Abstract: The disclosure features vaccine adjuvants comprising prokaryotic mRNA, and methods of vaccination using the adjuvants. More specifically, the disclosure provides a vaccine composition comprising a nonviable immunogen (e.g., heat-killed bacterium), a tumor antigen, or an immunogenic peptide of microbial or mammalian origin, and an adjuvant, wherein adjuvant comprises prokaryotic mRNA (e.g., bacterial mRNA), as well as the methods of using the vaccine compositions. Further disclosed are the structural features of the prokaryotic mRNA used as the adjuvants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising EbpA and methods of use thereof. Specifically, methods useful in the treatment and prevention of EbpA-associated infections.

Abstract: The present invention provides for immunogenic compositions and methods for producing an immunogenic composition with multiple immunity-inducing fractions of killed, whole-cell Streptococcus pneumoniae by selectively disrupting a whole cell bacterial preparation in such a manner that a soluble fraction that induces a primarily antibody response, and a cellular fraction that induces a primarily antibody-independent response, remain in the immunogenic composition.

Abstract: The invention described herein features variants related to infrared fluorescent proteins, in particular to mutants of a phytochrome from the bacterium Bradyrhizobium sp. ORS278. The variants show approximately a ten-fold increase in brightness compared to other known infrared fluorescent proteins. The variants are monomeric, allowing them to be used as a protein tag without disrupting the function of the tagged protein of interest.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a probiotic cell transformed with a construct suitable to overexpress and display on the surface of the probiotic cell a fusion protein comprising at least a portion of a transport protein coupled to at least a portion of one or more antigenic proteins or peptides. Probiotic-derived vesicles displaying this fusion protein as well as methods of inducing an immune response using the probiotic cells or vesicles are also disclosed.

Abstract: Compositions comprising a nucleic acid molecule that encodes TB esat-6 proteins are disclosed. Methods of inducing an immune response against TB an individual are disclosed. Method of treating an individual who has been diagnosed with TB are disclosed. Method of preventing TB infection in an individual are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides methods, cells and constructs for optical measurement of membrane potential. These methods can be used in cells that are not accessible to presently available methods using electrodes. The methods can be directed to, for example, high-throughput drug screening assays to determine agents that can affect membrane potential of a target cell.

Abstract: The present application discloses an immunogenic composition comprising N. meningitidis capsular polysaccharides from at least one of serogroups A, C, W135 and Y conjugated to a carrier protein to produce a N. meningitidis capsular polysaccharide conjugate, wherein the average size of each N. meningitidis polysaccharide is above 50 kDa.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of using fungal mycobiome as a means of treating and/or diagnosing diseases in a subject. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of diagnosing inflammatory bowel disease based on the composition of fungal strains present in the gut of a subject, and treating the subject by administering a probiotic biotherapy. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of diagnosing a severe form of ulcerative colitis by detecting the presence of a deficiency in dectin-1 expression in s. fibuligera in the gut of a subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of inducing a T-cell response against a EGFRvIII in a subject. These method comprise administering to a subject a composition which expresses at least one immunogenic polypeptide, the amino acid sequence of which comprise a plurality of EGFRvIII polypeptide sequences, the sequence of which each comprise EEKKGNYV (SEQ ID NO: 3), and/or administering the polypeptide itself.

Abstract: The present invention discloses immunomodulating compositions. More particularly, the present invention discloses compositions comprising an immune-modulating agent and a lectin-interactive agent, which are useful for stimulating and prolonging host immune cell responses. The compositions of the present invention are particularly useful in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of a range of conditions including pathogenic infections, autoimmune diseases, transplant rejection, graft versus host disease, allergies, inflammatory disease, as well as cancers and tumors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Salmonella enterica comprising at least pgl operon of Campylobacter jejuni or a functional derivative thereof and presenting at least one N-glycan of Campylobacter jejuni or N-glycan derivative thereof on its cell surface and, in particular, to medical uses and pharmaceutical compositions thereof as well as methods for treating and/or preventing Campylobacter and optionally Salmonella infections and methods for producing these Salmonella strains.

