Abstract: A spore-forming Bacillus species, and more particularly, a Bacillus subtilis strain identified as MB40 is provided. Compositions comprising the MB40 strain, methods of making products comprising the same, and methods of using the same are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to, inter alia, a method of raising an immune response against a pathogen which comprises administering (i) one or more first immunogenic polypeptides derived from said pathogen; (ii) one or more adenoviral vectors comprising one or more heterologous polynucleotides encoding one or more second immunogenic polypeptides derived from said pathogen; and (iii) an adjuvant; wherein the one or more first immunogenic polypeptides, the one or more adenoviral vectors and the adjuvant are administered concomitantly. The invention also relates to vaccines, pharmaceutical compositions, kits and uses employing said polypeptides, adenoviral vectors and adjuvants.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses a vaccine composition and method of use for treating heartworm infestation in mammals. The vaccine composition includes chimeric antigens engineered and manufactured using the genetic code (i.e., the amino acid or protein sequence) of the target sequence. After introduction of the vaccine composition containing the target antigen into the host (e.g., a canine), the host will generate antibodies as part of its robust immune response to the antigen. As the antibodies circulate through the host's plasma, heartworm larvae will consume the antibodies as they feed on the plasma. The antibodies will then act on internal targets of the worm recognized as antigens.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating protozoal gastrointestinal disorders in immunocompromised patients. It includes a method for the isolation of a factor from the milk of hyperimmunized animals in a substantially pure form, and to the use of said factor in combination with vitamins and minerals.

Abstract: The present invention provides for methods of preventing and/or treating S. aureus-associated bacteremia and sepsis, and methods for preventing and/or treating S. aureus-associated pneumonia in immunocompromised patients using anti-S. aureus alpha-toxin (anti-AT) antibodies. Also provided are methods of reducing S. aureus bacterial load in the bloodstream or heart of a mammalian subject comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of an isolated anti-S. aureus alpha toxin (anti-AT) antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof. Methods of reducing S. aureus bacterial agglutination and/or thromboembolic lesion formation in a mammalian subject comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of an isolated anti-S. aureus alpha toxin (anti-AT) antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, are also provided. Also provided are methods of preventing or reducing the severity of S. aureus associated pneumonia in an immunocompromised mammalian subject.

Abstract: The present invention belongs to the fields of tumor therapy and molecular immunology, and provides an anti-CTLA4 monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof, a pharmaceutical composition thereof and use thereof. The monoclonal antibody of the present invention can block the binding of CTLA4 to B7, relieve the immunosuppression on the body by CTLA4, and activate T lymphocytes.

Abstract: Methods for diagnosing, treating, and monitoring the treatment of Clostridium difficile infections (CDI), e.g., Clostridium difficile-Associated Diarrhea (CDAD). The methods can include detecting the presence of one or more volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a sample from ambient air or stool sample from subjects suspected of having a CDI, e.g., CDAD.

Abstract: Immunogenic compositions comprising an M72 related antigen, wherein the conductivity of the composition is 13 mS/cm or lower, or the concentration of salts of the composition is 130 mM or lower, and their use in medicine, are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an attenuated mutant strain of Salmonella comprising a recombinant DNA molecule encoding Mesothelin. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of said attenuated mutant strain of Salmonella in cancer immunotherapy.

Abstract: The application is directed to in vitro-reared Plasmodium sporozoites of human host range wherein sporogony from gametocyte stage to sporozoite stage is external to mosquitoes, and methods of producing the same. Provided herein are in vitro-reared infectious Plasmodium sporozoites (SPZ) of human host range, particularly P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, and P. knowlesi, wherein sporogony from gametocyte stage to sporozoite stage is external to mosquitoes, and methods of producing the same.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to the field of veterinary medicine and can be used for bovine leukemia prevention. The invention expands the range of means of the claimed application and provides lifelong resistance of animals to the leukemia virus. The invention is aimed at solving the problem of expanding the range of preventive medications and forming new approaches to the problem of preventing bovine leukemia, which allow ensuring lifelong resistance of the animals to leukemia infection. The technical result consists in the design of a remedy and use thereof for bovine leukemia prevention, which would allow providing a targeted immune response, efficiently and with minimal costs, by activating cellular immunity against bovine leukemia virus by increasing the number of killer cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a Shigella strain, of which the surface exposure of a protective antigen existing on a cellular membrane is increased due to the destruction of a wzy gene of Shigella sp., and to a vaccine composition for treating or preventing shigellosis, containing the mutant Shigella strain as an active ingredient. The Shigella strain of the present invention has a cell wall with a reduced thickness since a gene encoding a protein necessary for polymerization of the O-saccharide antigen is deleted, and as a result, membrane antigens including protein antigens commonly existing in different Shigella spp. are more exposed to immune cells, and thus the Shigella strain can be favorably used as a vaccine composition for treating or preventing shigellosis, derived from various Shigella spp.

