Abstract: Compositions and methods for preventing, treating and detecting leishmaniasis are disclosed. The compositions generally comprise fusion polypeptides comprising multiple Leishmania antigens, in particular, KMP11, SMT, A2 and/or CBP, or immunogenic portions or variants thereof, as well as polynucleotides encoding such fusion polypeptides.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for preventing, treating and detecting leishmaniasis are disclosed. The compositions generally comprise fusion polypeptides comprising multiple Leishmania antigens, in particular, KMP11, SMT, A2 and/or CBP, or immunogenic portions or variants thereof, as well as polynucleotides encoding such fusion polypeptides.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a vaccinia virus that specifically proliferates in a cancer cell and destroys the cancer cell and to provide use of the virus in cancer treatment. The present invention provides a microRNA-controlled vaccinia virus, in which a target sequence of a microRNA less expressed in a cancer cell than in a normal cell is inserted in a 3? untranslated region of B5R gene associated with viral proliferation in a vaccinia virus, wherein the microRNA-controlled vaccinia virus specifically proliferates in the cancer cell and has an oncolytic property that destroys the cancer cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optimized immobilization antigen cDNA sequence of cryptocaryon irritans, which has been processed codon replacement and caused the cDNA to express in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell and translate a protein has similar immunogenicity as the immobilization antigen purified from the theront of Cryptocaryon irritans. The present invention further provides a DNA vaccine produced using the cDNA to prevent fish form cryptocaryon irritans infection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to therapeutic and prophylactic methods for treating or preventing an infectious disease in a subject by stimulating or enhancing an immune response against an infectious agent causing the disease. The methods comprise administering to the subject a plurality of compositions, each composition being administered to a different site of the subject, wherein each site is, or substantially drains to, an anatomically distinct lymph node, a group of lymph nodes, a nonencapsulated cluster of lymphoid tissue, or the spleen. Each composition comprises at least one antigenic molecule having one or more epitopes of the same infectious agent or a strain thereof. The antigenic molecules of each composition comprise in aggregate a set of epitopes distinct from that of any other composition that is administered to the subject.

Abstract: Compositions and methods, including vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions for inducing or enhancing an immune response are disclosed based on the discovery of useful immunological adjuvant properties in a synthetic, glucopyranosyl lipid adjuvant (GLA) that is provided in substantially homogeneous form. Chemically defined, synthetic GLA offers a consistent vaccine component from lot to lot without the fluctuations in contaminants or activity that compromise natural-product adjuvants. Also provided are vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions that include GLA and one or more of an antigen, a Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonist, a co-adjuvant and a carrier such as a pharmaceutical carrier.

Abstract: Disclosed are substantially purified Plasmodium sporozoites and preparations of Plasmodium sporozoites substantially separated from attendant non-sporozoite material, where the preparations of Plasmodium sporozoites have increasing levels of purity. Vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions comprising purified Plasmodium sporozoites are likewise provided. Methods of purifying preparations of Plasmodium sporozoites are also provided.

Abstract: Safe and effective gel-bead vaccines for treating domesticated birds for diseases caused by cyst-forming protozoa, especially for coccidiosis.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of selecting and uses of anti-arthropod vector vaccines to prevent Leishmaniasis. The present invention also provides compositions for vaccines to prevent Leishmaniasis.

Abstract: A vaccine adjuvant which, based on the 100% mass thereof, includes between 10% and 95% of a mineral oil containing: between 0.05 mass-% and 10 mass-% hydrocarbon chains having less than 16 carbon atoms, and between 0.05 mass-% and 5 mass-% hydrocarbon chains having more than 28 carbon atoms. In addition, the adjuvant has a P/N ratio, corresponding to the ratio of the mass quantity of the paraffinic hydrocarbon chains to the mass quantity of the naphthenic hydrocarbon chains, of between 2.5 and 3, the adjuvant being intended for the production of a vaccine composition to prevent coccidiosis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides comprising at least one antigenic determinant or epitope of an apicomplexan Ferlin, Ferlin-like protein and/or another C2-domain containing protein for use as malaria vaccines. It further relates to compositions comprising said peptides and to the use of such compositions as malaria vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel mGlu2 agonists useful in the treatment of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, and generalized anxiety disorder.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition for delivering a protein vaccination candidate to a mammalian subject having a Leishmania transfected for expressing a cDNA sequence for encoding the protein vaccination candidate, and the Leishmania containing a photosensitizer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition comprising a pharmaceutically active agent and a bioadhesive delivery system that provides for the oral delivery of a vaccine to animals, particularly aquatic animals.

