234 results about "Host organism" patented technology

Methods are provided for the genetic control of pathogen infestation in host organisms such as plants, vertebrate animals and fungi. Such methods utilize the host as a delivery system for the delivery of genetic agents, preferably in the form of RNA molecules, to a pathogen, which agents cause directly or indirectly an impairment in the ability of the pathogen to maintain itself, grow or otherwise infest a host plant, vertebrate animal or fungus. Also provided are DNA constructs and novel nematode nucleotide sequences for use in same, that facilitate pathogen resistance when expressed in a genetically-modified host. Such constructs direct the expression of RNA molecules substantially homologous and / or complementary to an RNA molecule encoded by a nucleotide sequence within the genome of a pathogen and / or of the cells of a host to effect down-regulation of the nucleotide sequence. Particular hosts contemplated are plants, such as pineapple plants, and particular pathogens are nematodes.

An expression system which provides heterologous proteins expressed by a non-native host organism but which have native-protein-like biological activity and / or structure. Disclosed are vectors, expression hosts and methods for expressing the heterologous proteins. The expression system involves co-expression of protein factor(s) which is / are capable of catalyzing disulphide bond formation and desired heterologous protein(s). The expression system is presented using yeast cells as the preferred host, protein disulphide isomerase (PDI) and thioredoxin (TRX) as the preferred examples of the protein factors and HCV-E2715 envelope glycoprotein and human FIGF as the preferred examples of the heterologous proteins.

The present invention relates to a therapeutic polypeptide and methods for its creation and use for modulating an immune response in a host organism in need thereof. In particular, the invention relates to the administration to an organism in need thereof, of an effective amount of a pre-coupled polypeptide complex comprising a lymphokine polypeptide portion, for example IL-15 (SEQ ID NO: 5, 6), IL-2 (SEQ ID NO: 10, 12) or combinations of both, and an interleukin receptor polypeptide portion, for example IL-15Ra (SEQ ID NO: 7, 8), IL-2Ra (SEQ ID NO: 9, 11) or combinations of both, for augmenting the immune system in, for example, cancer, SCID, AIDS, or vaccination; or inhibiting the immune system in, for example, rheumatoid arthritis, or Lupus. The therapeutic complex of the invention surprisingly demonstrates increased half-life, and efficacy in vivo.

The molecules and methods of the present invention provide a means for in vivo production of a trans-spliced molecule in a selected subset of cells. The pre-trans-splicing molecules of the invention are substrates for a trans-splicing reaction between the pre-trans-splicing molecules and a pre-mRNA which is uniquely expressed in the specific target cells. The in vivo trans-splicing reaction provides a novel mRNA which is functional as mRNA or encodes a protein to be expressed in the target cells. The expression product of the mRNA is a protein of therapeutic value to the cell or host organism a toxin which causes killing of the specific cells or a novel protein not normally present in such cells. The invention further provides PTMs that have been genetically engineered for the identification of exon / intron boundaries of pre-mRNA molecules using an exon tagging method. The PTMs of the invention can also be designed to result in the production of chimeric RNA encoding for peptide affinity purification tags which can be used to purify and identify proteins expressed in a specific cell type.

A biodegradable and biocompatible polyurethane composition synthesized by reacting isocyanate groups of at least one multifunctional isocyanate compound with at least one bioactive agent having at least one reactive group —X which is a hydroxyl group (—OH) or an amine group (—NH2). The polyurethane composition is biodegradable within a living organism to biocompatible degradation products including the bioactive agent. Preferably, the released bioactive agent affects at least one of biological activity or chemical activity in the host organism. A biodegradable polyurethane composition includes hard segments and soft segments. Each of the hard segments is preferably derived from a diurea diol or a diester diol and is preferably biodegradable into biomolecule degradation products or into biomolecule degradation products and a biocompatible diol. Another biodegradable polyurethane composition includes hard segments and soft segments. Each of the hard segments is derived from a diurethane diol and is biodegradable into biomolecule degradation products.

A systems biology approach is used to characterize and relate the intestinal (gut) microbiome of a host organism (e.g. a human) to physiological processes within the host. Information regarding the types and relative amounts of gut microflora is correlated with physiological processes indicative of e.g., a patient's risk of developing a disease or condition, likelihood of responding to a particular treatment, for adjusting treatment protocols, etc. The information is also used to identify novel suitable therapeutic targets and / or to develop and monitor the outcome of therapeutic treatments. An exemplary disease / condition is the development of hepatic encephalopathy (HE), particularly in patients with liver cirrhosis.

