Abstract: The invention relates to surface display of proteins on microorganisms via the targeting and anchoring of heterologous proteins to the outer surface of cells such as yeast, fungi, mammalian, plant cells, and bacteria. The invention provides a proteinaceous substance comprising a reactive group and at least one attaching peptide including a stretch of amino acids having a sequence corresponding to at least a part of the consensus amino acid sequence listed in FIG. 10 and further includes a method for attaching a proteinaceous substance to the cell wall of a microorganism comprising the use of the attaching peptide.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of biology, more specifically to the field of immunology and microbiology. The invention further relates to the field of vaccines against microbial infections and especially bacterial vaccines, in particular to pneumococcal vaccines. More in particular, the invention relates to means and methods to identify, select and isolate a vaccine component for passive and/or active immunisation against a microorganism that can be killed by opsonophagocytic cells. The invention relates to a method to identify an opsonophagocytosis inducing antigen as a vaccine component for immunisation against a microorganism. The invention describes three pneumococcal proteins SlrA, IgAl proteinase, and PsaA, and their use as a vaccine component with or without PpmA. The invention also discloses the use of antibodies against said proteins for passive immunization and diagnosis.

Abstract: Methods for improving binding of a proteinaceous substance to cell-wall material of a Gram-positive bacterium are disclosed. The proteinaceous substance includes an AcmA cell-wall binding domain, homolog or functional derivative thereof. The method includes treating the cell-wall material with a solution capable of removing a cell-wall component such as a protein, lipoteichoic acid or carbohydrate from the cell-wall material and contacting the proteinaceous substance with the cell-wall material.

Abstract: The invention is directed to delivery vehicles for delivering a substance of interest to a predetermined site. The delivery vehicle includes a substance and means for inducing availability of at least one compartment of the delivery vehicle toward the exterior, thus, allowing access of the substance to the exterior of the delivery vehicle at the predetermined site. The invention is further directed to uses of the delivery vehicle and methods for preparing the delivery vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to surface display of proteins on microorganisms via the targeting and anchoring of heterologous proteins to the outer surface of cells such as yeast, fungi, mammalian, plant cells, and bacteria. The invention provides a proteinaceous substance comprising a reactive group and at least one attaching peptide including a stretch of amino acids having a sequence corresponding to at least a part of the consensus amino acid sequence listed in FIG. 10 and further includes a method for attaching a proteinaceous substance to the cell wall of a microorganism comprising the use of the attaching peptide.