Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods for the treatment or prevention of pathogenic infections.

Abstract: This disclosure provides compositions, including Listeria delivery vectors comprising minigene expression constructs, and methods of using the same for inducing an immune response against an antigen-expressing tumor and for treating the same, and vaccinating against the same in subjects bearing the tumors.

Abstract: A means for predicting an infant's risk of developing an allergy to an allergen is provided. IgG1 antibody titers and IgE antibody titers against egg white in a sample of infants 6 months old or younger are measured using a DCP chip, and a scattergram is created by plotting the IgG1 antibody titer on an X axis and the IgE antibody titer on a Y axis. For data distribution divided into two blocks, a linear function applicable to the respective blocks is calculated to obtain two types of linear functions, and the risk of developing an allergy is predicted based on which block an infant belongs to.

Abstract: This invention relates to the detection and diagnosis of tuberculosis. More specifically, the invention relates to new biomarkers and combinations thereof that enable the accurate detection and diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Abstract: A device for sampling microorganisms comprising a hollow probe that can be inserted into a growth substrate or water system, the probe containing a growth medium for microorganisms wherein the growth medium contains a chemoattractant particularly a plant pathogen chemoattractant wherein the growth medium is specific for the microorganism/microorganisms which a grower wishes to know if they are present in the growth substrate or water system.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for identifying a composition having anti-pathogenic activity; evaluating the anti-pathogenic activity of a composition; measuring the metabolic function of a pathogen; and/or comparing the anti-pathogenic performance of a plurality of compositions.

Abstract: Provided are a promoter polynucleotide, a signal polypeptide and a polynucleotide encoding the signal polypeptide, and use thereof. A vector and a host cell each including the promoter polynucleotide and the polynucleotide encoding the signal polypeptide may efficiently express and/or extracellularly secrete a foreign protein.

Abstract: Various methods, devices, and systems for determining the concentration of microorganisms in a sample and determining the susceptibility of such microorganisms to one or more antibiotics or other types of anti-infectives are disclosed herein. More specifically, methods for quantifying microorganisms based on redox reactions are disclosed along with systems and devices for quantifying such microorganisms using certain oxidation reduction potential (ORP) sensors. Moreover, methods for determining the susceptibility and the degree of susceptibility of microorganisms to one or more anti-infectives are disclosed along with multiplex systems for such assays.

Abstract: The present invention provides for recombinant Endo-S mutants that exhibit reduced hydrolysis activity and increased transglycosylation activity for the synthesis of glycoproteins wherein a desired sialylated oxazoline or synthetic oligosaccharide oxazoline is added to a core fucosylated or nonfucosylated GlcNAc-protein acceptor. Such recombinant Endo-S mutants are useful for efficient glycosylation remodeling of IgG1-Fc domain to provide different antibody glycoforms carrying structurally well-defined Fc N-glycans.

Abstract: The present invention provides vaccine compositions and methods of producing such compositions. Other embodiments of the invention include methods of treating a pathogen infection, methods of vaccinating a subject against a pathogen infection, and methods for treating an antibiotic-resistance bacterial infection in a subject in need thereof. In further embodiments, the invention includes methods of decreasing the level of a pathogen in a subject having a pathogen infection, methods of increasing the surviving rate of a subject having a pathogen infection, methods of reducing the level of pain associated with a pathogen infection, and methods of reducing the level of distress associated with a pathogen infection in a subject in need thereof. Novel scaffold compositions and opsonin-bound or lectin-bound pathogen compositions, and uses thereof, are also provided herein.

