Abstract: Human and humanized monoclonal antibodies which binds specifically to subunit A of Shiga like toxin II have been developed which are effective to prevent or ameliorate one or more symptoms of HUS in a human. Effective dosages for treatment or prevention range from approximately 0.1 to 5.0 mg of antibody/kg of patient weight. The examples demonstrate the preferred dosage ranges based on the pig model, and what is being tested in phase I clinical trials. Antibodies are preferably transfused over a period of two hours, although this will depend on the patient and the disease state at the time of treatment. Preferred dosages for treatment of humans are between 0.1 mg/kg-5.0 mg/kg of 5C120, or an equivalent dosage of another antibody to subunit A of STX2. In the most preferred embodiments, dosages of 0.1 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg, or 5.0 mg/kg of 5C12 (low dose, anticipated therapeutic dose based on animal data and high dose) are administered.

Abstract: Novel human monoclonal antibodies derived from a transgenic mouse are disclosed as well as a process for the preparation of the novel monoclonals and a therapeutic method of treating an individual for hemolytic uremic syndrome or of protecting an individual against hemolytic uremic syndrome by administration of the monoclonals to the individual in need of treatment or protection.

Abstract: Novel human monoclonal antibodies derived from a transgenic mouse are disclosed as well as a process for the preparation of the novel monoclonals and a therapeutic method of treating an individual for hemolytic uremic syndrome or of protecting an individual against hemolytic uremic syndrome by administration of the monoclonals to the individual in need of treatment or protection.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a method for identifying a causative fungus of skin disease. The method includes: simultaneously performing amplification treatments under the same conditions using primers common to plural fungal species; then simultaneously performing hybridization procedures under the same conditions using probes respectively specific to fungi; and determining the presence or absence of each fungus from the hybridization intensity of each probe.

Abstract: The present invention relates to conjugates of oligosaccharides of formula 1, wherein R is a linker to a carrier protein and optionally comprises up to three further saccharides, 5 and which are useful for vaccination, methods of synthesis of such conjugates, antibodies against this antigen, hybridoma producing monoclonal antibodies against this antigen, assays using these antibodies for the detection of B. anthracis spores and kits comprising these antibodies, and a vaccine for the prevention of B. anthracis infection comprising the conjugates of oligosaccharides of formula 1. Monoclonal antibodies 10 according to the invention selectively bind to B. anthracis, but not to related bacteria such as B. subtilis, B. cereus and other bacteria of this group such as B. thuringiensis.

Abstract: Members of the IpaH superfamily constitute a novel class of E3 ubiquitin ligases which are useful for engineering products which modulate trafficking and destruction of target proteins inside a cell and useful targets for identifying new antimicrobial molecules which modulate, especially inhibit, E3 ligases.

Abstract: The present invention discloses modified neurotoxins with altered biological persistence. In one embodiment, the modified neurotoxins are derived from Clostridial botulinum toxins. Such modified neurotoxins may be employed in treating various conditions, including but not limited to muscular disorders, hyperhidrosis, and pain.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated polypeptide and nucleic acid sequences derived from Streptococcus pneumoniae that are useful in diagnosis and therapy of pathological conditions; antibodies against the polypeptides; and methods for the production of the polypeptides. The invention also provides methods for the detection, prevention and treatment of pathological conditions resulting from bacterial infection.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel lipase with a molecular weight of about 32 kDa, which is produced by a strain belonging to the genus Tetrasphaera, as well as a gene encoding the same. This lipase has the ability to recognize a medium-chain fatty acid as a substrate. The present invention also provides a novel lipase with a molecular weight of about 40 kDa, which is produced by a strain belonging to the genus Tetrasphaera and has the ability to recognize both a medium-chain fatty acid and a long-chain fatty acid as substrates, as well as a polynucleotide encoding the same. The present invention further provides Tetrasphaera sp. strain NITE P-154. The lipase of the present invention can be used as an immobilized enzyme and is useful in fields such as production of digestants and/or flavorings, production of clinical laboratory reagents, detergent enzymes and/or fats, as well as production of optically active intermediates for agricultural chemicals and pharmaceutical preparations.

Abstract: Polypeptide and polynucleotide vaccines effective to treat or prevent infection of a mammal, such as a dog, a cat, or a human, by a protozoan. Methods of treatment and prevention are also provided, including therapeutic administration of the vaccine to an infected mammal to prevent progression of infection to a chronic debilitating disease state. Preferred embodiments of the polynucleotide vaccine contain nucleotide coding regions that encode polypeptides that are surface-associated or secreted by T. cruzi. Optionally the efficacy of the polynucleotide vaccine is increased by inclusion of a nucleotide coding region encoding a cytokine. Preferred embodiments of the polypeptide vaccine include immunogenic peptides that contain membrane transducing sequences that allow the polypeptides to translocate across a mammalian cell membrane.

