Avidbiotics Corp., of South San Francisco, was issued U.S. Patent No. 8,673,291, “Diffocin and Methods of Use Thereof,” related to its bactericidal proteins that selectively target and kill Clostridium difficile in the gastrointestinal tract without harming healthy gut microbiota. The company was also issued U.S. Patent No. 8,658,765, “Non-Natural MIC Proteins,” related to its Micacide proteins, which simultaneously bind to selected cell surface targets and to the NKG2D activating receptor expressed on natural killer cells and certain T cells.