Abstract: The invention provides immunogenic oligosaccharide compositions and methods of making and using them. In particular, the compositions comprise oligosaccharides covalently coupled to carrier protein, wherein the resultant conjugate has been shown to contain specific immunogenic epitopes and elicits a protectively immunogenic response.

Abstract: A method of stimulating a vertebrate animal to produce an immune response to at least one antigen is described. The method includes genetically engineering a bacterial cell with DNA encoding at least one antigen and inducing the bacterial cell to sporulate, then orally administering the bacterial spores to an animal. The bacterial spores germinate in the gastrointestinal tract of the animal and express the antigen so that it comes into contact with the animal's immune system and elicits an immune response.

Abstract: This invention relates to antigenic conjugate molecules comprising the capsular polysaccharide of Group B streptococcus type II which are covalently linked to protein. This invention further relates to antigenic conjugate molecules comprising the capsular polysaccharide of Group B streptococcus type V which are covalently linked to protein. This invention also relates to vaccines and methods of immunizing mammals, including humans against infection by Group B streptococcus type II (GBS II) and/or Group B streptococcus type V (GBS V). Multivalent vaccines comprising the conjugate molecules of this invention and antigens to other pathogenic bacteria are also claimed.

Abstract: Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae P65 surface antigens prepared by recombinant DNA or synthetic methods, protein antigens encoded by P65 gene, an expression vector and transformed host containing the antigens, a vaccine based on such antigens, methods of treating swine, etc. to prevent enzootic pneumonia using that vaccine and diagnostic tests to detect the presence of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae.

Abstract: All or part of the DNA sequence of the gene which encodes the S-layer protein of R. prowazekii as illustrated in Sequence ID No. 1 as well as a truncated identical piece of this gene in R. typhi as well as the 5' and 3' noncoding regions can be used for vaccination against typhus and spotted fever rickettsial infection or to diagnose the diseases caused by these bacteria. The invention is also accomplished by the deduced amino acid sequence of the S-layer protein of R. prowazekii derived from the DNA sequence of the encoding gene. Further, the invention includes the peptide or protein products based on all or parts of this gene.

Abstract: The present application discloses a novel method for the detection of Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Further disclosed is an approximately 230 kDa protein and the use of such protein in detection assays for Staphylococcus aureus and in other diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Also disclosed are methods of purifying the protein and biologically active fragments thereof.

Abstract: Method for treatment of an infection in an animal or plant by an organism having a non-discriminating DNA polymerase. The organism is contacted with a therapeutically effective amount of a dideoxynucleoside or dideoxynucleotide in a pharmaceutically acceptable buffer. Such contact reduces the infection or a symptom of the infection in the animal or plant.

Abstract: Opacity associated proteins and DNA encoding the same are provided by the present invention. Opacity associated proteins are membrane proteins of H. influenzae which are useful as immunogens in vaccines against infection by H. influenzae. Recombinant cells transformed with DNA encoding opacity associated proteins and vectors encoding the same are also provided and are useful in and for the preparation of vaccines against H. influenzae infection. Antibodies against opacity associated proteins are also described. Methods of detecting H. influenzae in a sample and methods of immunizing mammals against H. influenzae are also provided.

Abstract: Purified pili of serotype LKP9 through LKP16 and LKP18 through LKP20 from Haemophilus influenzae. There is further provided a purified multivalent intact pilus vaccine composition for protecting subjects against infections caused by piliated H. influenzae which comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and whole H. influenzae pili, designated vaccine pili, previously separated from other H. influenzae components, in an amount capable of raising the antibody level of the subject to a level sufficient to provide such protection, said vaccine comprising pili of at least one type selected from a group of pili types designated LKP9 through LKP16 and LKP18 through LKP20, said vaccine pili being agglutinable by antisera derived from LKP pili purified from at least one strain of H. influenzae. Methods of immunizing employing said vaccines are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to a method for the high level expression of the outer membrane protein meningococcal group B porin proteins and fusion proteins thereof. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of expressing the outer membrane protein meningococcal group B porin proteins in E. coli wherein the meningococcal group B porin proteins and fusion proteins thereof comprise more than 2% of the total protein expressed in E. coli. The invention also relates to a method of purification and refolding of the meningococcal group B porin proteins and fusion proteins thereof and to their use in vaccines.

