Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of culturing embryonic stem (ES) cells of avian, comprising the steps of: a) suspending ES cells originating from the blastoderm disk of fertilized un-incubated avian egg(s) in a basal culture medium supplemented with: insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF); and animal serum; and optionally, at least one growth factors selected in the group comprising interleukin 6 (II-6), interleukin 6 receptor (II-6R), stem cell factor (SCF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF), interleukin 11 (II-11), oncostatin and cardiotrophin; b) seeding the suspension of ES cells obtained in step a) on a layer of feeder cells and further culturing the ES cells for at least between 2 to 10 passages; c) optionally removing at least one growth factors selected SCF, FGF, II-6, II-6R, LIF, oncostatin and cardiotrophin and II-11 from the culture medium; d) further culturing the ES cells in the medium of step c) on a layer of feeder cel

Abstract: The invention discloses pharmaceutical compositions in liquid form comprising a peptide with the amino acid sequence KLKL5KLK and an oligodeoxynucleotide with the nucleic acid sequence (dIdC)13 and wherein the peptide and the oligodeoxynucleotide are present as sterile-filterable nanoparticles in the composition, thereby forming a suspension, characterized in that the mean particle size of the solid particles is less than 1 ?m.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the development and manufacturing of viral vaccines. In particular, the invention relates to the field of industrial production of viral vectors and vaccines, more in particular to the use of avian embryonic stem cells, preferably the EBx® cell line derived from chicken embryonic stem cells, for the production of viral vectors and viruses. The invention is particularly useful for the industrial production of viral vaccines to prevent viral infection of humans and animals.

Abstract: Described is an immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleic acid molecule (ODN) having the structure according to formula (I), wherein any NMP is a 2? deoxynucleoside monophosphate or monothiophosphate, selected from the group consisting of deoxyadenosine-, deoxyguanosine-, deoxyinosine-, deoxycytosine-, deoxyuridine-, deoxythymidine-, 2-methyl-deoxyinosine-, 5-methyl-deoxycytosine-, deoxypseudouridine-, deoxyribosepurine-, 2-amino-deoxyribosepurine-, -6-S-deoxyguanine-, 2-dimethyl-deoxyguanosine- or N-isopentenyl-deoxyadenosine-monophosphate or -monothiophosphate, NUC is a 2? deoxynucleoside, selected from the group consisting of deoxyadenosine-, deoxyguanosine-, deoxyinosine-, deoxycytosine-, deoxyuridine-, deoxythymidine-, 2-methyl-deoxyinosine-, 5-methyl-deoxycytosine-, deoxypseudouridine-, deoxyribosepurine-, 2-amino-deoxyribosepurine-, 6-S-deoxyguanine-, 2-dimethyl-deoxyguanosine- or N-isopentenyl-deoxyadenosine, any X is O or S, a and b are integers from 0 to 100 with the proviso that a+b is between 4 and 150,

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polypeptide comprising a mutant fragment of an outer surface protein A (OspA), a nucleic acid coding the same, a pharmaceutical composition (particularly for use as a medicament of in a method of treating or preventing a Borrelia infection) comprising the polypeptide and/or the nucleic acid, a method of treating or preventing a Borrelia infection and a method of immunizing a subject.

Abstract: This present invention provides C-TAB.G5 and C-TAB.G5.1 isolated polypeptides comprising the receptor binding domains of C. difficile toxin A and toxin B as set forth in the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO: 2 and SEQ ID NO: 4. The C-TAB.G5 and C-TAB.G5.1 isolated polypeptides may be used to neutralize toxic effects of C. difficile toxin A and/or toxin B.

Abstract: Method of culturing embryonic stem (ES) cells of avian origin includes the steps of: a) suspending ES cells originating from the blastoderm disk of fertilized un-incubated avian egg(s) in a basal culture medium supplemented with: insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF); and animal serum; and, optionally, at least one growth factor selected from among interleukin 6 (Il-6), interleukin 6 receptor (Il-6R), stem cell factor (SCF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), interleukin 11 (Il-11), oncostatin and/or cardiotrophin; b) seeding the suspension of ES cells obtained in step a) on a layer of feeder cells and further culturing the ES cells for at least 2 to 10 passages; c) optionally, removing at least one growth factor selected from among SCF, FGF, Il-6, Il-6R, LIF, oncostatin, cardiotrophin and Il-11 from the culture medium; and d) further culturing the ES cells in the medium of step c) on a layer of feeder cells.

Abstract: The present invention discloses isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding a hyperimmune serum reactive antigen or a fragment thereof as well as hyperimmune serum reactive antigens or fragments thereof from S. agalactiae, and methods for isolating such antigens and specific uses thereof.

