A new thermostable luciferase of the following mutant luciferase (a) or (b): (a) a mutant of a wild-type luciferase comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein phenylalanine at position 292 and/or phenylalanine at position 294 in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 is substituted with another amino acid; or (b) a mutant of a luciferase having 93% or more homology with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein in the amino acid sequence of the mutant, the amino acid at a site corresponding to position 292 and/or position 294 in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 is substituted with another amino acid.

Provided herein are enhanced luciferase enzymes for use with thermostable luciferin analogs for bioluminescent assays. In particular, the present disclosure provides compositions, assays, and methods for performing a bioluminescent assay using enhanced, high-activity luciferase enzymes compatible with thermostable luciferins, such as 5,5-disubstituted luciferin analogs.

A liver-specific expressional regulatory element, including, in order from 51 to 31: a promoter of a dog serpinAl gene or a functional fragment thereof, a promoter of a Xenopus laevis vitellogenin A2 gene or a functional fragment thereof, a promoter of a Xenopus laevis albumin gene or a functional fragment thereof, and a promoter of a human serpinAl gene or a functional fragment thereof.

Protein biosensors and methods of using these sensors to detect anti-SARS-CoV-2 patient antibodies (Abs) in a solution-based, rapid, and quantitative COVID-19 serological assay are provided. In certain aspects, the sensors each comprise a first fusion protein that comprises a first SARS-CoV-2 viral protein and a first peptide fragment of a split reporter protein, and a second fusion protein that comprises a second fusion protein that comprises a second SARS-CoV-2 viral protein domain and a second peptide fragment of the split reporter protein. Only if the test sample comprise SARS-CoV- antibodies, the first and second peptide fragments associate to produce an enzymatically active reporter protein.

A polynucleotide encoding a modified luciferase polypeptide. The modified luciferase polypeptide has at least 60% amino acid sequence identity to a wild-type Oplophorus luciferase and includes at least one amino acid substitution at a position corresponding to an amino acid in a wild-type Oplophorus luciferase of SEQ ID NO: 1. The modified luciferase polypeptide has at least one of enhanced luminescence, enhanced signal stability, and enhanced protein stability relative to the wild-type Oplophorus luciferase.

Synthetic adenoviruses with tropism to bone tissue are described. The synthetic adenoviruses include an adenovirus type 11 (Ad11) fiber protein or a chimeric adenovirus fiber protein having an Ad11 knob domain. The synthetic adenoviruses can also include a transgene, such as a reporter gene or a transgene encoding a factor that promotes bone regeneration or repair. Use of the synthetic adenoviruses to target bone tissue and/or to promote bone repair or regeneration is also described.

Synthetic adenoviruses with liver detargeting mutations and expressing an adenovirus type 34 (Ad34) fiber protein, or a chimeric fiber protein with an Ad34 knob domain, are described. The synthetic adenoviruses traffic to sites of tumors. Use of the synthetic adenoviruses for delivering diagnostic or therapeutic transgenes to tumors are also described.

Provided herein are systems and methods for characterizing target/ligand engagement. In particular, luciferase-labeled polypeptide targets are used to detect or quantify target/ligand engagement (e.g., within a cell or cell lysate).

Improved formulations of lipid nanoparticles are provided. Use of the lipid nanoparticles for delivery of a therapeutic agent and methods for their preparation are also provided.

A nucleic acid comprising a continuous nucleotide sequence, containing: (i) a gene encoding LuxA, (ii) a gene encoding LuxB, (iii) a gene encoding LuxC, (iv) a gene encoding LuxD, (v) a gene encoding LuxE, wherein each of the genes is under the control of a promoter heterologous to the respective gene, and wherein all of the genes together with the promoter are contained in a single nucleotide sequence in a row. The vectors and host cells comprise the nucleic acid. Methods of producing a host cell and methods and uses for detecting an environmental effect and a kit therefor.