Abstract: A method for treating obesity, insulin sensitivity, and related conditions involves administering to the subject a bacterium for overexpressing a N-acyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (NAPE) and/or a N-acylethanolamine (NAE). A composition includes a bacterium for overexpressing a N-acyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (NAPE) and/or a N-acylethanolamine (NAE); and an ingestible vehicle in which the bacterium is provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a new and emerging serotype of Streptococcus pneumoniae designated serotype 6C, and assays and monoclonal antibodies useful in identifying same. Also disclosed is a novel pneumococcal polysaccharide with the repeating unit {2) glucose 1 (1?3) glucose 2 (1?3) rhamnose (1?3) ribitol (5?phosphate}. This new serotype may be included in pneumococcal vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention provides attenuated P. multocida strains that elicit an immune response in animal P. multocida, compositions comprising said strains, methods of vaccination against P. multocida, and kits for use with such methods and compositions. The invention further provides novel, genetically-engineered mutations in P. multocida hyaD and nanPU genes, which are useful in the production of novel attenuated P. multocida bacterial strains.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mutant microbial host cell which has been modified, preferably in its genome, to result in a deficiency in the production of a polypeptide having ?-amylase activity AmyC or an homologous thereof. It has been surprisingly found that when the mutant microbial host cell according to the invention is used in a method to produce a compound of interest, for example an enzyme, an improved purity of the product is obtained.

Abstract: Provided is a novel lactic acid bacterium strain which is capable of suppressing production of volatile sulfur compounds by oral bacteria, has no cariogenicity and no causative role in infective endocarditis, and is safe in an oral cavity, and provided is an agent for preventing, improving and/or treating oral diseases and discomforts by use of the bacterial strain.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting antibodies against the TpN17 antigen of Treponema pallidum in an isolated sample wherein a peptide sequence of Vibrio cholerae lipoprotein 15 (VcLp15) or a partial sequence thereof is used as a reagent for reduction of interference, i.e. for minimizing false positive results. In addition the invention relates to fusion polypeptides comprising a VcLp15 peptide sequence and a chaperone, to their use as an additive in an immunoassay for said reduction of interferences and for minimizing false positive results and to a reagent kit for detecting antibodies against Treponema pallidum antigens in an isolated sample comprising a TpN17 antigen and said VcLp15-chaperone fusion polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of treating and preventing Staphylococcus aureus infection and/or a condition resulting from a S. aureus infection a subject that involves administering a CD11b inhibitor. The present invention further relates to a non-human transgenic animal expressing human CD11b and its use in methods of identifying novel therapeutics for the treatment and prevention of Staphylococcus aureus infection and/or a condition resulting from a S. aureus infection.

Abstract: There is disclosed compositions and methods relating to or derived from anti-AIP2 antibodies. More specifically, there is disclosed fully human antibodies that bind AIP2, AIP2-binding fragments and derivatives of such antibodies, and AIP2-binding polypeptides comprising such fragments. Further still, there is disclosed nucleic acids encoding such antibodies, antibody fragments and derivatives and polypeptides, cells comprising such polynucleotides, methods of making such antibodies, antibody fragments and derivatives and polypeptides, and methods of using such antibodies, antibody fragments and derivatives and polypeptides, including methods of treating or diagnosing subjects having AIP2 related disorders or conditions. There is also disclosed a method to treat S. aureus infections by administering an anti-AIP2 antibody described herein.

Abstract: An isolated fungus is described. The isolated fungus produces at least one compound selected from the group consisting of 1,8-cineole, 1-methyl-1, 4-cyclohexadiene, and (+)-?-methylene-?-fenchocamphorone. A method for producing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of 1,8-cineole, 1-methyl-1, 4-cyclohexadiene, and (+)-?-methylene-?-fenchocamphorone is also described. The method includes culturing a fungus on or within a culturing media in a container under conditions sufficient for producing the at least one compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a product selected from a protein, a fragment of the protein, a derived sequence and a homologous sequence of the protein, the protein including or being constituted by the 28 kDa glutathione S-transferase protein from a schistosome selected from Schistosoma haematobium, Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma bovis represented respectively by the sequences SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2 and SEQ ID NO: 3 for the use thereof in the treatment of an inflammatory autoimmune disease generating a response of type Th1 and/or Th17.

