Circular handed alpha-helical repeat proteins are described. The repeat proteins have a number of uses as scaffolds for geometrically precise, arrayed presentation of cell-signaling or immune-related protein and peptide epitopes, as well as numerous other therapeutic, diagnostic, and nanotechnological uses.

The present invention concerns the development of vesicles that could be used for generation of vaccines or as compound delivery vehicles. More specifically, the invention relates to a method for preparing a vesicle comprising the steps of: providing recombinant Trypanosoma brucei cells expressing sortaggable VSG, treating said cells in hypotonic solution in the presence of at least one protease inhibitor until the cells are lysed, isolating the cellular membranes from the solution, suspending the isolated membranes previously obtained in a isotonic solution, treating the suspended cellular membranes obtained in the previous step with sonication in order to obtain a vesicle suspension, removing aggregated membranous debris from the vesicle suspension previously obtained, separating the vesicle suspension into populations of vesicles, and providing vesicles from a population of vesicles which is characterized by the following parameters: (i) having a single predominant protein revealed after Coomassie staining an SDS PAGE that has an apparent molecular weight of 55 to 60 kDa, (ii) having a spherical appearance in electron micrographs and (iii) exhibiting a homogenous surface structure in electron micrographs. Moreover, the present invention also relates to a vesicle comprising sortaggable VSG characterized by the aforementioned parameters as well as such a vesicle for use in treating and/or preventing a disease or medical condition or as a compound delivery vesicle, preferably, drug delivery vehicle, more preferably, nucleic acid delivery vesicle. Finally, the invention contemplates a kit for carrying out the method of the present invention comprising recombinant Trypanosoma brucei cells expressing sortaggable VSG and at least one agent for carrying out the method of the present invention or a kit comprising the vesicle of the present invention.

Provided are novel, non-naturally occurring chagasin scaffold proteins derived from chagasin or chagasin-like protease inhibitor proteins. Also provided are libraries of non-naturally occurring chagasin scaffold proteins and methods of using such libraries to generate non-naturally occurring chagasin scaffold proteins that specifically bind to a target ligand. The present invention further provides methods of using non-naturally occurring chagasin protein scaffold that bind to a target ligand, including diagnostic and therapeutic compositions and methods. The invention also provides novel non-naturally occurring chagasin scaffold proteins that specifically bind low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6) and novel non-naturally occurring chagasin scaffold proteins that specifically bind vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

Provided are novel, non-naturally occurring chagasin scaffold proteins derived from chagasin or chagasin-like protease inhibitor proteins. Also provided are libraries of non-naturally occurring chagasin scaffold proteins and methods of using such libraries to generate non-naturally occurring chagasin scaffold proteins that specifically bind to a target ligand. The present invention further provides methods of using non-naturally occurring chagasin protein scaffold that bind to a target ligand, including diagnostic and therapeutic compositions and methods. The invention also provides novel non-naturally occurring chagasin scaffold proteins that specifically bind low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6) and novel non-naturally occurring chagasin scaffold proteins that specifically bind vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for preventing, treating and diagnosing infection by trypanosomes. The invention also relates to the use of excreted/secreted antigens (exoantigens, secretome) and specifically to the identification of a protein excreted/secreted by the trypanosomes, the inhibition of which makes it possible to provide effective protection, mainly by vaccination, against infection by trypanosomes or the development or spread thereof. The invention relates to use of the protein, the derivatives thereof, a nucleotide sequence derived from said protein, or an extract enriched with said protein, and to the use of antibodies directed against said trypanosomes for immunotherapy, diagnosis, and monitoring of infections by trypanosomes.

Described herein are compositions and methods of producing glycosylated proteins in vitro and in vivo. The methods include using host cells to produce glycosylated proteins. Also described herein are glycosylated proteins produced using such methods and uses thereof.

The present invention relates to a trypanosomal vaccine comprising an FLA1 binding protein, as well as to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said vaccine and their uses in vaccination to prevent or treat trypanosomal infection in a mammal. Thus, also provided are a method of preventing or treating trypanosomal infection comprising administering said vaccine and a kit of parts comprising a medical instrument or other means for administering.

The present invention provides compositions and methods that can be used to determine a peptide signature for an antibody repertoire in a sample comprising multiple antibodies. The method can be used to characterize a phenotype in a sample, such as providing a diagnosis, prognosis or theranosis of a medical condition.

The present invention provides compositions and methods that can be used to determine a peptide signature for an antibody repertoire in a sample comprising multiple antibodies. The method can be used to characterize a phenotype in a sample, such as providing a diagnosis, prognosis or theranosis of a medical condition.

The present invention provides compositions and methods that can be used to determine a peptide signature for an antibody repertoire in a sample comprising multiple antibodies. The method can be used to characterize a phenotype in a sample, such as providing a diagnosis, prognosis or theranosis of a medical condition.