Abstract: Use of an extract of fenugreek to obtain a formulation for the preventive or curative treatment of human or animal diseases involving flagellated protozoa belonging to the Metamonada phylum.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new isolate of Neospora caninum and to the extracts which may be produced therefrom. Said isolate presents a high degree of attenuation, which makes it suitable for the development of vaccines against neosporosis, and of diagnostic tests to detect infection by Neospora caninum in animals. It also describes pharmaceutical compositions wherein said isolate or extracts thereof are used for the prevention and treatment of the infections caused by Neospora caninum in animals.

Abstract: The invention relates to composition comprising an L3 and/or an L5 source and optionally an adjuvant for the preparation of a medicine for the treatment or prevention of a parasitic disease and to its diagnostic use of said parasitic disease.

Abstract: Recombinant chimeric antigens comprising unmodified and modified reactive polypeptide fragments of expressed product of the recombinant 56 kDa proteins of multiple strain of scrub typhus, such as Karp, Kato (Ktr56), Gilliam (Gmr56), and TA763 (TAr56). The invention is useful for detecting prior exposure to a number of strains of scrub typhus, based on the strength of reaction toward the chimeric protein and as a component in vaccine formulations and production of immune globulins for passive prophylaxis and immunity in subjects against heterologous infections.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of formulating an anti-inflammatory composition for treating inflammatory conditions in a specific organ or tissue. The method involves selecting at least one pathogen that is pathogenic in the specific organ or tissue; producing an antigenic composition comprising antigenic determinants that together are specific for the pathogen; and formulating the antigenic composition for administration as an anti-inflammatory composition capable of eliciting an anti-inflammatory response in the specific organ or tissue. In embodiments of the invention the pathogen may be an endogenous pathogen, such as an endogenous bacterial pathogen. The pathogen may be an exogenous pathogen, such as a bacterial pathogen, viral pathogen, a fungal pathogen, or a helminth pathogen.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions for the treatment of a disease in an animal including yeast extract of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Bacillus licheniformis or Bacillus subtilis spores, and a carrier. Also included are animal feed compositions including the composition for the prevention, control and/or treatment of a disease in an animal and an animal's food/feed. The compositions are useful to prevent, control, and treat diseases such as necrotic enteritis in poultry when used in combination with an anticoccidal ionophore or coccidiosis vaccine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of coating a spore with one or more therapeutic agents. The present invention also relates to a coated spore obtained by the method of the present invention and the use of the coated spore as a vaccine.

Abstract: The immune response to an antigen of interest, either in purified form or expressed via an alphavirus replicon particle, can be enhanced by the simultaneous administration of an alphavirus replicon particle which expresses interleukin-12. This allows for the use of significantly smaller quantities of the antigen and this immunization strategy can also eliminate the need for boosting administration of the antigen or it can reduce the number of boosts required for an effective immune response to the antigen.

Abstract: The present invention provides cell free preparations of protozoan microsomes, wherein the cell free preparation of protozoan microsomes demonstrate the ability to translocate a protozoan polypeptide into the microsome, methods of preparing cell free preparations of protozoan microsomes, and methods of using cell free preparations of protozoan microsomes.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a fusion protein made from a synthetic gene construct comprising of elements derived from the Leishmania antigens K26, K39, and K9. The fusion protein is particularly useful in the diagnosis of leishmaniasis, particularly visceral leishmaniasis in animals such as humans and dogs.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for the development and use of a vaccine that includes one or more FusM antigens in a carrier adapted to trigger a FusM-specific immune response in the human blood stream.

Abstract: The invention relates to three isolated DNA molecules that encode for proteins, BigL1, BigL2 and BigL3, in the Leptospira sp bacterium which have repetitive Bacterial-Ig-like (Big) domains and their use in diagnostic, therapeutic and vaccine applications. According to the present invention, the isolated molecules encoding for BigL1, BigL2 and BigL3 proteins are used for the diagnosis and prevention of infection with Leptospira species that are capable of producing disease in humans and other mammals, including those of veterinary importance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for effectively and reproducibly infecting canines with Leishmania infantum using sand flies to vector the parasite. The inventive method comprises several steps, including ensuring canines are naïve to Leishmania, infecting the canines using bites of Leishmania-infected sand fly bites, and evaluating successful transmission of the Leishmania parasites.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an immunogenic agent comprising a low dose of an antigenic component from one or more pathogens and an agent capable of increasing an amount of IL-12 in animal, and use thereof for reducing infection or improving recovery from an infection from the pathogen. The immunogenic agent preferably comprises CpG nucleic acid, IL-12 protein and/or IL-12 nucleic acid. The pathogen is preferably an intracellular pathogen comprising one or more species and strains, such as Plasmodium spp. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the immunogenic agent. The pharmaceutical composition is preferably an immunotherapeutic composition. The immunotherapeutic composition, is preferably a vaccine capable of providing protection against or treating Plasmodium spp infection, the causative agent of malaria in humans.