The present invention relates to a therapeutic polypeptide and methods for its creation and use for modulating an immune response in a host organism in need thereof. In particular, the invention relates to the administration to an organism in need thereof, of an effective amount of a pre-coupled polypeptide complex comprising a lymphokine polypeptide portion, for example IL-15 (SEQ ID NO: 5, 6), IL-2 (SEQ ID NO: 10, 12) or combinations of both, and an interleukin receptor polypeptide portion, for example IL-15Ra (SEQ ID NO: 7, 8), IL-2Ra (SEQ ID NO: 9, 11) or combinations of both, for augmenting the immune system in, for example, cancer, SCID, AIDS, or vaccination; or inhibiting the immune system in, for example, rheumatoid arthritis, or Lupus. The therapeutic complex of the invention surprisingly demonstrates increased half-life, and efficacy in vivo.

The present invention relates to the construction and engineering of cells, more particularly microorganisms for producing PUFAs with four or more double bonds from non-fatty acid substrates through heterologous expression of an oxygen requiring pathway. The invention especially involves improvement of the PUFA content in the host organism through fermentation optimization, e.g. decreasing the temperature and / or designing an optimal medium, or through improving the flux towards fatty acids by metabolic engineering, e.g. through over-expression of fatty acid synthases, over-expression of other enzymes involved in biosynthesis of the precursors for PUFAs, or codon optimization of the heterologous genes, or expression of heterologous enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of the precursor for PUFAs.

Organisms are provided which express enzymes such as glycerol dehydratase, diol dehydratase, acyl-CoA transferase, acyl-CoA synthetase β-ketothiolase, acetoacetyl-CoA reductase, PHA synthase, glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and glycerol-3-phosphatase, which are useful for the production of PHAs. In some cases one or more of these genes are native to the host organism and the remainder are provided from transgenes. These organisms produce poly (3-hydroxyalkanoate) homopolymers or co-polymers incorporating 3-hydroxypropionate or 3-hydroxyvalerate monomers wherein the 3-hydroxypropionate and 3-hydroxyvalreate units are derived from the enzyme catalysed conversion of diols. Suitable diols that can be used include 1,2-propanediol, 1,3 propanediol and glycerol. Biochemical pathways for obtaining the glycerol from normal cellular metabolites are also described. The PHA polymers are readily recovered and industrially useful as polymers or as starting materials for a range of chemical intermediates including 1,3-propanediol, 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde, acrylics, malonic acid, esters and amines.

The present invention provides a high-throughput system for determining linkage of distinct polynucleotides and determining the sequence of polynucleotides that are linked to the distinct polynucleotides. The methods are particularly useful for analyzing transgenes in a transformed host organism. The disclosed methods provide for the detection of linkage between distinct transgenic polynucleotides in transformed hosts and sequencing of DNA regions linked to the distinct transgenic polynucleotides. Methods for identifying a transgenic plant containing a transgene insertion in an undesirable genomic location are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to the display of antigenic or allergenic components along with a tissue-targeting component on viruses or virus-like particles. Capsid protein genes are recombinantly modified to contain the specified components then expressed within a host organism, such as yeasts, bacteria, or algae, and allowed to spontaneously form active virus particles or virus-like particles. The recombinant complexes (virus or virus-like particle) can then be purified or used in situ as a therapeutic tool for disease or allergy prevention. The expression of multivalent and multifunctional components to increase the immunogenicity of the recombinant complexes, especially on oral administration, is provided.

The present invention pertains to engineered T-cells, method for their preparation and their use as medicament, particularly for immunotherapy. The engineered T-cells of the invention are characterized in that the expression of beta 2-microglobulin (B2M) and / or class II major histocompatibility complex transactivator (CIITA) is inhibited, e.g., by using rare-cutting endonucleases able to selectively inactivating by DNA cleavage the gene encoding B2M and / or CIITA, or by using nucleic acid molecules which inhibit the expression of B2M and / or CIITA. In order to further render the T-cell non-alloreactive, at least one gene encoding a component of the T-cell receptor is inactivated, e.g., by using a rare-cutting endonucleases able to selectively inactivating by DNA cleavage the gene encoding said TCR component. In addition, expression of immunosuppressive polypeptide can be performed on those modified T-cells in order to prolong the survival of these modified T cells in host organism. Such modified T-cell is particularly suitable for allogeneic transplantations, especially because it reduces both the risk of rejection by the host's immune system and the risk of developing graft versus host disease. The invention opens the way to standard and affordable adoptive immunotherapy strategies using T-Cells for treating cancer, infections and auto-immune diseases.

The present invention relates to DNA encoding novel xylitol dehydrogenase and a method for using the same. Specifically, the present invention comprises providing the nucleic acid sequence of a xylitol dehydrogenase gene from Candida shehatae and introducing this gene into a host organism, thereby producing a microorganism having the ability to utilize xylose.

