Hybrid nanopores, comprising a protein pore supported within a solid-state membrane, which combine the robust nature of solid-state membranes with the easily tunable and precise engineering of protein nanopores. In an embodiment, a lipid-free hybrid nanopore comprises a water soluble and stable, modified portal protein of the Thermus thermophilus bacteriophage G20c, electrokinetically inserted into a larger nanopore in a solid-state membrane. The hybrid pore is stable and easy to fabricate, and exhibits low peripheral leakage, allowing sensing and discrimination among different types of biomolecules

The invention relates to the field of microbiology, specifically to an antimicrobial composition comprising a first and a second bacteriophage, wherein the composition has lytic activity against E. coli O157. The invention further relates to a use of the antimicrobial composition for controlling bacterial contamination in a food- or feed environment on or in food- or feed processing equipment or food- or feed containers or in a food- or feed product.

Disclosed herein is an adenoviral vector system utilizing DARPin adapters. The system is highly effective, safe and able to deliver DNA in a cell-specific manner. It is demonstrated that the system is unexpectedly versatile, and can be used in conjunction with protein scaffolds, bioactive peptides and small molecules. This makes the system useful for numerous purposes, including the use of the system for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes.

Bacteriophages, also called phage, represent a tool to combat drug resistance in bacteria. Analysis revealed indicated that, for Klebsiella phage, the most important host range determining region is located at C-terminus (last 200 amino acids) of tail protein. A machine learning strategy was used to modify tail proteins of Klebsiella phage, thereby generating phages libraries effective in overcoming phage resistance in host bacteria. The technique is expected to be useful to modify other types of phages.

The present invention relates to multi-peptide structures comprising at least one heterogenous functional site wherein the at least one heterogenous functional site is composed of at least two homologous peptides, which differ by at least one amino acid, a method for providing such multi-peptide structures, compositions comprising such multi-peptide structures as well as the use of such multi-peptide structures and compositions as an universal anti-microbial agent, in particular in medicine, chemistry, biotechnology, agriculture and/or food industry.

Described in certain exemplary embodiments herein are engineered Anti-CRISPR (Acr) polypeptides and delivery systems engineered for delivery to the cytosol and/or nucleus of cells. In certain embodiments, an engineered Acr polypeptide comprises an Acr polypeptide operatively coupled to a cargo delivery molecule, wherein the cargo delivery molecule is capable of binding or otherwise interacting with a pore-forming polypeptide. Also described in certain exemplary embodiments are methods of Acr delivery to cells via the engineered Acr polypeptides and delivery systems of the present disclosure.