Abstract: Process and immune chemotherapeutic/pharmaceutical composition for treatment of canine and human Leishmaniasis comprising a vaccine containing the FML antigen (Fucose Mannose-Ligand) and saponin adjuvant, used in association with chemotherapeutic agents, showing healing property, leaving the dogs previously infected, in the condition of sterile cure of visceral and tegumentary leishmaniasis, characterized by absence of parasites and the overall absence of Leishmania DNA, aiming to stave off the spread of the parasite which causes canine visceral leishmaniasis in dog to the insect transmitter, thus to other dogs and humans. The invention also comprises also the use of the aforementioned composition to produce formulations designed to treat canine visceral leishmaniasis and visceral and murine tegumentary leishmaniasis, human and canine, as well as a kit comprising immune chemotherapeutic agents to treat the same diseases.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel polyether ionophores, formulations comprising same, and to methods of making and using these compounds and formulations for the treatment and/or prevention of parasitic infection in animals and humans. These compounds exhibit improved safety profiles and/or efficacies as compared to parent compounds.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a composition, kit and method for delivering a soft flowable gel to a flock of poultry in barns, but can also be used in hatcheries or free range farms, for treating poultry with a therapeutic agent. The soft flowable gel comprises water, a gelling agent, a therapeutic agent and between about 0.05% and 0.15% xanthan gum.

Abstract: The present invention provides rapid diagnostic assays for the detection of Leishmania which can readily be used in the field, leading to more rapid treatment. In certain embodiments, the inventive assays, including ELISA and lateral flow assays, employ antibodies that may be effectively employed to detect the Leishmania major antigen TSA, which is present in both promastigotes grown in culture and in amastigotes. Such assays may be employed to detect the presence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in a subject using scrapings, biopsies, and/or aspirates taken from cutaneous lesions.

Abstract: A method of preventing or inhibiting infection by a parasite or virus in vivo comprising administering to a human in need thereof a parasite or virus mitogen in a sub-mitogenic amount sufficient to induce a protective immune response against the parasite or virus in the human.

Abstract: The invention provides novel immunogenic proteins LigA and LigB from Leptospira for use in the development of effective vaccines and antibodies, as well as improved diagnostic methods and kits.

Abstract: The present invention relates to therapeutic and prophylactic methods for treating Or preventing an infectious disease in a subject by stimulating or enhancing an immune response against an infectious agent causing the disease. The methods comprise administering to the subject a plurality of compositions, each composition being administered to a different site Of the subject, wherein each site is, or substantially drains to, an anatomically distinct lymph node, a group of lymph nodes, a nonencapsulated cluster of lymphoid tissue, or the spleen. Each composition comprises at least one antigenic molecule having one or more epitopes of the same infectious agent or a strain thereof. The antigenic molecules of each composition comprise in aggregate a set of epitopes distinct from that of any other composition that is administered to the subject.

Abstract: Modified protozoa parasites comprising simultaneous expression on its surface of at least two ariable surface proteins (VSP). The modified protozoa may also simultaneously express the complete repertoire of variable surface proteins. Protozoa show reduced expression of Dicer, RNA-dependant RNA-plymerase (RdRP) enzymes or both, wherein the RdRP gene and/or the Dicer gene has been silenced. The protozoan may be any protozoan showing an antigenic variation mechanism.

Abstract: The invention provides an immunogenic composition comprising MSP-8 linked to an antigen. Methods of using the composition to induce an immune response in an animal are also provided.

Abstract: Recombinant chimeric antigens comprising unmodified and modified reactive polypeptide fragments of expressed product of the recombinant 56 kDa proteins of multiple strain of scrub typhus, such as Karp, Kato (Ktr56), Gilliam (Gmr56), and TA763 (TAr56). The invention is useful for detecting prior exposure to a number of strains of scrub typhus, based on the strength of reaction toward the chimeric protein and as a component in vaccine formulations and production of immune globulins for passive prophylaxis and immunity in subjects against heterologous infections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a malaria vaccine for administration to a host comprising an attenuated malarial parasite with a gene which has been rendered non-functional, wherein the gene, when present in naturally occurring form, encodes a protein necessary for continued in vivo survival and proliferation of the parasite and for infection of host red blood cells. The invention further relates to a malaria vaccine in which a gene that encodes a nutrient transporter protein has been rendered non-functional.

