Abstract: The instant invention is to provide a method for detecting and measuring malaria infection utilizing the induction by hemozoin (HZ); a method for screening a vaccine for malaria infection and a preventative or therapeutic agent for malaria infection using the method for detecting and measuring; and a means for regulating the induction of innate immunity using the HZ, synthetic HZ, or derivatives thereof as an adjuvant or immunostimulant. Malaria infection is detected and measured of by detecting and measuring HZ-induced, TLR9-mediated, and MyD88-dependent innate immune activity. The detection and measurement of malaria infection can be used to diagnose malaria infection. The method for detecting and measuring is also used for screening a vaccine for malaria infection and a preventative or therapeutic agent for malaria infection. Further, HZ, synthetic HZ, or derivatives thereof are used as an adjuvant or immunostimulant to regulate HZ-induced innate immune induction.

Abstract: A method of analysis of a hydrocarbon fuel for the presence of a micro-organism comprises contacting a fuel sample with an aqueous diluent and with an antibody reactive with the micro-organism, or reactive with a metabolite or breakdown product produced by the micro-organism, to detect the presence or absence of the micro-organism.

Abstract: Probiotic Bifidobacterium strain AH1714 is significantly immunomodulatory following oral consumption. The strain is useful as an immunomodulatory biotherapeutic agent.

Abstract: A product for use in the treatment of obesity, the metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, dementia, alzheimers disease and inflammatory bowel disease comprising at least one isolated bacterial strain from the species Prevotellaceae, wherein the strain is selected from the group consisting of Prevotella copri, Prevotella stercorea, Prevotella histicola, Prevotella ruminicola, Prevotella Bryantii 25A and Prevotella distasonis. The product may be a food product.

Abstract: The invention features fragments of the Candida cell surface proteins Als3 and Hyr1 and combinations thereof useful in immunizing a subject against fungal or bacterial infections or both.

Abstract: A Treponema pallidum triplet antigen construct is disclosed which includes three Treponema pallidum antigens (TP15, TP17, and TP47), as well as a ten amino acid leader sequence (tag 261) and human copper zinc superoxide dismutase (hSOD). This construct is optimized for in vitro diagnosis of syphilis infection. Plasmids containing DNA encoding the triplet antigen, host cells, production methods, detection methods, and kits are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention in the fields of immunology and infectious diseases relates to opsonic and protective antibodies that are specific for Gram-positive bacteria, particularly to carbohydrate structures exposed on the surface of the bacteria. The invention includes monoclonal and chimeric antibodies, as well as fragments, regions and derivatives thereof. This invention also relates to the epitope to which the antibodies of the invention bind as well as the sequences, fragments, and regions of the epitopes. Both the antibodies and peptides that encompass the epitope, and regions and fragments thereof, may be used for diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions and methods for the detection of various infectious organisms, including heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis), Ehrlichia Canis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Borrelia burgdorferi. More particularly, this invention relates to antibodies that bind to a heartworm antigen, the E. Canis gp36 polypeptide, the A. phagocytophilum p44 polypeptide, the B. burgdorferi OspA, OspC, OspF, p39, p41 and VlsE polypeptides, and uses thereof.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel means that allows efficient secretion and production of a target protein in a host cell. This invention concerns a novel polypeptide having an activity of improving the secretion productivity of a target protein, a gene comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding such polypeptide, a vector comprising such gene, a transformant obtained by transforming a host cell with such vector, and a method for producing a protein comprising a step of culturing such transformant and recovering a target protein from the culture product.

Abstract: The present invention is a multivalent vaccine for immunizing an animal against filariasis. In some embodiments, the antigens of the multivalent vaccine are protein-based, DNA-based, or a combination thereof. This invention also provides a method and kit for detecting a filarial nematode and determining vaccine efficacy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a class-G immunoglobulin against the anthrax toxin protective antigen (PA), or one of the fragments of same, comprising at least: a variable heavy-chain region comprising an amino acid sequence represented by the sequence SEQ ID NO: 1, or comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 90% identity with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 1, and comprising the amino acids Leucine in position 51 and Glycine in position 67, and a variable light-chain region comprising an amino acid sequence represented by the sequence SEQ ID NO: 2, or comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 90% identity with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 2, and comprising a Leucine amino acid in position 55. The invention also relates to the uses of such an immunoglobulin.

