Abstract: The invention relates to compositions and vaccines that include a mutated Bordetella strain for treating or preventing an influenza infection in a mammal. In addition, the invention further provides methods for protecting a mammal against infection by influenza and/or eliciting an immune response against an influenza virus in a mammal using the composition or vaccine.

Abstract: Chimeric fHBPs that can elicit antibodies that are bactericidal for different fHBP variant strains of N. meningitidis, and methods of use, are provided.

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: Carrier-induced epitopic suppression is of particular concern where multiple conjugates with the same carrier protein are administered simultaneously. To avoid the suppression, the invention minimizes the amount of unconjugated carrier protein in a vaccine. The invention provides a composition for immunizing a patient against a disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis, wherein (1) the composition comprises conjugates for at least two of the four meningococcal serogroups A, C, W135 and Y, where at least two of the conjugates have a common carrier protein; and (2) the composition includes the common carrier in an unconjugated form at less than 10 ?g/ml.

Abstract: Two Vi conjugates have been prepared by carbodiimide-mediated synthesis, using adipic acid dihydrazide derivatized CRM197 (a non-toxic variant of diphtheria toxin) and tetanus toxoid, as carrier proteins.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for screening subjects at risk for contracting meningococcal disease and/or at risk for failing to elicit an immunogenic response to a vaccine against Neisseria meningitidis. The invention also provides kits for carrying out these screens, and improved vaccines against Neisseria meningitidis.

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: fHBP is a protein in Neisseria meningitidis. Three families of fHBP are known. To increase the ability of a fHBP protein to elicit antibodies that are cross-reactive between the families, fHBP is selected or engineered to have a sequence which can elicit broad-spectrum bactericidal anti-meningococcal antibodies after administration to a host animal.

Abstract: This application relates to methods for the purification of saccharide antigen-carrier protein conjugates. In particular, the invention provides a method for purifying saccharide antigen-carrier protein conjugates from free carrier protein, such as CRM1 97, using hydroxyapatite. The invention further relates to methods of preparing vaccines, using this method.

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 use of flagellin and flagellin related polypeptides for the protection of mammals from the effects of apoptosis is described.

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

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: 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.

Abstract: Glucans having exclusively or mainly ?-1,3 linkages are used as immunogens. These comprise ?-1,3-linked glucose residues. Optionally, they may include ?-1,6-linked glucose residues, provided that the ratio of ?-1,3-linked residues to ?-1,6-linked residues is at least 8:1 and/or there are one or more sequences of at least five adjacent non-terminal residues linked to other residues only by ?-1,3 linkages. The glucans will usually be used in conjugated form. A preferred glucan source is curdlan, which may be hydrolyzed to a suitable form prior to conjugation.

Abstract: Glucans having exclusively or mainly ?-1,3 linkages are used as immunogens. These comprise ?-1,3-linked glucose residues. Optionally, they may include ?-1,6-linked glucose residues, provided that the ratio of ?-1,3-linked residues to ?-1,6-linked residues is at least 8:1 and/or there are one or more sequences of at least five adjacent non-terminal residues linked to other residues only by ?-1,3 linkages. The glucans will usually be used in conjugated form. A preferred glucan source is curdlan, which may be hydrolyzed to a suitable form prior to conjugation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising the bacteriophage EK88P-1 isolated from the nature and having a broad antibacterial spectrum against E. coli as an active ingredient, and a method for preventing and treating E. coli infections using the said composition. The bacteriophage EK88P-1, the active ingredient of the composition of the present invention, has a broad antibacterial spectrum against E. coli and has the genome characteristically composed of the partial nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 25, and also characterized by the bacteriophage belonging to the Myoviridae family according to the morphology that is composed of the major structural proteins in the sizes of approximately 49 kDa, 53 kDa, 94 kDa, and 103 kDa.

Abstract: A bacterial macromolecular complex produced by bacteria belonging to the Bifidobacterium longum strain deposited according to the treaty of Budapest under number CNCM I-3994 with the Collection Nationale de Cultures de Microorganismes (CNCM) [National Collection of Microorganism Cultures], consisting of chains combining a lipoprotein and an oligosaccharide, wherein: the lipoprotein has a molecular weight of from 30 kDa to 60 kDa; the oligosaccharide has a molecular weight of less than 15 kDa, and preferably less than 10 kDa; the lipoprotein component, which consists of all the lipoproteins of each of the chains, represents from 75 to 99%, preferentially from 80 to 98%, more preferentially from 85 to 95% by weight of the total weight of the complex, and the oligosaccharide component, which consists of all the oligosaccharides combined with each of the chains, represents from 1 to 25%.

Abstract: Conjugated meningococcal capsular saccharides will be introduced into immunization schedules in the near future, but the phenomenon of “carrier suppression” must first be addressed, particularly where multiple conjugates are to be used. It has been found that diphtheria toxoid and its derivatives (such as CRM197) can safely be used as the carrier protein, even where multiple meningococcal conjugates are administered at the same time and where a patient has previously been exposed to the carrier protein, either in the form of a previous immunogen (e.g. in a DTP vaccine) or as a previous carrier protein (e.g. in a Hib or pneumococcal conjugate vaccine). The invention provides a method for immunizing a patient, comprising administering multiple conjugates of meningococcal capsular saccharides, wherein each conjugate comprises a diphtheria toxoid (or derivative thereof) carrier protein, and the capsular saccharide, and wherein the patient has been pre-immunized with a diphtheria toxoid (or derivative thereof).

Abstract: The present technology provides vaccine compositions comprising native outer membrane vesicles (NOMVs) from at least one genetically modified strain of Neisseria which provides protective immunity to meningococcal disease, more preferably subtype B meningococcal disease. The present technology further provides methods of immunizing an animal or human against meningococcal disease comprising administering the vaccine composition of the present invention.