Abstract: This invention relates to prevention and/or treatment of antibiotic associated diarrhea, including Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD), pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) and other conditions associated with C. difficile infection, using oligosaccharide compositions which bind C. difficile toxin B. More specifically, the invention concerns neutralization of C. difficile toxin B associated with such conditions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of suppressing inflammatory responses, inducing tolerance to an antigen, and suppressing cell adhesion, e.g., involved in metastasis, by the administration of lectin derived carbohydrate binding peptides or derivatives thereof, in particular, peptides capable of binding terminally linked &agr;-sialic acid(2→6)&bgr;Gal- and/or &agr;-sialic acid(2→3)&bgr;Gal-groups on structures or molecules comprising such groups. Pharmaceutical compositions containing such lectin derived carbohydrate binding peptides or derivatives thereof are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to prevention and/or treatment of antibiotic associated diarrhea, including Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD), pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) and other conditions associated with C. difficile infection, using oligosaccharide compositions which bind C. difficile toxin B. More specifically, the invention concerns neutralization of C. difficile toxin B associated with such conditions.

Abstract: This invention relates to compositions and methods useful to treat diarrhea, especially diarrhea and related conditions initiated or mediated by enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), using oligosaccharide compositions. This invention also relates to compositions and methods to reduce the virulence of an EPEC organism.

Abstract: This invention relates to the treatment of diarrhea and related conditions caused by pathogenic E. coli infection. More specifically, this invention is drawn to the unexpected discovery that by administering a composition which binds and removes the shiga like toxins (SLT) produced by pathogenic E. coli whenever an antibiotic is administered, improved treatment is provided. Novel compositions containing both antibiotic and toxin binding composition and methods of treatment which use simultaneous administration toxin binding composition whenever antibiotic is administered are provided. These compositions and methods kill the enteric E. coli organisms which produce the conditions and neutralize the SLT produced by the organisms and/or released from the organisms when they are killed. Thus, these compositions and methods are better able to ameliorate the symptoms of the infection and inhibit progression of this infection into hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) than conventional treatment.

Abstract: Therapeutic and diagnostic methods are provided for treatment and detection of enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) enteric infections. Also provided is an assay for the identification of compositions which are effective inhibitors of EPEC infection.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to lectin derived carbohydrate binding peptides or derivatives thereof useful for suppressing inflammatory responses, inducing tolerance to an antigen, and suppressing cell adhesion, e.g., involved in metastasis. In particular, peptides capable of binding terminally linked &agr;-sialic acid(2-6)&bgr;Gal- and/or &agr;-sialic acid(2-3)&bgr;Gal-groups on structures or molecules comprising such groups are provided. Pharmaceutical compositions containing such lectin derived carbohydrate binding peptides are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to the treatment of diarrhea and related conditions caused by pathogenic E. coli infection. More specifically, this invention is drawn to the unexpected discovery that by administering a composition which binds and removes the shiga like toxins (SLT) produced by pathogenic E. coli whenever an antibiotic is administered, improved treatment is provided. Novel compositions containing both antibiotic and toxin binding composition and methods of treatment which use simultaneous administration toxin binding composition whenever antibiotic is administered are provided. These compositions and methods kill the enteric E. coli organisms which produce the conditions and neutralize the SLT produced by the organisms and/or released from the organisms when they are killed. Thus, these compositions and methods are better able to ameliorate the symptoms of the infection and inhibit progression of this infection into hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) than conventional treatment.

Abstract: The three-dimensional structure of crystalline pertussis holotoxin (PT) has been determined by X-ray crystallography. Crystal structures have also been determined for complexes of pertussis toxin with molecules relevant to the biological activity of PT. These three-dimensional structures were analyzed to identify functional amino acids appropriate for modification to alter the biological properties of PT. Similar procedures may be used to predict amino acids which contribute to the toxicity of the holotoxin, to produce immunoprotective, genetically-detoxified analogs of pertussis toxin.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for the neutralization of shiga-like toxins (SLT) associated with enteric E. coli infection which methods inhibit progression of this infection into hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

Abstract: This invention relates to prevention and/or treatment of antibiotic associated diarrhea, including Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD), pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) and other conditions associated with C. difficile infection, using oligosaccharide compositions which bind C. difficile toxin B. More specifically, the invention concerns neutralization of C. difficile toxin B associated with such conditions.

Abstract: This invention relates to treatment of traveller's diarrhea, including diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), using oligosaccharide compositions which bind E. coli heat-labile toxin (LT) and/or one or more serotypes of enterotoxigenic E. coli organisms. More specifically, the invention concerns neutralization and removal of LT associated with traveller's diarrhea. This invention also relates to prevention of ETEC from colonizing the intestinal tract and inducing disease.

Abstract: The three-dimensional structure of crystalline pertussis holotoxin (PT) has been determined by X-ray crystallography. Crystal structures have also been determined for complexes of pertussis toxin with molecules relevant to the biological activity of PT. These three-dimensional structures were analyzed to identify functional amino acids appropriate for modification to alter the biological properties of PT. Similar procedures may be used to predict amino acids which contribute to the toxicity of the holotoxin, to produce immunoprotective, genetically-detoxified analogs of pertussis toxin.

Abstract: This invention relates to prevention and/or treatment of antibiotic associated diarrhea, including Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD), pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) and other conditions associated with C. difficile infection, using oligosaccharide compositions which bind C. difficile toxin B. More specifically, the invention concerns neutralization of C. difficile toxin B associated with such conditions.

Abstract: The three-dimensional structure of crystalline pertussis holotoxin (PT) has been determined by X-ray crystallography. Crystal structures have also been determined for complexes of pertussis toxin with molecules relevant to the biological activity of PT. These three-dimensional structures were analyzed to identify functional amino acids appropriate for modification to alter the biological properties of PT. Similar procedures may be used to predict amino acids which contribute to the toxicity of the holotoxin, to produce immunoprotective, genetically-detoxified analogs of pertussis toxin.

Abstract: The three-dimensional structure of crystalline pertussis holotoxin (PT) has been determined by X-ray crystallography. Crystal structures have also been determined for complexes of pertussis toxin with molecules relevant to the biological activity of PT. These three-dimensional structures were analyzed to identify functional amino acids appropriate for modification to alter the biological properties of PT. Similar procedures may be used to predict amino acids which contribute to the toxicity of the holotoxin, to produce immunoprotective, genetically-detoxified analogs of pertussis toxin.

Abstract: Diagnostic and therapeutic compositions which comprise the .alpha.Gal(1-4).beta.Gal subunit are described. These compositions permit the rapid diagnosis and treatment of enteric infections caused by E. coli that produce shiga-like toxins (SLT).

Abstract: This invention relates to treatment of cholera and related conditions using oligosaccharide compositions which bind V. cholera toxin and/or one or more serotypes of the organism V. cholera. More specifically, the invention concerns neutralization and removal of V. cholera toxin and/or organisms from the intestinal tract.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of purifying shiga-like toxins (SLTs) from Polymyxin B sulfate extracts of Verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli. The methods are facile, efficient and reproducible. In another aspect, the toxin is inactivated for use in a vaccine against SLT mediated disease conditions.

Abstract: This invention relates to treatment of traveller's diarrhea, including diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), using an oligosaccharide-containing composition. The composition contains an oligosaccharide sequence covalently attached to a pharmaceutically acceptable solid, inert support through a non-peptidyl compatible linker arm. The oligosaccharide-containing composition binds E. coli heat-labile toxin (LT). More specifically, the invention concerns neutralization and removal of LT associated with traveller's diarrhea.