A method of constitutively expressing a bacterial dinucleotide cyclase in a mammalian cell is provided. The method comprises transfecting the mammalian cell with a transgene encoding the bacterial dinucleotide cyclase and subjecting the mammalian cell to suitable growth conditions. In an embodiment, the bacterial dinucleotide cyclase is expressed in a tumour or cancer cell and is useful to treat cancer.

The present invention provides a Mnep monomer variant including an amino acid sequence with any one or more amino acid mutations at positions 92-104 of SEQ ID NO: 1, a porin or construct including at least one Mnep monomer variant, and a use thereof. The present invention also provides a method for characterizing a target polynucleotide.

The present invention discloses a microcapsule material capable of reducing pollution containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and a preparation method and application thereof. The preparation method comprises the following steps: (1) culturing mycobacterium gilvum CP 13 in a bacteria culture liquid to obtain a bacterial broth, wherein the mycobacterium gilvum CP 13 was deposited in China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center (CGMCC) on Jul. 22, 2013 with a CGMCC number of CGMCC No. 7963; and (2) applying a calcium alginate and chitosan to encapsulate the bacterial broth in a microcapsule through layer-by-layer self-assembly to produce a microcapsule material capable of reducing pollution containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The present invention produces a microcapsule material with the microorganic activity through layer-by-layer self-assembly, which has superior adaptability to the environment and good ability to reduce pollution containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The microcapsule material of the present invention can be used in bioremediation of industrial wastewater containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and contaminated soil containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

The disclosure relates to tuberculosis antigens and vectors for delivering the antigens. The disclosure also relates to immunogenic compositions comprising the same, and their uses.

The present invention discloses a recombinant adenovirus vector of a replication-defective human adenovirus (HAdv.sup.85C5) or a bovine adenovirus (BAdv.sup.85C5) comprising a recombinant adenovirus vector having a heterologous DNA segment encoding mycobacterial Ag85B-p25 epitope (SEQ ID NO: 1), mycobacterial Ag85B-p25 epitope fusion of autophagy-inducing peptide-C5 (SEQ ID NO: 2), or a substantially homologous functional fragment thereof. The vector, having a heterologous DNA segment of SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, or a substantially homologous functional fragment thereof, is an effective vaccine for therapeutically or prophylactically immunizing a subject for protection of infections by various microorganisms, especially Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), which causes the widespread tuberculosis. Methods of uses and pharmaceutical composition matters are within the scope of this disclosure.

The present invention provides a hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase gene, an acyl-coenzyme A thiolase gene, genetically engineered strains and a use thereof. The hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase gene encodes a protein (i) or (ii) as follows: (i) having an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO 2; (ii) derived by substituting, deleting or inserting one or more amino acids in the amino acid sequence defined by (i) and having the same function as that of the protein of (i). The present invention constructs genetically engineered Mycobacterium strains lacking of a hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase gene or an acyl-coenzyme A thiolase gene, which are used in the preparation of steroidal compounds, such as 1,4-BNA, 4-BNA, 9-OH-BNA, etc . . . Further, the invention improves the production efficiency and product quality of steroidal drug, improves the utilization of drug precursors, reduces the production costs, and provides the advantages of mild reaction conditions, environmentally friendly, and high economic and social benefits.

The invention provides liposome formulations comprising fragments from a Mycobacterium tuberculosis-complex strain. It also provides a Mycobacterium tuberculosis-complex strain, fragments of which may be incorporated into selected embodiments of the liposome formulation. The invention further provides suspensions and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the liposome formulations. Furthermore, it discloses the use of the liposome formulations for use in a method of treatment of the human or animal body by therapy, in particular for use in a method of treating or preventing tuberculosis, such as in preventing latent tuberculosis or in tuberculosis prophylaxis, optionally in combination therapy. The formulation of this invention contains sucrose and/or has a lower average particle size than conventional liposome-based agents of tuberculosis therapy, resulting in higher bioavailability and efficiency.

Described herein is a mycobacterium mutant, comprising at least one mutation in at least one gene sequence encoding global gene regulators (GGRs) selected from the group consisting of sigH, sigL, sigE, ECF-1, and mixtures thereof, wherein the GGR gene is at least partially inactivated. Described herein also is a vaccine based on the mutant and a method of differentiating between subjects that have been infected with mycobacterium and subjects that have not been infected with mycobacterium or have been vaccinated with a mycobacterium vaccine.

A device for selectively capturing mycobacteria comprises a substrate and a capture polymer layer of poly-diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride, wherein the capture polymer layer is covalently linked onto the substrate via a UV-initiated polymerization reaction of a solution comprising diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride and a photoinitiator in water purged of dissolved oxygen, and wherein the UV exposure time is 30 seconds to 4 minutes at a power density of about 20 to about 25 mW/cm.sup.2. A kit can comprise the device. A microfluidic chip comprises at least a portion of at least one channel sidewall coated with a capture polymer layer of poly-diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride. A method for manufacturing the device includes plasma treating a substrate, providing a solution comprising diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride and a photoinitiator in water purged of dissolved oxygen, and coating the plasma-treated substrate via a UV-initiated polymerization reaction.

Described herein is a mycobacterium mutant, comprising at least one mutation in at least one gene sequence encoding global gene regulators (GGRs) selected from the group consisting of sigH, sigL, sigE, ECF-1, and mixtures thereof, wherein the GGR gene is at least partially inactivated. Described herein also is a vaccine based on the mutant and a method of differentiating between subjects that have been infected with mycobacterium and subjects that have not been infected with mycobacterium or have been vaccinated with a mycobacterium vaccine.