Abstract: Described is an immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleic acid molecule (ODN) having the structure according to formula (I), wherein any NMP is a 2? deoxynucleoside monophosphate or monothiophosphate, selected from the group consisting of deoxyadenosine-, deoxyguanosine-, deoxyinosine-, deoxycytosine-, deoxyuridine-, deoxythymidine-, 2-methyl-deoxyinosine-, 5-methyl-deoxycytosine-, deoxypseudouridine-, deoxyribosepurine-, 2-amino-deoxyribosepurine-, -6-S-deoxyguanine-, 2-dimethyl-deoxyguanosine- or N-isopentenyl-deoxyadenosine-monophosphate or -monothiophosphate, NUC is a 2? deoxynucleoside, selected from the group consisting of deoxyadenosine-, deoxyguanosine-, deoxyinosine-, deoxycytosine-, deoxyuridine-, deoxythymidine-, 2-methyl-deoxyinosine-, 5-methyl-deoxycytosine-, deoxypseudouridine-, deoxyribosepurine-, 2-amino-deoxyribosepurine-, 6-S-deoxyguanine-, 2-dimethyl-deoxyguanosine- or N-isopentenyl-deoxyadenosine, any X is O or S, a and b are integers from 0 to 100 with the proviso that a+b is between 4 and 150,

Abstract: The invention refers to an improved vaccine against infections with pathogens, especially viral pathogens, comprising an antigen, a peptide of the formula R1—XZSZN—XZX—R2 and an immunostimulatory deoxynucleic acid containing deoxyinosine and/or deoxyuridine residues.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vaccine which comprises at least one antigen and a peptide comprising a sequence R1—XZXZNXZX—R2, whereby N is a whole number between 3 and 7, preferably 5, X is a positively charged natural and/or non-natural amino acid residue, Z is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of L, V, I, F and/or W, and R1 and R2 are selected independently one from the other from the group consisting of —H, —NH2, —COCH3, —COH, a peptide with up to 20 amino acid residues or a peptide reactive group or a peptide linker with or without a peptide; X—R2 may also be an amide, ester or thioester of the C-terminal amino acid residue, as well as the use of said peptide for enhancing a patient's adaptive immune response to an antigen.

Abstract: The invention relates to high throughput screening methods for identifying, isolating and retrieving cells secreting antibodies of interest, e.g., having functional activity and/or multi-antigen specificities. It further provides methods for the cloning of said antibodies VH/VL sequences and the generation of recombinant monoclonal antibodies derived thereof having the features of interest.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition comprising at least two protective proteins against Streptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae) or functionally active variant thereof; a protective peptide against S. agalactiae; one or more nucleic acid(s) encoding the at least two proteins and/or the protective peptide; a method of producing the composition; a pharmaceutical composition, especially a vaccine, comprising the composition and/or at least one protective peptide; methods for producing antibodies; a mixture of antibodies against the at least two proteins of the composition; the use of the composition and/or at least one protective peptide and/or one or more nucleic acid(s) for the manufacture of a medicament for the immunization or treatment of a subject; methods of diagnosing a S.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding an antigen, a vector comprising such nucleic acid molecule and a host cell comprising such vector. Furthermore, the invention provides antigens from Klebsiella species, fragments and variants thereof, a process for producing such antigens, and a process for producing cells expressing such antigens. Moreover, the present invention provides antibodies binding to such antigen, hybridoma cells producing such antibodies, methods for producing such antibodies, a pharmaceutical composition comprising such nucleic acid molecule, antigen, vector or antibody, the use of such nucleic acid molecule, antigen, vector or antibody for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition, methods for identifying an antagonist capable of binding such antigen or of inhibiting the interaction activity of such antigen, methods for diagnosis or for treatment or prevention of an infection.

Abstract: The invention refers an improved vaccine against infections with pathogens, especially viral pathogens, comprising an antigen, a peptide of the formula R1—XZSZN—XZX—R2 and an immunostimulatory deoxynucleic acid containing deoxyinosine and/or deoxyuridine residues.

Abstract: Disclosed is an attenuated flavivirus live vaccine comprising a flavivirus mutant, characterized in that the flavivirus mutant has a deletion in the capsid protein of at least more than 4 successive amino acids, wherein the carboxy-terminal hydrophobic region is not affected by the deletion.

Abstract: The invention discloses pharmaceutical compositions in liquid form comprising a peptide with the amino acid sequence KLKL5KLK and an oligodeoxynucleotide with the nucleic acid sequence (dIdC)13 and wherein the peptide and the oligodeoxynucleotide are present as sterile-filterable nanoparticles in the composition, thereby forming a suspension, characterized in that the mean particle size of the solid particles is less than 1 ?m.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the development and manufacturing of viral vaccines. In particular, the invention relates to the field of industrial production of viral vectors and vaccines, more in particular to the use of avian embryonic stem cells, preferably the EBx® cell line derived from duck embryonic stem cells, for the production of viral vectors and viruses. The invention is particularly useful for the industrial production of viral vaccines to prevent viral infection of humans and animals.

Abstract: Described is a method for identification, isolation and production of hyperimmune serum-reactive antigens from a specific pathogen, a tumor, an allergen or a tissue or host prone to auto-immunity, said antigens being suited for use in a vaccine for a given type of animal or for humans, which is characterized by the following steps: providing an antibody preparation, providing at least one expression library, identifying antigens which bind, screening the identified antigens, identifying the hyperimmune serum-reactive antigen portion of said identified antigens and which hyperimmune serum-reactive antigens bind to a relevant portion of said individual antibody optionally isolating said hyperimmune serum-reactive antigens and producing said hyperimmune serum-reactive antigens by chemical or recombinant methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mutant virus of the family flaviviridae, comprising a deletion in the capsid protein of at least 20 successive amino acids, without any further deletion, substitution or insertion mutation except of the amino acids next to the deletion, which may be substituted.