Abstract: The present invention refers to the gene cluster and genes comprised by the gene cluster which are involved in the biosynthesis of griselimycin and methylgriselimycin and to the use of the gene cluster, genes comprised thereby and proteins encoded thereby for the production of antibiotic agents.

Abstract: The invention provides a new lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strain with immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activity and a composition containing and method using the same. The LAB of the invention can be administrated for modulating an immune response in order to restore or prevent metabolic disorders caused by obesity or chronic inflammation.

Abstract: A method for performing a target analyte assay of a thin film anticoagulated blood sample, wherein the target analyte is the presence or absence of specific phagocytosis and/or binding of particles coated with a particular antigen or antigens by white blood cells present in the anticoagulated blood sample, wherein the particles are coated with the particular antigen or antigens, which antigens are similar or identical to antigens expressed by a defined pathogenic infectious agent of interest.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for rapidly detecting streptococcus bacteria. An illustrative device includes a first elongate handle connected to a first edible portion and a second elongate handle connected to a second edible portion. The first and second elongate handles are connected by a banding material. The first and second edible portions are inserted into the mouth of an individual for receiving a saliva sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides an in vitro method for determining the resistance or sensitivity of a cell line or patient sample to a deoxyribonucleoside kinase-dependent drug, wherein the method comprises the steps of: (i) treating a patient sample or cell line, or a portion thereof, with a deoxyribonucleoside kinase-dependent drug; (ii) lysing the cells of the patient sample or cell line from step (i); (iii) optionally, mixing a portion of the cell lysate from step (ii) with a bioluminescent reporter bacteria incorporating a gene coding for deoxyribonucleoside kinase; (iv) mixing a portion of the cell lysate from (ii) with a bioluminescent reporter bacteria incorporating a gene coding for a deoxyribonucleoside kinase and a deoxyribonucleoside kinase transcription promoter; (v) mixing a portion of the cell lysate from step (ii) with a bioluminescent reporter bacteria incorporating a gene coding for a deoxyribonucleoside kinase, a deoxyribonucleoside kinase transcription promoter and a dephosphorylating agent

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of bacterial cytolysin proteins, such as pneumolysin, as adjuvants for stimulating or enhancing immune responses against co-administered target antigens. Desirably, the target antigen is provided as a fusion protein with the cytolysin. The inventors have found that cytolysins may be particularly effective for stimulation of mucosal immune responses against the target antigen.

Abstract: The inventive subject matter relates to a recombinant polypeptide construct comprising enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli fimbrial subunits. The recombinant polypeptide constructs comprise multiple subunits to the same or different ETEC fimbrial types. The constructs are useful for inclusion in immunogenic formulations for the inductin of immunity against entertoxigenic Escherichia coli. The inventive subject matter also relates to the use of the recombinant polypeptide constructs in induce anti-enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli.

Abstract: The present invention relates to anti-ricin antibodies and uses thereof. More specifically, the invention relates to anti-ricin antibodies and fragments thereof as well as their use in therapy or prophylaxis.

Abstract: Novel methods for determining the unknown biological activity of a clostridial neurotoxin in a sample with respect to the known biological activity of a clostridial neurotoxin in a reference sample, comprising the step of comparing the biological activity of a clostridial neurotoxin preparation with the biological activity of a standard preparation of a reference clostridial neurotoxin in certain in vitro systems.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses a photosynthetic microorganism that produces biofuels and biofuel precursors.

Abstract: The invention provides novel strains Agrobacterium tumefaciens KKP 2039p and Paracoccus alcaliphilus KKP 2040p, the plasmid pSinA and its functional derivative, method for producing bacterial strains capable of chemolithotrophic arsenite oxidation and novel bacterial strains produced by this method. The invention also relates to the composition, comprising the novel bacterial strain or the plasmid pSinA and the use of these novel strains, as well as the method of bioaugmentation of an arsenic contaminated environment, particularly the method for the removal of arsenic from waters.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions, kits, and methods for inducing an immune response against disease. The dosage of antigen contained or utilized in the presently disclosed compositions, kits, and methods is substantially lower than dosages conventionally used in the field. The compositions, kits, and methods may be utilized to induce a cell-mediated response, such as a T-helper cell response, and/or a humoral response against a pathogen or a disease. In some embodiments, the compositions, kits, and methods may be utilized to induce preferentially a Th1 response versus other types of immune responses such as a Th2 response.

