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: The majority of clinically used antibiotics and anticancer agents are derived from bacterial small molecules. These molecules are produced by dedicated biosynthetic gene clusters, sets of genes that are responsible for the step-wise generation of the target small molecule. Recent investigations have indicated, to the surprise of many experts, that the majority of these biosynthetic genes are inactive or ‘silent’ for unknown reasons. Thus under typical bacterial culturing conditions, these genes are not expressed and consequently the bioactive small molecule products are not synthesized. Disclosed is a method for high throughput screening of elicitors of cryptic metabolites, a method for producing cryptic metabolites, and a new family of cryptic metabolites, the acybolins, as well as their complete structural elucidation.

Abstract: Disclosed is an oral delivery system that overcomes major barriers encountered in the gastrointestinal tract, particularly rapid proteolytic degradation and low intestinal permeability. Provided is a method for oral delivery of an engineered microorganism to a mammal where the microorganism produces a macromolecule having a desired bioavailability outcome.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a slide chip for a sensor for detection of food-borne bacteria and a fabrication method thereof. More particularly, the invention relates to a slide chip for a sensor for detection of food-borne bacteria and a fabrication method thereof, the slide chip comprising: a substrate coated with a metal; a linker having a substituent which may be bonded to the metal and is located at the 5? end of deoxythymidine (dT); and a food-borne bacterium-derived RNA aptamer that is bound to the linker by the 3?-end poly A tail. The slide chip makes it possible to detect food-borne bacteria in a rapid and accurate manner.

Abstract: In this application is described a method for rapidly and accurately identifying B. anthracis in a sample by simultaneously detecting the presence of cell wall antigen and capsule antigen in the same sample culture grown under capsule inducing conditions. Other uses and advantages of the method of the invention are described herein.

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: The present invention relates to a derivative bacterial strain of an avirulent, non-pathogenic Clostridium ghonii that is capable of arresting the growth of, regressing or destroying one or more solid tumors. The present invention further relates to a composition comprising the derivative bacterial strain for targeted lysis of solid tumors. The present invention further relates to methods of producing derivative strains of C. ghonii by serial culturing in tumor bearing animals.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a composition comprising a recombinant protein in soluble form wherein said recombinant protein comprises a portion of the Clostridium difficile toxin B sequence that comprises an epitope for anti-toxin B antibody. Other embodiments of the invention are directed to the generation of antibodies using peptide fragments of C. difficile toxin B.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for treating conditions including liver dysfunction, e.g., associated with fatty liver; glucose intolerance; and others, by administering compositions comprising anti-LPS immunoglobulin enriched colostrum preparations.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel nucleotide sequence and other constructs used for expression of novel recombinant P. falciparum circumsporozoite proteins in bacterial cells such as E. coli. Processes are provided for producing a soluble recombinant P. falciparum CSP from E. coli. Methods to produce a human-grade, highly immunogenic anti-malaria vaccine based on CSP are shown. The novel recombinant P. falciparum circumsporozoite protein by itself or in combination with other malaria antigens or adjuvants can form the basis of an effective malaria vaccine.

Abstract: The invention is directed to means, based on CyaA-carried polypeptide(s), for use in the immunotherapeutic treatment of first determined pathological condition(s) diagnosed in a mammalian host by eliciting a T cell immune response against a first group of epitopes contained in said polypeptide(s) and in the prophylaxis against second determined pathological condition(s) in the same mammalian host by eliciting a T cell memory immune response against a second group of epitopes contained in said polypeptide(s), said immune responses being obtained after administration of said vector-carried polypeptide(s) into said host, wherein said prophylaxis against second determined pathological condition(s) is not observed when said second group of epitopes is not contained in said administered vector-carried polypeptide(s).

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein pertains to the modulation of a bacterial invasion switch and the subsequent use of the bacterium to vaccinate an organism. In one embodiment, the bacterial invasion switch is modulated by changing the proteolysis of ExoR protein. In another embodiment, a mutated bacterium produces a mutant ExoR protein that resists proteolysis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant fragments of Plasmodium polypeptides and polynucleotides encoding same. The invention further relates to compositions comprising the recombinant fragments of Plasmodium polypeptides and their use in the treatment and prevention of malaria.

Abstract: The present invention provides an antigenically restricted subset of the highly variant PfEMP1 rosetting antigen which possess epitopes which may be exploited to raise immune responses effective against many diverse strains and isolates of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. In this regard, the invention provides one or more P. falciparum Erythrocyte Membrane Protein-1 (PfEMP1) antigen(s) or a fragment or fragments thereof, for use in raising immune responses in humans.

Abstract: Virion-associated peptidoglycan hydrolases have a potential as antimicrobial agents due to their ability to lyse Gram positive bacteria on contact. Fusion proteins HydH5SH3b and HydH5Lyso comprising full-length peptidoglycan hydrolase HydH5 from the Staphylococcus aureus bacteriophage vB_SauS-phi-IPLA88 in combination with the SH3b cell wall-binding domain from lysostaphin or full length lysostaphin, respectively, exhibited high lytic activity against live S. aureus cells. CHAPSH3b, a HydH5 CHAP (cysteine, histidine-dependent amidohydrolase/peptidase) domain from truncated HydH5 in combination with the SH3b domain of lysostaphin, exhibited the highest lytic activity against live S. aureus cells. HydH5 and its derivative fusions lysed bovine and human S. aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) N315 strain, and human S. epidermidis strains in zymogram, plate lysis and turbidity reduction assays.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for delivering a bioactive moiety comprising at least one non-natural component into a cell cytosol of a eukaryotic cell. The bioactive moiety is linked to an A component of a bacterial toxin, a functional wild-type or modified fragment thereof, or an A component surrogate or mimetic. For delivery, the cell is contacted with the linked bioactive moiety and a corresponding B component of the bacterial toxin or a functional fragment thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for purifying high-quality recombinant Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein at high yields.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for the prevention and treatment of bacterial infections, including pneumococcal infections. Compositions provided herein comprise a variety of immunogenic fusion proteins, wherein at least one polypeptide component of a given fusion protein comprises a CbpA polypeptide and/or a cytolysoid polypeptide, or an active variant or fragment thereof. Methods are provided for the prevention and treatment of bacterial infections, including pneumococcal infections by employing the various immunogenic fusion proteins having at least one polypeptide component comprising a CbpA polypeptide and/or a cytolysoid polypeptide, or an active variant or fragment thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions using a polypeptide comprising at least one CXXC motif, such as Giardia parasite's variable surface proteins (VSP) or a fragment thereof to raise by oral or mucosal vaccination an immune response against a heterologous selected antigen, such as tumor antigen, microbial antigen or other antigen.

Abstract: Antimicrobial compositions including a cell penetrating peptide (CPP) having the amino acid sequence Tyr-Ala-Arg-Val-Arg-Arg-Arg-Gly-Pro-Arg-Gly-Tyr-Ala-Arg-Val-Arg-Arg-Arg-Gly-Pro-Arg-Arg (SEQ ID NO:1) or variant thereof are disclosed. The CPP, which itself has antimicrobial properties, can be advantageously combined with or conjugated to a cargo to increase the delivery, efficacy, or combinations thereof, of the cargo into cells. In preferred embodiments, the CPP is combined with or conjugated to a functional nucleic acid, such as an external guide sequence (EGS) which can target and reduce expression of essential microbial genes or genes than impart resistance to antimicrobial drugs. Methods of using the compositions alone or in combination with traditional antimicrobial drugs to treat infections are also disclosed.