Abstract: Longer chain antigenic O-polysaccharide chains for use as a hapten in conjugate vaccines can be produced in a controlled manner using recombinant Gram-negative bacteria that overexpress native or heterologous genes of the wzz family, for example wzzB. Bacteria expressing a chosen wzz gene have modified O-polysaccharide chain lengths, allowing the bacteria to produce lipopolysaccharides having the longer O-polysaccharides. The LPS produced by the bacteria can be hydrolyzed to form core-O-polysaccharide molecules that can be conjugated to a carrier molecule, for example flagellin, to produce a vaccine. The invention also provides recombinant bacteria producing the longer chain O-polysaccharides, the polysaccharide molecules, themselves, conjugated vaccines comprising the O-polysaccharides, pharmaceutical compositions and kits.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a blood pressure lowering composition which contains as an active ingredient exopolysaccharide produced by means of Ceriporia lacerata, a Ceriporia lacerata mycelium culture medium comprising same, or dry powder or an extract of same. The composition can be used as an antihypertensive for preventing or treating hypertension or cerebral apoplexy or as a functional health food having antihypertensive effect.

Abstract: Disclosed is the attenuated Salmonella typhi vaccine Ty21a utilized as a vector for Shigella and/or enterotoxogenic E. coli genes stably integrated in the Ty21a chromosome. These genes include a heterologous Shigella sonnei O-antigen biosynthetic gene region that comprises the wzz gene and expresses Shigella sonnei form 1 O-antigen, as well as a heterologous acid resistance biosynthetic gene system comprising a YbaS gene, which enables increased stability of the Ty21a vector at pH 2.5 relative to Ty21a without the integrated acid resistance biosynthetic gene system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pharmaceutical and food compositions for inducing satiation and prolonging satiety in subjects in need thereof. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of inducing satiation in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a ClpB protein or an effective amount of a bacterium that expresses the ClpB protein.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for detecting and diagnosing sexually transmitted infections using a string of epitopes (SOE) specific for detection of causative microorganisms are provided. The antigenic epitopes may be single epitope sequences, a plurality of epitope sequences joined by amino acid linkers to form a series of epitopes (SOE), or nucleotide sequences encoding one or more SOEs and host cells harboring said SOE nucleotide sequences. SOEs specific for highly immunogenic regions of proteins from Trichomonas, Treponema and Neisseria species are provided. SOEs to detect the presence of Trichomonas species comprise regions from Trichomonas aldolase, GAPDH, ?-enolase and ?-actinin proteins. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising SOEs can also be used as vaccines or to elicit an immune response to specific microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated bacterium and composition comprising same having anti-pathogenic activity. The invention further relates to compounds derived from said bacterium or analogs thereof, and methods of using same for treating or reducing the symptoms of a pathogen including but not limited to a phytopathogen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the recombinant expression of Chlamydia major outer membrane protein (MOMP) comprising transforming a population of E. coli host cells with an expression vector comprising a nucleic acid molecule that encodes Chlamydia MOMP and encodes a leader sequence for targeting the MOMP to the outer membrane of the cell, wherein the nucleic acid molecule is operatively linked to a promoter. The method of the invention allows expression of MOMP in the outer membrane of the cell, which leads to protein folding that is more like native MOMP relative to a MOMP protein that is expressed intracellularly. Also provided by the invention are uses of the recombinant MOMP in pharmaceutical compositions and methods for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of Chlamydia infection and/or the effects thereof.

Abstract: Compounds inhibitory to Staphylococcus pseudintermedius Sortase A (SrtA) are identified. The compounds inhibit cell wall-associated protein anchoring to the bacterial cell wall, thus potentially reducing bacterial virulence.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for conjugation of an antigen.

