Abstract: Mutant cholera holotoxins having single or double amino acid substitutions or insertions have reduced toxicity compared to the wild-type cholera holotoxin. The mutant cholera holotoxins are useful as adjuvants in antigenic compositions to enhance the immune response in a vertebrate host to a selected antigen from a pathogenic bacterium, virus, fungus, or parasite, a cancer cell, a tumor cell, an allergen, or a self-molecule.

Abstract: A P4 variant protein that has reduced enzymatic activity and that induces antibody to wild-type P4 protein and/or has good bactericidal activity against non-typable H. influenzae (NTHi) is useful as an active component in an immunogenic composition for humans. Methods of using these proteins, and compositions containing them in combination with additional antigens, are also provided.

Abstract: A P4 variant protein that has reduced enzymatic activity and that induces antibody to wild-type P4 protein and/or has good bactericidal activity against non-typable H. influenzae (NTHi) is useful as an active component in an immunogenic composition for humans. Methods of using these proteins, and compositions containing them in combination with additional antigens, are also provided.

Abstract: Mutant cholera holotoxins having single or double amino acid substitutions or insertions have reduced toxicity compared to the wild-type cholera holotoxin. The mutant cholera holotoxins are useful as adjuvants in antigenic compositions to enhance the immune response in a vertebrate host to a selected antigen from a pathogenic bacterium, virus, fungus, or parasite, a cancer cell, a tumor cell, an allergen, or a self-molecule.

Abstract: Mutant cholera holotoxins comprising a cholera toxin subunit A having single amino acid substitutions in the amino acid positions 16 or 72 or a double amino acid substitution in the amino acid positions 16 and 68 or 68 and 72 have reduced toxicity compared to the wild-type cholera holotoxin. The mutant cholera holotoxins are useful as adjuvants in immunogenic compositions to enhance the immune response in a vertebrate host to a selected antigen from a pathogenic bacterium, virus, fungus, or parasite, a cancer cell, a tumor cell, an allergen, or a self-molecule.

Abstract: A mutant cholera holotoxin featuring a point mutation at amino acid 29 of the A subunit, wherein the glutamic acid residue is replaced by an amino acid other than aspartic acid, is useful as an adjuvant in an antigenic composition to enhance the immune response in a vertebrate host to a selected antigen from a pathogenic bacterium, virus, fungus or parasite. In a particular embodiment, the amino acid 29 is histidine. The mutant cholera holotoxin may contain at least one additional mutation in the A subunit at a position other than amino acid 29. The antigenic composition may include a second adjuvant in addition to the mutant cholera holotoxin.

Abstract: Mutant cholera holotoxins comprising a cholera toxin subunit A having single amino acid substitutions in the amino acid positions 16 or 72 or a double amino acid substitution in the amino acid positions 16 and 68 or 68 and 72 have reduced toxicity compared to the wild-type cholera holotoxin. The mutant cholera holotoxins are useful as adjuvants in immunogenic compositions to enhance the immune response in a vertebrate host to a selected antigen from a pathogenic bacterium, virus, fungus, or parasite, a cancer cell, a tumor cell, an allergen, or a self-molecule.

Abstract: Mutant cholera holotoxins having single or double amino acid substitutions or insertions have reduced toxicity compared to the wild-type cholera holotoxin. The mutant cholera holotoxins are useful as adjuvants in antigenic compositions to enhance the immune response in a vertebrate host to a selected antigen from a pathogenic bacterium, virus, fungus, or parasite, a cancer cell, a tumor cell, an allergen, or a self-molecule.

Abstract: Mutant cholera holotoxins comprising a cholera toxin subunit A having single amino acid substitutions in the amino acid positions 16 or 72 or a double amino acid substitution in the amino acid positions 16 and 68 or 68 and 72 have reduced toxicity compared to the wild-type cholera holotoxin. The mutant cholera holotoxins are useful as adjuvants in immunogenic compositions to enhance the immune response in a vertebrate host to a selected antigen from a pathogenic bacterium, virus, fungus, or parasite, a cancer cell, a tumor cell, an allergen, or a self-molecule.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices (61) and methods (80-89, 100) are provided with dual passivation layers (56, 59). A semiconductor layer (34) is formed on a substrate (32) and covered by a first passivation layer (PL-1) (56). PL-1 (56) and part (341) of the semiconductor layer (34) are etched to form a device mesa (35). A second passivation layer (PL-2) (59) is formed over PL-1 (56) and exposed edges (44) of the mesa (35). Vias (90, 92, 93) are etched through PL-1 (56) and PL-2 (59) to the semiconductor layer (34) where source (40), drain (42) and gate are to be formed. Conductors (41, 43, 39) are applied in the vias (90, 92, 93) for ohmic contacts for the source-drain (40, 42) and a Schottky contact (39) for the gate. Interconnections (45, 47) over the edges (44) of the mesa (35) couple other circuit elements. PL-1 (56) avoids adverse surface states (52) near the gate and PL-2 (59) insulates edges (44) of the mesa (35) from overlying interconnections (45, 47) to avoid leakage currents (46).

