Abstract: Provided herein is a large immuno-sorbent surface area assay (ALISSA) for the rapid and sensitive detection of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) and anthrax toxin. This assay is designed to capture a low number of toxin molecules and to measure their intrinsic protease activity via conversion of a fluorogenic or luminescent substrate. Also provided herein are novel peptides that can be specifically cleaved by BoNT and novel peptides that are resistant to cleavage by BoNT. The combination of these cleavable and control peptides can be used for implementation of an exemplary ALISSA used to specifically detect BoNT enzymatic activity. Furthermore, the ALISSA as described herein may also be used in a column based format for use in a high-throughput system for testing large quantities of samples.

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 antimicrobial peptides, isolated and purified from extracts of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) gills. Such peptides may be produced by chemical synthesis or by expression in heterologous systems, such as bacteria and yeasts, by conventional molecular biology techniques. These peptides show antimicrobial activity against various organisms, including Gram positive bacteria, Gram negative bacteria, fungi and viruses. The invention also includes compositions for controlling pathogens comprising these antimicrobial peptides. The use of such peptides in vaccine preparations, as molecular adjuvants, is also part of the invention.

Abstract: An immunogenic composition for use as a blood-stage malaria vaccine, a method of producing the immunogenic composition and a method of treatment of malaria are provided. The immunogenic composition includes isolated or purified merozoites, or red blood cells infected with merozoites, treated with centanamycin or tafuramycin A. The immunogenic composition does not include an adjuvant. A single dose of the immunogenic composition is sufficient to protect an animal against subsequent malaria infection by the same isolate, strain or species of Plasmodium used in the immunogenic composition, or by one or more heterologous isolates, strains or species of Plasmodium.

Abstract: The invention relates to vaccine compositions having a carrier protein and an antigen of interest entrapped in a complex, methods of making such vaccines, and methods of vaccine administration.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a modified cecropin protein comprising a cecropin or a variant thereof fused to a hydrophilic tail lacking a C-terminal glycine. The present disclosure also provides pharmaceutical compositions, methods and uses of the modified cecropin protein or nucleic acid for treating or preventing endoparasites, such as Plasmodium, and bacteria.

Abstract: The present application relates to glycoengineered outer membrane vesicles obtained from recombinant, gram-negative bacteria comprising hetereologous DNA encoding an enzyme or enzymes that produce a heterologous glycan that replaces all or a portion of the naturally-occurring O antigen in the lipopolysaccharides of the bacteria. Also provided by the present application are immunogenic compositions and vaccines prepared from the glycoengineered outer membrane vesicles expressing the heterologous glycans at their surface.

Abstract: Disclosed are vaccines containing one or more immunogenic polypeptides derived from an EtpE protein from an Ehrlichia sp. or nucleic acid encoding these polypeptides. Also disclosed is a method for vaccinating a subject against Ehrlichia sp. that involves administering to the subject a composition comprising any of the disclosed vaccines. Also disclosed is a method for diagnosing and/or monitoring the treatment of Ehrlichiosis in a subject that comprising assaying a biological sample (e.g., blood, serum, or plasma sample) from the subject for the presence of an antibody that specifically binds an EtpE polypeptide. Also disclosed are methods for delivering a therapeutic or diagnostic agent to a cell in a subject that involves conjugating the agent, or a delivery vehicle comprising the agent, to polypeptide containing the C-terminal domain of an EtpE protein.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided where a transfected cell that produces a hybrid protein with a reporter-containing portion and a botulinum toxin cleavage site is contacted with a botulinum toxin at elevated temperatures and/or in media having a reduced sodium concentration. Kits that include such media and a botulinum toxin are also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions comprising peptide-coupled biodegradable poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) particles In particular, PLG particles are surface-functionalized to allow for coupling of peptide molecules to the surface of the particles (e.g., for use in eliciting induction of immunological tolerance).

Abstract: Described is an antigen-binding protein, preferably comprising an amino acid sequence that comprises four framework regions and three complementarity-determining regions, wherein the antigen-binding protein is capable of binding a chitinous polysaccharide, and uses thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides eTEC linked glycoconjugates comprising a saccharide covalently conjugated to a carrier protein through a (2-((2-oxoethyl)thio)ethyl)carbamate (eTEC) spacer, immunogenic compositions comprising such glycoconjugates, and methods for the preparation and use of such glycoconjugates and immunogenic compositions.

Abstract: A liquid D-T-Pa component is used to reconstitute a lyophilised meningococcal component, thereby producing a combined vaccine.

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 disclosure provides modified biotin-binding proteins which can be expressed in soluble form in high yield in bacteria. Also provided are fusion proteins comprising the modified biotin-binding protein and an antigen. The disclosure further provides non-hemolytic variants of alpha-hemolysin from S. aureus and fusion protein comprising non-hemolytic variant of alpha-hemolysin and a biotin-binding domains. Immunogenic compositions comprising the proteins are also disclosed and use of such immunogenic compositions for inducing an immune response or for vaccinating a subject are also disclosed.

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: The invention relates to a chimeric protein comprising or consisting of, from N-terminal to C-terminal, (a) a N-terminal part of a Bordetella CyaA protein (b) a heterologous polypeptide, and (c) a C-terminal part of a Bordetella CyaA protein. The invention also relates to a polynucleotide encoding a deleted version of a Bordetella CyaA, as well as a polynucleotide encoding this chimeric protein. A composition comprising at least one chimeric protein(s) of the invention and the prophylactic and/or therapeutic uses of said composition are also part of the invention.

Abstract: Microcin MccPDI and bacteria harboring the mcpM gene which encodes MccPDI, limit growth of and/or kill pathogenic bacteria such as pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) and/or Shigella bacteria via proximity-dependent inhibition (PDl).

Abstract: Disclosed are attenuated bacteria, compositions comprising attenuated bacteria, and vectors and methods for preparing attenuated bacteria. The attenuated bacteria may include attenuated Aeromonas hydrophila for use in vaccinating aquatic animals such as channel catfish against Motile Aeromonas Septicemia (MAS).

Abstract: Described herein are isolated polypeptides each containing one or more receptor-binding sites of toxin A (tcdA) of Clostridium difficile (Cd), nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides, and methods of using the polypeptides and nucleic acids.