The invention relates to platforms for delivery of herpes virus proteins to cells, particularly proteins that form complexes in vivo. In some embodiments these proteins and the complexes they form elicit potent neutralizing antibodies. Thus, presentation of herpes virus proteins using such platforms permits the generation of broad and potent immune responses useful for vaccine development.

The present invention relates to the preparation of human basic fibroblast growth factor by using Bacillus subtilis and endonuclease. Specifically, the present invention provides a nucleic acid construct, which comprises an insert, and the insert comprises, from the 5′ end to the 3′ end, a polynucleotide sequence that encodes a short peptide affinity tag, a trans-splicing intein derived from Anabaena and an exogenous polypeptide; and wherein the short peptide affinity tag serves as an N-terminal extein of the trans-splicing intein, and the exogenous polypeptide serves as a C-terminal extein of the trans-splicing intein. The present invention further provides an expression vector and a host cell that comprise the construct, and a method for producing and purifying foreign proteins. The expression system and method of the present invention can significantly improve the expression efficiency of biologically active exogenous proteins, reduce the generation of inclusion bodies, simplify purification steps, greatly reduce purification costs, and are especially suitable for large-scale cultivation.

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for conducting prime editing of a target DNA molecule (e.g., a genome) that enables the incorporation of a nucleotide change and/or targeted mutagenesis. The nucleotide change can include a single-nucleotide change (e.g., any transition or any transversion), an insertion of one or more nucleotides, or a deletion of one or more nucleotides. More in particular, the disclosure provides fusion proteins comprising nucleic acid programmable DNA binding proteins (napDNAbp) and a polymerase (e.g., reverse transcriptase), which is guided to a specific DNA sequence by a modified guide RNA, named an PEgRNA. The PEgRNA has been altered (relative to a standard guide RNA) to comprise an extended portion that provides a DNA synthesis template sequence which encodes a single strand DNA flap, which is homologous to a strand of the targeted endogenous DNA sequence to be edited, but which contains the desired one or more nucleotide changes and which, following synthesis by the polymerase (e.g., reverse transcriptase), becomes incorporated into the target DNA molecule. Also disclosed herein are various methods that leverage prime editing, including treating trinucleotide repeat contraction diseases, installing targeted peptide tags, treating prion disease through the installation of protection mutations, manipulating RNA-encoding genes for the installation of RNA tags for controlling the function and expression of RNA, using prime editing to construct sophisticated gene libraries, using prime editing to insert immunoepitopes into proteins, use of prime editing to insert inducible dimerization domains into protein targets, and delivery methods, among others.

Compositions and methods are provided herein for conducting prime editing of a target DNA molecule (e.g., a genome) that enables the incorporation of a nucleotide change and/or targeted mutagenesis. The compositions include fusion proteins comprising nucleic acid programmable DNA binding proteins (napDNAbp) and a polymerase (e.g., reverse transcriptase), which is guided to a specific DNA sequence by a modified guide RNA, named an PEgRNA. The PEgRNA has been altered (relative to a standard guide RNA) to comprise an extended portion that provides a DNA synthesis template sequence which encodes a single strand DNA flap which is synthesized by the polymerase of the fusion protein and which becomes incorporated into the target DNA molecule.

Provided is a method for biosynthesis of a protein heterocatenane. The basic structure of a protein precursor sequence of the protein heterocatenane comprises form an N-terminal to a C-terminal: L.sub.1-1-X-L.sub.1-2-(in situ enzyme cutting site)-L.sub.2-1-X-L.sub.2-2, wherein the Xs represent entangled motifs for forming dimers, the two Xs can be the same or different, L.sub.1-1/L.sub.1-2 and L.sub.2-1/L.sub.2-2 represent two pairs of cyclization motifs that undergo an orthogonal coupling reaction in cellulo, and the two pairs of cyclization motifs can be two orthogonal peptide-protein reactive pairs, or combinations of peptide-protein reactive pairs and split inteins, or two orthogonal split inteins. When the peptide-protein reactive pair and the split intein are combined for use, biosynthesis of branched protein heterocatenanes can be achieved; and when the two orthogonal split inteins are combined for use, the protein heterocatenane having a completely cyclized main chain can be obtained.

Described herein are single vectors that, when expressed in cytolytic immune cells, results in both the expression of (1) a CAR targeting tumor-associated antigens and (2) secretion of a bispecific antibody that on one end recognizes NKG2D expressed on both innate and antigen specific cytolytic immune cells and on the other end targets tumor associated antigens. Unexpectedly, these modifications to the T cells result in enhanced survival and proliferation in vivo. Thus, therapeutic and diagnostic uses are disclosed.

Compositions and methods are provided herein for conducting prime editing of a target DNA molecule (e.g., a genome) that enables the incorporation of a nucleotide change and/or targeted mutagenesis. The compositions include fusion proteins comprising nucleic acid programmable DNA binding proteins (napDNAbp) and a polymerase (e.g., reverse transcriptase), which is guided to a specific DNA sequence by a modified guide RNA, named a PEgRNA. The PEgRNA has been altered (relative to a standard guide RNA) to comprise an extended portion that provides a DNA synthesis template sequence which encodes a single strand DNA flap which is synthesized by the polymerase of the fusion protein and which becomes incorporated into the target DNA molecule.

This disclosure provides platforms for delivery of herpes virus proteins to cells, particularly proteins that form complexes in vivo. In some embodiments these proteins and the complexes they form elicit potent neutralizing antibodies. Thus, presentation of herpes virus proteins using the disclosed platforms permits the generation of broad and potent immune responses useful for vaccine development.

Provided herein are methods of delivering “split” Cas9 protein or nucleobase editors into a cell, e.g., via a recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV), to form a complete and functional Cas9 protein or nucleobase editor. The Cas9 protein or the nucleobase editor is split into two sections, each fused with one part of an intein system (e.g., intein-N and intein-C encoded by dnaEn and dnaEc, respectively). Upon co-expression, the two sections of the Cas9 protein or nucleobase editor are ligated together via intein-mediated protein splicing. Recombinant AAV vectors and particles for the delivery of the split Cas9 protein or nucleobase editor, and methods of using such AAV vectors and particles are also provided.

Provided herein are methods of delivering “split” Cas9 protein or nucleobase editors into a cell, e.g., via a recombinant adeno-associated vims (rAAV), to form a complete and functional Cas9 protein or nucleobase editor. The Cas9 protein or the nucleobase editor is split into two sections, each fused with one part of an intein system (e.g., intein-N and intein-C encoded by the dnaE-n and dnaE-c genes, respectively). Upon co-expression, the two sections of the Cas9 protein or nucleobase editor are ligated together via intein-mediated protein splicing. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the N-terminal portion of a Cas9 protein or a nucleobase editor fused to an intein, and nucleic acid molecules encoding the C-terminal portion of a Cas9 protein or nucleobase editor, are provided. Recombinant AAV vectors (e.g, vectors comprising one or more of these nucleic acid molecules each comprising an intein) and particles for the delivery of the split Cas9 protein or nucleobase editor, compositions comprising such AAV vectors and particles, and methods of using such rAAV vectors and particles are also provided. Methods of administering such compositions and AAV particles to a subject are further provided. Cells and compositions comprising these nucleic acid molecules rAAV vectors, and rAAV particles are also provided.