Proteins and fusion proteins for forming merbraneless droplets in cells are provided. Described herein, is the development of a protein, named PopTag, that drives phase separation when it is part of a chimeric fusion protein. PopTag is engineered from the PopZ protein, found in a-proteobacteria (including Caulobacter crescentus). Despite PopZ being exclusively found in this clade of bacteria, the PopTag can drive protein phase separation in other prokaryotes (e.g., E. coli) and eukaryotes (e.g., human cells).

The current invention involves a series of fully recombinant multimerized forms of immunoglobulin Fc which thereby present polyvalent immunoglobulin Fc to immune cell receptors. The fusion proteins exist as both homodimeric and highly ordered multimeric fractions, termed stradomers. In comparison to the homodimeric fraction, purified multimeric stradomers have higher affinity and avidity for FcγRs with slower dissociation and are useful in the treatment and prevention of disease. The current invention demonstrates that directly linking IgG1 Fc regions to multimerization domains leads to enhanced multimerization and biological activity.

Self-assembling, cytocompatible peptides having the ability to form uniform nanorod assemblies are described. These peptides comprise a self-assembling β-sheet peptide and an amino terminal positively charged amino acid or amino acid analog, such as a lysine residue. Constructs comprising an antigen covalently attached to the self-assembling peptide are also disclosed, as well as the use of such constructs as vaccines for inducing an immune response against the antigen.

The present invention is situated in the field of multimers used for targeted therapies. More particularly, the invention relates to methods for preparing multifunctional heteromultimeric protein complexes with a defined ratio of functional components and to multifunctional heteromultimeric protein complexes for directing complement-dependent cytolysis, optionally comprising a scaffold, which display three or more different functional components present in a defined relative ratio, of which one is a tracking component.

The present invention relates to nanoparticles and their use to form nanocomposite material, in particular bionanocomposite material, specifically wherein the nanoparticles are formed using plant virus attached to a scaffold of cellulosic material and/or cellulose derived materials, in particular wherein said cellulosic material further comprises plant cell components, for example hemicellulose, pectin, protein or combinations thereof.

The present invention provides a covalent conjugate. The conjugate includes an antibody or antibody derivative, at least two LL37-derived polypeptides, and a payload. The antibody or antibody derivative targets a cell that has phosphatidylserine in its outer leaflet. The payload includes: a small molecule cytotoxic drug of less than 3 kDa, or a plurality thereof; or a peptide or protein of less than 100 kDa. Uses and methods of using these covalent conjugates are also provided, related to enhancing delivery of the antibody/derivative or the payload, e.g. to enhance therapeutic or diagnostic effectiveness.

Disclosed are methods of a method of making a nanostructure, comprising adding a component A (compA) protein to a solution comprising a component B (compB) protein under conditions that minimize shear stress, thereby forming a compA:compB complex. Further disclosed are methods of making a nanostructure, comprising (i) providing a first inlet fluid stream comprising a first protein and a second inlet fluid stream comprising a second protein, and (ii) contacting the first inlet fluid stream and the second inlet fluid stream to form an outlet stream, wherein mixing of the first protein and the second protein occurs in the outlet stream, thereby forming a protein complex comprises the first protein and the second protein. A microfluidic mixer may be used. The methods may further comprise purifying the compA:compB complex from excess compA, excess compB, and/or other impurities by filtering the solution with a 1,000 kDa membrane or an equivalent thereof.

The present disclosure relates to RSV F protein mutants, nucleic acids or vectors encoding a RSV F protein mutant, compositions comprising a RSV F protein mutant or nucleic acid, and uses of the RSV F protein mutants, nucleic acids or vectors, and compositions.

A living engineered glue system for performing autonomous mechanical repairs comprises a biofilm of microbial cells embedded in an extracellular matrix and operably linked in an environmentally-inducible, cell-cell communication genetic circuit to control gene expression.

The present invention relates to macromolecular complexes comprising micron-scale networks which include binding motifs thereon which allow the covalent bonding of the micron-scale networks to particles which provide nanoscale display surfaces. In particular the present invention relates to micron-scale networks of TMV coat proteins comprising a peptide tag (e.g. SpyTag) and particles providing a nanoscale display surface comprising GFP and a corresponding binding protein (e.g. SpyCatcher) wherein the peptide tag and binding protein pair are capable of spontaneously forming a covalent bond.