Abstract: A novel method of using an aquaporin protein from Rhipicephalus microplus (RmAQP2), fragments of RmAQP2, and/or the cDNA encoding RmAQP2 and/or the fragments are described. Immunogenic composition containing recombinant RmAQP2 and/or fragments of RmAQP2 are produced and administered to an ungulate which generates an immune response to RmAQP2. After feeding female ticks on the ungulate injected with RmAQP2 and/or fragments of RmAQP2, the female ticks have lower reproductive viability because of a reduced egg mass, reduced hatching percentage, and reduced survival of larvae. Thus, administering RmAQP2 and/or RmAQP2 fragments to an ungulate can reduce the incidence of R. microplus and also reduce the incidence of tick-borne pathogens in ungulates because of the lower number of R. microplus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multivalent Clostridium difficile vaccine comprising a Salmonella Typhi live vector comprising the cell binding domain of TcdA toxin (CBD/A) of Clostridium difficile or an antigenic fragment thereof and the cell binding domain of TcdB toxin (CBD/B) of Clostridium difficile or an antigenic fragment thereof and optionally the cell-binding subunit component (CdtB) of binary toxin of Clostridium difficile or an antigenic fragment thereof. The invention further provides methods of inducing an immune response and methods of preventing recurrence of C. difficile infections in subjects.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention comprise an improved vaccine for generating an immune response and preventing or treating mycobacterial diseases such as tuberculosis in humans and animals. Embodiments of the invention also comprise a method for using the vaccine against such mycobacterial diseases.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel modified BoNT/E catalytic domain and methods of use thereof. In one embodiment, the light chain residue 224, or a residue corresponding to residue 224, of the modified BoNT/E catalytic domain has been altered to be aspartic acid or glutamic acid. The modified catalytic domain cleaves SNAP23 but does not cleave SNAP29 or SNAP47, providing novel methods of treating diseases including without limitation, asthma, CF, chronic obstructive pulmonary, gastric acid efflux and inflammation, immune disorders with a cytokine component or cancers with a cytokine component.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with an antigenic composition comprising at least one antigen that comprises at least one antigenic epitope or antigenic determinant derived from a protein present in one or both of S. equi subsp. equi and subsp. zooepidemicus and use thereof for immunization of non-human mammals against S. equi subsp. equi and/or subsp. zooepidemicus. The present invention also discloses a vaccine composition comprising the aforesaid antigenic composition as immunizing component.

Abstract: A Treponema pallidum triplet antigen construct is disclosed which includes three Treponema pallidum antigens (TP15, TP17, and TP47), as well as a ten amino acid leader sequence (tag 261) and human copper zinc superoxide dismutase (hSOD). This construct is optimized for in vitro diagnosis of syphilis infection. Plasmids containing DNA encoding the triplet antigen, host cells, production methods, detection methods, and kits are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to the development of chimeric OspA molecules for use in a new Lyme vaccine. More specifically, the chimeric OspA molecules comprise the proximal portion from one OspA serotype, together with the distal portion from another OspA serotype, while retaining antigenic properties of both of the parent polypeptides. The chimeric OspA molecules are delivered alone or in combination to provide protection against a variety of Borrelia genospecies. The invention also provides methods for administering the chimeric OspA molecules to a subject in the prevention and treatment of Lyme disease or borreliosis.

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 recombinant adenoviral vectors which are capable of eliciting immunity against the pre-erythrocytic stage of the life cycle of the malaria parasite. In particular, the invention provides a recombinant, replication deficient simian adenoviral vector which encodes an antigen comprising the thrombospondin-related adhesion protein (TRAP), and also immunogenic compositions (e.g. vaccines) comprising the vector and methods of using such compositions.