Abstract: Processes to produce microorganisms that can be incorporated into a microbial-based product that results in high viable cell yields and shelf-stable products are disclosed. These microbial-based products are useful for inhibiting pathogenic growth and as a food additive. A preferred microorganism is a lactic acid producing bacteria. In one embodiment, the process comprises inoculating a lactobacillus fermentation medium with lactic acid producing bacterial cells, harvesting the lactic acid producing bacterial cells at mid to late log phase, concentrating the lactic acid producing bacterial cells, and preserving the lactic acid producing bacterial cells at a concentration of at least 5×109 cfu/ml.

Abstract: A growth enhancer for Lactobacillus murinus, Lactobacillus salivarius, or a bacterium that belongs to the genus Lactobacillus and that has a homology of 16S rDNA of 90% or higher with Lactobacillus murinus or Lactobacillus salivarius includes a ?-glucan having a molecular weight of from 0.2 K to 50 K. A regulatory T-cell number increasing agent, a method of enhancing growth of a lactic acid bacterium, a method of increasing the number of regulatory T-cells, a method of evaluating a regulatory T-cell number increasing effect, and a method of evaluating a growth enhancing effect on a lactic acid bacterium are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for treating Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin intoxication and in particular, vaccines against the neurotoxin that provide protection again lethal challenge with neurotoxin from one or more serotypes of Clostridium botulinum.

Abstract: Rapid, animal protein free, chromatographic processes and systems for obtaining high potency, high yield botulinum neurotoxin for research, therapeutic and cosmetic use.

Abstract: The subject invention provides materials and methods that effectively support innate immunity and/or disperse pathogenic biofilms using readily available, nontoxic, natural substances, while supporting restoration of normal microbiotic homeostasis. In one embodiment, the subject invention provides anti-biofilm compositions comprising one or more probiotic organisms, anti-microbial honey, and other ingredients such as prebiotic compounds, other hive products, green tea derivatives, other plant derivatives, and vitamin D3.

Abstract: The subject invention provides materials and methods that effectively support innate immunity and/or disperse pathogenic biofilms using readily available, nontoxic, natural substances, while supporting restoration of normal microbiotic homeostasis. In one embodiment, the subject invention provides anti-biofilm compositions comprising one or more probiotic organisms, anti-microbial honey, and other ingredients such as prebiotic compounds, other hive products, green tea derivatives, other plant derivatives, and vitamin D3.

Abstract: The invention provides an isolated Bacillus cereus sensu lato strain, selected from Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus cereus and Bacillus thuringiensis, in which the htrA gene or any part thereof is silenced, and vaccines comprising the same.

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 pertains to microorganisms of the species Bacteroides xylanisolvens expressing a core-1 antigen on their surface. These microorganisms are in particular useful for the prophylaxis and treatment of core-1 positive diseases and are particularly characterized by a stable, homogenous high core-1 expression. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions which comprise respective core-1 positive microorganisms or fractions thereof.

Abstract: Methods and systems for delivering toxin and toxin fragments to a patient's nasal cavity provide for both release of the toxin and delivery of energy which selectively porates target cells to enhance uptake of the toxin. The use of energy-mediated delivery is particularly advantageous with light chain fragment toxins which lack cell binding capacity.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for characterizing cellular physiology by incorporating into an electrically excitable cell an optical reporter of, and an optical actuator of, electrical activity. A signal is obtained from the optical reporter in response to a stimulation of the cell. Either or both of the optical reporter and actuator may be based on genetically-encoded rhodopsins incorporated into the cell. The invention provides all optical methods that may be used instead of, or as a complement to, traditional patch clamp technologies and that can provide rapid, accurate, and flexible assays of cellular physiology.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant fragments of C. difficile TcdA and TcdB that may be used in the development of vaccines against C. difficile associated disease. More particularly it relates to combinations comprising a ToxB-GT antigen and a TcdA antigen or a ToxA-GT antigen and a TcdB antigen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to immunogenic compositions comprising a Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) polypeptide and an aluminum-free adjuvant.

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.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel compositions for inducing an immune response in mammals. The composition preferably comprises an antigen and a lipopolysaccharide in an oil-in-water formulation. The invention is particularly suited to vaccinate swine against mycoplasma infections.

Abstract: Three conjugation methods for use with the capsular saccharide of Streptococcus agalactiae. In the first method, reductive amination of oxidized sialic acid residue side chains is used, but the aldehyde groups are first aminated, and then the amine is coupled to a carrier via a linker. In the second method, sialic acid residues and/or N-acetyl-glucosamine residues are de-N-acetylated to give amine groups, and the amine groups are coupled to a carrier protein via a linker. In the third method, linkage is via galactose residues in the capsular saccharide rather than sialic acid residues, which can conveniently be achieved using galactose oxidase.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a vaccine comprising live attenuated Pasteurella multocida bacteria for protection of a ruminant against pneumonia caused by P. multocida by administration of the vaccine to the upper respiratory tract of the ruminant via intranasal atomization of the vaccine. The invention also pertains to a method to use the vaccine to protect a ruminant against pneumonia caused by P. multocida bacteria.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an adjuvant for a mucosal vaccine with high safety that induces a sufficient immune response on the mucosa. According to the present invention, an adjuvant for a mucosal vaccine comprising a protein complex composed of hemagglutinin (HA) subcomponents HA1, HA2, and HA3 of botulinum toxin is provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for characterizing the antibiotic resistance of a microorganism, the method comprising the steps of (a) providing a reference mass spectrum of an antimicrobial compound, its enzymatic modification product, its molecular target, or of a substrate compound of a its modifying enzyme; (b) exposing a microorganism, a cell lysate thereof, or a growth medium supernatant thereof, to the antimicrobial compound or the substrate compound in aqueous liquid to thereby provide an exposed sample; (c) acquiring a mass spectrum of the exposed sample; (d) comparing the mass spectrum acquired in step c) with the reference mass spectrum of step (a), and (e) determining from the comparison whether modification of the antimicrobial compound, its modification product or its molecular target or of the substrate has occurred following the exposure, and establishing that the microorganism is potentially resistant to the antimicrobial compound when the modification is observed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and compositions administered to the lymphatic tissue of an animal to prevent or reduce the incidence of disease or disease symptoms caused by one or more disease causing entities. Tonsillar compositions can be administered to the lymphatic tissue in the oral/nasal region of the animal and can include avian antibodies from eggs of hens inoculated with one or more target disease causing entities. Treating the lymphatic tissue in the oral/nasal region with the compositions described herein can reduce or prevent the disease causing entities from adhering to the lymphatic tissue resulting in reduced infection rates. The present disclosure also relates to oral compositions that can be used to reduce or eliminate oral pathogens in animals.