Abstract: The present invention provides multivalent chimeric conjugate vaccine molecule and methods of using the conjugate to immunize subjects against bacterial infections. A conjugate molecule of the invention comprises multiple bacterial capsular polysaccharides linked to a carrier protein. Accordingly, the conjugate molecule provides immune protection against multiple types of bacteria in a single vaccines. In particular, conjugate molecules of the invention are used to prevent or attenuate Group B Streptococcus and meningococcal infections.

Abstract: A system and method for assessing the immunological status of one or more individuals in a patient population is presented. The method includes establishing a database comprising a plurality of records of information each representative of the immune status of an individual in the population, each of said records including (1) current information from one or more assays for the presence of a biochemical, and (2) individual specific information comprising one or more of said individual's medical history, said individual's doctors' observations and historical, demographic, lifestyle, and familial information relating to said individual. The method further includes processing the information in said database to find trends or patterns relating to the immune status of individuals in said patient population; and using the said trends or patterns as part of a health care related decision making process.

Abstract: This invention relates to improved methods for purifying polysaccharides from cellular components, such as a cell wall. The method relates to hydrolyzing and separating the polysaccharides, thereby resulting in purified polysaccharides useful for producing antigens, antibodies, and vaccines comprising the polysaccharides alone or conjugated to carrier molecules. This method is simple, rapid, efficient, scalable, and reproducible.

Abstract: A system and method for assessing the immunological status of one or more individuals in a patient population is presented. The method includes establishing a database comprising a plurality of records of information each representative of the immune status of an individual in the population, each of said records including (1) current information from one or more assays for the presence of a biochemical, and (2) individual specific information comprising one or more of said individual's medical history, said individual's doctors' observations and historical, demographic, lifestyle, and familial information relating to said individual. The method further includes processing the information in said database to find trends or patterns relating to the immune status of individuals in said patient population; and using the said trends or patterns as part of a health care related decision making process.

Abstract: A system and method for assessing immunological status of individuals and populations is presented. The method includes establishing a database containing a plurality of records, each record containing information representative of the immune status of an individual, including (1) bioassay results, and (2) individual specific information such as, medical history, clinical observations and historical, demographic, lifestyle, and familial/genetic information. By processing the information trends and/or patterns are obtained correlating various variables in the records across an individual, population or sub-population. The identified trends and/or patterns can, for example, be used in health care related decision making. In exemplary embodiments such processing can include generating a set of correlations and for each correlation generating a set of explanatory or relevant hypotheses. Then, for example, each hypothesis can be automatically refuted or supported, to the extent possible.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of manufacture of immunogenic glycoconjugates, in particular for use in pharmaceutical compositions for inducing a therapeutic immune response in a subject. The immunogenic glycoconjugates of the invention comprise one or more oligosaccharides or polysaccharides that are conjugated to one or more carrier proteins via an active aldehyde group. Accordingly, the invention provides methods of making (i) unsaturated microbial N-acyl derivative oligosaccharides or polysaccharides; (ii) novel conjugates of unsaturated N-acyl derivatives; and (iii) glycoconjugate compositions comprising conjugate molecules of fragments of microbial unsaturated N-acyl derivatives that serve as a covalent linker to one or more proteins. The invention further encompasses the use of the immunogenic glycoconjugates pharmaceutical compositions for the prevention or treatment of an infectious disease.

Abstract: A system and method for assessing the immunological status of one or more individuals in a patient population is presented. The method includes establishing a database comprising a plurality of records of information each representative of the immune status of an individual in the population, each of said records including (1) current information from one or more assays for the presence of a biochemical, and (2) individual specific information comprising one or more of said individual's medical history, said individual's doctors' observations and historical, demographic, lifestyle, and familial information relating to said individual. The method further includes processing the information in said database to find trends or patterns relating to the immune status of individuals in said patient population; and using the said trends or patterns as part of a health care related decision making process.

Abstract: A system and method for assessing the immunological status of one or more individuals in a patient population is presented. The method includes establishing a database comprising a plurality of records of information each representative of the immune status of an individual in the population, each of said records including (1) current information from one or more assays for the presence of a biochemical, and (2) individual specific information comprising one or more of said individual's medical history, said individual's doctors' observations and historical, demographic, lifestyle, and familial information relating to said individual. The method further includes processing the information in said database to find trends or patterns relating to the immune status of individuals in said patient population; and using the said trends or patterns as part of a health care related decision making process.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel immunogenic composition and vaccine, processes for producing them and methods for immunization against infections and disease caused by group A Streptococci. The compositions include group A streptococcal polysaccharide covalently linked to protein or liposomes to form immunogenic conjugates. The method of immunization for this invention comprises administering to an individual an immunogenic amount of group A polysaccharide. The group A polysaccharide may be administered as a vaccine either on its own, conjugated to proteins or conjugated to liposomes. Additionally, the group A polysaccharides may be associated with an adjuvant. This invention is particularly useful for providing both active and passive immunogenic protection for those populations most at risk of contracting group A Streptococcal infections and disease namely adults, pregnant women and in particular infants and children.

