Abstract: Customized whole cell cancer vaccines can be produced from autologous (ex vivo or in situ) or allogeneic human or veterinary patient cell lines. Cells are transformed with S. pyogenes DNA that expresses an Emm protein on the cell surface and cytosol. Treatment of cancer patients with an Emm vector vaccine induces an immunologic response to the cancer by enhancing immunogenicity of a tumor. Emm vaccines can be used in patients where the cancer is not identified due to lower tumor burden or used to treat a specific cancer and subsequently treat for a second type that may have arisen through metastasis.

Abstract: The present invention refers to the use of gene sequences or portions thereof characterized in that the same belong to the classes of in vitro and ex vivo induced, repressed or conserved genes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis currently infected human macrophages and to corresponding peptides or consensus peptides or proteins for the preparation of specific bio-markers for the diagnosis and prevention of active or latent disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising a) recombinant exosporium-producing Bacillus cells that express a fusion protein comprising: (i) at least one plant growth stimulating protein or peptide and (ii) a targeting sequence that localizes the fusion protein to the exosporium of the Bacillus cells; and b) at least one further biological control agent selected from particular microorganisms disclosed herein and/or a mutant of a specific strain of a microorganism disclosed herein having all identifying characteristics of the respective strain, and/or at least one metabolite produced by the respective strain, and/or at least one metabolite produced by the respective strain that exhibits activity against insects, mites, nematodes and/or phytopathogens in a synergistically effective amount. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of this composition as well as a method for enhancing plant growth, promoting plant health, and/or reducing overall damage of plants and plant parts.

Abstract: Compositions and methods of the present invention relating to B. burgdorferi HtrA sensu lato (BbHtrA) protease activity, its substrates, cleavage products, biological effects and use in detection, diagnosis and/or treatment of Lyme disease are provided.

Abstract: The invention is based on the discovery of the epitope in the Stx2 protein for the 11 E1O antibody. The invention features compositions containing non-full length Stx2 polypeptides that include the 11 E1O monoclonal antibody epitope. The invention also features methods of producing anti-Stx2 antibodies specific for the 11 E1O epitope of the Stx2 protein. Additionally, the invention features methods for treating a subject having, or at risk of developing, a Shiga toxin associated disease (e.g., hemolytic uremia syndrome and diseases associated with E. coli and S. dysenteriae infection) with a polypeptide that includes the 11 E1O epitope or with an anti-Stx2 antibody developed using the methods of the invention. Furthermore, the invention features the detection of Stx2 in a sample using the antibodies developed using the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The invention describes a method of purifying polysaccharide protein conjugates using mixed mode chromatography. The method involves contacting a crude polysaccharide protein conjugate with a mixed mode resin comprising an inert porous shell and an activated core under conditions of low conductivity that allow binding of the contaminants and collecting the unbound polysaccharide protein conjugate in a flowthrough.

Abstract: Antibodies having Fab regions that specifically bind to Staphylococcus aureus protein A are capable of mediating opsinization of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria despite their expression of antibody-neutralizing protein A. These antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof can be used in methods of treating and/or preventing Staphylococcus aureus infections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for preventing and treating Staphylococcus aureus in a subject. Therapeutic compositions of the present invention comprise leukocidin E and/or D proteins or polypeptides and anti-leukocidin E and/or D antibodies. The invention further relates to methods of identifying inhibitors of LukE/D cytotoxicity and inhibitors of LukE/D-leukocyte binding.

Abstract: Knockout of the meningococcal mltA homolog gives bacteria that spontaneously release vesicles that are rich in immunogenic outer membrane proteins and that can elicit cross-protective antibody responses with higher bactericidal titers than OMVs prepared by normal production processes. Thus the invention provides a bacterium having a knockout mutation of its mltA gene. The invention also provides a bacterium, wherein the bacterium: (i) has a cell wall that includes peptidoglycan; and (ii) does not express a protein having the lytic transglycosylase activity MltA protein. The invention also provides compositions comprising vesicles that, during culture of bacteria of the invention, are released into the culture medium.