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a web portal layout manager system and method are provided. In particular embodiments of the present invention, the method includes receiving at a layout manager an indication selecting one of multiple predetermined layout types, receiving at the layout manager a set of portlets, receiving at the layout manager formatting properties for the portlets of the selected layout type, calling an executable component associated with the selected layout type to produce a code fragment specifying at least a portion of a web portal containing the set of portlets having the selected layout type and formatting properties, receiving an indication of content to populate the portlets of the web portal specified by the code fragment, and rendering the at least a portion of the web portal specified by the code fragment containing the indicated content.

Abstract: The present invention discloses amino acid sequences and nucleic acid sequences relating to a Streptococcus pneumoniae surface associated Pneumo Protective Protein (PPP) having a molecular weight of about 20 kilo Daltons (kDa). The PPP exhibits the ability to reduce colonization of pneumococcal bacteria. Thus the present invention also pertains to compositions for the treatment and prophylaxis of infection or inflammation associated with bacterial infection.

Abstract: The present invention discloses amino acid sequences and nucleic acid sequences relating to a Streptococcus pneumoniae surface associated Pneumo Protective Protein (PPP) having a molecular weight of about 20 kilo Daltons (kDa). The PPP exhibits the ability to reduce colonization of pneumococcal bacteria. Thus the present invention also pertains to compositions for the treatment and prophylaxis of infection or inflammation associated with bacterial infection.

Abstract: Mutant cholera holotoxins having single or double amino acid substitutions or insertions have reduced toxicity compared to the wild-type cholera holotoxin. The mutant cholera holotoxins are useful as adjuvants in antigenic compositions to enhance the immune response in a vertebrate host to a selected antigen from a pathogenic bacterium, virus, fungus, or parasite, a cancer cell, a tumor cell, an allergen, or a self-molecule.

Abstract: Mutant cholera holotoxins comprising a cholera toxin subunit A having single amino acid substitutions in the amino acid positions 16 or 72 or a double amino acid substitution in the amino acid positions 16 and 68 or 68 and 72 have reduced toxicity compared to the wild-type cholera holotoxin. The mutant cholera holotoxins are useful as adjuvants in immunogenic compositions to enhance the immune response in a vertebrate host to a selected antigen from a pathogenic bacterium, virus, fungus, or parasite, a cancer cell, a tumor cell, an allergen, or a self-molecule.

Abstract: Accessing files within a compressed image to boot from the compressed image. In one embodiment, the compressed image includes a boot environment and a software image combined to reduce file redundancy. The invention boots into the boot environment within the compressed image to install the software image on a computer.

Abstract: The present invention discloses amino acid sequences and nucleic acid sequences relating to a Streptococcus Pneumoniae surface associated Pneumo Protective Protein (PPP) having a molecular weight of about 20 kilo Daltons (kDa). The PPP exhibits the ability to reduce colonization of pneumococcal bacteria. Thus the present invention also pertains to compositions for the treatment and prophylaxis of infection or inflammation associated with bacterial infection.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a semiconductor device (500) includes a buffer layer (504) formed over a substrate (502). An AlxGa1-xAs layer (506) is formed over the buffer layer (504) and has a first doped region (508) formed therein. An InxGa1-xAs channel layer (512) is formed over the AlxGa1-xAs layer (506). An AlxGa1-xAs layer (518) is formed over the InxGa1-xAs channel layer (512), and the AlxGa1-xAs layer (518) has a second doped region formed therein. A GaAs layer (520) having a first recess is formed over the AlxGa1-xAs layer (518). A control electrode (526) is formed over the AlxGa1-xAs layer (518). A doped GaAs layer (524) is formed over the undoped GaAs layer (520) and on opposite sides of the control electrode (526) and provides first and second current electrodes. When used to amplify a digital modulation signal, the semiconductor device (500) maintains linear operation over a wide temperature range.

Abstract: A first image of a first software which can be combined with other images of other software such that any one or more of the images can be restored from the combined image, and methods relating thereto. The method of making the combined image comprises creating a first image from a first software, creating a second image from the second software, and combining the first image and the second image into the combined image. Each image includes first descriptive data (metadata) corresponding to descriptive data of its software and includes file data corresponding to file data of its software.

Abstract: A decontamination system suitable for decontaminating items of medical equipment such as endoscopes, the system comprising: (I) a plurality of pre-clean wipes comprising moist fabric members for wiping an item to be decontaminated; (II) a two-part sterilant system comprising: (a) a first part comprising a first reagent in a carrier medium; and (b) a second part which is miscible with the first part and which comprises a second reagent in a carrier medium; wherein the first reagent and the second reagent will react when mixed to provide a sterilising composition; the first part being contained in a dispenser (2) whereby it may be dispensed as a fluid, and the second part being absorbed or impregnated in a plurality of sterilising wipes (18) each of which comprises a fabric member in a sealed container (20); and (III) a plurality of rinse wipes, each rinse wipe comprising a moist, sterile, fabric member in its own sealed container (40).