Abstract: The present invention provides new immunological compositions and vaccines comprising selected M. tuberculosis antigens and antigenic peptides as well as nucleic acids encoding said antigens for use in the prevention, prophylaxis and treatment of mycobacterial infection, especially tuberculosis. In particular the invention provides recombinant BCG based vaccines in which one or more of the selected M. tuberculosis antigens are over expressed. The invention further provides isolated peptides for use in methods for diagnosing, characterizing, or classifying mycobacterial infections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polypeptide HP, or a polynucleotide sequence encoding polypeptide HP, or a host cell comprising said polynucleotide sequence, or a host cell comprising an expression vector comprising said polynucleotide sequence, for use in the treatment and/or prevention of a disorder in a subject; wherein said disorder is an inflammatory disorder and/or an autoimmune disorder; wherein said polypeptide has at least 75% identity to SEQ ID NO 2, SEQ ID NO 4 or SEQ ID NO 6 or variants, homologues, fragments or derivatives thereof; and wherein said polynucleotide sequence encodes a polypeptide which has at least 75% identity to SEQ ID NO 2, SEQ ID NO 4 or SEQ ID NO 6 or variants, homologues, fragments or derivatives thereof and/or wherein said polynucleotide sequence has at least 75% identity to SEQ ID NO 1, SEQ ID NO 3 or SEQ ID NO 5 or variants, homologues, fragments or derivatives thereof.

Abstract: A vaccine adjuvant and immunogenic composition may be described herein. The vaccine adjuvant may comprise cell wall fragments of the genus Mycobacterium, and more particularly, of M. avium. The immunogenic composition may include the vaccine adjuvant conjugated to an antigen. For example, cell wall fragments of M. avium (herein also referred to as MAF) may be conjugated to an antigen targeting Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH). The MAF-antigen conjugate may be delivered for the purposes of treatment through one of several methods, including intramuscular injection, naso-pharyngeal, or oral.

Abstract: Attenuated vaccines to protect vertebrate animals and people against tick-born rickettsial, Ehrlichia and Anaplasma species infections is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods to modify the organism to achieve the desired immunity through the modification of a novel genetic region involved in pathogenesis. These compounds represent a needed vaccine against an organism causing life-threatening febrile illness in humans and animals, and also represent the potential to develop new classes of drugs targeting the gene products of genes Ech_0660, Ech_0379, and Ech_0230, and their homologs of other related rickettsial pathogens.

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: Compositions for a phage particle are disclosed. The phage particle is non-replicating and includes at least one heterologous nucleic acid sequence that is capable of being expressed in a target bacteria. The expressed heterologous nucleic acid sequence is non-lethal to the target bacteria.

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: 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: A novel Chromobacterium phragmitis sp. nov. strain 113-1 (NRRL B-67133) is described, which has insecticidal activity against insect larvae, in general, and dipteran and lepidopteran insect larvae, in particular. A biocontrol agent containing Chromobacterium phragmitis sp. nov. strain 113-1 (NRRL B-67133) and optionally a carrier are also described. Methods of killing insect larvae and methods of reducing insect populations in an area by applying to the area or an object an effective amount of the biocontrol agent are also described.

Abstract: A method and composition for eliciting an immune response to group A streptococcal bacteria in a mammal is provided, which includes administering to the mammal an M protein fragment, variant or derivative thereof and a SpyCEP protein or peptide fragment, or an antibody to the SpyCEP protein or fragment to facilitate restoring or enhancing neutrophil activity. Also provided is an immunodominant peptide fragment of SpyCEP.

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 invention relates to compounds, compositions and methods for biofilm disruption and prevention. In particular, the invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions for the disruption of biofilm and prevention of biofilm in patients. The invention also relates to anti-biofouling compositions for the disruption of biofilm and prevention of biofilm on surfaces. The invention also relates to the removal of biological material from surfaces. The compositions of the invention include microbial deoxyribonucleases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for preventing and/or treating gonorrhea. In particular, the present invention provides compositions comprising an effective amount of a commensal species of Neisseria (e.g., an effective amount of an extract of a commensal species of Neisseria), wherein such compositions are capable of inhibiting the growth of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Abstract: An injectable immunogenic composition comprising capsular saccharides from at least two of serogroups A, C, W135 and Y of Neisseria meningitidis, wherein said capsular saccharides are conjugated to carrier protein(s) and/or are oligosaccharides, and wherein (i) the composition comprises <50 ?g meningococcal saccharide per dose, and/or (ii) the composition further comprises an antigen from one or more of: (a) serogroup B N. meningitidis; (b) Haemophilus influenzae type B; and/or (c) Streptococcus pneumoniae. Saccharide antigens in the compositions are generally conjugated to a carrier.

Abstract: A botulinum toxin-human epidermal growth factor fusion protein with increased skin cell proliferation and anti-oxidation effect has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, a gene consisting of E. coli (Escherichia coli) codon-optimized nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 for encoding the botulinum toxin-human epidermal growth factor fusion protein, a recombinant vector including the gene, a host cell transformed with the recombinant vector, and a method for producing a botulinum toxin-human epidermal growth factor fusion protein by transforming a host cell with the recombinant vector, and a cosmetic composition for regenerating skin and improving skin wrinkle including, as an effective component, a botulinum toxin-human epidermal growth factor fusion protein, and as the cosmetic composition has an effect of regenerating skin and improving skin wrinkle, it can be advantageously used in future in the field of cosmetics or cosmetic plastic surgery.

Abstract: Variant factor H binding proteins that can elicit antibodies that are bactericidal for at least one strain of Neisseria meningitidis, compositions comprising such proteins, and methods of use of such proteins, are provided.

Abstract: Adjuvants comprising chitosan cross-linked with an aldehyde or mannosylated chitosan are provided herein. Methods of making the adjuvants and methods of combining or linking the adjuvants with antigens are also provided. The adjuvant-antigen combinations can be used in vaccine formulations and the vaccine formulations can be used in methods to vaccinate animals against the source of the antigen or to enhance the immune response in a subject.

Abstract: A formulation comprising an ingestible carrier and an isolated strain of Bifidobacterium longum.

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: Herein we describe construction of a select agent-excluded B. mallei ?tonB ?hcp1 (CLH001) vaccine strain and demonstrate its ability to protect against acute respiratory glanders. Particularly, CLH001 is shown to be attenuated, safe, and effective at protecting against lethal B. mallei challenge. This strain should be useful in vaccines are for use in humans and animals, e.g., equines, in treating or providing immunoprotection against infections elicited by category B, tier 1 pathogens, in particular Burkholderia mallei (Bm) and B. pseudomallei, the causative agents of human glanders and melioidosis, respectively.