Abstract: Disclosed is a recombinant vaccine for porcine atrophic rhinitis. A vaccine is provided which uses a Pasteurella multocida (D:4) outer membrane protein H. The vaccine uses a small size of peptides, so that it exhibits a remarkable activity. In addition, it is possible to provide a vaccine that can be applied in the body through a variety of routes.

Abstract: Hybridoma cell lines which produce and secrete monoclonal antibodies which selectively bind to Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis have been produced. Cells of M. avium subspecies paratuberculosis in biological samples may be detected and quantified by contacting the sample with the antibodies to form a M. avium subspecies paratuberculosis/antibody immunocomplex when M. avium subspecies paratuberculosis is present, which immunocomplex may then be detected. The monoclonal antibodies also may be incorporated into kits for the detection and quantification of M. avium subspecies paratuberculosis.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel L-lysine-inducible promoter nucleic acid molecule. Also disclosed are a vector containing the nucleic acid molecule, a host cell transformed with the vector, and a method of inducing expression of a target gene using the L-lysine-inducible promoter nucleic acid molecule.

Abstract: The invention provides an immunostimulatory nucleic acid comprising CpG motifs, and methods of use thereof in stimulating immunity.

Abstract: The present invention provides vectors that contain and express in vivo Leishmania KMP11 or an epitope thereof that elicits an immune response in a dog against Leishmania, compositions comprising said vectors, methods of vaccination against Leishmania, and kits for use with such methods and compositions.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for identifying a compound that inhibits cytochrome c synthesis. This invention further provides a method for the high throughput screening of compounds that inhibit cytochrome c synthesis.

Abstract: The present invention provides an adjuvant, which includes at least one single strand deoxynucleotide containing a CpG dinucleotide. The single strand deoxynucleotide comprises one or more CpG dinucleotides. When used in combination with rabies vaccine, HBV vaccine or other vaccines, the adjuvant can significantly improve the immune effect of the vaccine.

Abstract: Substantially purified salivary P. ariasi and P. perniciosus polypeptides, and polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are disclosed. Vectors and host cells including the P. ariasi and P. perniciosus polynucleotides are also disclosed. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed for inducing an immune response to sand fly saliva. In other embodiments, methods for treating or preventing Leishmaniasis are disclosed.

Abstract: Plasmid vectors for expression in Caenorhabditis elegans harbouring a heat inducible promoter nucleotide sequence, a synthetic intron nucleotide sequence optionally containing a Shine-Dalgarno sequence for efficient shuttling between C. elegans and E. coli, optionally a nucleotide sequence coding for a nuclear localisation signal or secretion signal, a nucleotide sequence coding for a recognizable tag, optionally a nucleotide sequence coding for a fluorescent protein, a nucleotide sequence coding for a protease cleavage site, a multiple cloning site containing a nucleotide sequence coding for an eukaryotic, such as human, protein or a nucleic acid molecule and a nucleotide sequence coding for termination of translation, are described. Methods of particularly large scale production of eukaryotic, such as human, proteins and nucleic acid molecules in nematodes are also described.

Abstract: This invention provides compositions and methods for detection of hematophagous ectoparasitic activity in an enclosure or area. The compositions comprise a reagent or reagents which are reactive against antigens or markers as they appear in the excrement or other ectoparasitic materials. Such markers or antigens may be produced by the ectoparasite itself or may have been introduced into the ectoparasite because of its blood feeding activity. The method of the present invention comprises collecting from the enclosure or area, a sample comprising environmental dust or materials and subjecting the sample to tests for detecting the presence of hematophagous ectoparasitic markers, host markers or both.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of making and using immunogenic oligosaccharide compositions comprising native O-linked and S-linked oligosaccharides coupled to a protein carrier, wherein the resultant conjugate elicits a protectively immunogenic response. These compositions may be useful in vaccines against pathogenic Candida species.

