Abstract: The present embodiments provide compositions and methods related to novel recombinant protein immunogens, comprising specific portions of alpha helical domains (aHD) and proline rich regions (PRD) of pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA), which portions are linked to provide aHD-PRD constructs. The aHD and PRD proteins constituting the aHD-PRD constructs are selected to maximize cross-reactivity and provide protection against a broad spectrum of pneumococcal serotypes. Immunogenic compositions, including vaccines, comprising at least one aHD PRD construct may also include a non-linked aHD portion. Also provided are recombinant nucleic acid molecules that encode aHD-PRD constructs, vectors and recombinant host cells containing such molecules, aHD-PRD expression products, use of such nucleic acid molecules to express aHD-PRD constructs by recombinant techniques, and use of the expression products to elicit an immune or protective response against pneumococcal disease in a suitable host.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nanogel nasal vaccine that induces cell-mediated immunity. The present invention relates to a vaccine preparation comprising a complex of a nanogel, a vaccine antigen, and an adjuvant, wherein the vaccine preparation can efficiently induce the cell-mediated immunity, and can also induce a systemic and mucosal immune response.

Abstract: An antibody is provided that inhibits infection of cells with a norovirus. The antibody is a nanoantibody comprising a polypeptide described in (a), (b), or (c), and inhibiting infection of intestinal cells with HuNoV GII.4: (a) a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 9, or SEQ ID NO: 13; (b) a polypeptide consisting of an amino acid sequence comprising a substitution, deletion, insertion and/or addition of one or several amino acids with respect to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 9, or SEQ ID NO: 13; and (c) a polypeptide consisting of an amino acid sequence having a sequence identity of 80% or more to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 9, or SEQ ID NO: 13.

Abstract: The present invention provides D39-derived mutant PspA that does not undergo deamination and maintains stability as a molecule even around neutral pH range. Specifically, the present invention relates to a protein of the following (a) or (b): (a) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and having pneumococcal vaccine antigenic activity, and a protein substantially identical to the protein; or (b) a protein being a part of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein aspartic acid at position 254 is comprised in the part, and having pneumococcal vaccine antigenic activity, and a protein substantially identical to the protein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nanogel nasal vaccine that induces cell-mediated immunity. Specifically, the present invention relates to a vaccine preparation comprising a complex of a nanogel, a vaccine antigen, and an adjuvant, wherein the vaccine preparation can efficiently induce the cell-mediated immunity, and can also induce a systemic and mucosal immune response.

Abstract: An antibody is provided that inhibits infection of cells with a norovirus. The antibody is a nanoantibody comprising a polypeptide described in (a), (b), or (c), and inhibiting infection of intestinal cells with HuNoV GII.4: (a) a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 9, or SEQ ID NO: 13; (b) a polypeptide consisting of an amino acid sequence comprising a substitution, deletion, insertion and/or addition of one or several amino acids with respect to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 9, or SEQ ID NO: 13; and (c) a polypeptide consisting of an amino acid sequence having a sequence identity of 80% or more to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 9, or SEQ ID NO: 13.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide compositions and methods related to novel recombinant protein immunogens, comprising specific portions of alpha helical domains (aHD) and proline rich regions (PRD) of pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA), which portions are linked to provide aHD-PRD constructs. The aHD and PRD proteins constituting the aHD-PRD constructs are selected to maximize cross-reactivity and provide protection against a broad spectrum of pneumococcal serotypes. Immunogenic compositions, including vaccines, comprising at least one aHD PRD construct may also include a non-linked aHD portion. Also provided are recombinant nucleic acid molecules that encode aHD-PRD constructs, vectors and recombinant host cells containing such molecules, aHD-PRD expression products, use of such nucleic acid molecules to express aHD-PRD constructs by recombinant techniques, and use of the expression products to elicit an immune or protective response against pneumococcal disease in a suitable host.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nasal vaccine for Streptococcus pneumoniae, and a production method therefor. This nasal vaccine formulation for primates includes a complex of PspA, i.e. the vaccine antigen, and a nanogel in which hydrophobic cholesterol is added, as side chains, to pullulan having amino groups. Furthermore, the present invention provides a production method for the nasal vaccine formulation for primates.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nasal vaccine for Streptococcus pneumoniae, and a production method therefor. This nasal vaccine formulation for primates includes a complex of PspA, i.e. the vaccine antigen, and a nanogel in which hydrophobic cholesterol is added, as side chains, to pullulan having amino groups. Furthermore, the present invention provides a production method for the nasal vaccine formulation for primates.