The present invention pertains to engineered T-cells, method for their preparation and their use as medicament, particularly for immunotherapy. The engineered T-cells of the invention are characterized in that the expression of beta 2-microglobulin (B2M) and / or class I I major histocompatibility complex transactivator (CIITA) is inhibited, e.g., by using rare-cutting endonucleases able to selectively inactivating by DNA cleavage the gene encoding B2M and / or CIITA, or by using nucleic acid molecules which inhibit the expression of B2M and / or CIITA. In order to further render the T-cell non-alloreactive, at least one gene encoding a component of the T-cell receptor is inactivated, e.g., by using a rare-cutting endonucleases able to selectively inactivating by DNA cleavage the gene encoding said TCR component. In addition, expression of immunosuppressive polypeptide can be performed on those modified T-cells in order to prolong the survival of these modified T cells in host organism. Such modified T-cell is particularly suitable for allogeneic transplantations, especially because it reduces both the risk of rejection by the host's immune system and the risk of developing graft versus host disease. The invention opens the way to standard and affordable adoptive immunotherapy strategies using T-Cells for treating cancer, infections and auto-immune diseases.

The present invention provides methods and kits useful for determining rates of replication and destruction of an infectious agent within an infected host organism. In the methods of the invention, an isotopically-labeled precursor molecule is administered to an infected host, and is given sufficient time to pass into the host's metabolic pools into a biochemical component of the infectious agent. The isotopic content and / or pattern or the rate of change of the isotopic content and / or pattern of the biochemical component is then measured to determine the rate of replication (growth) of the infectious organism while in the host. Alternatively, isotopic decay of labeled molecular components of the infectious agent is measured over time after discontinuing administration of the isotopically labeled precursor molecule to determine the rate of destruction (death) of the infectious agent while in the host. Thus, using methods of the invention, in vivo sensitivity of infectious agents to drug agents may be determined, in order to optimize therapy of the infected host.

Methods for obtaining surface expression of a desired protein or polypeptide in Gram-positive host organisms are provided. In addition, vectors useful in such methods as well as Gram-positive host organisms transformed with such vectors are disclosed.

This invention provides a DNA sequence coding for a cleavage site which is specifically cleaved by blood coagulation Factor Xa, a vector containing such a sequence, and a host organism transformed with such a vector. Preferably, in the vector, the Factor Xa cleavage site coding sequence is fused at one end to a product and at its other end to an ATG codon or a sequence coding for at least part of a host protein. This invention also provides a process, for the production of a desired protein or peptide product in native form, comprising: transforming a host organism with a vector as described above; expressing the desired protein or peptide product as a fusion protein comprising the desired protein or peptide product fused to a Factor Xa cleavage site; and a cleaving the fusion protein with Factor Xa to yield the foreign gene product in native form.

A unique carotenogenic biosynthetic gene cluster has been isolated from Panteoa agglomerans strain DC404, wherein the genetic organization of the cluster is crtE-idi-crtY-crtI-crtB-crtZ. The genes contained within this cluster encode geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) synthetase (CrtE), isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase (Idi), lycopene cyclase (CrtY), phytoene desaturase (CrtI), phytoene synthase (CrtB), and β-carotene hydroxylase (CrtZ). The gene cluster, genes and their products are useful for the conversion of farnesyl pyrophosphate to carotenoids. Vectors containing those DNA segments, host cells containing the vectors and methods for producing those enzymes by recombinant DNA technology in transformed host organisms are disclosed.

A gene targeting method for use in a host organism whereby the host organism is transfected with an ends-out donor construct. Further transfecting the host organism with two transgenes expressing endonuclease and recombinase enzymes. The endonuclease and recombinase enzymes are used so that homologous recombination occurs between the DNA segment of the donor construct and a selected gene of the host organism, thus forming a host with containing the recombinogenic donor. The progeny of the host organism, which include the recombinogenic donor are then selected.

A novel DNA is provided which encodes an enzyme having phytase activity isolated from Penicillium. Also provided for is a method of isolating DNA encoding an enzyme having phytase activity from organisms which possess such DNA, transformation of the DNA into a suitable host organism, expression of the transformed DNA and the use of the expressed phytase protein in feed as a supplement.

Provided are methods for creating a synthetic gene for expression in a host organism, by providing a data set representative of codon pair translational kinetics for the host organism which includes translational kinetics values of the codon pairs utilized by the host organism, providing a desired polypeptide sequence for expression in the host organism, and generating a polynucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide sequence by analyzing candidate nucleotides to select, where possible, codon pairs that are predicted not to cause a translational pause in the host organism, with reference to the data set, thereby providing a candidate polynucleotide sequence encoding the desired polypeptide. The methods can be performed using multiple parameter nucleotide sequence optimization methods, such as branch-and-bound methods for nucleotide sequence refinement.

