The present invention relates to a plasmid that encodes a fusion protein comprising a signal peptide and the extracellular domain of the B-cell activating factor receptor (BAFF-R), and optionally, a fragment of the constant region (Fc) of an immunoglobulin. The invention also relates to compositions comprising said plasmid, and to the use of same in the treatment and/or prevention of inflammatory diseases in fish, more preferably in salmonids.

The embodiment of the invention is to enable universal non-classical MHC I peptide vaccines restricted to HLA-E, HLA-F and HLA-G. An algorithm was develop to predict HLA-E binding immunogenic or suppressorgenic peptides of the autologous origins, e.g., autoantigens, inflammatory antigens, IgE and cancer antigens, and of the microbial origins. Thus, the embodiment of the invention is to load the antigenic peptides of medical and therapeutic importance onto the non-polymorphic HLA-E, HLA-F, and HLA-G culminating in universal vaccines, bypassing highly polymorphic classical MHC I, e.g., HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-C pathways, in order to treat autoimmune diseases, allergy, inflammatory diseases, cancers, and infectious diseases for all human population. Derlin-1 and UL40 pathways are utilized to enable antigen presentation and vaccine efficacies in the non-classical MHC I pathways.

The present invention provides use of a Photorhabdus Virulence Cassettes (PVC) effector leader sequence, for packaging a payload into a PVC Needle Complex, and related methods for manufacturing a packaged PVC Needle Complex. The payload is one or more selected from a polypeptide, a nucleic acid, or a combination thereof, and the leader sequence and the payload form an effector fusion that is distinct from a wild-type PVC effector protein.

The disclosure provides a magnetic reagent comprised of a recombinant yeast cell having the following genetic modifications: impairment of the CCC1 gene; addition of at least one copy of a human ferritin gene complex; addition of at least one copy of a TCO89 gene; and addition of at least one copy of a mineral- or metal ion-adsorbing target peptide, wherein the magnetic susceptibility or mass magnetization of said magnetic reagent is greater than it would be for a native yeast.

The present application relates to compositions for preventing or treating viral and other microbial infections. In some embodiments, the present application provides chimeric proteins comprising a target-binding moiety that specifically binds to a pathogen that infects through a mucosa, and a positively charged mucoadhesive peptide fragment. Also provided are antibodies and constructs thereof that specifically binds to an S1 subunit of a spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. Compositions comprising the chimeric proteins, antibodies, or constructs described herein are useful for preventing or treating a microbial infection in an individual, such as a coronavirus infection.

An immunotoxin for use in the treatment of leishmaniasis A wherein the immunotoxin comprises a portion which is specifically binding to the cellular surface receptor CD64 as a component A and a cell killing portion as a component B, wherein the cell killing portion alters the function, gene expression, or viability of a cell thereby killing Leishmania-infected macrophages and by this eliminates Leishmania.

Fusion proteins containing a targeting sequence, an exosporium protein, or an exosporium protein fragment that targets the fusion protein to the exosporium of a Bacillus cereus family member are provided. Recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing such fusion proteins are also provided. Genetically inactivated Bacillus cereus family members and recombinant Bacillus cereus family members that overexpress exosporium proteins are also provided. Seeds coated with the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members and methods for using the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members (e.g., for stimulating plant growth) are also provided. Various modifications of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members that express the fusion proteins are further provided. Fusion proteins comprising a spore coat protein and a protein or peptide of interest, recombinant bacteria that express such fusion proteins, seeds coated with such recombinant bacteria, and methods for using such recombinant bacteria (e.g., for stimulating plant growth) are also provided.

Provided herein are recombinant polypeptides comprising a SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein binding domain polypeptide and a GM-CSF polypeptide, polynucleotide sequences encoding the same, virus-like particles comprising the same, and methods for using these compositions for the treatment of a SARS-CoV-2 infection in a subject, and for detection of a SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in a subject.

Genetically modified cells that are compatible with multiple subjects, e.g., universal donor cells, and methods of generating said genetic modified cells are provided herein. The universal donor cells comprise at least one genetic modification within or near a gene that encodes one or more MHC-I or MHC-II human leukocyte antigens or a component or a transcriptional regulator of a MHC-I or MHC-II complex, wherein genetic modification comprises an insertion of a polynucleotide encoding a tolerogenic factor and/or survival factor. The universal donor cells may further comprise at least one genetic modification within or near a gene that encodes a survival factor, wherein said genetic modification comprises an insertion of a polynucleotide encoding a second tolerogenic factor and/or a different survival factor.

The present invention relates to a targeting module comprising at least one PD-L1 and/or PD-L2 binding domain, and a tag-binding domain or a tag for use in a method for stimulating a chimeric antigen receptor mediated immune response in a mammal, a nucleic acid, a vector or a cell comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the targeting module, a pharmaceutical composition and a kit comprising the targeting module and a vector or a cell comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a switchable chimeric antigen receptor.