Abstract: A mucosal vaccine for the prevention or treatment of microbial infections is described that is capable of inducing vaccine antigen-specific immune responses in an organism without the addition of a mucosal adjuvant. The mucosal vaccine comprises a composite of a nanogel comprising a hydrophilic polysaccharide having a cationic functional group and a hydrophobic cholesterol added thereto as a side chain and a vaccine antigen. The vaccine is administered via a mucosal route.

Abstract: A mucosal vaccine for the prevention or treatment of microbial infections is described that is capable of inducing vaccine antigen-specific immune responses in an organism without the addition of a mucosal adjuvant. The mucosal vaccine comprises a composite of a nanogel comprising a hydrophilic polysaccharide having a cationic functional group and a hydrophobic cholesterol added thereto as a side chain and a vaccine antigen. The vaccine is administered via a mucosal route.

Abstract: A mucosal vaccine for the prevention or treatment of microbial infections is described that is capable of inducing vaccine antigen-specific immune responses in an organism without the addition of a mucosal adjuvant. The mucosal vaccine comprises a composite of a nanogel comprising a hydrophilic polysaccharide having a cationic functional group and a hydrophobic cholesterol added thereto as a side chain and a vaccine antigen. The vaccine is administered via a mucosal route.

Abstract: To provide a transgenic rice plant that can produce rice which can be used as an “edible vaccine”, i.e., rice capable of inducing a desired immune response when mucosally administered such as an oral administration. There is provided a transgenic rice plant including a genomic DNA, wherein a DNA construct is incorporated into the genomic DNA so that the DNA construct is capable of being expressed, wherein the DNA construct includes a DNA encoding an antigenic protein, and a rice endosperm specific promoter linked upstream thereof.

Abstract: Autoantigen-tolerogen fusion polypeptides, polynucleotides, expression vectors and host cells useful in inducing tolerance to autoantigens are provided. Preferred autoantigen fusion polypeptides contain a peptide encompassing proteolipid protein amino acids 139-151 fused to cholera toxin B-subunit. A Bacillus brevis expression-secretion system and methods for making autoantigen fusion polypeptides are also disclosed. The invention also includes methods for inducing tolerance to autoantigens, as well as treating and ameliorating the symptoms of neurodegenerative disease.

Abstract: Human urine trypsin inhibitor is provided as an agent for treating acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), preventing the infection with AIDS or preventing the onset of AIDS after such infection. It can be administered intravenously for the treatment and externally for the prevention.

Abstract: Secretory immunoglobulin A preparations substantially not containing virus are produced by a process wherein secretory immunoglobulin A which might be contaminated with viruses is (1) heated about 60.degree. C. for about 10 hours, or (2) subjected to the reaction with tri-n-butyl phosphate and a surfactant and the heating as mentioned above, as liquidized form in an aqueous medium, and then polymerized matters are precipitated from the resulting solution by adding polyethyleneglycol thereto.

Abstract: A concentration correcting apparatus comprising a correction coefficient calculating means and a correcting means is shown and described. The correction coefficient calculating means calculates a correction coefficient for correcting the concentration of the material when the actual density of the medium at the measurement of the material is calculated in terms of the density of the medium under the reference temperature and pressure, from the results of the temperature measuring means and the pressure measuring means. The correcting means corrects the results of the material measuring means to a concentration under the reference temperature and pressure on the basis of the correction coefficient.

Abstract: Two components, trypsin and kallidinogenase, in human urine are concentrated simultaneously by allowing human urine at neutral pH, collecting bubbles thus formed to obtain the concentrate of the two components, adjusting the concentrate to weak acidity, contacting the acidified concentrate with chitosan to allow the two components to be adsorbed onto chitosan, eluting the components from the adsorbent with aqueous ammonia solution, and neutralizing and heating the eluate at about 60.degree. C. for about 10 hours to make the eluate virus-free, followed by separating the components from the eluate.

Abstract: Crude HCG is purified by extracting with a neutral or weakly basic aqueous solution containing lower aliphatic alcohol and soluble salt, adding lower aliphatic alcohol to the extracted solution to form precipitates and the precipitates containing high purity of HCG are collected. This precipitates can be further purified by dissolving in a buffer solution, contacting the solution with a weak anion exchanger and eluting the exchanger with said buffer solution containing added salt.

Abstract: An anti-inflammatory agent comprising as an active component an inhibitor specifically inhibiting a thiol protease, which is obtained from human urine by extraction and purification. This agent has an action of inhibiting a disease caused by a thiol protease. This anti-inflammatory agent is prepared by a process in which a thiol protease inhibitor is extracted and purified from human urine by adopting in combination at least two treatments selected from a treatment with a molecular filter, a treatment with an ion exchanger, a treatment with an adsorber and an affinity chromatographic treatment.