The present invention relates to a host organism containing recombinant nucleic acids coding for the vitamin K reductase complex subunit 1 (VKORC1) and recombinant nucleic acids coding for a vitamin K dependent (VKD) protein, wherein both the recombinant VKORC1 and the recombinant VKD protein are expressed in said host organism. Further, the present invention relates to a cell culture system comprising cells which contain said recombinant nucleic acids and to methods for improving the productivity of recombinant VKD protein expression in a host organism being cultured in suitable systems.

A method is described for altering the properties such as the accumulation, the stability and / or integrity, the subcellular localisation, the post-translational modifications, the ability to get purified, and the phase partitioning behaviour of natural or recombinant target proteins expressed in a host organism. The method involves the co-expression of natural or recombinant proteins along with a specific binding partner that sequesters the target recombinant protein into a complex. The binding partner is supplied as a separate protein allowing formation of intermolecular complexes or is fused to the protein of interest, allowing the formation of intramolecular complexes. The binding partner can also be used to alter the subcellular localisation without modifying the sequence or structure of the target protein itself. This can be achieved by either incorporating appropriate targeting signals into the binding ligand, which are then linked to the target protein through complex formation, or complex formation itself may alter the subcellular localisation. The same strategy can be used to provide an affinity tag to facilitate protein purification. The principle of the invention is demonstrated by the coexpression of an unstable antibody and its cognate antigen.

The invention relates to a recombinant Lactobacillus strain, with limited growth and viability in the environment. More particularly, it relates to a recombinant Lactobacillus that can only survive in a medium, where well-defined medium compounds, preferably thymidine or thymine, are present. A preferred embodiment is a Lactobacillus that may only survive in a host organism, where the medium compounds are present, but cannot survive outside the host organism in absence of the medium compounds. Moreover, the Lactobacillus strain can be transformed with prophylactic and / or therapeutic molecules and can, as such, be used to treat diseases such as, but not limited to, inflammatory bowel diseases.

The present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules, polypeptides encoded by the same, antibodies directed thereto and a method of preparing such polypeptides including: (a) inserting an isolated DNA molecule coding for a polypeptide which is immunoreactive with a 66 kDa polypeptide derived from Borrelia garinii IP90 into an expression vector; (b) transforming a host organism or cell with the vector; (c) culturing the transformed host cell under suitable conditions; and (d) harvesting the polypeptide. The isolated DNA molecule is preferably at least 10 nucleotides in length, and the method may optionally include subjecting the polypeptide to post-translational modification. The host cell can be a bacterium, a yeast, a protozoan, or a cell derived from a multicellular organism such as a fungus, an insect cell, a plant cell, or a mammalian cell.

The present invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising (a) a first nucleotide sequence encoding a protein that detects the presence, amount or both of a pathogenic microorganism by forming a complex with a quorum sensing molecule produced by said pathogenic microorganism, (b) one or more second nucleotide sequence said one or more second nucleotide sequence being under control of a promoter that is induced by the complex of the protein encoded by the first nucleotide sequence and the quorum sensing molecule produced by said pathogenic microorganism and encoding (i) an antimicrobial peptide, wherein the antimicrobial peptide is effective against the pathogenic microorganism detected by the protein encoded by the first nucleotide sequence; and / or an antibiofilm enzyme wherein the antibiofilm enzyme is effective against the pathogenic microorganism detected by the protein encoded by the first nucleotide sequence; and (c) optionally a third nucleotide sequence encoding a protein that controls the motility of the host organism, wherein the protein that controls the motility of the host organism directs the motility of the host organism towards said pathogenic microorganism. A recombinant microorganism comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule and a method of sensing and killing pathogenic microorganisms is also described.

The present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules, polypeptides encoded by the same, antibodies directed thereto and a method of preparing such polypeptides including: (a) inserting an isolated DNA molecule coding for a polypeptide which is immunoreactive with a 66 kDa polypeptide derived from Borrelia garinii IP90 into an expression vector; (b) transforming a host organism or cell with the vector; (c) culturing the transformed host cell under suitable conditions; and (d) harvesting the polypeptide. The isolated DNA molecule is preferably at least 10 nucleotides in length, and the method may optionally include subjecting the polypeptide to post-translational modification. The host cell can be a bacterium, a yeast, a protozoan, or a cell derived from a multicellular organism such as a fungus, an insect cell, a plant cell, or a mammalian cell.

The invention relates to a recombinant Lactococcus strain, with environmentally limited growth and viability. More particularly, it relates to a recombinant Lactococcus that can only survive in a medium, where well-defined medium compounds are present. A preferred embodiment is a Lactococcus that may only survive in a host organism, where such medium compounds are present, but cannot survive outside the host organism in the absence of such medium compounds.