Abstract: Synergistic compositions of egg white and Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus celleus, Lactobacillus lactis, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium bifidum or Clostridium and optionally also containing garlic for treating and preventing infections and other uses are described.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing cat scratch disease and a method of diagnosing bacillary angiomatosis in a subject by detecting the presence of Rochalimaea henselae or an antigenic fragment thereof in the subject is provided. Also provided is a vaccine comprising an immunogenic amount of a nonpathogenic Rochalimaea henselae or an immunogenically specific determinant thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A method of diagnosing Rochalimaea quintana infection in a subject by detecting the presence of a nucleic acid specific to Rochalimaea quintana in a sample from the subject is provided. A purified, 60-kDa heat shock protein of Rochalimaea is provided. Also provided is a 17-kDa antigenic polypeptide of Rochalimaea.

Abstract: A DNA (SEQ ID No.:2) and amino acid (SEQ ID No.:4) sequences of Glycine .alpha.-D-galactosidase are provided as well as the DNA sequence (SEQ ID No:5) and mature length amino acid sequence (SEQ ID No:7) of Phaseolus.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an immunogenic Haemophilus influenzae outer membrane protein of 49 kDa as well as a mature outer membrane protein of 47 kDa protein, DNA and vector useful for producing the outer membrane protein, host cell containing said DNA, and a method for producing the outer membrane protein. Also disclosed are methods for producing these materials which can be beneficially used in the production of vaccines against H. influenzae.

Abstract: Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein having a molecular weight of 28 779 Da, and hybrid proteins containing at least portions of its sequence. These proteins may in particular be used in vaccines or for the detection of specific tuberculosis antibodies.

Abstract: A sensitive assay method has been discovered that reduces the amount of non-specific binding present in an assay, the method comprising detecting an analyte present in a sample through a specific binding reaction in which either an analogue of the analyte or a specific binding partner of the analyte is immobilized on a solid-phase and said specific binding reaction produces a detectable product immobilized on said solid-phase that may be correlated to the amount of analyte present in the sample wherein said assay employs an effective amount of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of a polyoxyethylene-alkylether, a polyalkylene oxide-modified polydimethylsiloxane block copolymer, a polyalkylene oxide-modified polymethylsiloxane block copolymer, and mixtures thereof to reduce non-specific binding.

Abstract: New immunological carrier systems, DNA encoding the same, and the use of these systems, are disclosed. The carrier systems include chimeric proteins which comprise a leukotoxin polypeptide fused to a selected antigen. The leukotoxin functions to increase the immunogenicity of the antigen fused thereto.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an immunity providing B cell activating molecule derived from a meningococcal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) having at least one epitope, said molecule comprising at least the communal part of the oligosaccharide part (core region) of lipopolysaccharides specific for at least two meningococcal immunotypes, preferably immunotypes L2 and L3 and wherein in galactose is absent in the B cell activating part, as well as derivatives of the molecules with immuno reaction inducing capacity. The invention is also directed at an outer membrane vesicle provided with a group of polypeptides having at least the immunoactivity of outer membrane proteins (OMP's) bound to a membrane, a polypeptide from the group of said outer membrane vesicles being a membrane anchored OMP or OMP fragment with a mutation in one of the surface loops, preferably in a 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 or 8-loop of a class I OMP.

Abstract: The present invention describes Urinary Tumor Associated Antigen (UTAA), its isolation and use in diagnostic assays. In particular, UTAA has been identified in samples from cancer patients, in some cases as part of an immune complex of UTAA and UTAA-specific immunoglobulin. Isolated UTAA also may be formulated as a pharmaceutical for production of antibodies or as a vaccine.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions comprising an oligosaccharide of S. pneumoniae serotype 8 useful for stimulating an immune response to an antigen, methods of providing protective immunization against a bacterial pathogen using these compositions, methods of augmenting an immunogenic response to an antigen by administering these S. pneumoniae serotype 8 oligosaccharide compositions along with the antigen, and methods of making the immunostimulatory compositions described above.