Abstract: A novel lipoteichoic acid (LTA) was isolated from C. difficile, the structure of which is illustrated below wherein n is an integer between 1 and 20, R3 and R4 are independently selected from C 14:0, C 16:0, C 16:1, C 18:0 or C18:1 fatty acid or any combination thereof wherein one of COR3 or COR4 may be replaced by H. Further described are conjugates comprising the novel LTA and vaccines produced using the isolated LTA and the LTA conjugates. The invention also encompasses methods of conferring immunity against C. difficile comprising administering a vaccine of the invention, and methods of detecting C. difficile using the isolated LTA of the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel saccharides and uses thereof. In one aspect, the invention relates to a saccharide having a legionaminic acid moiety, a N-acetylgalactosamine moiety, a galactose moiety, and a glucose moiety. In another aspect, the invention relates to a saccharide having an altruronic acid moiety, a fucose moiety, and a glucose moiety. In yet another aspect, the invention relates to a saccharide having a repeating unit of a glycerol phosphate moiety and a glucose moiety, wherein the saccharide is from Enterococcus faecium. In a further aspect, the invention relates to a saccharide having a repeating unit of -6-?-D-Fruf-2, wherein Fru is a fructose moiety, wherein the saccharide is from Enterococcus faecium. In another aspect, the invention relates to an isolated antibody or fragment thereof that specifically binds to a saccharide described herein and uses thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel saccharides and uses thereof. In one aspect, the invention relates to a saccharide having a legionaminic acid moiety, a N-acetylgalactosamine moiety, a galactose moiety, and a glucose moiety. In another aspect, the invention relates to a saccharide having an altruronic acid moiety, a fucose moiety, and a glucose moiety. In yet another aspect, the invention relates to a saccharide having a repeating unit of a glycerol phosphate moiety and a glucose moiety, wherein the saccharide is from Enterococcus faecium. In a further aspect, the invention relates to a saccharide having a repeating unit of -6-?-D-Fruf-2, wherein Fru is a fructose moiety, wherein the saccharide is from Enterococcus faecium. In another aspect, the invention relates to an isolated antibody or fragment thereof that specifically binds to a saccharide described herein and uses thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are immunogenic conjugates and therapeutic compositions that include such immunogenic conjugates. Also disclosed are methods of treating and/or inhibiting an Shigella sonnei infection. The disclosed immunogenic conjugates have the general structure: Pr—Sr—O—N?C-Kdo-OS wherein Pr is a carrier protein, Sr is an optional spacer moiety, Kdo is an 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid or a derivative thereof, and OS is an oligosaccharide or polysaccharide obtained from S. sonnei. In specific examples, the immunogenic conjugates include the core oligosaccharide obtained from S. sonnei having the structure: wherein R is between 1 and 10 disaccharide repeat units. In specific examples, the disaccharide repeat unit included in the immunogenic conjugate has the structure: ?-L-AltNAcA-3-?-FucNAc4N-4-.

Abstract: Provided are immunogenic compositions and methods for eliciting an immune response against B. anthracis and other bacteria that contain 3-methyl-3-hydroxybutyrate- or 3-hydroxybutyrate-substituted saccharides. Conjugates of 3-methyl-3-hydroxybutyrate- or 3-hydroxybutyrate-substituted saccharides elicit an effective immune response against B. anthracis spores in mammalian hosts to which the conjugates are administered.

Abstract: Provided are immunogenic compositions and methods for eliciting an immune response against B. anthracis and other bacteria that contain 3-methyl-3-hydroxybutyrate- or 3-hydroxybutryate-substituted saccharides. Conjugates of 3-methyl-3-hydroxybutyrate- or 3-hydroxybutryate-substituted saccharides elicit an effective immune response against B. anthracis spores in mammalian hosts to which the conjugates are administered.

Abstract: Methods for preparing an oligosaccharide—protein carrier immunogenic conjugate or a polysaccharide—protein carrier immunogenic conjugate. The methods include obtaining an oligosaccharide or polysaccharide having a KDO moiety located at the terminal reducing end of the oligosaccharide or polysaccharide that includes a carbonyl functional group; and reacting the carbonyl functional group of the KDO moiety with an aminooxylated protein carrier molecule resulting in a conjugate that includes a covalent oxime bond between the oligosaccharide and the protein carrier or the polysaccharide and the protein carrier.

Abstract: Polysaccharide-containing extracts isolated from a host cell containing nucleotide sequences encoding genes pamA, pamB and pamC, wherein the extract is capable of inhibiting biofilm formation produced by gram-negative bacteria, gram-positive bacteria and fungi, and methods to inhibit biofilm formation or remove biofilms that have already formed.

Abstract: A novel lipoteichoic acid (LTA) was isolated from C. difficile, the structure of which is illustrated below wherein n is an integer between 1 and 20, R3 and R4 are independently selected from C 14:0, C 16:0, C 16:1, C 18:0 or C18:1 fatty acid or any combination thereof wherein one of COR3 or COR4 may be replaced by H. Further described are conjugates comprising the novel LTA and vaccines produced using the isolated LTA and the LTA conjugates. The invention also encompasses methods of conferring immunity against C. difficile comprising administering a vaccine of the invention, and methods of detecting C. difficile using the isolated LTA of the invention.