Abstract: An immunogenic composition containing leucocidin M/F antigen and capable of imparting a toxin-neutralizing activity to a ruminant animal as a subject animal. The immunogenic composition enables prevention of onset or reduction in symptoms of diseases caused by Staphylococcus aureus in ruminant animals. The leucocidin M/F antigen is a protein or peptide having at least a part of the amino acid sequence constituting the leucocidin M protein or a protein or peptide having at least a part of the amino acid sequence constituting the leucocidin F protein. The immunogenic composition may further contain a somatic antigen of Staphylococcus aureus.

Abstract: The invention features a method of vaccinating a mammal against Staphylococcus aureus which includes the steps of: a) identifying a mammal at risk for the development of a Staphylococcus aureus skin or soft tissue infection; and b) administering to said mammal an immunogenic amount of a vaccine that includes a polypeptide including an isolated agglutinin-like sequence (Als) 3 protein (Als3p), or an immunogenic fragment thereof, in a pharmaceutically acceptable medium.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for the display of polypeptides of interest on the tip of pili of Gram-positive bacteria. According to the present invention, the polypeptide of interest is amino terminal to a Gram-positive bacterial pilus tip protein or an active variant or fragment thereof, wherein the active variant or fragment comprises a cleaved cell wall sorting signal (CWSS) motif. The Gram-positive bacterium displaying a polypeptide of interest on the tip of pili that are disclosed herein are useful, for example, in methods for immunizing a subject with an antigen and methods for removing contaminants from a composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the combination of spirulina and palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and/or pharmaceutically acceptable derivates or salts thereof, pharmaceutical formulations comprising the combination of spirulina and PEA and/or pharmaceutically acceptable derivates or salts thereof, optionally together with at least one physiologically acceptable excipient, and the use of the combination of spirulina and PEA and/or pharmaceutically acceptable derivates or salts thereof and formulations which include the said combination, for use in the prevention and/or treatment of tissue hyperactivation states, in the prevention and/or treatment of inflammatory pathologies, in the prevention and/or treatment of alterations in cardiac and/or coronary tissue, in the prevention and/or treatment of alterations in the vascular tissue, in the prevention and/or treatment of ophthalmic pathologies, preferably in the prevention and/or treatment of macular degeneration pathologies and glaucoma, in the prevention and/or tr

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of molecular biology and cell biology. More specifically, the present invention relates to a CRISPR-CAS system for a yeast host cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of modulating immune cells in a patient by altering microbiota of the patient. The invention also relates to methods of modulating treatments or therapies in a subject organism by altering microbiota of the subject. The invention also relates to cell populations, systems, arrays, cells, RNA, kits and other means for effecting this. In an example, advantageously selective targeting of a particular species in a human gut microbiota using guided nucleic acid modification is carried out to effect the alteration.

Abstract: The present invention provides Chlamydia organisms and compositions and methods of use in the treatment/prevention of chlamydial infection in a subject, for eliciting an immune response in a subject and for use as vectors.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of modulating immune cells in a patient by altering microbiota of the patient. The invention also relates to methods of modulating treatments or therapies in a subject organism by altering microbiota of the subject. The invention also relates to cell populations, systems, arrays, cells, RNA, kits and other means for effecting this. In an example, advantageously selective targeting of a particular species in a human gut microbiota using guided nucleic acid modification is carried out to effect the alteration.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the cells, compositions and methods for the production of recombinant protein. In particular, the invention is directed to a production process for obtaining high levels of soluble recombinant CRM197 protein from E. coli. Cells preferably contain one or more mutations of disulfide reductase genes, so that disulfide reductase activity is reduced. The invention also relates to purification method for CRM197 as well as characterization of properly folded CRM197 protein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of molecular biology and cell biology. More specifically, the present invention relates to a CRISPR-CAS system for a lipolytic yeast host cell.

Abstract: Binding agents able to disrupt bacterial biofilms of diverse origin are described, including monoclonal antibodies suitable for administration to a selected species, and antibody mimics including aptamer nucleic acids. Methods to prevent formation of or to dissolve biofilms with these binding agents are also described. Immunogens for eliciting antibodies to disrupt biofilms are also described.