Abstract: A method for detecting lactic acid and/or acetic acid bacteria in a food-processing matrix is taught, using microbial flora including a lactic acid and/or acetic acid bacterial flora and a fungal flora. The bacterial flora contains an adenosine triphosphate of bacterial origin, and the fungal flora contains an adenosine triphosphate of fungal origin. The method comprises applying, to the matrix, before a first time limit, an antifungal having an antifungal action which is lethal, on the fungal flora, and at a second time limit, an antibiotic action which is non lethal, at a second time limit after the first time limit, on the bacterial flora. The microbial flora is detected between the first time limit and the second time limit; the lethal antifungal action releases, into the matrix, for the first time limit, adenosine triphosphate of fungal origin and in which the microbial flora is detected between the first time limit and the second time limit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for modulating gastrointestinal microflora of a canine. In one embodiment, a method of modulating gastrointestinal microflora in a canine can comprise administering to the canine a pet food composition comprising from about 25% to about 60% protein, from about 5% to about 30% carbohydrates, fat, and fiber; where after administration, the Bacteroidetes to Firmicutes (B/F) ratio of the canine is less than 0.8.

Abstract: The present application includes biomarkers, methods, devices, reagents, systems, and kits for the detection, treatment and diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB). In one aspect, the present application includes the identification of biomarkers that can be used alone or in various combinations for the detection of TB, including those set forth in Tables 1, 2, 4, 5, and 8 to 12. In another aspect, the application provides biomarkers that can be used alone or in various combinations to diagnose or prognose TB or follow treatment response. In another aspect, methods are provided for diagnosing TB in an individual, where the methods include detecting, in a biological sample from an individual, at least one biomarker value corresponding to at least one biomarker selected from the group of biomarkers provided in Tables 1, 2, 4, 5, and 8 to 12, wherein the individual is classified as having TB, or the likelihood of the individual having TB is determined, based on the at least one biomarker value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting and diagnosing Chlamydia suis infections in a subject, and a diagnostic kit therefor.

Abstract: Vaccine vectors capable of eliciting an immune response to enteric bacteria and methods of using the same are provided. The vaccine vectors include a polynucleotide encoding a PAL polypeptide. The PAL polypeptide may be expressed on the surface of the vaccine vector. The vaccine vector may also include a second polypeptide encoding an immunostimulatory polypeptide such as a CD154 polypeptide or an HMGB1 polypeptide.

Abstract: A method of treating a subject having a deficient immune response is described. The method includes administering a therapeutically effective amount of non-immune drug, or an analog or metabolite thereof, known to induce one or more autoimmune syndromes to the subject. Drugs known to induce one or more autoimmune syndromes, such as lupus-like syndromes, include immune checkpoint inhibitor blockers. Methods of identifying drugs capable of enhancing immunity are also described.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for blocking or reducing a physiological reaction in a mammal to the interaction of IgE antibodies present in said mammal upon contact with the corresponding antigen, by the administration to said mammal of a therapeutically effective amount of a neurotoxin (CnT) derived from Clostridia sp.

Abstract: Disclosed are AMA-1 immunogenic peptides and epitopes, nucleotide sequences encoding the peptides and epitopes, compositions, and vaccines including the peptides and/or epitopes. Antibodies that specifically bind to AMA-1 and the AMA-1 epitopes and immunogenic peptides disclosed herein are also provided. The disclosure provides for expression vectors, host cells, and methods for making the polypeptides and antibodies. Also provided are methods of treatment, prevention, vaccination, and/or immunization of a subject against malaria and the clinical indications associated with malaria.