The invention relates to novel means and processes for the detection of a virus in a biological sample comprising cells infected by the virus. In particular, the invention relates to a fluorescent reporter protein designed as a recombinant inactive form of flipGFP suitable for specific activation by viral components in particular by viral proteins, such as viral protease, wherein the viral component recognizes a cleavage site inserted in the recombinant flipGFP. The fluorescent reporter protein is suitable for use in an in vitro method of detection of virus infection in a biological sample when the virus is related to the viral components activating the inactive form of flipGFP into an active fluorescent flipGFP in a biological sample, especially a sample comprising cells, in particular unaltered cells.

The present invention provides methods, assays, compositions, formulations, and constructs, particularly lytic peptide constructs, which relate to and are based on the activity and use of blood components, particularly serum albumin and lysozyme, and their activity and use to enhance or synergize with the bacterial killing effect of anti-bacterial lytic proteins and peptides.

The present disclosure is directed to lysin-AMP polypeptide constructs, isolated lysin polypeptides, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the isolated polypeptides and/or lysin-AMP polypeptide constructs. Methods of using the lysin-AMP polypeptide constructs, isolated lysin polypeptides and pharmaceutical compositions are also herein provided, including methods of treating a bacterial infection of an organ or tissue in which pulmonary surfactant is present or Gram-negative bacterial infections that are associated with a biofilm. In addition, isolated polynucleotides encoding the lysin-AMP polypeptide constructs and isolated lysin polypeptides are disclosed herein.

The present invention provides methods for the prevention, control, disruption and treatment of bacterial biofilms with lysin, particularly lysin having capability to kill Staphylococcal bacteria, including drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus, particularly the lysin PlySs2. The invention also provides compositions and methods for use in treatment or modulation of bacterial biofilm(s) and biofilm formation.

The present disclosure provides a biosensor for the detection of protease activity. The detection of protease activity can be used for the detection of viral infection, in particular coronavirus infection. The biosensor described herein can be used to detect SARS-CoV-2. The present disclosure also provides vectors expressing the biosensor and methods for using the same.

Provided are an oncolytic virus and an application thereof, and a drug for treating a cancer. A first regulatory element and a second regulatory element are inserted into the genome of the oncolytic virus. The first regulatory element comprises a tumor-specific promoter and a first nucleic acid sequence, which is driven by the cancer cell specific promoter to express a specific protease in tumor cells; the second regulatory element comprises a second nucleic acid sequence for encoding an extracellular secretion signal peptide and a third nucleic acid sequence for encoding a specific cleavage site. The oncolytic virus can be replicated in tumor cells effectively to kill tumor cells while being safe to non-cancer cells.

The present invention relates to assays, kits and oligonucleotides for the detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa for a fast, sensitive and reliable detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a species- and serotype-specific manner. In particular, the present invention provides an assay for the serotype-specific detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a kit for the serotype-specific detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as well as oligonucleotides useful in such assay or kit. The present invention further relates to the use of Pseudomonas aeruginosa serotype specific antibodies for serotype specific treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in a patient detected for said specific Pseudomonas aeruginosa serotype with such an assay or kit.

The application relates to antimicrobial agents against Gram-negative bacteria, in particular to fusion proteins composed of an enzyme having the activity of degrading the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria and a peptide stretch fused to the enzyme at the N- or C-terminus, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same. Moreover, it relates to nucleic acid molecules encoding such a fusion protein, vectors comprising said nucleic acid molecules and host cells comprising either said nucleic acid molecules or said vectors. In addition, it relates to such a fusion protein for use as a medicament, in particular for the treatment or prevention of Gram-negative bacterial infections, as diagnostic means or as cosmetic substance. The application also relates to the treatment or prevention of Gram-negative bacterial contamination of foodstuff, of food processing equipment, of food processing plants, of surfaces coming into contact with foodstuff, of medical devices, of surfaces in hospitals and surgeries.

Some embodiments of the systems, methods and compositions provided herein relate to a compound protease. In some embodiments, the compound protease includes a protease domain and a cut site for another enzyme. In some embodiments, the compound protease includes an association domain. In some embodiments, the compound protease is part of a protein circuit.

The application describes methods for detecting site specific proteases indicative of infection by a protease-generating pathogen. The application also describes fusion proteins for use in the methods, DNAs encoding the proteins and cells that express them. Particular applications are described including fusion proteins and methods for detecting corona viruses,.

such as SARS CoV2. Method for protease and pathogen detection described in the application include protease amplification methods and methods using inhibitors to increase sensitivity and specificity.