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. The mutant toxin may include 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 include at least one amino acid that is chemically crosslinked. In another aspect, the invention relates to methods and compositions for use in culturing Clostridium difficile and in producing C. difficile toxins.

Abstract: The invention relates to spinal fusion implants or grafts and to apparatus for the installation thereof. More specifically, the invention is a serrated cutting or abrading tool designed to be pushed into an intervertebral space and thereby remove and partially penetrate the cortical bone layer that defines the endplates of the respective mutually adjacent vertebral bodies.

Abstract: A system and method for compressing gas that use a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic accumulator to compress gases in gaseous form. The accumulator is divided into a hydraulic chamber and a pneumatic chamber. The pneumatic chamber of the accumulator can be pneumatically connected to a gas supply and a gas receptacle that needs filled. One-way directional flow valves are used to permit the flow of gas from the gas supply to the pneumatic chamber and from the pneumatic chamber to the gas receptacle, but to prevent the flow of gas in the opposite direction. A motor drives the hydraulic pump, which moves pressurized oil into the hydraulic chamber of the accumulator. The pressurized oil within the hydraulic chamber of the accumulator compresses the gas within the pneumatic chamber of the accumulator, forcing the into a tank or other receptacle that needs filled. The invention can be used to compress a variety of gases at different flow rates, volumes, and pressures.