Embodiments of the invention provide at least one polymer covalently conjugated to an esterase. The at least one polymer includes a plurality of oxime functional groups.

The invention is directed toward mutant, non-wild-type organophosphorus acid anhydrolase enzymes having three site mutations, methods of production, and methods of use to effectively degrade toxic organophosphorus compounds, most preferably GP (2, 2-dimethylcyclopentyl methylphosphonofluoridate).

The present invention provides a composition of nanoparticles comprising a biological mimetic base component that forms the structure of the nanoparticle. By interacting with the functional groups of the base component, the half-life of a bioactive molecule is extended.

The invention relates to skin, and to novel compositions, therapies and methods for treating, preventing or ameliorating a variety of skin conditions. The invention also extends to cosmetics and pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of using them on skin to treat various conditions.

Provided are a modified filamentous fungus with improved protein productivity and a method for producing a protein using the modified filamentous fungus. The modified filamentous fungus expresses an ACE3 variant that is a variant in which substantially the whole of a Zn(II).sub.2Cys.sub.6-type DNA-binding domain of the ACE3 is deleted. The method for producing a protein includes culturing the modified filamentous fungus.

A sample analysis device used to detect a level of exposure of organophosphorus within a sample comprising a sample collection pad, at least one conjugate zone comprising an anti-analyte antibody that is conjugated with a reporter label, and a control antibody that is conjugated with a reporter label, a blocking and/or test zone comprising an immobilized nanoparticle or other molecule that captures the Organophosphate-bound analyte, a second blocking and/or test zone comprising an immobilized antibody that binds to the unbound analyte and an optional third blocking and/or control zone comprising an immobilized antibody that binds to the control molecule wherein, when the analyte is bound by the Organophosphate in the sample it will bind to the first test line, and if the analyte is free from the Organophosphate it will bind to the second test line, and the control antibody will bind to the control line.

A cyclic polypeptide, derivative or analogue thereof, comprising an amino acid sequence derived from the C-terminus of acetylcholinesterase (ACh E), or a truncation thereof.

The invention relates to cancer, and in particular to novel pharmaceutical compositions, therapies and methods for treating, preventing or ameliorating cancer, and especially metastatic disease. The invention also relates to diagnostic and prognostic methods for cancer and metastatic disease, and biomarkers for these conditions.

A method of creating crystals of insect acetylcholinesterase. A polynucleotide is obtained that encodes for acetylcholinesterase in a targeted insect. The polynucleotide contains a catalytic core sequence. A recombinant DNA construct is formed by adding a fusion protein and a polyhistidine tag to the catalytic core sequence. The recombinant DNA construct can be further modified by adding known mutations for resistance to insecticides. A growth medium is transfected with the recombinant DNA construct. A polypeptide encoded by the recombinant DNA construct is separated from the growth medium to form a concentrate. The polyhistidine tag is removed from the concentrate. The concentrate is exchanged into a buffer to create a buffered concentrate. Crystals, suitable for X-ray crystallography are then grown with the buffered concentrate.

Fusion polypeptides are provided including modified human Acetylcholinesterase conjugated to the Fc region of an immunoglobulin. Methods of preparing these polypeptide constructs and uses thereof as scavenging agents of organophosphate compounds are described.