Abstract: Transgenic plants that express antimicrobial CEMA and/or CEMA-related peptides are disclosed. In certain embodiments, these plants have enhanced, broad-spectrum pathogen resistance and are useful as agricultural or horticultural crops. In other embodiments, the plants are used to produce large quantities of the CEMA and/or CEMA-related peptides.

Abstract: Transgenic plants that express temporin peptides are disclosed. In certain embodiments, these plants have enhanced, broad-spectrum pathogen resistance and are useful as agricultural or horticultural crops. In other embodiments, the plants are used to produce large quantities of the temporin peptide.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for creating recombinant agfA fimbrin genes and performing chromosomal gene replacements within Salmonella, creating Salmonella strains which carry the recombinant agfA genes at the native position in the chromosome. One embodiment of the invention is exemplified by the expression of a model epitope (PT3) obtained from the GP63 protein of Leishmania major, by formation of recombinant agfA genes encoding PT3 fusion proteins recombined at 10 different sites throughout the agfA gene. These fusions are shown to be expressed in the thin aggregative fimbriae on the surface of bacterial cell. The agfA fimbrin of Salmonella (CsgA for E. coli) provides a flexible and stable vehicle for the expression of foreign epitopes in enterobacteriaceae and the subsequent thin aggregative fimbriae (curli) expression product provide an ideal organelle for presentation of the foreign epitopes at the cell surface.

Abstract: Transgenic plants that express dermaseptin peptides are disclosed. In certain embodiments, these plants have enhanced, broad-spectrum pathogen resistance and are useful as agricultural or horticultural crops. In other embodiments, the plants are used to produce large quantities of the dermaseptin peptides.

Abstract: The use of the 17 kDa outer surface lipoprotein (OspA) of Piscirickettsia salmonis, or its homologues, as the basis of, or part thereof, a recombinant vaccine for salmonid rickettsial septicaemia and other rickettsial diseases is disclosed. Surface antigens of the bacterial pathogen P. salmonis are characterized and an immunoreactive antigen, namely the 17 kDa outer surface lipoprotein OspA of P. salmonis, as well as the nucleic acid segment that encodes the OspA immunoreactive antigen, is identified and characterized. Diagnostic techniques including the use of hybridization probes and primers as well as the production of specific antigens and antibodies that may be used in immunization techniques for inducing immunity against P. salmonis and other rickettsial diseases are disclosed, as are the development of recombinant vaccines for SRS and other rickettsial diseases based on the 17 kDa lipoprotein OspA.

Abstract: Transgenic plants that express dermaseptin and/or temporin peptides are disclosed. In certain embodiments, these plants have enhanced, broad-spectrum pathogen resistance and are useful as agricultural or horticultural crops. In other embodiments, the plants are used to produce large quantities of the dermaseptin and/or temporin peptides.

Abstract: Transgenic plants that express antimicrobial CEMA and/or CEMA-related peptides are disclosed. In certain embodiments, these plants have enhanced, broad-spectrum pathogen resistance and are useful as agricultural or horticultural crops. In other embodiments, the plants are used to produce large quantities of the CEMA and/or CEMA-related peptides.

Abstract: The use of the 17 kDa outer surface lipoprotein (OspA) of Piscirickettsia salmonis, or its homologues, as the basis of, or part thereof, a recombinant vaccine for salmonid rickettsial septicaemia and other rickettsial diseases is disclosed. Surface antigens of the bacterial pathogen P. salmonis are characterized and an immunoreactive antigen, namely the 17 kDa outer surface lipoprotein OspA of P. salmonis, as well as the nucleic acid segment that encodes the OspA immunoreactive antigen, is identified and characterized. Diagnostic techniques including the use of hybridization probes and primers as well as the production of specific antigens and antibodies that may be used in immunization techniques for inducing immunity against P. salmonis and other rickettsial diseases are disclosed, as are the development of recombinant vaccines for SRS and other rickettsial diseases based on the 17 kDa lipoprotein OspA.

Abstract: The replication genes of small cryptic plasmids are isolated and used to construct controlled-replication plasmid vectors with the wide range of copy numbers controlled by defined helper plasmids. Controlled-replication vectors (RAMP vectors) can reach very high level of plasmid replication, which is not lethal to host unlike runaway replication vectors.

Abstract: An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising the agfA gene of Salmonella. Methods and compositions suitable for diagnostic tests utilizing the isolated gene, and protein therefrom, to give highly specific diagnostic assays to Salmonella, and/or enteropathogenic bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae.

Abstract: A method is described for preparing an antigenic product which incorporates exposing an aerosol of a microbial suspension to temperatures at which substantially only the heat stable components of the microbial suspension which retain their immunogenic properties remain. More specifically, the aerosol is exposed to an elevated temperature which denatures all labile components and removes the liquid portion of the aerosol by evaporation.

Abstract: Novel attenuated strains of Aeromonas salmonicida are disclosed that are effective as live effective vaccines against furunculosis in fish. These vaccines may be administered by the immersion of fish in a solution of the vaccine. Methods of producing these strains and other strains having the identifying characteristics of these strains are also disclosed.