Abstract: Disclosed are immunogenic conjugates and therapeutic compositions that include such immunogenic conjugates. Also disclosed are methods of treating and/or inhibiting an Shigella sonnei infection. The disclosed immunogenic conjugates have the general structure: Pr-Sr-O—N?C-Kdo-OS wherein Pr is a carrier protein, Sr is an optional spacer moiety, Kdo is an 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid or a derivative thereof, and OS is an oligosaccharide or polysaccharide obtained from S. sonnei. In specific examples, the immunogenic conjugates include the core oligosaccharide obtained from S. sonnei having the structure: wherein R is between 1 and 10 disaccharide repeat units. In specific examples, the disaccharide repeat unit included in the immunogenic conjugate has the structure: ?-L-AltNAcA-3-?-FucNAc4N-4-.

Abstract: Methods for preparing an oligosaccharide-protein carrier immunogenic conjugate or a polysaccharide-protein carrier immunogenic conjugate. The methods include obtaining an oligosaccharide or polysaccharide having a KDO moiety located at the terminal reducing end of the oligosaccharide or polysaccharide that includes a carbonyl functional group; and reacting the carbonyl functional group of the KDO moiety with an aminooxylated protein carrier molecule resulting in a conjugate that includes a covalent oxime bond between the oligosaccharide and the protein carrier or the polysaccharide and the protein carrier.

Abstract: Disclosed are immunogenic conjugates and therapeutic compositions that include such immunogenic conjugates. Also disclosed are methods of treating and/or inhibiting an Shigella sonnei infection. The disclosed immunogenic conjugates have the general structure: Pr—Sr—O—N?C-Kdo-OS wherein Pr is a carrier protein, Sr is an optional spacer moiety, Kdo is an 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid or a derivative thereof, and OS is an oligosaccharide or polysaccharide obtained from S. sonnei. In specific examples, the immunogenic conjugates include the core oligosaccharide obtained from S. sonnei having the structure: wherein R is between 1 and 10 disaccharide repeat units. In specific examples, the disaccharide repeat unit included in the immunogenic conjugate has the structure: ?-L-AltNAcA-3-?-FucNAc4N-4-.

Abstract: Provided are immunogenic compositions and methods for eliciting an immune response against B. anthracis and other bacteria that contain 3-methyl-3-hydroxybutyrate- or 3-hydroxybutryate-substituted saccharides. Conjugates of 3-methyl-3-hydroxybutyrate- or 3-hydroxybutryate-substituted saccharides elicit an effective immune response against B. anthracis spores in mammalian hosts to which the conjugates are administered.

Abstract: Polysaccharide-containing extracts isolated from a host cell containing nucleotide sequences encoding genes pamA, pamB and pamC, wherein the extract is capable of inhibiting biofilm formation produced by gram-negative bacteria, gram-positive bacteria and fungi, and methods to inhibit biofilm formation or remove biofilms that have already formed.

Abstract: Disclosed are immunogenic conjugates and therapeutic compositions that include such immunogenic conjugates. Also disclosed are methods of treating and/or inhibiting an Shigella sonnei infection. The disclosed immunogenic conjugates have the general structure: Pr—Sr—O—N?C-Kdo-OS wherein Pr is a carrier protein, Sr is an optional spacer moiety, Kdo is an 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid or a derivative thereof, and OS is an oligosaccharide or polysaccharide obtained from S. sonnei. In specific examples, the immunogenic conjugates include the core oligosaccharide obtained from S. sonnei having the structure: wherein R is between 1 and 10 disaccharide repeat units. In specific examples, the disaccharide repeat unit included in the immunogenic conjugate has the structure: ?-L-AltNAcA-3-?-FucNAc4N-4-.

Abstract: Provided are immunogenic compositions and methods for eliciting an immune response against B. anthracis and other bacteria that contain 3-methyl-3-hydroxybutyrate- or 3-hydroxybutyrate-substituted saccharides. Conjugates of 3-methyl-3-hydroxybutyrate- or 3-hydroxybutyrate-substituted saccharides elicit an effective immune response against B. anthracis spores in mammalian hosts to which the conjugates are administered.

Abstract: Methods for preparing an oligosaccharide-protein carrier immunogenic conjugate or a polysaccharide-protein carrier immunogenic conjugate. The methods include obtaining an oligosaccharide or polysaccharide having a KDO moiety located at the terminal reducing end of the oligosaccharide or polysaccharide that includes a carbonyl functional group; and reacting the carbonyl functional group of the KDO moiety with an aminooxylated protein carrier molecule resulting in a conjugate that includes a covalent oxime bond between the oligosaccharide and the protein carrier or the polysaccharide and the protein carrier.