Abstract: This invention relates to improved methods for purifying polysaccharides from cellular components, such as a cell wall. The method relates to hydrolyzing and separating the polysaccharides, thereby resulting in purified polysaccharides useful for producing antigens, antibodies, and vaccines comprising the polysaccharides alone or conjugated to carrier molecules. This method is simple, rapid, efficient, scalable, and reproducible.

Abstract: This invention relates to modified meningococcal Y polysaccharides (GYMP), conjugates comprising the modified polysaccharides and a carrier, vaccines for the immunisation of warm-blooded animals, including humans, against Group Y Neisseria meningitidis, and to methods for producing these modified polysaccharides, conjugates and vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention provides, among other things, improved carrier proteins for antigen-based vaccines, including polysaccharide-based vaccines. An aspect of the invention advantageously employs tetanus toxin Fragment C.

Abstract: A system and method for obtaining, storing, processing and utilizing immunologic information of individuals and populations is presented. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a biological sample can be taken from one or more individuals and the sample submitted to one or more panels of assays. The results of the assays can be stored and analyzed, and such analysis can include (i) calculating derived quantities which take the results of the assays as inputs, and (ii) submitting the results and the derived quantities to a set of rules, each of which has a defined output state. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, based upon the output state of the rules, an appropriate recommendation as to one or more immunization or other interventions can be generated and incorporated with provider and patient reminders.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel immunogenic composition and vaccine, processes for producing them and methods for immunization against infections and disease caused by group A Streptococci. The compositions include group A streptococcal polysaccharide covalently linked to protein or liposomes to form immunogenic conjugates. The method of immunization for this invention comprises administering to an individual an immunogenic amount of group A polysaccharide. The group A polysaccharide may be administered as a vaccine either on its own, conjugated to proteins or conjugated to liposomes. Additionally, the group A polysaccharides may be associated with an adjuvant. This invention is particularly useful for providing both active and passive immunogenic protection for those populations most at risk of contracting group A Streptococcal infections and disease namely adults, pregnant women and in particular infants and children.

Abstract: This invention relates to modified pneumolysin polypeptides that retain the immunogenic nature of pneumolysin but have reduced or undetectable hemolytic activity compared to native pneumolysin. The invention also provides a method for generating novel pneumolysin variants with these desired characteristic properties. The invention also provides immunogenic compositions useful as pharmaceutical compositions including vaccines in which non-toxic, modified pneumolysin is used to stimulate protective immunity against Streptococcus pneumoniae. The vaccines may be compositions in which the modified pneumolysin is conjugated to bacterial polysaccharides or may be carried on an attenuated viral vector.

Abstract: Novel immunogenic &bgr;-propionamido-linked polysaccharide- and N-propionamido-linked oligosaccharide-protein conjugates are provided as well as method of producing the conjugates. The conjugation procedure is simple, rapid, reproducible and applicable to a variety of polysaccharides or oligosaccharides derived from bacterial species, yeast, cancer cells or chemically synthesized. Vaccines and methods of immunization against infection or cancer using the immunogenic &bgr;-propionamido-linked polysaccharide- and &bgr;-propionamido-linked oligosaccharide-protein conjugates are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to modified pneumolysin polypeptides that retain the immunogenic nature of pneumolysin but have reduced or undetectable hemolytic activity compared to native pneumolysin. The invention also provides a method for generating novel pneumolysin variants with these desired characteristic properties. The invention also provides immunogenic compositions useful as pharmaceutical compositions including vaccines in which non-toxic, modified pneumolysin is used to stimulate protective immunity against Streptococcus pneumoniae. The vaccines may be compositions in which the modified pneumolysin is conjugated to bacterial polysaccharides or may be carried on an attenuated viral vector.

Abstract: The present invention provides multivalent chimeric conjugate vaccine molecule and methods of using the conjugate to immunize subjects against bacterial infections. A conjugate molecule of the invention comprises multiple bacterial capsular polysaccharides linked to a carrier protein. Accordingly, the conjugate molecule provides immune protection against multiple types of bacteria in a single vaccines. In particular, conjugate molecules of the invention are used to prevent or attenuate Group B Streptococcus and meningococcal infections.

Abstract: Disclosed is an H. influenzae type b polysaccharide-meningococcal outer membrane protein conjugate, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and the use thereof to induce an immune response to H. influenzae in an animal.

Abstract: The process for depolymerizing Group B Types II and III streptococcal polysaccharide is disclosed which results in polysaccharide fragments having a reducing end suitable for conjugating to protein. Conjugate molecules, vaccines and their use to immunize mammals including humans are also disclosed.