Abstract: The invention relates to three isolated DNA molecules that encode for proteins, BigL1, BigL2 and BigL3, in the Leptospira sp bacterium which have repetitive Bacterial-Ig-like (Big) domains and their use in diagnostic, therapeutic and vaccine applications. According to the present invention, the isolated molecules encoding for BigL1, BigL2 and BigL3 proteins are used for the diagnosis and prevention of infection with Leptospira species that are capable of producing disease in humans and other mammals, including those of veterinary importance.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method of eliciting or otherwise inducing an effective immune response to a micro-organism and compositions for use therein. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of inducing an immune response to a parasite utilising an immunogenic composition comprising a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (referred to herein as “GPI”) inositolglycan domain or its derivatives. Even more particularly, the present invention contemplates an immunogenic composition comprising the Plasmodium falciparum GPI inositolglycan domain or its derivatives. The present invention is useful, inter alia, as a prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment for disease conditions such as, for example, infection by parasites and in particular infection by Plasmodium species.

Abstract: The present invention relates to triterpene glycoside saponin-derived adjuvants, syntheses thereof, intermediates thereto, and uses thereof. QS-7 is a potent immuno-adjuvant that is significantly less toxic than QS-21, a related saponin that is currently the favored adjuvant in anticancer and antiviral vaccines. Tedious isolation and purification protocols have hindered the clinical development of QS-7. A novel semi-synthetic method is provided wherein a hydrolyzed prosapogenin mixture is used to synthesize QS-7, QS-21, and related analogs, greatly facilitating access to QS-7 and QS-21 analogs for preclinical and clinical evaluation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cellular vaccine for therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of a pathological condition, the vaccine comprising or consisting of a population of CD 4+ T cells modified such that they contain an antigenic component, and/or a nucleic acid molecule encoding an antigenic component thereof, wherein the T cells are (a) activated, or capable of being activated, and (b) apoptotic, or capable or being made apoptotic. The invention further provides an adjuvant composition for use in a method of vaccination, the composition comprising or consisting of a population of T cells, wherein the T cells are (a) activated, or capable of being activated, and (b) apoptotic, or capable or being made apoptotic.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition comprising a pharmaceutically active agent and a bioadhesive delivery system that provides for the oral delivery of a vaccine to animals, particularly aquatic animals.

Abstract: The invention relates to antigenic compositions and to methods for immunising animals using same. The antigenic compositions comprises a lipid formulation most usually in solid form, and at least one antigenic component. A preferred antigenic component is a living organism. In a preferred embodiment the composition is formulated for oral administration.

Abstract: Methods for increasing the generation of IL-17-producing T cells (TH17) in vivo and in vitro, and enriched populations of TH17 cells for the treatment of diseases benefiting from an induced or enhanced immune response, e.g., infection and cancer.

Abstract: Disclosed are substantially purified Plasmodium sporozoites and preparations of Plasmodium sporozoites substantially separated from attendant non-sporozoite material, where the preparations of Plasmodium sporozoites have increasing levels of purity. Vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions comprising purified Plasmodium sporozoites are likewise provided. Methods of purifying preparations of Plasmodium sporozoites are also provided.

Abstract: A vaccine preparation characterized in that Neospora caninum-derived dense granule protein 7 or apical membrane antigen 1 or an immunologically active variant or derivative thereof is included in liposomes each having an oligosaccharide capable of binding to a carbohydrate recognition molecule on the surface of antigen-presenting cells on the surface of the liposome.

Abstract: Recombinant chimeric antigens comprising unmodified and modified reactive polypeptide fragments of expressed product of the recombinant 56 kDa proteins of multiple strain of scrub typhus, such as Karp, Kato (Ktr56), Gilliam (Gmr56), and TA763 (TAr56). The invention is useful for detecting prior exposure to a number of strains of scrub typhus, based on the strength of reaction toward the chimeric protein and as a component in vaccine formulations and production of immune globulins for passive prophylaxis and immunity in subjects against heterologous infections.

Abstract: The present invention provides vectors that contain and express in vivo or in vitro CDV polypeptides or antigens that elicit an immune response in animal against CDV, compositions comprising said vectors and/or CDV polypeptides, and methods of vaccination against CDV. The invention further provides methods for inducing an immunogenic or protective response against CDV and other canine virus, as well as methods for preventing or treating CDV and other canine virus or disease state(s) caused by CDV and other canine virus.