Abstract: Processes to produce microorganisms that can be incorporated into a microbial-based product that results in high viable cell yields and shelf-stable products are disclosed. These microbial-based products are useful for inhibiting pathogenic growth and as a food additive. A preferred microorganism is the lactic acid producing bacteria, Lactobacillus amylovorus M35. In one embodiment, the process comprises inoculating a lactobacillus fermentation medium with M35 cells, harvesting the M35 cells at mid to late log phase, concentrating the M35 cells, and preserving the M35 cells at a concentration of at least 5×109 cfu/ml.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a Salmonella microorganism having an attenuating mutation which disrupts the expression of a gene located within the Spi2 pathogenicity island, and an auxotrophic mutation. The microorganism therefore has a double mutation which helps prevent reactivity of the microorganism while maintaining the effectiveness of the microorganism to elicit an immune response. The present invention also pertains to vaccine compositions and methods for treating and preventing a Salmonella infection in a patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bacterial effector protein which inhibits programmed cell death in eukaryotes and a nucleic acid molecule encoding such a protein. The present invention also relates to methods of suppressing programmed cell death in eukaryotes, delaying senescence in plants, and increasing protein expression in plants. The present invention further relates to a nucleic acid construct having a nucleic acid molecule encoding a first protein, which suppresses immunity by inhibition of programmed cell death in eukaryotes, coupled to a nucleic acid molecule encoding a second protein which is toxic when expressed in eukaryotes. Additionally, the present invention provides a method of stabilizing a transgenic plant transformed with such a nucleic acid construct. Finally, the present invention provides a method of treating subjects for a condition mediated by programmed cell death involving administering to the subject a bacterial effector protein which inhibits programmed cell death.

Abstract: Compositions, methods and devices for the detection of anti-lipoidal antibodies and the diagnosis of disease, for example, syphilis, are described. In particular, oxidized cardiolipins, which may be conjugated with a variety of attachment molecules, such as BSA, KLH, biotin, synthetic protein MAPS, IgY, streptavidin, or avidin, are described. Such oxidized cardiolipin, alone or complexed with one or more attachment molecules, are useful to detect anti-lipoidal antibodies in subjects, for example, when used in lateral flow devices. Lateral flow devices are described that permit the detection of anti-lipoidal antibodies and that permit the co-detection of nontreponemal and treponemal antibodies in biological samples.

Abstract: The present invention discloses modified neurotoxins with altered biological persistence. In one embodiment, the modified neurotoxins are derived from Clostridial botulinum toxins. Such modified neurotoxins may be employed in treating various conditions, including but not limited to muscular disorders, hyperhidrosis, and pain.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the in vitro diagnosis of an Aspergillus infection by determining in the serum or plasma sample of a subject the quantity of antibodies directed against a combination of at least two of the ribonuclease (RNU), catalase (CA) and dipeptidylpeptidase V (DPPV) Aspergillus antigens. The invention also relates to a diagnostic kit comprising said combination.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the use of the DNA sequence of a Lactobacillus johnsonii strain, in particular to its genomic sequence for elucidating interactions of micro-organism with hosts they colonize, and moreover for elucidating the basis of probiotic properties exhibited by such strain. In addition, the present invention also relates to methods of detecting nucleic acids or polypeptides of Lactobacilli and related species, respectively. A data carrier is provided comprising nucleotide sequences and/or polypeptide sequences of La1.

Abstract: Expression vectors that can efficiently produce virion capsid protein, tumor-associated protein of human papillomavirus on a microbial surface. Bacterial strains harboring such surface display vectors, and the use of the bacterial strains or their extracts or purified products as complex vaccines, are also described. The surface display vectors contain one or more than two genes selected from among pgsB, pgsC and pgsA, encoding a poly-?-glutamic acid synthetase complex (pgsBCA) of a Bacillus sp. strain, and genes that encode virion capsid proteins, tumor-associated proteins of human papillomavirus. Methods for preparing the foregoing vectors, vaccines and transformed microorganisms are also described.

Abstract: The invention provides a prostate specific antigen oligo-epitope peptide (PSA-OP) that is useful as an immunogen in the prevention or treatment of prostatic cancer and in the inhibition of prostatic cancer cells and in the establishment and characterization of PSA-specific cytotoxic T-cell lines. In particular, the invention provides methods for eliciting an immune response against PSA comprising administering (i) a priming inoculation of a first recombinant virus encoding PSA-OP and (ii) one or more boosting inoculations of a second recombinant virus encoding PSA-OP, wherein the first and second recombinant viruses are from a different genus.

Abstract: The invention overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art by providing a rapid approach for isolating binding proteins capable of binding small molecules and peptides via “display-less” library screening. In the technique, libraries of candidate binding proteins, such as antibody sequences, are expressed in soluble form in the periplasmic space of gram negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, and are mixed with a labeled ligand. In clones expressing recombinant polypeptides with affinity for the ligand, the concentration of the labeled ligand bound to the binding protein is increased and allows the cells to be isolated from the rest of the library. Where fluorescent labeling of the target ligand is used, cells may be isolated by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). The approach is more rapid than prior art methods and avoids problems associated with the surface-expression of ligand fusion proteins employed with phage display.