Abstract: The invention provides proteins from Staphylococcus aureus including amino acid sequences and the corresponding nucleotide sequences. The proteins are useful for vaccines, immunogenic compositions, diagnostics, enzymatic studies and also as targets for antibiotics.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an RhtB (homoserine/homoserine lactone export transporter) protein variant having an enhanced ability to export O-phosphoserine (OPS) that is a precursor of L-cysteine, a polynucleotide encoding the protein, a vector comprising the polynucleotide, an OPS-producing microorganism comprising the protein variant, a method of producing O-phosphoserine using the microorganism, and a method for preparing cysteine or its derivatives, which comprises reacting O-phosphoserine, produced by the method above, with a sulfide in the presence of O-phosphoserine sulfhydrylase (OPSS) or a microorganism that expresses OPSS.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions for oral delivery and methods of treatment using VSP carriers, such as Giardia sp. variable surface proteins (VSP), to deliver therapeutic agents. VSP drug carriers can be combined with bioactive peptides, e.g., insulin, glucagon, or hGH, and be administered orally or mucosally. VSP carriers are resistant to acidic pHs and to proteolytic degradation and protect therapeutic agents from degradation in the gastrointestinal tract.

Abstract: The invention provides epsilon toxin (ETX) produced by Clostridium perfringens type B or type D as a causative toxin for human multiple sclerosis (MS). The invention further identifies ETX binding receptor MAL for ETX mediated cell death and other toxin-logical activities in MS. Methods and compositions to prevent humans from multiple sclerosis (MS) and/or treating MS by directly or indirectly interfering with epsilon toxin (ETX), its binding receptor (e.g., MAL), or ETX-receptor interactions so as to inhibit or suppress downstream ETX mediated receptor signaling activities are provided. Also provided are various methods to detect, diagnose, monitor, assess multiple sclerosis (MS) by determining an expression level of ETX gene or its encoding protein in human patient suspected for and/or at risk for multiple sclerosis (MS).

Abstract: In some aspects, polypeptides comprising single domain antibodies and methods of identifying single domain antibodies are provided. In some embodiments polypeptides comprising a single domain antibody and a sortase recognition sequence, are provided. In some aspects, products and methods of use in modulating the immune system, e.g., modulating an immune response, are provided.

Abstract: The invention described herein provides for methods and systems for determining, selecting, and/or treating diseases and conditions caused by or associated with high quantities of methanogens in a subject, or diseases and conditions caused by or associated with low quantities of methanogens in a subject. In various embodiments, a therapy to inhibit the growth of methanogens or to promote the growth of methanogens are selected and/or administered to a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: There is provided a method of detecting in a sample the presence of an anti-M and/or anti-A and/or anti-C/Y antibody, the method comprising contacting the sample with a diagnostic conjugate provided according to the invention, comprising an oligosaccharide which comprises at least two units of 4,6-dideoxy-4-acylamido-?-pyranose and comprising at least one -(1-3)-link between adjacent 4,6-dideoxy-4-acylamido-?-pyranose units, in which the carbon at position 5 in the pyranose is linked to an R group, where R is independently selected from —CH2OH, —H or an alkyl group having at least one C atom, the oligosaccharide being covalently linked to a non-saccharide molecule or to a surface.

Abstract: The invention provides proteins from group B streptococcus (Streptococcus agalactiae) and group A streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes), including amino acid sequences and the corresponding nucleotide sequences. Data are given to show that the proteins are useful antigens for vaccines, immunogenic compositions, and/or diagnostics. The proteins are also targets for antibiotics.

Abstract: A method for onsite bacteria testing for oil and gas applications including collecting at least one component of a wellbore fluid; exposing at least one contaminant in the at least one component to at least one substrate that produces a detectable moiety; and performing a quantitative or qualitative detection of the detectable moiety.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for cancer treatments. The methodology entails, for instance, administering to a cancer patient a first composition comprising a plurality of bacterially derived intact minicells or intact killed bacterial cells, each of which encompasses an anti-neoplastic agent and carries a bispecific ligand on the surface, the ligand having specificity for a mammalian cell component, and a second composition comprising interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) or an agent that increases the expression of IFN-gamma in the subject. The compositions include the first composition and the second composition as described, optionally with additional anti-neoplastic agents.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 71 in another aspect, the invention relates to an immunogenic composition including an isolated non-lipidated, non-pyruvylated ORF2086 polypeptide from Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B, and at least one conjugated capsular saccharide from a meningococcal serogroup.