Abstract: The present invention provides improved antimicrobial compositions comprising peptide fragments of tammar wallaby milk proteins and analogs and derivatives thereof exemplified by the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID Nos: 1-40 and uses therefor in the treatment of a range of infections by bacteria and fungi. The antimicrobial compositions are particularly useful for broad spectrum applications, especially for the treatment of bacterial infections.

Abstract: The subject invention provides novel Plasmodium falciparum antigens and novel polynucleotides encoding these antigens. Also provided by the subject invention are methods of using these antigens and polynucleotides.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to in vitro methods for inducing or enhancing expression of enteric bacterial antigens and/or virulence factors thereby producing antigenically enhanced enteric bacteria, to methods for using antigenically enhanced enteric bacteria and to vaccines comprising antigenically enhanced enteric bacteria. A Campylobacter bacterium having enhanced antigenic property is disclosed. A culture medium useful for culturing the Campylobacteria comprises 0.05% to 3% bile or 0.025% to 0.6% of one or more bile acids or salts. In addition a divalent cation chelator can also be included in the culture medium. The bacteria culture is in a growth phase at early log phase and between early log phase and stationary phase. The enhanced antigenic property is a higher level of an immunogenic antigen when compared to the antigenic property of the same bacteria grown on brain heart infusion broth. Also, antibodies to Campylobacter bacteria or Campylobacteria in samples are detected by immunoassays.

Abstract: A diagnostic marker containing (a) a detection system such as an antibody and (b) a fluorescent functional group that is bound to the detection system and represented by the following formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently represent hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or the like; R.sup.3 represents an alkyl group, a sulfonic acid-alkyl group or the like; X.sup.- represents an anion species, if required; Y represents a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkylene group or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkylene group containing one or more atoms selected from the group consisting of oxygen atom, nitrogen atom and sulfur atom. The diagnostic marker emits fluorescence having a wavelength of 780 nm or more when irradiated with near or far infrared rays, and thus useful for infrared endoscopic diagnosis or identification of a focus in surgical operation.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to in vitro methods for inducing or enhancing expression of enteric bacterial antigens and/or virulence factors thereby producing antigenically enhanced enteric bacteria, to methods for using antigenically enhanced enteric bacteria and to vaccines comprising antigenically enhanced enteric bacteria. Further, a vaccine comprising a Campylobacter bacterium having en enhanced antigenic property is disclosed. The culture medium conditions comprise 0.05% to 3% bile or 0.025% to 0.6% of one or more bile acids or salts. In addition a divalent cation chelator can also be included in the culture medium. The bacteria culture is in a growth phase at early log phase and between early log phase and stationary phase. The enhanced antigenic property is a higher level of an immunogenic antigen when compared to the antigenic property of the same bacteria grown on brain heart infusion broth.

Abstract: A method for lowering somatic cell count in the milk of a lactating ruminant is disclosed. IgY antibodies are first obtained from the egg of a hen which has been actively immunized against one or more mastitis-causing pathogenic organisms by injection with an immunogen containing immunogenic determinants specific to elicit such antibodies. The immunogenic determinant may comprise only a specific portion of the pathogenic organism, e.g., the fimbria of a piliated bacterium. The IgY antibodies are then administered orally to a ruminant in which it is desired to lower milk somatic cell count. Antibody administration may occur during a ruminant's dry period as well as during lactation. In a preferred embodiment, the antigen used in immunization of the hen comprises one or more of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae. The method of this invention has been shown to be efficacious in lowering somatic cell count in dairy cattle.