Abstract: A medicament for the treatment or the prevention of a bacterial infection is disclosed which contains a polypeptide having a contiguous sequence of at least six amino acids of SEQ ID NO:1. Said polypeptide can be used for the preparation of a vaccine against an Enterococcus infection.

Abstract: The present invention refers to the recombinant vaccine against canine visceral leishmaniasis containing the recombinant A2 protein and saponin, as an adjuvant, allowing the distinction between vaccinated and infected animals through conventional ELISA or immunofluorescence tests that employ antigens of promastigote forms of Lesihmania.

Abstract: The present invention regards polypeptides capable of eliciting an immunological response that is protective against Chlamydia trachomatis. The polypeptide comprises a first amino acid sequence which has at least 90% homology with the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1 and a second amino acid sequence which has at least 90% homology with the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 2. Furthermore, production of these polypeptides and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bioactive fraction of Petiveria alliacea having an antitumour activity, and to the use of same for producing medicaments for treating cancer. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical combination for treating, comprising the bioactive fraction of Petiveria alliacea and at least one immunostimulant that can produce the phenotypic and/or functional maturation of the dendritic cells. The invention further relates to sequential administration of the bioactive fraction of Petiveria alliacea or the composition containing same and immunostimulant agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for the treatment and prevention of diarrhea and diarrheal related diseases and disorders in both animals and humans. In some embodiments, the invention relates to the treatment of said diarrhea and diarrheal related diseases and disorders with a vaccine. In still further embodiments, the invention relates to the treatment of constipation using the disclosed methods and compositions.

Abstract: A nanowire comprising a purified protein filament, such as a pilus, isolated from a bacterium, such as Geobacter sulfurreducens, is provided. Such a purified pilus can contain peptide subunits capable of assembling into the protein filament and establishing an electrical connection with an insoluble electron acceptor. The novel nanowires can be produced via a novel single step. Such nanowires are useful in applications requiring rectifying behavior.

Abstract: The invention is a method for reducing the symptoms of vertigo. The method is performed by delivering a therapeutically effective amount of presynaptic neurotoxin, such as Botulinum Toxin A, in a pharmaceutically safe form to suitable locations around the head and neck.

Abstract: The present application relates to a sub-region of a Plasmodium protein, with improved vaccine potential, and to medical uses thereof, notably for treatment or diagnosis of malaria. The present invention notably provides unstructured or unfolded polypeptides deriving from the PFF0165c protein of P. falciparum 3D7. The polypeptides of the invention have a high antigenicity, a high immunogenicity, have a high parasite-killing activity in the ADCI assay, and are strongly associated with clinical protection against malaria, and. The present invention thereby provides a vaccine for the palliative and/or curative treatment of malaria, which is specifically intended for infants, toddlers, children under the age of 5, pregnant women.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pili obtained from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, methods of producing the pili and the use of the pili for inducing an immune response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The present invention also provides proteins and peptides which are constituents of the pili. Antibodies which bind to the pili are also provided.

Abstract: This invention describes a method for identifying bacteria. In particular, this invention relates to a method for identifying and quantifying mycobacteria from a sputum sample taken from a subject using flow cytometry. Further described is the use of flow cytometry to identify and quantify Mycobacterium tuberculosis from sputum-derived samples. Once identified and quantified, the samples are spotted onto filter cards for use in verification of an existing method of diagnosis, calibration of an existing method of diagnosis and/or the establishment of an external quality control system for use in conjunction with these methods of diagnosis. In one embodiment the method is used to diagnose tuberculosis (TB).

Abstract: Compositions and methods for the diagnosis and prevention of B. abortus infection are provided.

Abstract: The present invention features methods and kits that utilize Ang-2 antagonists for the treatment, inhibition, and prevention of a systemic anthrax infection. The invention described herein also features methods for the diagnosis of a systemic anthrax infection by detecting elevated levels of Ang-2 in the serum of a subject.

Abstract: The invention relates to an non-pathogenic and/or attenuated bacterium which is capable of inducing apoptosis in macrophages.

