Abstract: Chimeric polyvalent recombinant proteins for use as vaccines and diagnostics for Lyme disease (e.g. in canines and humans) are provided. The chimeric proteins comprise epitopes of the loop 5 region and/or the alpha helix 5 region of outer surface protein C (OspC) types and/or OspE types. The OspC types may be associated with mammalian Borrelia infections.

Abstract: Method and compositions using transition metal salts and/or ammonium chloride to liberate toxins and other molecules from cyanobacteria, useful for assaying for total cyanobacterial toxins in lakes, reservoirs and other waters.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions, methods and therapies for the treatment of inflammation caused by infection with Propionibacterium acnes. The compositions include a combination of peptide and anti-TNF. The peptide consists of a specific amino acid sequence or a peptide consisting of an amino acid sequence derived the specific amino acid sequence by deletion, substitution, insertion or addition of one or more amino acids. The administration of the peptide and anti-TNF in therapeutically effective amounts to a patient is effective to suppress, by immune response, inflammation caused by infection with Propionibacterium acnes.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions comprising bacterial strains for treating and preventing inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant Clostridium difficile antigens based on a fusion protein that consists of or comprises a first amino acid sequence and a second amino acid sequence, wherein: a) the first amino acid sequence is provided by an amino acid sequence that has at least 80% sequence identity with an amino acid sequence consisting of residues 500-1850 of a C. difficile Toxin A sequence or residues 1500-1851 of a C. difficile Toxin B sequence; and b) the second amino acid sequence is provided by an amino acid sequence that has at least 80% sequence identity with an amino acid sequence consisting of a long repeat unit located within amino acid residues 1851-2710 of a C. difficile Toxin A sequence or within amino acid residues 1852-2366 of a C. difficile Toxin B sequence; though with the proviso that the fusion protein is not a polypeptide comprising amino acid residues 543-2710 of a C.

Abstract: Certain embodiments are direct to a vaccine composition comprising an immunizing amount of an Ehrlichia sonicate, wherein the Ehrlichia sonicate elicits a protective physiologic response. In certain aspects the Ehrlichia is one or more of E. canis, E. chaffeensis, E. muris, E. ruminantium, E. ewingii, and E. ovis.

Abstract: Method and compositions using transition metal salts and/or ammonium chloride to liberate toxins and other molecules from cyanobacteria, useful for assaying for total cyanobacterial toxins in lakes, reservoirs and other waters.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions comprising bacterial strains for treating and preventing inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Abstract: This disclosure provides methods and compositions related to microbial gene expression. In one aspect, a synthetic polypeptide having a xylose import activity.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are isolated and purified Staphylococcus aureus bi-component leukocidin, referred to herein as LukAB, and its components LukA and LukB, antibodies specific to LukA, antibodies specific to LukB, therapeutic compositions containing LukA and/or LukB, or anti-LukA and/or anti-LukB antibodies, uses of the compositions to treat acute inflammatory conditions or S. aureus infection, methods for identifying inhibitors of LukAB-mediated cytotoxicity of human phagocytes, and methods for using LukAB as a marker to predict severity of S. aureus infection.

Abstract: There is provided a diagnostic reagent useful to determine whether an animal has a tuberculosis infection or has been exposed to a tuberculosis agent, for example a Mycobacterium. The reagent is useful to distinguish between such an animal and an animal which has been vaccinated against a tuberculosis infection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a Polyporus squamosus-derived PSL1b recombinant lectin, which binds specifically to sialic acid containing glycoconjugates, from an Escherichia coli PSL1b strain (deposit number: KCTC12507BP) or a Pichia pastoris PSL1b strain (deposit number: KCTC12500BP) and a lectin produced thereby. The recombinant lectin of the present invention can be useful as an active ingredient of a composition or a kit for measuring or detecting glycoproteins, glycopeptides, glycolipids, sugar precursors, or oligosaccharides having sialic acid moieties.

Abstract: Described are compositions and methods relating variant filamentous fungi having altered growth characteristics. Such variants are well-suited for growth in submerged cultures, e.g., for the large-scale production of enzymes and other proteins for commercial applications.

Abstract: Described herein are isolated polypeptides having phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) inhibitory activity, vectors and cells for the expression thereof and methods for their use in treating diseases associated with cytotoxic stress, such as spinal cord injury, stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions comprising bacterial strains for treating and preventing inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods of using novel Babesia antigen peptides in detecting Babesia spp. in a sample. The methods may be adapted to assays suitable for high blood volume screening, use for clinical diagnosis of patients with babesiosis, or assaying blood contaminated with Babesia spp., such as B. microti.

Abstract: The present invention relates to monoclonal antibodies that bind or neutralize anthrax protective antigen (PA) toxin. The invention provides such antibodies, fragments of such antibodies retaining anthrax PA toxin-binding ability, fully human or humanized antibodies retaining anthrax PA toxin-binding ability, and pharmaceutical compositions including such antibodies. The invention further provides for isolated nucleic acids encoding the antibodies of the invention and host cells transformed therewith. Additionally, the invention provides for prophylactic, therapeutic, and diagnostic methods employing the antibodies and nucleic acids of the invention.

Abstract: This invention provides an IFN inducer comprising, as an active ingredient, lactic acid bacteria and capable of inducing IFN production, an immunopotentiating agent or prophylactic agent against virus infection comprising such inducer, and a food or drink product comprising such IFN inducer and having IFN-inducing activity, immunopotentiating activity, or prophylactic activity against virus infection. The agent for inducing IFN production comprises, as active ingredients, lactic acid bacteria that can activate plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and promote IFN production, such as Lactococcus garvieae NBRC100934, Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris JCM16167, Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris NBRC100676, Lactococcus lactis subsp. hordniae JCM1180, Lactococcus lactis subsp. hordniae JCM11040, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis NBRC12007, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis NRIC1150, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis JCM5805, Lactococcus lactis subsp.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses pet food compositions that include one or more probiotic microorganisms, which are useful to improve the health of companion animals. For example, the invention encompasses pet food compositions including a probiotic, for example, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus (Enterococcus). The present invention also encompasses the preparation of pet food compositions including one or more probiotic microorganisms intended for methods of maintaining or improving pet health through feeding a pet a pet food composition including the probiotic microorganism.

Abstract: The present invention provides polypeptides useful as antigens expressed at the pre-erythrocytic stage of the malaria parasite. The antigens can be utilized to induce an immune response and sterile protection against malaria in a mammal by administering the antigens in vaccine formulations or expressing the antigens in DNA or other recombinant protein expression systems delivered as a vaccine formulation.