Abstract: The present invention relates to Neisseria ORF2086 proteins, crossreactive immunogenic proteins which can be isolated from nesserial strains or prepared recombinantly, including immunogenic portions thereof, biological equivalents thereof, antibodies that immunospecifically bind to the foregoing and nucleic acid sequences encoding each of the foregoing, as well as the use of same in immunogenic compositions that are effective against infection by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions including polypeptides having the characteristics of polypeptides expressed by a reference microbe such E coli or Salmonella. Examples of Salmonella strains that can be used include, for instance, S. enterica serovar Newport, S. enterica serovar Enteritidis, S. enterica serovar Typhimurium, and S. enterica serovar Dublin. Also provided are compositions including polypeptides having a particular molecular weight and a mass fingerprint that includes polypeptide fragments having a particular set of masses, or polypeptides having an amino acid sequence with at least about 95% identity with an amino acid sequence, wherein the polypeptide has seroreactive activity. The present invention also provides methods of making and methods of using such compositions.

Abstract: Methods for detecting one or more target bacteria in a test sample are provided. It is shown herein that photosensitizers combined with intense light exposure reduce fluorescing background due to non-bacterial particles. This permits detection of subsequently labeled target bacterial cells (e.g., using a fluorescently labeled antibody) against a largely black background. In particular examples, the methods include incubating the test sample in a growth medium that permits growth of bacteria present in the sample, contacting the sample with a photo-sensitizer; exposing the sample to light under conditions sufficient for the photo-sensitizer to photobleach contaminating non-bacterial particulates present in the sample. The bacteria can then be substantially separated from the sample, thereby generating an isolated bacterial sample. The method can also include contacting the isolated bacterial sample with a binding agent specific for the one or more target bacteria, and detecting the one or more target bacteria.

Abstract: The current invention relates to the use of a bacterial species in the preparation of a composition adapted for oral administration for the delivery of an agent to a site in the body. The site in the body may be an organ or a tumour site. The bacterial species is a food grade, non-pathogenic, gram-positive bacteria capable of anaerobic growth.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method to determine if an individual is infected by a bacterium selected from the group consisting Streptococcus, Enterococcus and Peptostreptococcus genera comprising: (i) detection of antibodies directed against at least one protein of sequence SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6 or SEQ ID NO: 8, in a biological sample of the individual, and (ii) deducing therefrom that the individual is infected by a bacterium selected from the group consisting of Streptococcus, Enterococcus and Peptostreptococcus genera. The invention further concerns the kit for diagnosing of such an infection.

Abstract: The invention provides mutants of GAS57 (Spy0416) which are unable to cleave IL-8 and similar substrates but which still maintain the ability to induce protection against S. pyogenes. The invention also provides antibodies which specifically bind to GAS57 and which inhibit its ability to cleave IL-8 and similar substrates. The mutants are useful, inter alia, in vaccine compositions to induce protection against S. pyogenes. The antibodies are useful, e.g., as therapeutics for treating S. pyogenes infections.

Abstract: Helicobacter pylori, one of the most common human pathogens, is associated with the development of human chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers and gastric cancer. The invention relates to a ?1,6-glucan-containing Helicobacter pylori compound comprising the structure of Formula (I): wherein R is a ?-DDHep-3-?-L-Fuc-3-?-GlcNAc trisaccharide substituted with an ?1,6-glucan linked to an ?1,3-DD-heptan, and wherein the last DD-Hep residue of ?1,3-DD-heptan is capped with ?-GlcNAc residue. Compositions comprising the compound, uses of the compound, and antibodies raised against the compound are also described.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a combination comprising a first constituent and a second constituent, wherein the first constituent is a bacterial cell which comprises at least one recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a phagolysosomal escape peptide or polypeptide; and wherein the second constituent is a biologically active agent. In certain embodiments, the combination is of use as a vaccine to induce an immune response in a mammal.

Abstract: The invention provides proteins and compositions for the treatment and prevention of Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B streptococcus; GBS).

Abstract: The present invention is a genetically engineered version of a lysozyme protein wherein the engineered enzyme exhibits enhanced antimicrobial activity, relative to the wild type enzyme, as a result of a reduced overall electrostatic charge. Such an enzyme is an attractive therapeutic candidate for treating microbial or viral infections, particularly in cases where the infection results in an accumulation of polyanion inhibitors at the site of infection. Respiratory tract infections are one example of an infection where such an enzyme might be a particularly useful drug.

