Abstract: The invention relates to a separation matrix comprising at least 11 mg/ml Fc-binding ligands covalently coupled to a porous support, wherein: a) the ligands comprise multimers of alkali-stabilized Protein A domains, and b) the porous support comprises cross-linked polymer particles having a volume-weighted median diameter (d50, v) of 56-70 micrometers and a dry solids weight of 55-80 mg/ml.

Abstract: A method of testing an antibiotic susceptibility includes dispensing and cultivating sample solution into culture wells including one or more comparative wells and a plurality of antibiotic wells receiving two or more kinds of antibiotics, respectively, receiving the sample solution into a plurality of preprocessing wells each including magnetic particles and fluorescent particles that bond to one or more kinds of bacteria such that the bacteria and the magnetic particles and fluorescent particles bond to each other, receiving the sample solution into a plurality of image wells having magnetic members thereunder such that the magnetic particles bonding to the bacteria are arranged on the bottoms of the image wells, removing the sample solution from the image wells that have undergone the planarizing step, taking fluorescent images of the image wells washed in the washing step, and determining an antibiotic tolerance/susceptibility of the sample solution by analyzing the fluorescent images.

Abstract: The present invention relates to modified Mannheimia haemolytica (M. haemolytica) lktCA gene cluster cassettes, compositions comprising such cassettes, methods of using such cassettes and compositions, and kits comprising such cassettes and compositions. Also described herein are Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) protective antigens, compositions comprising such antigens, methods of using such antigens and compositions, and kits comprising such antigens and compositions. Also described herein are modified M. haemolytica lktCA gene cluster cassettes engineered to express M. bovis protective antigens, compositions comprising such cassettes, methods of using such cassettes and compositions, and kits comprising such cassettes and compositions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for applying an fragment of a neurotoxin such as the active light chain (LC) of the botulinum toxin (BoNT), such as one of the serotype A, B, C, D, E, F or G botulinum toxins, via permeabilization of targeted cell membranes to enable translocation of the botulinum neurotoxin light chain (BoNT-LC) molecule across the targeted cell membrane to the cell cytosol where a therapeutic response is produced in a mammalian system. The methods and apparatus include use of catheter based delivery systems, non-invasive delivery systems, and transdermal delivery systems.

Abstract: Viral vectors are provided for use as genetic immunotherapeutic agents, including preventive and therapeutic vaccines as well as compositions to enhance cellular immune responses and innate immune responses. The vectors are particularly useful for treating or preventing cancer and infectious diseases. The vectors include lentiviral vectors that encode one or more antigens, a combination of adjuvants, and optionally may encode one or more soluble and secreted checkpoint inhibitor molecules. The adjuvants include latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) from Epstein Barr virus and a fusion protein including LMP1 with in which the intracytoplasmic domain has been replaced by human IPS1 or a variant thereof capable of activating the STING pathway. The vector-encoded sequences are codon optimized for human expression.

Abstract: A method for preparing a shelf stable spore-containing probiotic alimentary additive is disclosed, the method including providing a liquid slurry including spores from at least one spore-forming probiotic bacterial strain, a saccharide, and a humectant; and pasteurizing the liquid slurry to yield the alimentary additive. The alimentary additive may have a water activity (Aw) of less than about 0.7. The alimentary additive may have a pH from about 2.0 to 9.5. A plurality of the spores may remain in an un-germinated state and uniformly suspended for at least two months after the pasteurizing to yield a shelf stable spore-containing probiotic alimentary additive.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polypeptide comprising a silk polypeptide and an antigen. Further, the present invention relates to an article comprising the polypeptide. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the article. In addition, the present invention relates to the article or pharmaceutical composition for use as a pharmaceutical, for inducing an immune response and/or for use in a prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment of a disease.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for applying an fragment of a neurotoxin such as the active light chain (LC) of the botulinum toxin (BoNT), such as one of the serotype A, B, C, D, E, F or G botulinum toxins, via permeabilization of targeted cell membranes to enable translocation of the botulinum neurotoxin light chain (BoNT-LC) molecule across the targeted cell membrane to the cell cytosol where a therapeutic response is produced in a mammalian system. The methods and apparatus include use of catheter based delivery systems, non-invasive delivery systems, and transdermal delivery systems.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling the carbon feed to a fed-batch fermenter based on the disturbance of the pH signal following the addition or a limiting substrate.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions comprising commensal bacterial strains and organic acids and the uses thereof in the treatment of diseases.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method for producing a lyophilized composition of viable cells of Rhizobium bacteria having high viable cell viability, and a lyophilized composition of viable cells of Rhizobium bacteria having desirable long-storage survivability, among others. The lyophilized composition of viable cells of Rhizobium bacteria having high viable cell viability and desirable long-storage survivability can be obtained when a composition containing viable cells of Rhizobium bacteria and more than 10 mass % moisture is lyophilized to bring the moisture content to 10 mass %, and the drying is ended before the moisture content becomes less than 5 mass % so that the composition after the lyophilization contains the viable bacteria and 5 to 10 mass % of moisture.

