Abstract: This invention is directed to methods for the production of immunogenic granular particles. In certain embodiments, the invention is directed to methods and products for the production of immunogenic granular particles produced in ciliates. In certain embodiments, the invention is directed to compositions comprising Granule lattice protein/Antigen(Grl/Ag) fusion polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the pharmaceutical field. Specifically, it contemplates a polynucleotide encoding a Neurotoxin polypeptide exhibiting a reduced duration of biological effect in a subject, wherein the polypeptide comprises at least one degradation signal in the light chain as well as vectors and host cells comprising the polynucleotide, polypeptides encoded thereby and antibodies specifically binding to the polypeptides. Moreover, the invention relates to medicaments comprising the polynucleotides and polypeptides as well as specific therapeutic applications thereof. Furthermore, the present invention contemplates methods for the manufacture of the polypeptides and medicaments.

Abstract: The invention provides an immunogenic composition comprising a combination of (i) bacterial Ig-like domain protein fragment (orf405B) having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or a protein having at least 80% similarity thereto, and (ii) putative Lipoprotein (orf3526) having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:8 or a protein having at least 80% similarity thereto.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to novel pore-forming toxins of Type A C. perfringens and immunogenic compositions and vaccines thereof. The present disclosure further relates to methods and uses of treating or preventing enteric disease and assays for diagnosing enteric disease.

Abstract: Isolated and/or purified polypeptides and nucleic acid sequences encoding polypeptides from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius are provided. Further provided are methods of modulating transcription or transcription or transcriptional control using isolated and/or purified polypeptides and nucleic acid sequences from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining the amino acid polymorphisms of heavy gamma chain of immunoglobulins G by a proteomic approach. This method distinguishes the immunoglobulins of the mother and those of the newborn in a blood sample obtained during the first months of the child's life. The invention also relates to the use of this method in the early diagnosis of vertically transmitted diseases in the neonate. The invention also provides peptides distinctive of G3m and IGHG3 alleles, and a kit comprising said peptides.

Abstract: Antibodies having Fab regions that specifically bind to Staphylococcus aureus protein A are capable of mediating opsinization of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria despite their expression of antibody-neutralizing protein A. These antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof can be used in methods of treating and/or preventing Staphylococcus aureus infections.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a composition containing an immunogenic cell preparation of killed Leptospira bacteria in an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid solution. The invention also pertains to a vaccine to protect an animal against an infection with leptospira bacteria, wherein the vaccine comprises this composition. Also, the invention pertains to the use of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid to stabilize an immunogenic preparation of killed Leptospira bacteria in a liquid carrier, by dissolving the ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid in the carrier.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for preventing and treating Staphylococcus aureus in a subject. Therapeutic compositions of the present invention comprise leukocidin E and/or D proteins or polypeptides and anti-leukocidin E and/or D antibodies. The invention further relates to methods of identifying inhibitors of LukE/D cytotoxicity and inhibitors of LukE/D-leukocyte binding.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for the production of a pertussis vaccine and, in particular, a detoxified pertussis vaccine comprising detoxified pertussis toxin (PT), detoxified pertussis lipopolysaccharide (P-LPS), and detoxified pertussis adenylate cyclase toxin (P-ACT). The invention is also directed to the manufacture of a vaccine or the invention and methods for the administration of a detoxified vaccine to patients.

Abstract: Bacterial live vector vaccines represent a vaccine development strategy that offers exceptional flexibility. In the present invention, genes encoding protective antigens of unrelated bacterial, viral, parasitic, or fungal pathogens are expressed in an attenuated bacterial vaccine strain that delivers these foreign antigens to the immune system, thereby eliciting relevant immune responses. Rather than expressing these antigens using only low copy expression plasmids, expression of foreign proteins is accomplished using both low copy expression plasmids in conjunction with chromosomal integrations within the same live vector. This strategy compensates for the inherent disadvantage of loss of gene dosage (versus exclusive plasmid-based expression) by integrating antigen expression cassettes into multiple chromosomal sites already inactivated in an attenuated vector.

Abstract: The current invention discloses an attenuated Salmonella typhimurium, a genetically engineered bacterium and applications thereof in preparing drugs for the treatment of prostate cancer. The attenuated Salmonella typhimurium has tumor targeting and significant inhibitory effects on prostate cancer cells. A genetically engineered bacterium bearing a L-methioninase gene plasmid also has tumor targeting ability. The attenuated Salmonella typhimurium with the plasmid can constitutively express L-methioninase in the tumor tissues, consume a significant amount of methionine and other nutrients, which in turn causes lack of nutrition and slow growth of tumor cells. Therefore, it can be used as drugs for treating prostate cancer.

Abstract: The present invention provides for recombinant Endo-S mutants that exhibit reduced hydrolysis activity and increased transglycosylation activity for the synthesis of glycoproteins wherein a desired sialylated oxazoline or synthetic oligosaccharide oxazoline is added to a core fucosylated or nonfucosylated GlcNAc-protein acceptor. Such recombinant Endo-S mutants are useful for efficient glycosylation remodeling of IgG1-Fc domain to provide different antibody glycoforms carrying structurally well-defined Fc N-glycans.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are meningococcal immunogenic conjugates which can elicit immune responses against meningococcal polysaccharides (PS) from groups A, C, W-135, and Y and group B factor H binding protein (fHbp). The disclosed conjugates also exhibit bactericidal activity against meningococcal A, C, W-135, Y, B, and X serogroups. Also disclosed are improved methods for preparing conjugates, such as immunogenic conjugates, including activation of a polysaccharide with a cyanylation agent at about 4° C.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for in vitro diagnosing a bacterial infection in a biological fluid selected amongst cerebrospinal fluid, ascitic fluid, pericardial fluid, pleural fluid, urine and synovial fluid, based on the measure, in a sample of said fluid, of the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS); a high level of ROS production is indicative of the presence of activated polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) in said fluid, which in turn is a hallmark of bacterial infection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an attenuated mutant strain of Salmonella comprising a recombinant DNA molecule encoding a VEGF receptor protein. In particular, the present invention relate to the use of said attenuated mutant strain of Salmonella in cancer immunotherapy.

Abstract: This invention relates to a biological indicator derived from a composition comprising: a host organism comprising a spore forming bacteria; a reporter gene for producing an indicator enzyme; a regulatory gene; and a vehicle for inserting the reporter gene and the regulatory gene in the host organism; the host organism bearing a transposable genetic element in its genome for inserting an insertion sequence in the regulatory gene; the insertion sequence comprising a transposase, a pair of terminal inverted repeat sequences, and at least one open reading frame for expressing the transposase. The vehicle may be taken up by the host organism. The insertion sequence may be inserted in the regulatory gene. The host organism may undergo sporulation to form the biological indicator. A process and an apparatus for using the biological indicator are disclosed.

Abstract: Antibodies having Fab regions that specifically bind to Staphylococcus aureus protein A are capable of mediating opsinization of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria despite their expression of antibody-neutralizing protein A. These antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof can be used in methods of treating and/or preventing Staphylococcus aureus infections.

Abstract: Anti-microbial monoclonal antibodies and variant antibodies having a heavy chain constant regions with at least one amino acid substitution are provided. Such antibodies may be used to prevent or treat microbial infections.

Abstract: The invention relates to malodor controlling bacteria and related methods and compositions for the control and prevention of malodor.