Abstract: The present invention relates to immunogenic compositions comprising one or more Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular saccharide conjugates and a protein component comprising Protein E and/or PilA from Haemophilus influenzae.

Abstract: Methods for detecting in a sample the presence of an antibody to a conjugate of an antigen associated with a first carrier by a first association are disclosed. The method comprises contacting a conjugate of the antigen associated with a second carrier by a second association with said sample under conditions that allow binding of the antibody to the antigen; and introducing an agent to detect the presence of the antibody bound to said antigen. The first association and the second association are covalent associations and the first association is different from the second association. Also provided are kits, multiwell plates and conjugates that are useful in the method and further uses of the method. Also provided is a method of releasing a batch of a vaccine comprising a conjugate of an antigen associated with a first carrier by a first association and antibodies useful in this method.

Abstract: The instant invention provides an immunogenic composition comprising an antigenic fragment of OspA protein of Borrelia burgdorferi and a chimeric protein containing antigenic fragments of different phylotypes of OspC protein of Borrelia burgdorferi. Vaccines incorporating the immunogenic composition of the invention, as well as methods of preventing Lyme disease in dogs and/or protecting dogs from Lyme disease using the vaccines are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for diagnosing Q-fever in a subject, the method comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a sample from said subject, (b) contacting said sample with a source of a Coxiella burnetii antigen and (c) determining the expression level of a pro-inflammatory cytokine such as IFN-? in said sample at the end of step (b).

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of vaccines against microbial infections and especially bacterial vaccines, in particular to pneumococcal vaccines. More in particular, the invention relates to means and methods to identify, select and isolate a vaccine component for passive and/or active immunization against a microorganism that can be killed by opsonophagocytic cells. The invention relates to a method to identify an opsonophagocytosis inducing antigen as a vaccine component for immunization against a microorganism. The invention describes three pneumococcal proteins SlrA, IgA1 proteinase, and PsaA, and their use as a vaccine component with or without PpmA. The invention also discloses the use of antibodies against said proteins for passive immunization and diagnosis.

Abstract: An individualized bacterial treatment of cancer is provided. The treatment includes a strain of bacteria modified by in-vivo passage through tumor grafts in experimental animals, where the modified strain exhibits enhanced cancer cell-targeting of a specific malignancy arising in a unique individual to the corresponding parent strain of bacteria. The treatment uses this modified strain for the treatment human solid-tumor malignancies by inoculating an individual with a quantity of the strain; and repeating inoculations at periodic intervals where repeated inoculations tend to progressively eliminate the solid tumor malignancy in the individual.

Abstract: Antigenic polypeptides comprising linear immunodominant epitopes of Borrelia outer surface protein A (OspA) or Borrelia outer surface protein C (OspC) are useful as vaccines against Lyme disease, and as diagnostics for detecting Borrelia infections. The OspA and OspC antigenic polypeptides typically comprise a plurality of peptides representing epitope containing regions from multiple distinct phyletic groups. The antigenic polypeptides may also include epitopes from both Borrelia OspA and Borrelia OspC.

Abstract: Herein provided are compositions, methods of manufacture and methods of use pertaining to anti-alpha toxin antibodies and fragments.

Abstract: Immunologically active agents are described, including isolated Pneumocystis A 12 protein or polypeptides; immunogenic conjugates containing Pneumocystis A 12 protein or polypeptide of the present invention; antibodies recognizing the Pneumocystis A 12 protein or polypeptide or the immunogenic conjugates of the present invention; and nucleic acid molecules that encode the Pneumocystis A 12 protein or polypeptide of the present invention, as well as DNA constructs, expression vectors, and host cells that contain the nucleic acid molecules. Disclosed uses of the antibodies, immunogenic conjugates, and DNA constructs include inducing passive or active immunity to treat or prevent pathogen infections, particularly by a Pneumocystis organism, in a subject.

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.