Abstract: There is provided an immunogenic composition comprising at least two antigenic determinants, wherein the antigenic determinants are derived from at least two proteins selected from ABC-T, PavA and ZmpB of a Streptococcus pneumoniae bacterium; an immunogenic composition comprising a genetic construct or constructs encoding at least two antigenic determinants, wherein the antigenic determinants are derived from at least two proteins selected from ABC-T, PavA and ZmpB of a Streptococcus pneumoniae bacterium; and an immunogenic composition comprising at least one antigenic determinant and a genetic construct or constructs encoding at least one different antigenic determinant, wherein the antigenic determinants are derived from at least two proteins selected from ABC-T, PavA and ZmpB of a Streptococcus pneumoniae bacterium. There are also provided vaccines, methods of treating or preventing or immunising against Streptococcus pneumoniae bacterium infections and kits comprising immunogenic compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting the presence of one or more bacterial toxins, capable of binding to cell membranes, in biological fluid wherein the method comprises: (i) incubating the biological fluid with a plurality of liposomes, wherein the liposomes comprise a lipid capable of binding to said one or more toxins, to provide one or more liposome-toxin conjugate; (ii) incubating said conjugates with at least one type of antibody bound to a label to provide one or more conjugate-antibody complex; wherein each type of antibody in the mixture is specific for one of the bacterial toxins whose presence is to be detected; and (iii) analysing said complexes in order to detect the presence of one or more bacterial toxins capable of binding to cell membranes. Further aspects of the invention relate to a conjugate-antibody complex useful in the methods of the invention and a kit useful for performing the method of the invention.

Abstract: Biofilm production, which provides microbes with a multi-layered structured community attached to a surface and encased within a matrix of exopolymeric material, is associated with up-regulated virulence of infection and can limit the immune system response and/or the effectiveness of therapeutic agents. The use of lamellar bodies to modulate quorum sensing to inhibit or reduce biofilm production and for treatment of microbial infections is provided.