Abstract: Using the nontoxic PA protein from B. anthracis, a method and composition for use in inducing an immune response which is protective against anthrax in subjects is described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of determining the presence or activity of a clostridial toxin by (a) treating with a sample, under conditions suitable for clostridial toxin protease activity, a clostridial toxin substrate which includes a fluorophore; a bulking group; and a clostridial toxin recognition sequence containing a cleavage site that intervenes between the fluorophore and the bulking group; (b) exciting the fluorophore with plane polarized light; and (c) determining fluorescence polarization of the treated substrate relative to a control substrate, where a change in fluorescence polarization of the treated substrate as compared to fluorescence polarization of the control substrate is indicative of the presence or activity of the clostridial toxin.

Abstract: Streptococcus proteins and polynucleotides encoding them are disclosed. Said proteins are antigenic and therefore useful vaccine components for the prophylaxis or therapy of streptococcus infection in animals. Also disclosed are recombinant methods of producing the protein antigens as well as diagnostic assays for detecting streptococcus bacterial infection.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of determining the presence or activity of a clostridial toxin by (a) treating with a sample, under conditions suitable for clostridial toxin protease activity, a clostridial toxin substrate which includes a fluorophore; a bulking group; and a clostridial toxin recognition sequence containing a cleavage site that intervenes between the fluorophore and the bulking group; (b) exciting the fluorophore with plane polarized light; and (c) determining fluorescence polarization of the treated substrate relative to a control substrate, where a change in fluorescence polarization of the treated substrate as compared to fluorescence polarization of the control substrate is indicative of the presence or activity of the clostridial toxin.

Abstract: The present invention provides BoNT/A peptides as well as methods of predicting or determining immunoresistance to botulinum toxin therapy in an individual using BoNT/A peptides.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of determining the presence or activity of a clostridial toxin by (a) treating with a sample, under conditions suitable for clostridial toxin protease activity, a clostridial toxin substrate which includes a fluorophore; a bulking group; and a clostridial toxin recognition sequence containing a cleavage site that intervenes between the fluorophore and the bulking group; (b) exciting the fluorophore with plane polarized light; and (c) determining fluorescence polarization of the treated substrate relative to a control substrate, where a change in fluorescence polarization of the treated substrate as compared to fluorescence polarization of the control substrate is indicative of the presence or activity of the clostridial toxin.

Abstract: Multiple strains and species of Campylobacter share a common glycan moiety which is present in a plurality of surface-exposed glycoproteins. This glycan has the formula: GalNAc-a1, 4-GalNAc-a1,4-[Glc-?1,3]GalNAc-a1,4-GalNAc-a1,4-GalNAc-a1,3-Bac, wherein Bac is 2, 4-diacetamido-2,4,6-trideoxy-D-glucopyranose. This glycan and immunologically active fragments of it have use as vaccines against campylobacter infection in humans and animals. As well, antibodies which specifically bind these compounds may be provided. Such antibodies and vaccines may be used to prevent or neutralize campylobacter infections in livestock thereby preventing this pathogen from entering the human food chain. The glycan may be linked to one or more amino acids to form a glycopeptide. As well, a method for determining the glycan structure of an intact glycoprotein consists of subjecting a sample to high resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (HR-MAS-NMR) spectroscopy.

Abstract: Methods for detecting BoNT/A activity in a sample, methods for screening molecules able to compete with BoNT/A receptor binding, methods for reducing BoNT/A activity in a human and methods of marketing a neurotoxin capable of selectively binding to FGFR3 to a governmental or regional regulatory authority.

Abstract: The invention provides a breath testing device which visually indicates the presence of ammonia in a patient's breath, in particular ammonia from helicobacter pylori urease infection. The breath testing device comprises a visual indicating agent which changes color in response to ammonia odors, such as 4,4?-bis(dimethylamino)-benzhydrol (Michler's hydrol or BDMB), pararosaniline base and alpha-naphtholbenzein. The indicating agent is applied to a substrate which is then inserted into a tube or straw, which can be attached to the inlet of a breath collection balloon. When the patient blows into the tube or straw, the indicating agent will change color if it detects levels of ammonia which are consistent with helicobacter pylori urease infection.

Abstract: The specification discloses modified Clostridial toxins comprising a Clostridial toxin substrate cleavage site located within the di-chain loop region; polynucleotide molecules encoding such modified Clostridial toxins comprising a Clostridial toxin substrate cleavage site located in the di-chain loop region; and method of producing modified Clostridial toxins comprising Clostridial toxin substrate cleavage site located within the di-chain loop region.