Abstract: Identification of immunodominant Babesia microti antigens using genome-wide immunoscreening is described. Candidate antigens were screened against sera from patients with clinical babesiosis. Also described are diagnostic assays with high sensitivity and specificity for detecting B. microti-specific antibodies in patient samples using the identified immunodominant antigens.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are nucleic acids, vector systems, and vaccines for vaccinating fresh water and marine fish using Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich) i-antigens. In particular, a recombinant attenuated Edwardsiella vaccine (RAEV) vector system is disclosed with regulated delayed attenuation and regulated delayed lysis in vivo attributes that synthesizes Ich protective antigens to enable vaccination of fresh water and marine fish species susceptible to white spot disease. This vaccine construct is designed to exhibit the invasive properties of virulent Edwardsiella at the time of bath immunization and then is programmed to gradually lose virulence attributes and to synthesize protective antigens as a consequence of in vivo cell division as the RAEV colonizes internal effector lymphoid tissues. The ultimate lysis in vivo delivers a bolus of protective antigen along with immunostimulatory molecules to exhibit complete biological containment with no potential for survival in vivo or ex vivo.

Abstract: The invention relates to treatment of a plant with one or more microorganisms for inhibiting a plant pathogen. More particularly, the invention relates to isolated Bacillus strains, and strains having all of the identifying characteristics of these strains, and combinations thereof, for a use comprising the above-mentioned use.

Abstract: The present invention includes the discovery of a strain of Mycobacterium comprising an expression vector encoding a di-adenylate cyclase enzyme. The Mycobacterium is selected from the group consisting of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium bovis, or a combination thereof and the preferred strain of Mycobacterium is BCG. The preferred expression vector is a mycobacterial expression vector including an hsp60 promoter and a DNA sequence of diadenylate cyclase (disA), or a functional part thereof. The strains of Mycobacterium are used in therapeutic applications including tuberculosis and cancer.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns methods of using novel bacterial strains of 0617-T307, 0917-T305, 0917-T306, 0917-T307, 0118-T319, 0318-T327, and 0418-T328, the cell broth and novel metabolites produced from the bacterial strains, that can inhibit the growth of a variety of fish pathogens.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns methods of using novel bacterial strains of 0617-T307, 0917-T305, 0917-T306, 0917-T307, 0118-T319, 0318-T327, and 0418-T328, the cell broth and novel metabolites produced from the bacterial strains, that can inhibit the growth of a variety of microbial species for a variety of crops.

Abstract: The ubiquitin ligase, RNF5, regulates the gut microbiota composition and influences the immune checkpoint response to tumors. RNF5 deficient animals exhibit significant inhibition of tumor development as well as an altered gut microbiota composition. Methods of treating cancer by administering to a subject one or more selected bacterial species and/or one or more prebiotics that promote the growth of one or more selected bacterial species are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of treating cancer by administering to a subject one or more selected bacterial species and/or one or more prebiotics that promote the growth of one or more selected bacterial species in combination with one or more anti-cancer agents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the prevention and treatment of Borrelia infection. Particularly, the present invention relates to a polypeptide comprising a hybrid C-terminal fragment of an outer surface protein A (OspA), a nucleic acid coding the same, an antibody specifically binding the same, a pharmaceutical composition (particularly for use as a medicament or in a method of treating or preventing a Borrelia infection) comprising the polypeptide and/or the nucleic acid and/or the antibody, a method of treating or preventing a Borrelia infection and a method of immunizing a subject.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and compositions that are useful to lessen and/or cure bacterial biofilms and treat diseases or disorders associated with biofilms using one or more novel polypeptide vaccines, antibodies, antibody fragments and compositions. Bacteria that cannot form functional biofilms are more readily cleared by the remainder of the host's immune system and/or traditional antibiotics.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, components, and compositions for cell-free synthesis of glycosylated proteins. The glycosylated proteins may be utilized in vaccines, including anti-bacterial vaccines. The glycosylated proteins may include a bacterial polysaccharide conjugated to a carrier, which may be utilized to generate an immune response in an immunized host against the polysaccharide conjugated to the carrier. The glycosylated proteins may be synthesized in cell-free glycoprotein synthesis (CFGpS) systems using prokaryote cell lysates that are enriched in components for glycoprotein synthesis such as oligosaccharyltransferases (OSTs) and lipid-linked oligosaccharides (LLOs) including OSTs and LLOs associated with synthesis of bacterial O antigens.