Abstract: Lactobacillus-based probiotic compositions for inclusion in microbial-based products. In one instance, the microbial-based product takes the form of an animal feed additive. When used as a feed additive for animals, especially ruminants, and in particular cattle, the following benefits from the composition are noted: (i) improved milk yield in dairy cattle, (ii) improved milk composition in dairy cattle, (iii) increased weight gain-to-feed intake ratio in beef cattle (feed efficiency), and (vi) improved average daily weight gain. Both Lactobacillus strains MB101 having ATCC Accession Number PTA-121710 and MB102 having ATCC Accession Number PTA-121711 are particularly effective at producing these results. Another marked benefit of the compositions when used as an animal feed additive is inhibition of pathogenic growth including E. coli, Salmonella, Clostridium, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing an immunoligand/payload conjugate, which method encompasses conjugating a payload to an immunoligand by means of a sequence-specific transpeptidase, or a catalytic domain thereof.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for identifying tumor antigens of human lymphocytes, and for identifying subjects for cancer therapy, are provided herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel peptides that may be used in whole or in combination for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. In particular, the present invention relates to compositions and methods involving detection of antibodies contained in the blood of non-human primates that arise from an infection from M. tuberculosis or vaccination using an epitope specific inoculation. More particularly, the present invention provides a means to distinguish early, active, and latent M. tuberculosis infection. More particularly, the present invention describes an immunological diagnostic mechanism for the detection of M. tuberculosis infection.

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 relates to lactic acid bacteria strains with the ability to tolerate antiseptics. The lactic acid bacteria strains have further the capacity to antagonize the growth of oral pathogens. Particularly, the lactic acid bacteria having these features belong to Pediococcus genus, more particularly to Pediococcus acidilactici species. Thus, the strains of the present invention are useful for compositions and products in the field of personal care, and 10 particularly, for oral care, as well as, for pharmaceutical products.

Abstract: An immunogenic composition, a periodontal vaccine formulation containing the immunogenic composition, and methods for treating or preventing periodontal disease are provided, where the methods involves administering an immunologically effective amount of the composition or vaccine formulation to a subject.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for removing cysteine caps from antibodies and re-capping the antibodies with cysteine molecules. The methods include, inter alia, culturing a host cell comprising a protein molecule having at least one capped engineered cysteine residue, and contacting the cell culture with cystine. Dissolved oxygen levels can be manipulated in the cell culture to further enhance the removal and re-capping process.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of medicine, specifically to the field of treatment of conditions associated with Staphylococcus infection. The invention relates to a novel endolysin polypeptide specifically targeting a bacterial Staphylococcus cell. The invention further relates to said endolysin polypeptide for medical use, preferably for treating an individual suffering from a condition associated with Staphylococcus infection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a DNA vaccine for cancer immunotherapy comprising at least the steps of (a) transforming an attenuated strain of Salmonella with at least one DNA molecule comprising at least one expression cassette encoding at least one antigen or at least one fragment thereof; (b) characterizing at least one transformed cell clone obtained in step (a); and (c) selecting at least one of the transformed cell clone(s) characterized in step (b) and further characterizing said at least one selected transformed cell clone. The present invention further relates to a DNA vaccine obtainable by the method according to the present invention.

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: The present invention relates to means and methods for detecting cyanobacterial cyclic peptide hepatotoxins (CCPH) in aqueous samples. More specifically, the invention provides recombinant anti-immunocomplex (anti-IC) antibodies which bind to immunocomplexes formed between one or more CCPH variants and an anti-CCPH primary antibody, and immunoassays, preferably non-competitive immunoassays, employing the same.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a lincosamides universal monoclonal antibody hybridoma cell strain and application thereof, and belongs to the technical field of food safety immunological detection. According to the present disclosure, a clindamycin chlorine-substituted derivative is used as a hapten, the hapten is coupled with bovine serum albumin (BSA) by an activated ester method to obtain an immunizing antigen, and after being uniformly mixed with a Freund's adjuvant, the immunizing antigen is subcutaneously injected to immunize BALB/c mice; clindamycin is coupled with ovalbumin (OVA) by a carbonyl diimidazole (CDI) method to be used as a coating antigen used for detecting mouse serums and a cell supernatant. The spleen cells of the immunized mice are fused with mouse myeloma cells by a PEG method, and screened by indirect ELISA and indirect competitive ELISA and subcloned three times to obtain a population-selective hybridoma cell strain.

Abstract: A vaccine comprising Calnexin fragment and a method of using the vaccine to immunize a patient against fungi are disclosed. The Calnexin fragment may be either a full-length native version or a functionally equivalent version of full-length Calnexin.

Abstract: The present invention relates i.a. to a method for reducing the concentration of skatole and/or indole in an animal comprising administering to said animal an effective amount of an immunogenic composition comprising Lawsonia intracellularis antigen. Therefore, the present invention also relates to methods for reducing pork odor or boar taint.

Abstract: The present disclosure is based upon the identification of a number of Streptococcus agalactiae genes which are required for virulence in fish species. Specifically, the disclosure relates to genomic content present in fish-associated S. agalactiae strains that is absent from strains which are non-virulent to fish. Further disclosed is the use of a number of S. agalactiae proteins and antigens in methods, immunogenic compositions and vaccines for raising immune responses and treating or preventing diseases, conditions and/or infections with a Streptococcal aetiology.

Abstract: Method and media for diagnosing Crohn's disease are provided. A method of diagnosing Crohn's disease in patients includes: obtaining a sample from an individual; culturing the sample to determine the presence or absence of Mycobacterium avium subspecies hominissuis (MAH) in the sample; and diagnosing the individual with Crohn's disease based on the determining the presence of MAH in the sample.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions comprising bacterial strains for treating and preventing inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Abstract: The invention relates to the identification of secretory antibody-bound bacteria in the microbiota in a subject that influence the development and progression of inflammatory diseases and disorders. Thus, the invention relates to compositions and methods for detecting and identifying the constituents of a subject's microbiota, methods of modifying the constituents of the microbiota, and methods for treating inflammatory diseases and disorders in a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: Prophylactic and/or therapeutic antipathogen agents are provided that disrupt or prevent the formation of at least one homotypic and/or heterotypic protein-protein interaction that has at least one CEA-family protein and that is involved in the establishment and colonization of a pathogen in a suitable host.