Abstract: This invention relates to conjugates of the O-specific polysaccharide of E. coli O157 with a carrier, and compositions thereof, and to methods of using of using of these conjugates and/or compositions thereof for eliciting an immunogenic response in mammals, including responses which provide protection against, or reduce the severity of, bacterial infections. More particularly it relates to the use of polysaccharides containing the tetrasaccharide repeat unit: (?3)-?-DGalpNAc-(1?2)-?-D-PerpNAc-(1?3) -?-L-Fucp-(1?4)-?-D-Glcp-(1?), and conjugates thereof, to induce serum antibodies having bactericidal (killing) activity against hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) causing E. coli, in particular E. coli O157. The conjugates, and compositions thereof, are useful as vaccines to induce serum antibodies which have bactericidal or bacteriostatic activity against E. coli, in particular E. coli O157, and are useful to prevent and/or treat illnesses caused by E. coli O157.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel methods for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection. Specifically, the present invention relates to novel non-invasive methods for the detection of the presence or absence of a Helicobacter pylori antigen or a metabolite produced by the bacterium in a biological sample with a biosensor-based measurement. The present invention also related to the use of a biosensor containing specific antibodies against H. pylori or antigen-binding fragments thereof immobilized thereto together with biomolecule-repellent polymers preventing the non-specific binding. The invention also relates to test kits useful in the methods.

Abstract: The present invention provides BoNT/A peptides as well as methods of predicting or determining immunoresistance to botulinum toxin therapy in an individual using BoNT/A peptides.

Abstract: The invention is directed to immunogenic compositions comprising polysaccharides and polysaccharide-protein conjugates that are useful to induce or detect the production of antibodies specific for H. pylori. The invention is also directed to methods of purifying the H. pylori polysaccharides from bacteria. The polysaccharide may be incorporated into an immunogenic composition or used in vitro to assay for the presence of H. pylori antibodies in a sample or biological fluid.

Abstract: This application relates to methods of screening molecules capable of inhibiting the survival of Helicobacter pylori in vivo by specifically inhibiting the activity of UreI, to the molecules identified by these methods, and to the use of these molecules to treat or prevent H. pylori infection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel Helicobacter felis urease subunit polypeptides and to nucleic acid sequences encoding these subunit polypeptides, to DNA fragments and recombinant DNA molecules comprising the nucleic acid sequences encoding these subunit polypeptides, to live recombinant carriers and to host cells comprising nucleic acid sequences encoding these subunit polypeptides. Also, the invention relates to the subunit polypeptides for use in vaccines and the use in the manufacturing thereof, to vaccines comprising said subunit polypeptides and to methods for the preparation of such vaccines. Furthermore, the invention relates to diagnostic methods for the detection of Helicobacter felis specific nucleic acid sequences, Helicobacter felis antigenic material and to antibodies against Helicobacter felis.

Abstract: Botulinum toxin, a well know systemic poison, produces favorable therapeutic effect by virtue of regionally attaching to nerves within the myoneural junction and possibly other tissues in a target region of a particular tissue. The present invention provides compositions of botulinum toxin and a sequestration agent that increase sequestration and delivery of the botulinum toxin to neural and associated tissues, as compared with available formulations of botulinum toxins, and thereby produce a beneficial clinical effect. The sequestration agents of the present invention include proteins, lipids and carbohydrates. A preferred composition of the present invention comprises a botulinum toxin and an albumin. The present invention also provides methods of treating neuromuscular diseases and pain using the disclosed compositions and methods of making the disclosed compositions.

Abstract: A method of using selective binding properties of killed and live isolates of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (Map) to gastrointestinal tract mucosa is described which permits: selecting as a killed Map test candidate for oral administration a strain of Map which will have greater organismal attachment; and selecting as a live Map test candidate for oral administration a live strain of Map whose virulence had been significantly reduced and which exhibits a diminished ability to bind to gastrointestinal mucosa The method also includes preservation of binding ability of Map isolates after inhibition of organism replication or virulence reduction.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods for treating the sequela of laminitis in hoofed animals. Benefits are obtained by administering to the animals to be treated injections of Botulinum Toxin in the limb to be treated. In one embodiment, about 100 Units to 600 Units of Type A Botulinum Toxin is injected in multiple injections into the flexor digitorum profundus muscle of an animal's affected limb.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of treating an eye disorder. The methods comprise a step of locally administering a Clostridial toxin to the eye of a patient to treat the disorder. The eye disorder may be associated with an inflammation of the eye, including for example, bacterial conjunctivitis, fungal conjunctivitis, viral conjunctivitis, uveitis, keratic precipitates, macular edema, and inflammation response after intra-ocular lens implantation. The Clostridial toxin may be produced by a Clostridial beratti, a Clostridia butyricum, a Clostridial tetani bacterium and/or a Clostridial botulinum.