Abstract: This invention provides, among other things, proteins, polypeptides, and fragments thereof, derived from the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis B. Also provided are nucleic acids encoding for such proteins, polypeptides, and/or fragments, as well as nucleic acids complementary thereto e.g., antisense nucleic acids). Additionally, this invention provides antibodies which bind to the proteins, polypeptides, and/or fragments. This invention further provides expression vectors useful for making the proteins, polypeptides, and/or fragments, as well as host cells transformed with such vectors. This invention also provides compositions of the proteins, polypeptides, fragments, and/or nucleic acids, for use as vaccines, diagnostic reagents, immunogenic compositions, and the like. Methods of making the compositions and methods of treatment with the compositions are also provided. This invention also provides methods of detecting the proteins, polypeptides, fragments, and/or nucleic acids.

Abstract: Cyclic beta glucan compounds function as an immunoadjuvant when administered prior to, concommitantly with, or subsequent to the administration of one or more antigens to a subject. These adjuvant compounds may be effectively used as dendritic cell activating molecules.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vaccine adjuvant composition which is used in combination with an allergen vaccine, infection vaccine or tumor vaccine. The present invention specifically provides a vaccine adjuvant composition comprising hemozoin or ?-hematin and being used in combination with an allergen vaccine, infection vaccine or tumor vaccine, and a vaccine composition comprising the vaccine adjuvant composition and an allergen vaccine, infection vaccine or tumor vaccine.

Abstract: Prion peptides comprising prion epitopes and fusions thereof, that display enhanced immunogenicity are described. Also described are methods of treating and diagnosing prion disease.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses recombinant bacteria and immunogenic compositions comprising the bacteria. The immunogenic composition may be used to induce an immune response against C. perfringens.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides methods and compositions for eliciting an immune response against Neisseria spp. bacteria in a subject, particularly against a Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B strain.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally disclose methods, compositions and uses for generating and expressing enterobacterial-associated peptides. In some embodiments, enterobacterial-associated peptides include, but are not limited to plague-associated peptides. In certain embodiments, methods generally relate to making and using compositions of constructs including, but not limited to, attenuated or modified vaccinia virus vectors expressing enterobacterial-associated peptides. In other embodiments, vaccine compositions are reported of use in a subject.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vaccine for preventing and/or treating Plasmodium falciparum infections, which comprises a polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or represented by formula (1), and an adjuvant. X1-A-B-X2-Y-X3-(Y)n-X4-(Y)n-X5??(1) (In the formula, X1 represents the 1st to 7th amino acid residues in a polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1; X2 represents the 73th to 177th amino acid residues; X3 represents the 178th to 258th amino acid residues; X4 represents the 259th to 289th amino acid residues; X5 represents the 290th to 334th amino acid residues; A represents an 8-mer repeat sequence contained in a 47-kd region of SERA polypeptide of Plasmodium falciparum; B represents a sequence of a serine-rich region contained in a 47-kd region of SERA polypeptide of Plasmodium falciparum; Y represents any one selected from A-A, A-B, and B; and n is an integer of 0 or 1).

Abstract: Methods, compositions and kits are provided for treating a subject exposed to or at risk for exposure to a disease agent using a pharmaceutical composition including at least one recombinant heteromultimeric neutralizing binding protein including two or multiple binding regions, such that the binding regions are not identical, and each binding region specifically binds a non-overlapping portion of the disease agent, thereby treating the subject for exposure to the disease agent. In a related embodiment, the heteromultimeric neutralizing binding protein includes two or multiple binding regions that neutralize a plurality of disease agents. In certain embodiments, the disease agent includes a bacterium, a bacterial protein, a virus, a viral protein, a cancer cell, and a protein or molecule produced therefrom. In certain embodiments, the disease agent is a plurality of different disease agents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for potentiating a specific immune response to an antigen in a mammal in need thereof. The method comprises administering to the mammal an effective amount of Ov-ASP, or at least one subunit of Ov-ASP, and an antigenic moiety.