Abstract: Provided herein are uses of genes for HOG, Ras and cAMP signal transduction pathways to treat fungal infection. To regulate the HOG pathway of Cryptococcus neoformans, roles of SSK1, TCO2, SSK2, PBS2, HOG1, ENA1 and NHA1 genes were investigated to find that a biosynthesis level of ergosterol is increased when these genes are inhibited. When the genes are inhibited, a large amount of ergosterol is distributed on a fungal cell membrane. Accordingly, since there are many working points of an ergosterol-binding antifungal agent, an efficiency of the ergosterol-binding antifungal agent can be considerably improved. To regulate the Ras and cAMP pathways of Cryptococcus neoformans, roles of RAS1, RAS2, CDC24, GPA1, CAC1, ACA1, PKA1, HSP12 and HSP122 genes were investigated to find that a sensitivity to a polyene- or azole-based drug is increased when these genes are inhibited.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses methods and compositions for detecting pathogenic bacteria. Additionally, the present invention encompasses methods and compositions for catalyzing the dismutation of superoxide radicals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a means of controlling infection persistence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). In particular, the present invention relates to an isolated, genetically modified Helicobacter pylori comprising a functional urease, wherein the contiguous amino acid sequence between amino acid 529 and amino acid 555 of SEQ ID NO:1 is altered to produce said modified Helicobacter pylori which is unable to establish or maintain a persistent infection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polypeptide comprising a mutant fragment of an outer surface protein A (OspA), a nucleic acid coding the same, a pharmaceutical composition (particularly for use as a medicament of in a method of treating or preventing a Borrelia infection) comprising the polypeptide and/or the nucleic acid, a method of treating or preventing a Borrelia infection and a method of immunizing a subject.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a bio-functionalized stimulus-responsive dissolvable PEG-hydrogel. This inventive stimulus-responsive dissolvable PEG-hydrogel comprises a matrix of PEG-polymers, which are modified to contain at least one multifunctional fusion protein, the multifunctional fusion protein preferably comprising as components a substrate binding peptide (SBP), preferably a repetitive RGD-binding peptide and/or a ZZ-binding domain, preferably a tag for purification, and at least one N- and/or C-terminal linker. The present invention is furthermore directed to the use of such inventive stimulus-responsive dissolvable PEG-hydrogels in the treatment of lesions, in surgical dressings, for wound treating, for soft and hard tissue regeneration, for the treatment of wounds in the oral cavity, in the field of ophthalmology, in the field of periodontal defects, etc. The invention also describes a method of treatment for such diseases.

Abstract: An anti-antibody reagent for use in a competitive or sandwich simplex or multiplex assay, said reagent comprising one or more labeled anti-antibodies for the primary antibodies to be determined in the assay, the reagent further comprising a corresponding unlabeled anti-antibody in an excess or near excess concentration with respect to their binding partners.

Abstract: The present invention relates to host cells having modified lipid-linked oligosaccharides which may be modified further by heterologous expression of a set of glycosyltransferases, sugar transporters and mannosidases to become host-strains for the production of mammalian, e.g., human therapeutic glycoproteins. The process provides an engineered host cell which can be used to express and target any desirable gene(s) involved in glycosylation. Host cells with modified lipid-linked oligosaccharides are created or selected. N-glycans made in the engineered host cells have a GlcNAcMan3GlcNAc2 core structure which may then be modified further by heterologous expression of one or more enzymes, e.g., glycosyl-transferases, sugar transporters and mannosidases, to yield human-like glycoproteins. For the production of therapeutic proteins, this method may be adapted to engineer cell lines in which any desired glycosylation structure may be obtained.

Abstract: Disclosed is a Thermoanaerobacter sp. bacterial strain (BKHI) isolated from a hot spring, a purified protein (bioremediase) isolated from bacterial strain BKH1, as well as concrete compositions comprising BKH1 and/or the protein, and methods of using the protein and/or composition. Also disclosed are nucleic acids encoding the protein isolated from BKHI, as well as expression vectors, host cells, cell lines, and methods for generating and purifying the bioremediase protein.