Abstract: A method of producing dendritic gold nanoparticles by combining a gold precursor solution, a reducing agent, and a bifunctional peptide having an amine-rich amino acid sequence into a buffered aqueous solution in a single container, and agitating the mixture causing the formation of the dendritic gold nanoparticles having a surface with a positive charge and a second end portion of the bifunctional peptide exposed on the surface of the dendritic gold nanoparticles. The dendritic gold nanoparticles may be used to deliver therapeutic, diagnostic, and/or immunogenic amino acid sequences as portions of the bifunctional peptide.

Abstract: Kits and composition comprising: (i) a thermo-responsive hydrogel characterized by a viscosity suitable for hardening after administration on a subject's skin; (ii) a bacterial growth medium; and optionally, (iii) a population of non-pathogenic viable bacteria, are provided. Methods for topically delivering a therapeutic or cosmeceutical agent such as for inhibiting or reducing growth of microorganisms on a subject's skin are further provided.

Abstract: With the aim of proving an antibacterial composition against oral bacteria and the like capable of inducing Th1 cell proliferation or activation in an intestinal tract, the present inventors have found out that bacteria that suppress colonization and the like of the oral bacteria and the like in the intestinal tract are present in an intestinal microbiota. Moreover, the present inventors have succeeded in isolating intestinal bacteria that suppress intestinal colonization and the like of oral bacteria and the like.

Abstract: The disclosure discloses Bacillus subtilis for producing N-acetylneuraminic acid and application thereof, and belongs to the field of genetic engineering. The disclosure optimizes the expression levels of key enzymes in N-acetylneuraminic acid synthesis pathways on genome through promoters of different strength, reduces the protein synthesis pressure caused by the expression of enzymes on cells, and further integrates the three N-acetylneuraminic acids in a same Bacillus subtilis engineering strain. Bacillus subtilis with improved N-acetylneuraminic acid production is obtained, and the production reaches 10.4 g/L at the shake flask level, laying a foundation for further improving the NeuAc production from Bacillus subtilis.

Abstract: Described herein are variants of alpha-hemolysin having at least one amino acid substitution at H35G, E111N, M113A, and/or K147N in the mature, wild-type alpha-hemolysin amino acid sequence. In certain examples, the variant may have a substitution at E111S, M113S, T145S, K147S, or L135I in the mature alpha-hemolysin amino acid sequence. The ?-hemolysin variants may also include a substitution at H144A and/or a series of glycine residues spanning residues 127 to 131 of the mature, wild-type alpha hemolysin. Also provided are nanopore assemblies including the alpha-hemolysin variants, the assembly having an increased nanopore lifetime. Further, provided are variants that, in addition to providing increased lifetime, provide a decreased time-to-thread. Hence, the variants provided herein both increase nanopore lifetime and improve efficiency and accuracy of DNA sequencing reactions using nanopores comprising the variants.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and device for improving the accuracy and performance of detecting or diagnosing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or STI-causing pathogens. In one embodiment, the present method and device are related to removing one or more interfering molecules such as urea from urine sample, where these interfering molecules alter the performance of Lateral-Flow Immunoassay (LFA). In one embodiment, an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) embedded entirely within a porous material allows spontaneous phase separation and the target STI-causing pathogens is concentrated in one of the separated phases. In one embodiment, a detection module such as the Lateral-Flow Immunoassay (LFA) is used in connection with other modules so as to detect or diagnose the sexually transmitted infections or the pathogens associated with STIs with an improved performance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating and selecting a colony of microorganisms on a culture dish and identifying microorganisms in said selected colony using MALDI. The method comprises the automated steps of locating and selecting a colony of microorganisms on a culture dish; obtaining a sample of said selected colony of microorganisms; depositing at least some of said sample of said selected colony of microorganisms on a target plate; and transferring said target plate with said sample in an apparatus for performing MALDI for identification of said sample of said selected colony of microorganisms. A sample of a colony of microorganisms is automatically deposited on a depositing spot such that the sample covers at most approximately half of said one of the depositing spots of the target plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides new derivatives of CATH2 or CMAP27, one of the cathelicidins. These derivatives comprise N-terminally truncated peptides, cyclic peptides, D-amino acid variants of CATH2 and its truncated derivatives, inverso and retroinverso CATH2 derivatives. These derivatives are useful as anti-infectives, in vaccines, and especially for in ovo applications. Further, for the above derivatives and also for the already known C-terminally truncated derivatives new immunoactivating functions have been described that are particularly advantageous for prophylactic treatments.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the identification of a first microorganism potentially secreting an effector compound, said first microorganism thereby having either i. an inhibitory effect on the cell division activity of a second microorganism or ii. an enhancing effect on the cell division activity of a second microorganism, the method comprising: a. providing a cell from a first microorganism which potentially produces an effector compound of interest and a cell from a second detector microorganism; b. introducing both cells into a microdroplet for incubation; c. introducing the microdroplet into a microfluidic system; d. analyzing in said microfluidic system the cell of the second microorganism for the exhibition of an enhanced growth effect or the exhibition of an inhibited growth effect stemming from said effector compound. The invention also relates to a microorganism or effector compound identified by the method according to the invention.