The invention relates to a method of determining the dissociation rate constant (k.sub.off) of a receptor molecule R on a target cell using a combination of reversible and irreversible cell labeling. The invention further relates to a cell comprising such a receptor molecule R, wherein the cell has bound to it such a combination of cell labeling. The invention further relates to a kit and an apparatus useful in performing the methods of the invention. The invention further relates to a method of isolation a high-avidity T cell.

Erythrocyte-binding moieties coupled to tolerizing antigens are described. Provided for are peptidic ligands having sequences that specifically bind, or as antibodies or fragments thereof that provide specific binding, to erythrocytes. The erythrocyte-binding moieties may be prepared as molecular fusions with therapeutic agents, tolerizing antigens, or targeting peptides. Immunotolerance may be created by use of the fusions and choice of an antigen on a substance for which tolerance is desired.

The invention relates generally to the field of nanopores and the use thereof in various applications, such as analysis of biopolymers and macromolecules, typically by making electrical measurements during translocation through a nanopores. Provided is a system comprising a funnel-shaped proteinaceous nanopore comprising an a-helical pore-forming toxin that is a member from the actinoporin protein family, more in particular Fragaceatoxin C (FraC), a mutant FraC, a FraC paralog, or a FraC homolog.

Herein is reported a method for producing C-terminally biotinylated FcRn comprising the steps of cultivating a mammalian cell comprising a deoxyribonucleic acid encoding FcRn and E. coli biotin-[acetyl-CoA-carboxylase] ligase (BirA) in a biotin containing medium, and recovering C-terminally biotinylated FcRn from the cell or the cultivation medium, wherein the deoxyribonucleic acid encoding FcRn and E. coli BirA is stably integrated into the genome of the mammalian cell and comprises in 5′- to 3′-direction a first expression cassette encoding class I major histocompatibility complex-like protein (α-FcRn) comprising a HisAvi-tag at the C-terminus, a second expression cassette encoding β2-microglobulin (β2m), a third expression cassette encoding class I major histocompatibility complex-like protein (α-FcRn) comprising a HisAvi-tag at the C-terminus, a fourth expression cassette encoding β2-microglobulin (β2m), and a fifth expression cassette encoding E. coli biotin-[acetyl-CoA-carboxylase] ligase.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to compositions and methods for improving the intensity of the fluorescent signals during nucleic acid sequencing. In particular, at least one biotin-binding site of the labeled streptavidin is blocked to reduce fluorescent signal deflation.

The inventors has developed a recombinant molecular system, named OptoFab, allowing the accurate control of the agonistic properties of an antibody-derived Fab fragment in time and in space using specific wavelengths of light. It consists in a Fab fragment derived from an agonistic antibody of interest, linked to optogenetic modules that confer a light response capacity. Indeed, antibody derived Fab fragments generally keep the specificity of the antibody for its epitope, but not its agonistic properties. However, when Fab fragments are oligomerized, they recover the agonistic properties of the whole antibody. These characteristics, are at the basis of the OptoFab concept as its objective is to manipulate the oligomerization/immobilization statue of a Fab fragment using optogenetics to control its agonistic property. The present invention relates to methods and systems for controlling the agonistic properties of antibody variable domains by light.

Embodiments of a recombinant Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) F ectodomain trimer stabilized in a prefusion conformation are provided. Also disclosed are nucleic acids encoding the RSV F ectodomain trimer and methods of producing the RSV F ectodomain trimer. Methods for inducing an immune response in a subject are also disclosed. In some embodiments, the method can be a method for treating or preventing a RSV infection in a subject by administering a therapeutically effective amount of the recombinant RSV F ectodomain trimer to the subject.

The present invention features compositions and methods featuring ALT-803, a complex of an interleukin-15 (IL-15) superagonist mutant and a dimeric IL-15 receptor α/Fc fusion protein useful for enhancing an immune response against a neoplasia (e.g., multiple myeloma, melanoma, lymphoma) or a viral infection (e.g., human immunodeficiency virus).

Disclosed are Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) antigens including a recombinant RSV F protein stabilized in a prefusion conformation. Also disclosed are nucleic acids encoding the antigens and methods of producing the antigens. Methods for generating an immune response in a subject are also disclosed. In some embodiments, the method is a method for treating or preventing a RSV infection in a subject by administering a therapeutically effective amount of the antigen to the subject.

The invention concerns novel streptavidin muteins and their use for determination, isolation or purification of proteins under denaturing conditions. In one embodiment such a mutein has an Cys residue at sequence position 127 of the wild-type sequence of streptavidin and comprises at least one mutation in the region of the amino acid positions 115 to 121 with reference to the amino acid sequence of wild type streptavidin.