeting or microbe-binding molecules comprise a carbohydrate recognition domain of mannose-binding lectin, or a fragment thereof, linked to a portion of a Fc region. In some embodiments, the microbe-targeting molecules or microbe-binding molecules can be conjugated to a substrate, e.g., a magnetic microbead, forming a microbe-targeting substrate (e.g., a microbe-targeting magnetic microbead). Such microbe-targeting molecules and/or substrates and the kits comprising the same can bind and/or capture of a microbe and/or microbial matter thereof, and can thus be used in various applications, e.g., diagnosis and/or treatment of an infection caused by microbes such as sepsis in a subject or any environmental surface. Microbe-targeting molecules and/or substrates can be regenerated after use by washing with a low pH buffer or buffer in which calcium is insoluble.

The present invention provides methods, compositions, apparatus, and kits for assessing glycoforms of proteins as a biomarker for disease. A purified recombinant form of lectin is used as a detector molecule to specifically label target sugars expressed in disease states. The high affinity of recombinant lectin allows for automation of assays that would be used in the diagnosis of diseases such as, but not limited to, cancer or liver disease.

The present invention provides methods, compositions, apparatus, and kits for assessing glycoforms of proteins as a biomarker for disease. A purified recombinant form of lectin is used as a detector molecule to specifically label target sugars expressed in disease states. The high affinity of recombinant lectin allows for automation of assays that would be used in the diagnosis of diseases such as, but not limited to, cancer or liver disease.