Abstract: A method for diagnostic analysis, in particular to identify pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria or other micro-organisms present in a biological sample, comprises a first step of measuring and continuously monitoring the turbidity and/or the concentration of the pathogens, by means of an instrumental reading technique, of a liquid culture medium into which the sample to be analyzed has been inoculated and in which the replication of the pathogens possibly present occurs, said measuring and monitoring being carried out dynamically during the replication of the pathogens growing in the culture medium; and a second step of identifying the pathogens, carried out by taking at least an aliquot of the liquid culture medium containing the biological sample directly obtained from the first step, which has reached a desired value of turbidity according to a standardized value scale, such as the McFarland turbidity scale, and/or of concentration of the pathogens, and using said aliquot directly in mass spectrophotometr

Abstract: The present invention provides improved formulations of botulinum toxin that increase delivery of the botulinum toxin to neural and associated tissues and exhibit a higher specific neurotoxicity and higher potency (in LD50 Units) than available formulations of botulinum toxins. These improved formulations enable physicians to treat a wide variety of pathological conditions with a lower toxin load that reduces the risk of inducing an immune response against the toxin and its associated proteins that may ultimately lead to the development of toxin resistance. These benefits are particularly important in the treatment of conditions that require high-dose or chronic administration of botulinum toxin. Additionally, the decreased in LD50 Unit doses of inventive formulations allows for controlled administration limits diffusion. The present invention also provides methods of treating neuromuscular diseases and pain, using low-dose botulinum toxin.

Abstract: Uracil auxotroph mutants of apicomplexans are provided which lack a functional carbamoyl phosphate synthase II (CPSII) enzyme. Also provided are T. gondii autoxtroph mutants which express exogenous antigens, and methods of protecting an animal against a T. gondii and non-T. gondii disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for the stimulation of immune responses. In particular, the present invention provides immunogenic nanoemulsion compositions and methods of using the same for the induction of immune responses (e.g., innate and/or adaptive immune responses (e.g., for generation of host immunity against a bacterial species of the genus Streptococcus (e.g., Streptococcus pneumoniae))). Compositions and methods of the present invention find use in, among other things, clinical (e.g. therapeutic and preventative medicine (e.g., vaccination)) and research applications.

Abstract: This invention provides, inter alia, commensal organisms engineered to express antibody fragments, which inhibit sperm motility or fertilization and compositions comprising the same. The present invention provides for the use of the engineered commensal organisms or compositions comprising the same as effective contraceptive means in females.

Abstract: A Escherichia, Salmonella, Yersinia, Vibrio, Listeria, Shigella, or Pseudomonas bacterium that has the following components: (I) a polynucleotide encoding a heterologous antigenic determinant that induces a CTL response against a tumor cell; (II) a polynucleotide encoding a heterologous protein toxin or toxin subunit; and (III) (a) a polynucleotide encoding a transport system that expresses the products of (I) and (II) on the outer surface of the bacterium or that secretes products of (I) and (II) from the bacterium; and (IV) a polynucleotide that activates the expression of one or more of (I). (II), and/Or (III) in the bacterium wherein polynucleotides (I), (II), (III) and (IV) are different from each other and polynucleotides (I), (II) and (III) encode proteins that are different from each other.

Abstract: Provided herein are vaccine compositions for control of Trypanosoma cruzi infection and Chagas disease. The compositions comprise plasmids encoding o GPI-anchored genes ASP-2, TcG-1, TcG2 and TcG4 from Trypanosoma cruzi; plasmids encoding cytokines IL12 and GM-CSF; and plasmids encoding a gene expression system. Certain vaccine compositions comprise recombinant proteins, selected from TcG-1, TcG2 and TcG4 from Trypanosoma cruzi. In another vaccination strategy, the recombinant proteins are replaced by lysates comprising Trypanosoma rangeli cells. Further provided herein are diagnosis compositions comprising 1) recombinant proteins, selected from TcG-1, TcG2 and TcG4 from Trypanosoma cruzi; 2) antibodies that specifically binds the TcG-1, TcG2 and TcG4 proteins; 3) sense and antisense polynucleotide sequences that encode the TcG-1, TcG2 and TcG4 proteins. Said compositions can be used in diagnosing and/or evaluating efficacy of treatments against Trypanosoma cruzi infection.