Abstract: A vaccine delivery method is presented that includes a composition including as one component a slurry matrix that is a liquid at room temperature and a gel at physiological pH, physiological salt concentrations and/or physiological temperatures and as a second component one or more antigens. Also included are methods of inducing an immune response in a subject and vaccinating a subject by administering such compositions.

Abstract: An antibiotic susceptibility testing device of gram-negative bacteria, as well as a corresponding method, are discussed. The device has a temperature control unit (including a constant temperature chamber) and a contactless conductivity-based measurement system. Disposable glassy or PVC tubes are used as test vessels for AST. In the performance of AST assay, appropriate kind of liquid medium containing identical amount of target bacterial cells and target antibiotics at different concentrations are loaded into test tubes, following by incubation in the device at a setup temperature. The bacterial growth profile is monitored by collecting the differential values (?C) of conductivity of liquid medium, which depend on the proliferation of viable cells. Outcome of ?C indicates whether the target bacterial cells are completely inhibited by the test antibiotic or not, enabling the user to judge the value of the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) simply.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions or vaccines that contain a recombinant or an attenuated Leptospira interrogans that elicit an immune response in animals against Leptospira infection, including compositions comprising said recombinant or attenuated L. interrogans, methods of vaccination against Leptospira, and kits for use with such methods and compositions.

Abstract: Coccidioidomycosis is most often diagnosed serologically and the quantitative complement-fixing antibody test (CF) is considered prognostically useful. Because CF is complex, labor-intensive, and poorly standardized, an enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) alternative would be attractive. The present invention features an antibody-binding domain that is restricted to a 200 amino acid recombinant peptide of the known antigen responsible for CF activity. Overlapping truncations of this peptide do not bind CF antibodies, suggesting that the responsible epitope(s) are conformational. Further, anchoring the antigenic peptide to the ELISA plate by means of a C-terminal tag instead of allowing the peptide to randomly adhere to the plastic plate improves sensitivity of antibody detection by one to two logs in different sera. The newly developed ELISA shows a significant quantitative correlation with CF. This ELISA shows potential as the basis for a new quantitative assay for coccidioidal antibodies.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to a non-lipidated and non-pyruvylated Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B polypeptide and methods of use thereof. In another aspect, the invention relates to an immunogenic composition including an isolated non-lipidated, non-pyruvylated ORF2086 polypeptide from Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B, and at least one conjugated capsular saccharide from a meningococcal serogroup, and methods of use thereof.

Abstract: The subject invention provides compositions and methods of enhancing the barrier function of surfaces and/or objects using biochemical-producing microbes and/or byproducts synthesized by the microbes. Preferred embodiments of the invention provide compositions, and the methods of using the same, comprising a Lactobacillus sp., and/or bioactive extracts thereof, derived from human microbiota and capable of growing in biofilm phenotype.

Abstract: Method of producing an activated clostridial neurotoxin. Composition comprising an activated clostridial neurotoxin. Method of treatment using a composition comprising an activated clostridial neurotoxin.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing modified mutant yeast and the resulting yeast that can be used as a platform for terpene production. The method includes chemical mutagenesis to effect ergosterol dependent growth in yeast. Subsequently, these yeast are subjected to an erg9 knockout mutation to thereby produce ergosterol dependent growth/erg9 knockout mutation yeast cell lines. The resulting yeast are well suited for use in the production of terpenes.

Abstract: An improved stabilization buffer for use in the lyophilization of Neospora and other protozoans is disclosed. Also disclosed is an improved lyophilization method, which includes controlling ice nucleation during the freezing step.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of diagnosing a dysbiosis in a subject, methods of determining a suitable treatment, and methods of treating a dysbiosis. In some aspects, the present disclosure relates to diagnosing or determining a subtype of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Abstract: In some aspects, the disclosure provides compositions and methods for detecting and monitoring the activity of pro teases in vivo using affinity assays. The disclosure relates, in part, to the discovery that biomarker nanoparticles targeted to the lymph nodes of a subject are useful for the diagnosis and monitoring of certain medical conditions (e.g., metastatic cancer, infection with certain pathogenic agents).

Abstract: Methods for producing heterologous proteins are disclosed. In particular, the present disclosure provides improved methods of producing desired proteins, including multi-subunit proteins such as antibodies, with a higher yield and improved purity. In exemplary embodiments, the transformed cells are a yeast, e.g., methylotrophic yeast such as Pichia pastoris.

