Abstract: The invention relates to an improved vaccine to treat Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the fields of medical microbiology and vaccines. In particular the invention relates to a process for detergent-free preparation of outer membrane vesicles (OMV) of Gram negative bacteria for use in vaccines, to OMV obtainable by said process, and to a pharmaceutical composition comprising such OMV. The present invention further relates to the use of OMV of the present invention as a medicament in particular for use in a method for eliciting an immune response.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for diagnosis of a cellular immune responses against a virus using an inactivated virus. In the method of the invention a cellular immune response against the virus is detected in a subject by incubating PBMCs from the subject with a preparation of inactivated virus and subsequently detecting the expression of at least one T cell specific cytokine in the subject's PBMCs, preferably by flow cytometry. Advantageously in the method, inactivated virus is used for incubation with PBMCs from the subject so as to make feasible that the method is performed in laboratories without BSL-3 classification. Preferably the method is a method for detecting a CD4+ and/or CD8+ T cell response against an influenza virus by detecting expression of one or more of CD107, IFN-?, IL-2, IL-10 and TNF-?, using formalin inactivated influenza virus. The invention further pertains to kits comprising components that are useful for detecting a cellular immune responses in a subject against a virus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a preservation composition, a formulation comprising a preservation mixture of glutamate, a saccharide, and a polymer. Said preservation mixture is advantageously used for the preservation of a biological compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved LCMS technology and its uses in methods for the selective identification and characterization of immunogenic pathogen associated epitopes, and the use thereof in vaccine development. One way of bridging the knowledge gap on T cell epitopes is to apply a new platform technology, “immunoproteomics”, to directly assess the epitope display at the surface of antigen presenting cells by nanoscale mass spectrometry of extracted peptide samples. This is the only methodology that can provide unbiased insight into epitope features such as the exact molecular nature, diversity, abundance, dynamics and PTM of T cell epitopes originating from pathogen-derived proteins. Therefore, this platform technology and immunoproteomics should become an intrinsic part of vaccinology.

Abstract: The invention relates to pneumoviral virions comprising a viral genome that has a mutation in a gene coding for a protein that is essential for infectivity of the pneumovirus, whereby the mutation causes a virus produced from only the viral genome to lack infectivity, and whereby the virion comprises the protein in a form and in an amount that is required for infectivity of the virion. The invention also relates to methods for producing the pneumoviral virions and for using the virions in the treatment or prevention of pneumoviral infection and disease. A preferred pneumoviral virion is a virion of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in which preferably the gene for the G attachment protein is inactivated and complemented in trans.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved vaccine against pertussis wherein mutants of Bordetella pertussis having a modified LPS molecule or the obtainable LPS molecules are used. These mutants or the obtainable LPS molecules may further be used as an adjuvant.

Abstract: A method for producing a polysaccharide and a conjugate vaccine including the polysaccharide produced according to the method. A characteristic step in the method is that the pH of the culture medium is kept at a constant value with base or acid until adjustment with respectively base or acid is not possible anymore. Using the method, capsular polysaccharide may be obtained in a high yield in a relatively short time. The method is straightforward, reproducible and cost-effective.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hapten in the form of a novel nicotine derivative that may suitably be conjugated with an appropriate carrier to yield an effective vaccine against nicotine addiction. More particularly, the invention relates to a nicotine derivative of the following formula (I): The present invention also relates to a hapten-carrier conjugate derived from the aforementioned nicotine derivative and a vaccine composition comprising said hapten-carrier conjugate.

Abstract: Outer-membrane vesicles, Class 1 outer membrane proteins of Neisseria meningitidis, fragments or oligopeptides containing epitopes of the Class I OMP can be used to immunize against meningococcal disease.

Abstract: It is possible to inactivate the early stage of lipid A synthesis of mucosal gram negative bacteria without compromising cell viability. In particular the lpxA gene in N. meningitidis was mutated and resulting lpxA knockout mutants were found to be completely lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-deficient. The major outer membrane proteins (OMPs) were detected in normal amounts. The finding provides important implications for understanding of structure and biogenesis of the outer membrane. On a practical level, the availability of LPS-deficient mutants of pathogenic mucosal bacteria such as N. meningitidis opens up new avenues to vaccine development. It enables easy isolation of endotoxin-free purified proteins, outer membranes or even whole-cell preparations for use in immunisation.

Abstract: The subject invention lies in the field of vaccines. Specifically new compounds that can be used as adjuvants are provided. Recombinant LPS having a reduced number of secondary acyl chains per molecule of LPS vis a vis the corresponding non modified LPS molecule, said secondary acyl chains being bound to primary acyl chains, said primary acyl chains being bound to the glucosamine of said recombinant LPS molecule, said recombinant LPS being homogenous in acylation pattern is an example of such a compound. Also recombinant LPS having a phosphate group attached to the glucosamine at the non reducing end of the LPS molecule and a phosphate group attached to the glucosamine at the reducing end of the molecule per recombinant LPS molecule provides a further example.

