Nucleic acid constructs for heterologous expression of a SARS-CoV-2 antigen on the surface of a yeast cell and related polypeptides, recombinant yeast cells, vaccine compositions, oral dosage formulations, and methods of inducing antigen-specific immune response to SARS-CoV-2.

The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for genetically modifying lymphocytes, for example T cells and/or NK cells, in shorter times than previously and/or in whole blood or a component thereof. In some embodiments a lymphodepletion filter assembly is used before or after forming a reaction mixture where lymphocytes are contacted with recombinant retroviral particles in a closed system, to genetically modify the lymphocytes.

The invention includes systems, methods, and compositions for designing secreted fusogenic ectosome vesicles, or gectosomes, that selectively encapsulate specific target proteins, nucleic acids and/or other small molecules in a predetermined manner. These engineered gectosomes can be used to deliver desired cargos to receipt cells in vitro, ex vivo, or in vivo and may further reprogram target cellular phenotypes in a dose-dependent manner, as well as perform genome editing functions, among others.

Described herein is an antigen screening library comprising a plurality of Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-antigen polypeptide complexes, the HLA-antigen polypeptide complexes comprising: (a) an HLA polypeptide; (b) a randomized antigen polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 209, wherein the randomized antigen polypeptide is selected to specifically bind to peptide binding cleft of the HLA polypeptide; and (c) a β2 microglobulin polypeptide. These libraries can be used to determine antigenic polypeptides capable of interacting and stimulating a selected T cell receptor (TCR).

The present invention relates to antimicrobial agents against Gram-positive bacteria, in particular to fusion proteins composed of an enzyme having the activity of degrading the cell wall of Gram-positive bacteria and an additional peptide stretch fused to the enzyme at the N- or C-terminus. Moreover, the present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules encoding said fusion protein, vectors comprising said nucleic acid molecules and host cells comprising either said nucleic acid molecules or said vectors. In addition, the present invention relates to said fusion protein for use as a medicament, in particular for the treatment or prevention of Gram-positive bacterial infections, as diagnostic means or as cosmetic substance. The present invention also relates to the treatment or prevention of Gram-positive bacterial contamination of foodstuff, of food processing equipment, of food processing plants, of surfaces coming into contact with foodstuff, of medical devices, of surfaces in hospitals and surgeries. Further, the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising said fusion protein.

Compositions and methods for isolating polypeptides having antibiotic activity are provided. In some aspects, bacterial cell populations are provided that express a surface-displayed library of candidate polypeptide sequences under the control of an inducible promoter.

The present invention is generally directed to fusion proteins containing a targeting sequence that targets the fusion protein to the exosporium of a Bacillus cereus family member. The invention also relates to recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing such fusion proteins, formulations containing the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing the fusion proteins. Methods for stimulating plant growth and for protecting plants from pathogens by applying the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members or the formulations to plants or a plant growth medium are also described. The invention also relates to methods for immobilizing spores of a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member expressing a fusion protein on plant roots.

Described herein are compositions and techniques related to generation and therapeutic application of artificial synapses. Artificial synapses are engineered extracellular vesicles, including exosomes, which incorporate sticky binders on their surface to anchor signaling domains against biological targets, such as receptors. These engineered additives can be organized in genetic vector constructs, expressed in mammalian cells, wherein the sticky binders attach to extracellular vesicles such as exosomes, thereby presenting their joined signaling domains which are rapidly taken up by recipient cells. Artificial synapses adopt the hallmark biophysical and biochemical features of extracellular vesicles, allowing for rapid deployment and scale-up. Importantly, this strategy can allow for kinetically favorable signal generation and signal propagation. This includes, for example, increasing density of agonist presentation to support receptor clustering—an onerous barrier for traditional receptor targeting strategies.

A method for producing a fibroin-like protein is provided. A fibroin-like protein is produced by a method of culturing Escherichia coli having a gene encoding the fibroin-like protein in a medium, inducing expression of the gene encoding the fibroin-like protein, and collecting the fibroin-like protein, wherein accumulation of an organic acid at the time of inducing the expression is reduced, and wherein the gene is expressed under control of a tryptophan promoter.

Methods and compositions are provided for reversibly localizing proteins to the exterior part of the cell surface. Compositions provided herein can include nucleic acids that encode polypeptides of interest and the ligand binding domain (LBD) of a nuclear hormone receptor. Medical applications are provided, including controlling the toxicity of CAR T cells.