Abstract: The present invention is a genetically engineered version of a lysozyme protein wherein the engineered enzyme exhibits enhanced antimicrodial 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: The present invention relates to chimeric protein vaccines and methods of use thereof in the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of generating an immune response in a mammal, that includes administering to the mammal, a composition having a chimeric protein having at least one of: a portion of a cholera toxin, a portion of a heat-labile toxin, and a portion of a shiga toxin; and an antigen having at least one of: an antigenic material from S. aureus and an antigenic material from a S. aureus-specific polypeptide.

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: The present invention provides isolated polypeptides isolatable from a Staphylococcus spp. Also provided by the present invention are compositions that include one or more of the polypeptides, and methods for making and methods for using the polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising probiotic bacteria for the treatment of pathologies associated with alterations of the immune system. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of selected probiotic bacteria for the preparation of a composition for the treatment of allergies, such as atopic dermatitis.

Abstract: The present application relates to an immunogenic composition comprising at least 2 conjugates of N. meningitidis capsular saccharide and protein carrier, wherein said conjugates comprise at least 2 different N. meningitidis capsular saccharides selected from the group consisting of MenA, MenC, MenY and MenW, wherein at least one capsular saccharide is conjugated to a protein carrier with a saccharide:protein ratio (w/w) between 1:2-1:5, and wherein at least one different capsular saccharide is conjugated to a protein carrier with a saccharide:protein ratio (w/w) between 5:1-1:1.99.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions including polypeptides having the characteristics of polypeptides expressed by a reference microbe such as 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: The present document discloses a new species of Bizionia, herein denoted Bizionia piscinecroseptica and a reference strain of this bacterium denoted Bizionia sp. 130524K2F7 which has been deposited at the National Collection of Industrial and Marine Bacteria and has been assigned accession number NCIMB 42183. Further disclosed is the medical use of bacteria of the genus Bizionia for vaccinating fish against a new disease identified and herein denoted bizioniosis.

Abstract: Non-naturally occurring factor H binding proteins derived from variant 3 fHbp that can elicit antibodies that are bactericidal for at least one strain of N. meningitidis, and methods of use of such proteins, are provided. In certain embodiments, a non-naturally occurring factor H binding protein (fHbp) derived from a naturally occurring variant 3 fHbp is disclosed. The non-naturally fHbp may include a substitution of the histidine at position 223 of the naturally occurring variant 3 fHbp with an amino acid selected from the group consisting of arginine, lysine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, or tryptophan, wherein the numbering of position 223 is based on the numbering of the mature fHbp ID 1. The non-naturally occurring fHbp may have a lower affinity for human factor H (fH) than fHbp ID 79.

Abstract: High levels of bacterial flagella in a sample such as a gastrointestinal sample and/or low levels of anti-flagella antibodies serve as an indication for metabolic syndrome (such as insulin resistance, hypertension, elevated cholesterol, increased risk for blood clotting, and obesity) with highest levels of adiposity. An intervention that reduces the level and/or activity of flagella in the gastrointestinal tract can mitigate the severity of metabolic syndrome or in protecting against the development of metabolic syndrome.

Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to antibodies or fragments thereof which interact with the bacterial protein MprF. The disclosure further discloses antibodies, which bind to specific extracellular motifs of MprF. The disclosure further relates to therapeutics comprising MprF-specific antibodies and methods of treatment using MprF-specific antibodies or fragments thereof.

Abstract: A novel, mutated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium vaccine is generated and imparts protective immunity in vaccinated animals for a range of S. enterica serovars. The vaccine can be attenuated or inactivated, including bacterial ghosts or membrane fractions thereof. Immunogenic compositions are included in the invention and methods of generating an immune response.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising Brachyspira hyodysenteriae bacteria, particularly in the field of immunization against swine dysentery. The composition of the invention comprises bacteria from at least two genetically diverse strains of B. hyodysenteriae. The invention relates also to the composition of the invention for use as a vaccine, preferably a universal vaccine against swine dysentery caused by B. hyodysenteriae.

Abstract: The present invention concerns VLPT immunoreactive compositions for E. chaffeensis and compositions related thereto, including vaccines, antibodies, polypeptides, peptides, and polynucleotides. In particular, epitopes for E. chaffeensis VLPT are disclosed.

Abstract: This invention concerns compositions and methods of treating or diagnosing inflammatory disorders and other disorders, as well as compositions and methods of treating HIV.

Abstract: Provided are antibodies capable of binding to a particular epitope or specifically binding to LF or LTx and enhancing the activity of the LF or LTx relative to the LF or LTx absent the antibody binding.

Abstract: The present invention describes a combined vaccine that offers broad protection against meningococcal disease caused by the pathogenic bacteria Neisseria meningitidis. The vaccine is comprised of four distinct polysaccharide-protein conjugates that are formulated as a single dose of vaccine. Purified capsular polysaccharides from Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, W-135, and Y are chemically activated and selectively attached to a carrier protein by means of a covalent chemical bond, forming polysaccharide-protein conjugates capable of eliciting long-lasting immunity to a variety of N. meningitidis strains in children as well as adults.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing a conjugate of a S. aureus type 8 capsular polysaccharide and a carrier molecule, comprising the steps of: (a) depolymerising the capsular polysaccharide, to give a polysaccharide fragment; (b) oxidising the fragment in order to introduce an aldehyde group into at least one saccharide residue in the fragment, to give an oxidised saccharide residue; and (c) coupling the oxidised saccharide residue to a carrier molecule via the aldehyde group, thereby giving the conjugate. The coupling in step (c) may be direct, or may be via a linker molecule. The invention also provides a conjugate obtained or obtainable by this process.

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: Factor H binding proteins that can elicit antibodies that are bactericidal for at least one strain of N. meningitidis, and methods of use of such proteins, are provided.