The present invention provides compositions comprising a protein expression blocker or PEBL comprising a target-binding molecule and localizing domain, and methods of using such compositions in cancer therapy. PEBLs are useful as a blockade of expression of target surface receptors (peptides or antigens) in immune cells. Also provided herein are CD3/TCR??-deficient T cells and CD3/TCR??-deficient chimeric antigen receptor T cells that express such PEBLs.

The invention relates to cellular localization signals. In particular, the invention relates to endoplasmic reticulum localization signals in monomeric or multimeric form. The localization signals are utilized as research tools or are linked to therapeutics. Disclosed are methods of making and using polypeptides and modified polypeptides as signals to localize therapeutics, experimental compounds, peptides, proteins and/or other macromolecules to the endoplasmic reticulum of eukaryotic cells. The polypeptides of the invention optionally include linkage to reporters, epitopes and/or other experimental or therapeutic molecules. The invention also encompasses polynucleotides encoding the localization signals and vectors comprising these polynucleotides.

Provided are: an expression vector for secreting a protein (Z) to be recovered or a fusion protein having the protein (Z) moiety therein; a method for producing a transformant using the expression vector; the transformant; and a method for producing a protein using the transformant. An expression vector comprising an expression cassette containing a structural gene sequence (y) encoding a protein (Y), a structural gene sequence (z) located downstream from the structural gene sequence (y) and encoding a protein (Z) that is a protein to be recovered, and a promoter sequence and a terminator sequence for expressing a fusion protein containing the protein (Y) moiety and the protein (Z) moiety, characterized in that the protein (Y) is a full-length protein of protein disulfide isomerase 1 (PDI1), a partial protein of PDI1, or a mutant protein of the full-length protein or the partial protein.

Isolated polypeptides are provided that comprise a cholera toxin B subunit variant having one or more modifications to increase the expression of the polypeptide in a plant cell. Nucleic acids sequences, vectors, and plant cells for expressing the cholera toxin B subunit variant polypeptides are also provided. Further provided are methods for producing the cholera toxin B subunit variant polypeptides that include the steps of transforming a plant cell with a nucleic acid encoding the cholera toxin B subunit variant polypeptides; expressing the variant polypeptides; and purifying the polypeptides. Still further provided are methods of isolating the variant polypeptides that include the steps of obtaining a plant cell expressing the cholera toxin B subunit variant polypeptides; extracting the cholera toxin B subunit variant polypeptides from the plant cell; and purifying the cholera toxin B subunit variant polypeptides. Methods of eliciting an immune response are also provided.

A peptide comprised of either a binary or a tertiary peptide, the peptide contains at least 4 amino acids and up to a maximum of 16 amino acids, comprised of 2 or 3 different regions, wherein the binary peptides have 2 different regions and the tertiary peptides have 3 different regions; wherein, the peptide can be cleaved by both an animal gut protease and an insect or nematode gut protease.

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 Shiga toxin effector polypeptides with reduced antigenic and/or immunogenic potential. Immunogenicity can be a limitation for the repeated administration to mammals of proteins and polypeptides derived from Shiga toxins. The Shiga toxin effector polypeptides of the present invention have uses as components of therapeutics, diagnostics, and immunization materials. The cytotoxic proteins of the present invention have uses for selective killing of specific cell types and as therapeutics for the treatment of a variety of diseases, including cancers, immune disorders, and microbial infections. The proteins of the present invention also have uses for detecting specific cell types, collecting diagnostic information, and monitoring the treatment of a variety of diseases, such as, e.g., cancers, immune disorders, and microbial infections.

A plant produced chimeric polypeptide is provided. The plant produced chimeric polypeptide comprising: (i) a first domain which comprises a TNF Alpha binding domain of a TNF receptor, and (ii) a second domain which comprises an Fc domain of an immunoglobulin, wherein the first domain and the second domain are N-terminally to C-terminally respectively sequentially translationally fused and wherein the chimeric polypeptide specifically binds TNF Alpha.

Provided herein are devices and methods for reversibly controlling memory function in living non-human animals. Some variations of methods for affecting memory function comprise temporarily inhibiting neurons of the hippocampus (e.g., neurons of the dorsal CA1 field of the hippocampus) during the acquisition or retrieval of a memory. Alternatively or additionally, methods for reversibly affecting memory function comprise inhibiting neurons of the amygdala (e.g. basolateral amygdala) and/or neurons of the cingulate cortex (e.g., anterior cingulated cortex). Methods for disrupting the formation and recall of memories by inhibiting excitatory neurons expressing light-activated proteins are disclosed herein. One or more methods for reversibly affecting memory function described herein can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of pharmacological agents in treating PTSD and/or various memory disorders.

Maize is vital to both US agriculture and the economy. The US provides over half of the maize global market. In the US, field maize production is a $75B endeavor and comprises 95% of the total US grain production. Worldwide there is a net loss of 16 million tons of maize due to aflatoxin contamination. In the US alone, aflatoxin contamination of food/feed results in an estimated $52M-$1.68B agricultural loss every year. Aflatoxin contamination in crops, and subsequently livestock, threatens greater agricultural development, food security and human health. Elimination of aflatoxin is a critical economic and health issue in the US. The present invention features composition and methods for the degradation of aflatoxin in crops post-harvest.