Abstract: Knockout of the meningococcal mltA homolog gives bacteria that spontaneously release vesicles that are rich in immunogenic outer membrane proteins and that can elicit cross-protective antibody responses with higher bactericidal titres than OMVs prepared by normal production processes. Thus the invention provides a bacterium having a knockout mutation of its mltA gene. The invention also provides a bacterium, wherein the bacterium: (i) has a cell wall that includes peptidoglycan; and (ii) does not express a protein having the lytic transglycosylase activity MltA protein. The invention also provides compositions comprising vesicles that, during culture of bacteria of the invention, are released into the culture medium.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of outer membrane vesicles (OMV) and their uses. More particularly the present invention provides OMV obtained from a bacterium being an ompA mutant and/or a mutant in one or more components of the TolPal complex and presenting a heterologous antigen on its surface. The heterologous antigen is selected from the group consisting of Chlamydia trachomatis CT823, CT681, CT372, CT443, CT043, CT733, CT279, CT601 and CT153 for the treatment, prevention or diagnosis of Chlamydia infection.

Abstract: This invention provides, among other things, proteins, polypeptides, and fragments thereof, derived from the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis B. Also provided are nucleic acids encoding for such proteins, polypeptides, and/or fragments, as well as nucleic acids complementary thereto e.g., antisense nucleic acids). Additionally, this invention provides antibodies which bind to the proteins, polypeptides, and/or fragments. This invention further provides expression vectors useful for making the proteins, polypeptides, and/or fragments, as well as host cells transformed with such vectors. This invention also provides compositions of the proteins, polypeptides, fragments, and/or nucleic acids, for use as vaccines, diagnostic reagents, immunogenic compositions, and the like. Methods of making the compositions and methods of treatment with the compositions are also provided. This invention also provides methods of detecting the proteins, polypeptides, fragments, and/or nucleic acids.

Abstract: The invention provides proteins from Neisseria meningitidis, including the amino acid sequences and the corresponding nucleotide sequences. The proteins are predicted to be useful antigens for vaccines and/or diagnostics.

Abstract: The invention provides proteins from Neisseria meningitidis, including the amino acid sequences and the corresponding nucleotide sequences. The proteins are predicted to be useful antigens for vaccines and/or diagnostics.

Abstract: The invention provides proteins from Neisseria meningitidis, including the amino acid sequences and the corresponding nucleotide sequences. The proteins are predicted to be useful antigens for vaccines and/or diagnostics.

Abstract: The invention provides proteins from Neisseria meningitidis, including the amino acid sequences and the corresponding nucleotide sequences. The proteins are predicted to be useful antigens for vaccines and/or diagnostics.

Abstract: The invention provides proteins from group B streptococcus (Streptococcus agalactiae) and group A streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes), including amino acid sequences and the corresponding nucleotide sequences. Data are given to show that the proteins are useful antigens for vaccines, immunogenic compositions, and/or diagnostics. The proteins are also targets for antibiotics.

Abstract: An effective Staphylococcus aureus vaccine may require several antigenic components, and so various combinations of S. aureus antigens are identified for use in immunization. These polypeptides may optionally be used in combination with S. aureus saccharides.

Abstract: Knockout of the meningococcal mltA homolog gives bacteria that spontaneously release vesicles that are rich in immunogenic outer membrane proteins and that can elicit cross-protective antibody responses with higher bactericidal titres than OMVs prepared by normal production processes. Thus the invention provides a bacterium having a knockout mutation of its mltA gene. The invention also provides a bacterium, wherein the bacterium: (i) has a cell wall that includes peptidoglycan; and (ii) does not express a protein having the lytic transglycosylase activity of MltA protein. The invention also provides compositions comprising vesicles that, during culture of bacteria of the invention, are released into the culture medium.

Abstract: The invention provides proteins and compositions for the treatment and prevention of Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B streptococcus; GBS).

Abstract: The invention provides an immunogenic composition comprising: (a) a conjugate that is a capsular saccharide from GBS serotype I1 conjugated to a carrier protein; (b) a conjugate that is a capsular saccharide from GBS serotype Ib conjugated to a carrier protein; and (c) a conjugate that is a capsular saccharide from GBS serotype III conjugated to a carrier protein. The invention also provides a method for immunizing a patient against infection by GBS comprising the step of administering to the patient a conjugate that is a capsular saccharide from GBS conjugated to a diphtheria toxoid or derivative thereof, wherein the patient has been pre-immunized with a diphtheria toxoid or derivative thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides Chlamydia antigens for use in the treatment, prevention and/or diagnosis of Chlamydia infection. In particular, the invention provides antigens CT733, CT153, CT601, CT279, CT443, CT372, CT456, CT381, CT255, CT341, CT716, CT745, CT387, CT812, CT869, CT166, CT175, CT163, CT214, CT721, CT127, CT043, CT823 and/or CT600 from C. trachomatis for the treatment, prevention or diagnosis of Chlamydia infection.

Abstract: The invention provides proteins from Neisseria meningitidis, including the amino acid sequences and the corresponding nucleotide sequences. The proteins are predicted to be useful antigens for vaccines and/or diagnostics.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for enhancing the protective immunity elicited by an immunogen that comprise administering an immunomnodulatory compound to a patient separately but simultaneously with, or prior or subsequent to, the administration of a vaccine. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of nicotinamide and derivatives thereof and benzamide and derivatives thereof in enhancing the protective immunity elicited by an immunogen.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of outer membrane vesicles (OMV) and their uses. More particularly the present invention provides OMV obtained from a bacterium being an ompA mutant and/or a mutant in one or more components of the TolPal complex and presenting a heterologous antigen on its surface. The heterologous antigen is selected from the group consisting of Chlamydia trachomatis CT823, CT681, CT372, CT443, CT043, CT733, CT279, CT601 and CT153 for the treatment, prevention or diagnosis of Chlamydia infection.

Abstract: The present invention provides an outer membrane vesicle (OMV) from a Gram-negative bacterium, comprising at least one heterologous protein that is free in the lumen of the OMV, wherein the OMV is capable of eliciting an immune response to the heterologous protein when administered to a mammal. The invention also provides methods for preparing the OMVs of the invention, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the OMVs of the invention, especially immunogenic compositions and vaccines, and methods of generating an antibody immune response in a mammal using OMVs.

Abstract: The invention provides an immunogenic composition comprising: a) a conjugate that is a capsular saccharide from GBS serotype Ia conjugated to a carrier protein; b) a conjugate that is a capsular saccharide from GBS serotype Ib conjugated to a carrier protein; c) a conjugate that is a capsular saccharide from GBS serotype III conjugated to a carrier protein; d) a conjugate that is a capsular saccharide from GBS serotype II conjugated to a carrier protein; and e) a conjugate that is a capsular saccharide from GBS serotype V conjugated to a carrier protein.

Abstract: The invention provides an immunogenic composition comprising one or more GBS conjugates and one or more antigens selected from: a) cellular or acellular pertussis antigen, b) a tetanus toxoid, c) a diphtheria toxoid and d) an inactivated polio virus antigen, wherein each GBS conjugate is a group B streptococcus capsular saccharide conjugated to a carrier protein. The invention also provides a method for raising an immune response in a patient, comprising the step of administering to the patient a composition of the invention.

Abstract: The invention provides protective antigens which are useful in vaccine compositions to induce protection against gram positive bacteria, particularly against S. agalactiae, S. pyogenes, S. pneumoniae, S. aureus, S. suis, and S. equi.