Abstract: The present invention in general relates Hemoglobin receptor or its part as a novel vaccine candidate against Leishmaniasis. Specifically, the present invention envisages HbR DNA for eliciting immune response in a mammal against Leishmaniasis. Additional aspect of the present invention is related to a vaccine composition for inducing immune response against Leishmaniasis in mammals. In a preferred aspect, the present invention relates to use of HbR-polypeptide as marker for diagnosis of Leishmania in kala-azar patients.

Abstract: The invention is directed to bioconjugate vaccines comprising N-glycosylated proteins. Further, the present invention is directed to a recombinant prokaryotic biosynthetic system comprising nucleic acids encoding an epimerase that synthesizes an oligo- or polysaccharide having N-acetylgalactosamine at the reducing terminus. The invention is further directed to N-glycosylated proteins containing an oligo- or polysaccharide having N-acetylgalactosamine at the reducing terminus and an expression system and methods for producing such N-glycosylated proteins.

Abstract: The invention relates to the identification of secretory antibody-bound bacteria in the microbiota in a subject that influence the development and progression of inflammatory diseases and disorders. Thus, the invention relates to compositions and methods for detecting and identifying the constituents of a subject's microbiota, methods of modifying the constituents of the microbiota, and methods for treating inflammatory diseases and disorders in a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides antibodies that bind to serum resistance-associated (SRA) protein of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, and methods of use. According to certain embodiments of the invention, the antibodies are fully human antibodies that bind to SRA. The antibodies of the invention are useful for inhibiting or neutralizing SRA activity, thus providing a means of treating human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), and symptoms associated with the disease. The antibodies of the invention may also be useful for diagnosis of sleeping sickness.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating and selecting a colony of microorganisms on a culture dish and identifying microorganisms in said selected colony using MALDI. The method comprises the automated steps of locating and selecting a colony of microorganisms on a culture dish; obtaining a sample of said selected colony of microorganisms; depositing at least some of said sample of said selected colony of microorganisms on a target plate; and transferring said target plate with said sample in an apparatus for performing MALDI for identification of said sample of said selected colony of microorganisms. A sample of a colony of microorganisms is automatically deposited on a depositing spot such that the sample covers at most approximately half of said one of the depositing spots of the target plate.

Abstract: Methods, devices, kits and compositions for detecting the presence or absence of one or more helminthic coproantigens in a sample are disclosed herein. The methods, devices, kits and compositions of the present invention may be used to confirm the presence or absence of roundworm, whipworm and/or hookworm in a fecal sample from a mammal and may also be able to distinguish between one or more helminth infections. Confirmation of the presence or absence of roundworm, whipworm and/or hookworm in the mammal may be made, for example, for the purpose of selecting an optimal course of treating the mammal and/or for the purpose of determining whether the mammal has been rid of the infection after treatment has been initiated.

Abstract: In some aspects, the invention provides methods of identifying, detecting, and/or measuring protein-protein interactions. In some aspects, the invention provides methods of identifying and/or characterizing modulators of protein-protein interactions. In some aspects, the invention provides methods of identifying and/or characterizing modulators of protein activity, wherein the methods are based at least in part on measuring interaction between a chaperone and client protein. In some aspects, the invention provides methods for identifying and/or characterizing compounds and/or for assessing compound specificity, wherein the methods are based at least in part on measuring interaction between a chaperone and client protein. In some embodiments, a client protein is a kinase. In some embodiments, a compound is a kinase inhibitor. In some aspects, the invention provides methods of profiling kinase inhibitor specificity.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to an immunogenic composition that includes a mutant Clostridium difficile toxin A and/or a mutant Clostridium difficile toxin B. Each mutant toxin includes a glucosyltransferase domain having at least one mutation and a cysteine protease domain having at least one mutation, relative to the corresponding wild-type C. difficile toxin. The mutant toxins may further include at least one amino acid that is chemically crosslinked. In another aspect, the invention relates to antibodies or binding fragments thereof that binds to said immunogenic compositions. In further aspects, the invention relates to isolated nucleotide sequences that encode any of the foregoing, and methods of use of any of the foregoing compositions.