Abstract: A novel method of covalently coupling polysaccharides to other biopolymers is provided, using an amino-thiol linker represented by formula (1): H2N—[(CH2)m—CHR1—CR2R3—A]q—CHR4—(CHR5)p—CHR6—S—R7 wherein A is a direct bond or a group having the formula —{Z—(CH2)m—CHR1—CHR2R3}nZ—, m is an integer form 0 to 5; n is an integer form 0 to 3; p is an integer from 0 to 2; q is the integer 0 or 1; R1 is hydrogen or C1-C6 alkyl, optionally substituted by amino, hydroxyl, carboxyl, C1-C4 alkoxycarbonyl, carbamoyl, mono- or di(C1-C4alkyl)carbamoyl or N-(&agr;-carboxyalkyl)carbamoyl, or, if m ≠0, R1 is hydroxyl, amino or peptidylamino; R2 and R3 are independently hydrogen or C1-C4 alkyl, or together from an oxo group; R4 is hydrogen, C1-C4 alkyl, carboxyl, C1-C4 alkoxycarbonyl, carbamoly, mono-or di(C1-C4 alkyl)carbamoyl or N-(&agr;-carboxyalkyl) carbamoyl; R5 is hydrogen, methyl, hydroxy or C1-C7 acyloxy; R6 is hydro

Abstract: A method and primary pair and kit for the in vitro amplification of nucleic acid using amplification primers in amplification reactions. There is used a pair of primers comprising oligonucleotide sequences complementary to a part of a Direct Repeat sequence of a microorganism belonging to the M tuberculosis complex of microorganisms, whereby hybridization to a Direct Repeat occurs and subsequently elongation of the hybridized primer takes place. The primers are such that elongation in the amplification reaction occurs for one primer in a 5' direction and for the other primer in a 3' direction.

Abstract: Dibenzodihydropyridinecarboxylic esters are provided which comply with formula (1) or (2), wherein: R.sub.1 is substituted alkyl or cyano; R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are independently hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl or substituted aryl; R.sub.4 is hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl or substituted aryl; R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are independently alkyl, alkoxy or another substituent which is relatively resistant to oxidation; m and n are integers from 0 to 4; wherein, if m or n is at least 2, two groups R.sub.5 or R.sub.6 may be linked together; and Z is oxygen or sulphur. The new compounds are used in a method as chemiluminogenic reagents for detecting the presence of peroxidase activity at extremely low levels (10.sub.-20 moles). A kit containing the dibenzodihydropyridine-carboxylic esters for use in assaying peroxidase activity has also been described.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an immunity providing B cell activating molecule derived from a meningococcal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) having at least one epitope, said molecule comprising at least the communal part of the oligosaccharide part (core region) of lipopolysaccharides specific for at least two meningococcal immunotypes, preferably immunotypes L2 and L3 and wherein in galactose is absent in the B cell activating part, as well as derivatives of the molecules with immuno reaction inducing capacity. The invention is also directed at an outer membrane vesicle provided with a group of polypeptides having at least the immunoactivity of outer membrane proteins (OMP's) bound to a membrane, a polypeptide from the group of said outer membrane vesicles being a membrane anchored OMP or OMP fragment with a mutation in one of the surface loops, preferably in a 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 or 8-loop of a class I OMP.

Abstract: A polypeptide having amino acid sequence 172-192 of a Mycobacterium bovis BCG 64 kD polypeptide, said sequence having the formula ##STR1## as well as polypeptides derived therefrom, in the amino acid sequence of which sequence 172-179 and/or sequence 189-192 is (are) entirely or partially absent, were found to be useful as immunogens inducing resistance to auto-immune arthritis and similar auto-immune diseases.The invention relates to these polypeptides, to polypeptides showing sequential homology with these polypeptides, and to derivatives and multimers thereof. Also, microorganisms expressing the polypeptides either as such or as part of a fusion protein or as a multimer form part of the invention.Finally, the invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions, diagnostic compositions and test kits comprising a compound according to the invention.

Abstract: A polypeptide having amino acid sequence 172-192 of a Mycobacterium bovis BCG 64 kD polypeptide, said sequence having the formula ##STR1## as well as polypeptides derived therefrom, in the amino acid sequence of which sequence 172-179 and/or sequence 189-192 is (are) entirely or partially absent, were found to be useful as immunogens inducing resistance to auto-immune arthritis and similar auto-immune diseases.The invention relates to these polypeptides, to polypeptides showing sequential homology with these polypeptides, and to derivatives and multimers thereof. Also, microorganisms expressing the polypeptides either as such or as part of a fusion protein or as a multimer form part of the invention.Finally, the invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions, diagnostic compositions and test kits comprising a compound according to the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to new oligosaccharides comprising the structure (D-ribose-D-ribitol-phosphate).sub.m, (D-ribitol-phosphate-D-ribose).sub.m or (phosphate-D-ribose-D-ribitol).sub.m, m being 2,3,4 . . . 19 or 20, to immunogens containing such oligosaccharide, to vaccines containing such immunogens and to methods for preparing such oligosaccharides, immunogens and vaccines. The vaccine is very suitable for treating infections caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new vaccine comprising a native protein capable of inducing the production of protective antibodies in a host, together with an adjuvant amount of certain proteins or peptides which, as such, are not capable of inducing substantial protective antibody titres but considerably enhance the immunizing activity of said native protein.The amino acid sequences of the adjuvant proteins and peptides show homology with the native proteins. Combination of inactivated picornavirus, such as poliovirus, with adjuvant amounts of denatured picornavirus, such as poliovirus, capsis proteins, in a vaccine, is highly advantageous.