Abstract: This disclosure relates to immunogenic compositions comprising mutant Streptococcus pneumonia pneumolysin (PLY) proteins. Nucleic acids, polypeptides encoded thereby, compositions containing the same, methods for using such nucleic acids, polypeptides and compositions are also provided.

Abstract: A method for detecting B. burgdorferi antigens in body fluid samples, such as urine. Polyclonal antibodies are used that bind to 31, 34, and 39 kDa B. burgdorferi antigens, wherein the polyclonal antibodies function as immobilized capture antibodies. Detection antibodies are used, having an enzyme linked thereto, which also bind to the B. burgdorferi antigens. A body fluid sample is reacted with the detection antibodies to form complexes between the detection antibodies and the B. burgdorferi antigens in the body fluid sample. The complexes are reacted with the immobilized capture antibodies, wherein the complexes become linked to the capture antibodies. A substrate is added to the complexes linked to the capture antibodies, wherein the substrate is converted by the enzyme to a visual and/or detectable product if B. burgdorferi antigens are present in the body fluid sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase I activity and polynucleotides having a nucleotide sequence which encodes for the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the nucleic acid constructs as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and systems for delivery of nanocarriers to cells of the immune system. The invention provides nanocarriers capable of stimulating an immune response in T cells and/or in B cells. The invention provides nanocarriers that comprise an immunofeature surface and an immunostimulatory moiety. In some embodiments, the immunostimulatory moiety is adjuvant. The invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising inventive nanocarriers. The present invention provides methods of designing, manufacturing, and using inventive nanocarriers and pharmaceutical compositions thereof.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to compositions that include sets of magnetic particles, members of each set being conjugated to an antibody specific for a pathogen.

Abstract: The present invention provides immunostimulatory combinations of TLR ligands and therapeutic and/or prophylactic methods that include administering an immunostimulatory combination to a subject. In general, the immunostimulatory combinations described herein can provide an increased immune response compared to other immunostimulatory combinations and/or compositions.

Abstract: A method of rapid, genome and proteome based identification of unknown pathogenic or non-pathogenic organisms in a complex sample. The entire sample is analyzed by creating millions of emulsion encapsulated microdroplets, each containing a single pathogenic or non-pathogenic organism sized particle and appropriate reagents for amplification. Following amplification, the amplified product is analyzed.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of bacterial ghosts (BG) to promote an innate immune response.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel Salmonella mutants, to a process for producing same and to vaccines containing same, wherein said Salmonella mutants are characterized in that they elicit a humoral response that can be distinguished from the humoral response elicited by the wild type strains. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide the use of said Salmonella mutants as serological marker strains in the vaccination of animals, in particular mammals and birds, more in particular cattle, poultry and pigs. The serological marker vaccine is of special value in animal farming and provides a (long-lasting) immunization against a wide range of Salmonella strains. The novel mutants are non-reverting and can be used for the efficient immunization of mammals and birds.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of detecting dermatophyte, which does not require a complicated operation such as an enzyme treatment and a heat treatment. The present invention provides a method of detecting dermatophyte, including a step of extracting a dermatophyte component from a sample with a treatment liquid containing a non-ionic surfactant or a zwitterionic surfactant, and a kit for diagnosing dermatophyte infection, containing a treatment liquid comprising the above surfactant, and an antibody specifically recognizing a dermatophyte component, which are housed in separate containers.

Abstract: Arrays of single molecules and methods of producing an array of single molecules are described. Arrays with defined volumes between 10 attoliters and 50 picoliters enable single molecule detection and quantitation.

Abstract: Problem to be Solved: The present invention provides a novel mucosal adjuvant. Solution: The present invention provides a mucosal adjuvant composition containing at least a composition comprising molecules having a molecular weight in a range of 100 to 300 kDa obtained from cells or culture fluid of Bordetella bronchiseptica. Administration of the mucosal adjuvant composition to a non-human animal at a surface of the mucous membrane can enhance immunity at the surface of mucous membrane. Therefore preventive effects against trans-mucosal infection can be increased by administering an inactivated vaccine against trans-mucosal infection and the mucosal adjuvant composition to a non-human animal at a surface of mucous membrane. The present invention is effective for preventing trans-mucosal infections, including one or more infections of e.g., canine parainfluenza, canine adenovirus, canine coronavirus, canine parvovirus, canine distemper virus, canine herpesvirus, reovirus and pneumovirus.

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 a recombinant protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 1 and a bacteria recognizing lectin. The present invention also relates to uses of the recombinant protein comprising detecting pathogens, removing endotoxins, determining the presence of an endotoxin or endotoxin-like material, and determining the presence of pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) comprising rhamnose-rhamnose (Rha-Rha), rhamnose-N-acetyl-mannosamine (Rha-ManNAc), N-acetyl-mannosamine-rhamnose (ManNAc-Rha), rhamnose-galatose (Rha-Gal), or galatose-rhamnose (Gal-Rha) in a sample, and use as a medicament, a disinfectant, a decontaminant, a surfactant or a diagnostic means.

Abstract: Shigella vaccine strains whose primary attenuating feature is deletion of the virG(icsA) gene and additional two or more deletions in setAB(shET1), senA(shET2), senB(shET2-2), stxAB, and msbB2 genes. Thus, the vaccine strain will have three or more deletions in the identified genes, will be safer, and will reduce or eliminate symptoms of fever and diarrhea in humans. The following specific vaccine strains have been constructed: WRSS3 (?senA, ?senB, ?virG, ?msbB2), WRSf2G15 (?virG, ?setAB, ?senA, ?senB, ?msbB2), and WRSd5 (?virG, ?stxAB, ?senA, ?senB, ?msbB2).

Abstract: A live bacterium, having a DNA construct stabilized against transduction of other bacteria, having a promoter sequence and encoding a fusion peptide, comprising a bacterial secretion peptide portion and a non-bacterial immunogenic polypeptide portion, having a nucleotide sequence coding for the non-bacterial immunogenic polypeptide portion which has at least one codon optimized for bacterial expression. The bacterium has a secretion mechanism which interacts with at least the bacterial secretion peptide portion to cause a secretion of the fusion peptide from the bacterium, and a genetic virulence attenuating mutation. The bacterium is adapted to act as an animal vaccine, to transiently infect a tissue of the animal, and cause an immunity response to the non-bacterial immunogenic polypeptide portion in the animal to a non-bacterial organism associated with the non-bacterial immunogenic polypeptide portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase I activity and polynucleotides having a nucleotide sequence which encodes for the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the nucleic acid constructs as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a combination of SP1298 and SP2205 proteins or functional fragments thereof or homologous proteins or protein fragments thereof of S. pneumoniae for preventing or treating a S. pneumoniae infection, their use for the preparation of a vaccine for the preventive treatment of a S. pneumoniae infection, compositions comprising said proteins of S. pneumoniae or functional fragments thereof, vaccines comprising said proteins or functional fragment thereof, and to a method for in vivo immune protection.

Abstract: The present invention provides assays and devices for detection of substances in liquid samples. The assays and devices utilize passive diffusion between a porous material and a porous membrane containing a specific binding pair member to enable detection of the substance of interest.

Abstract: A composition of bioactive agent-loaded micelles with tissue-targeting properties and methods of using the same are disclosed.