Abstract: The invention relates to Babesia proteins of a 28kDa protein family and to immunogenic fragments of such proteins, to nucleic acids encoding such proteins or fragments, to cDNA fragments, recombinant DNA molecules, live recombinant carriers, or host cells comprising such nucleic acids, to vaccines, to methods for the preparation of such vaccines, to the use of such proteins or fragments for the prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of an infection or its clinical signs caused by an organism of the family Babesiidae, and to diagnostic tests for detection of nucleic acids, antibodies or antigens of an organism of the family Babesiidae.

Abstract: An immunogenic composition having 13 distinct polysaccharide-protein conjugates and optionally, an aluminum-based adjuvant, is described. Each conjugate contains a capsular polysaccharide prepared from a different serotype of Streptococcus pneumoniae (1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F and 23F) conjugated to a carrier protein. The immunogenic composition, formulated as a vaccine, increases coverage against pneumococcal disease in infants and young children globally, and provides coverage for serotypes 6A and 19A that is not dependent on the limitations of serogroup cross-protection. Also described is a method for making an immunogenic conjugate comprising Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 3 polysaccharide covalently linked to a carrier protein, the method including periodic acid oxidation of the polysaccharide in the presence of bivalent cations.

Abstract: Use of a novel vaccine antigen applied in a preventive or therapeutic way against diseases in general, being such disease of bacterial, viral, cancer related, or other origin. The technical objective that this invention pursues is the development of formulations with the ability to increase the protective spectrum of existing vaccines and hence expanding it against different pathogens. In order to achieve this goal the NMB1125 protein was isolated and identified as a component of outer membrane preparations of Neisseria meningitidis capable of inducing bactericidal activity. Additionally, the gene codifying for NMB1125 protein was cloned and expressed, and the said polypeptide was purified and its immunogenicity evaluated in animal models. The sequence data from homologous genes showed, due to the high degree of conservation, its high value as a target antigen of a cross-reactive response when it is presented by different routes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting and/or identifying bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus, comprising the following steps: A. the nucleic acid material of the bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus is extracted, B. at least one target sequence of the nucleic acid material of the bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus is amplified using at least one amplification primer comprising at least 10 nucleotide motifs of SEQ ID No. 1 and/or at least one amplification primer comprising at least 10 nucleotide motifs of SEQ ID No. 2, in order to obtain amplicons of the target sequence, C. the presence of bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus is determined by detecting said amplicons.

Abstract: Methods for enhancing expression levels and secretion of heterologous fusion proteins in a host cell are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of identifying a molecule capable of inducing death of a bacterial cell which includes exposing toxin and antitoxin polypeptides of a toxin-antitoxin pair produced by the bacterial cell to a plurality of molecules, and identifying a molecule of the plurality of molecules capable of preventing or disrupting binding between the antitoxin and said toxin polypeptides, thereby identifying the molecule capable of inducing death of the bacterial cell.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to heat shock proteins from Mycobacterium leprae as well as their encoding polynucleotides and vectors and host cells containing these polynucleotides. These heat shock proteins and their encoding polynucleotides are useful in detection of Mycobacterium leprae. In addition, the heat shock protein can be used as an adjuvant in a pharmaceutical composition containing an antigen to induce or enhance the immune response against the antigen. Further, the heat shock protein may be used to treat atopic conditions or as a vaccine against Mycobacterium leprae. Alternatively, the heat shock protein can be used to form a fusion protein with an antigen to induce or enhance the immune response against the antigen.

Abstract: The invention provides a peptide having at least about 75% amino acid homology with the sequence shown in SEQ ID No: 2. The peptide of the invention also can include an amino acid homology with the sequence shown in SEQ ID No: 2 corresponding to at least about 80%, at least about 85%, at least about 90% or can include the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No: 2. The peptide of the invention can further include an amino acid sequence selected from the sequences shown in SEQ ID Nos: 1, 3 or 4-6.

Abstract: A method for producing a polysaccharide and a conjugate vaccine including the polysaccharide produced according to the method. A characteristic step in the method is that the pH of the culture medium is kept at a constant value with base or acid until adjustment with respectively base or acid is not possible anymore. Using the method, capsular polysaccharide may be obtained in a high yield in a relatively short time. The method is straightforward, reproducible and cost-effective.