Abstract: The present invention relates to toxoid preparations comprising a non-disrupted and/or a non-denatured toxin associated with a particulate vector that minimizes or precludes said toxin from inflicting damage at an action site of said toxin. The present invention also relates to immunogenic compositions or vaccines comprising the toxoid preparations, and the methods of using the toxoid preparations, immunogenic compositions or vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of treatment by human ADAMTS13 inhibition in circulatory assist device induced haemorrhagic complication such as a bleeding disorder, in particular, bleeding after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. The present invention further relates to specific monoclonal antibodies inhibiting ADAMTS13 function.

Abstract: The present invention provides cell-targeting molecules which can deliver a CD8+ T-cell epitope cargo to the MHC class I presentation pathway of a target cell. The cell-targeting molecules of the invention can be used to deliver virtually any CD8+ T-cell epitope from an extracellular space to the MHC class I pathway of a target cell, which may be a malignant cell and/or non-immune cell. The target cell can then display on a cell-surface the delivered CD8+ T-cell epitope complexed with MHC I molecule. The cell-targeting molecules of the invention have uses which include the targeted labeling and/or killing of specific cell-types within a mixture of cell-types, including within a chordate, as well as the stimulation of beneficial immune responses. The cell-targeting molecules of the invention have uses, e.g., in the treatment of a variety of diseases, disorders, and conditions, including cancers, tumors, growth abnormalities, immune disorders, and microbial infections.

Abstract: A live genetically engineered bacterium, comprising a genetically engineered construct comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding at least one portion of a SARS-CoV-2 antigen, the live genetically engineered bacterium being adapted for administration to a human or animal and colonization of at least one tissue under non-lethal conditions. The antigen is preferably the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The nucleic acid sequence preferably includes an associated promoter.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for specific activation of inflammatory responses in dendritic cells (DCs). 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine (PAPC) and its oxidized variant (oxPAPC) were identified to promote DC-mediated immunity, and are provided as adjuvants in immunostimulatory compositions, including vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention refers to the strain Streptomyces melanosporofaciens AGL22 identified in the Spanish Type Culture Collection (CECT) as Streptomyces melanosporofaciens CECT9420, and the use of said strain as a pesticide in plants. Further aspects of the invention relate to suspensions and extracts of strain S. melanosporofaciens AGL225 and methods of preparing the same. Additional aspects relate to pesticidal compositions comprising S. melanosporofaciens AGL225. Finally the invention relates to a method for biological control of plant pests comprising administering to the plant strain S. melanosporofaciens AGL225, a composition including said strain or a cell-free extract derived from S. melanosporofaciens AGL225.

Abstract: Various devices, systems and methods of detecting a susceptibility of one or more infectious agents to one or more anti-infectives are described herein. In one embodiment, a method of detecting the susceptibility of the infectious agents to the anti-infectives involves introducing a sample comprising the infectious agents to a filter comprising a filter surface. The filter surface can be configured to capture the infectious agents in the sample. The method can also involve introducing a solution to the filter surface such that the solution is in fluid communication with the infectious agents captured on the filter surface. The solution can comprise nutrients and one or more anti-infectives. The method can further involve monitoring an oxidation reduction potential (ORP) of the solution using one or more parameter analyzers coupled to a sensor currently in fluid communication with the solution to assess the susceptibility of the infectious agents to the anti-infectives.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides genetically modified microorganisms (e.g., bacteria or yeast) with enhanced mucin-binding and/or cell-adhesion properties. For example, the present disclosure provides bacteria exhibiting increased in vitro binding to Caco-2 cells, and increased in vitro binding to mucins. Such microorganisms (e.g., bacteria) can be used, e.g., to deliver bioactive polypeptides to the gastrointestinal tract of a mammalian subject. Modifying the microorganism in the described manner allows for the modulation of gastrointestinal retention and transit times for the microorganism (e.g., bacterium). Exemplary microorganisms (e.g., lactic acid bacteria, such as Lactococcus lactis) contain an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a fusion protein containing a cell-adherence polypeptide, such as CmbA, and a mucin-binding polypeptide, such as a trefoil factor (TFF), e.g., human TFF3. The current disclosure further provides method for making and using the described microorganisms (e.g., bacteria).