Abstract: The invention provides a vaccine including an isolated Als protein family member having cell adhesion activity, or an immunogenic fragment thereof, with an adjuvant in a pharmaceutically acceptable medium. The invention also provides a method of treating or preventing hematogenously disseminated or mucocutaneous candidiasis. A method of treating or preventing disseminated candidiasis also is provided that includes administering an effective amount of an isolated Als protein family member having cell adhesion activity, or an functional fragment thereof, to inhibit the binding or invasion of Candida to a host cell or tissue. The Als protein family member can be derived from a Candida strain selected from the group consisting of Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Candida tropicalis, Candida glabrata and Candida parapsilosis and the Als protein family member includes Als1p, Als3p, Als5p, Als6p, Als7p or Als9p. Also provided is a method of treating or preventing Staphylococcus aureus infections.

Abstract: This invention is directed to multifunctional, context-activated protides that have two or more effectors with individually distinct biological functions and one or more corresponding activator sites that can each initiate or amplify the biological function of one or more effectors upon context-activation. The context-activated protides of the invention are useful in the diagnosis, prophylaxis, and therapy of a broad range of pathological conditions.

Abstract: A Candida albicans bloodstream infections cause significant morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. Filament formation and adherence to host cells are critical virulence factors of C. albicans. Multiple filamentation regulatory pathways have been discovered, however the downstream effectors of these regulatory pathways remain unknown. The cell surface proteins in the ALS group are downstream effectors of the filamentation regulatory pathway. Particularly, Als1p mediates adherence to endothelial cells in vitro and is required for virulence. The blocking of adherence by the organism is described resulting from the use of a composition and method disclosed herein. Specifically, a pharmaceutical composition comprised of a gene, gene product, or specific antibody to the ALS gene family is administered as a vaccine to generate an immune response capable of blocking adherence of the organism.

Abstract: The invention is based, in part, on the discovery of a novel cell-based immunotherapy that can recapitulate neutrophil functions in neutropenic individuals afflicted with a microbial infection. The therapeutic methods of the invention are broadly applicable to treat any infection in a neutropenic individual, including infections caused by bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses. The methods of the invention represent a practical, rapid cell-based immunotherapy for refractory infections comprising compositions of activated, irradiated HL-60 cells.

Abstract: The invention provides a vaccine including an isolated Als protein family member having cell adhesion activity, or an immunogenic fragment thereof, with an adjuvant in a pharmaceutically acceptable medium. The invention also provides a method of treating or preventing hematogenously disseminated or mucocutaneous candidiasis. The method includes administering an immunogenic amount of a vaccine an isolated Als protein family member having cell adhesion activity, or an immunogenic fragment thereof, in a pharmaceutically acceptable medium. A method of treating or preventing disseminated candidiasis also is provided that includes administering an effective amount of an isolated Als protein family member having cell adhesion activity, or an functional fragment thereof, to inhibit the binding or invasion of Candida to a host cell or tissue.

Abstract: A Candida albicans bloodstream infections cause significant morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. Filament formation and adherence to host cells are critical virulence factors of C. albicans. Multiple filamentation regulatory pathways have been discovered, however the downstream effectors of these regulatory pathways remain unknown. The cell surface protein, Als1p, is a downstream effector of the filamentation regulatory pathway and is regulated by Efg1p. Als1p mediates adherence to endothelial cells in vitro and is required for virulence. The blocking of adherence by the organism is described resulting from the use of a composition and method disclosed herein. Specifically, a pharmaceutical composition comprised of a gene product from the ALS1 gene family is administered as a vaccine to generate an immune response capable of blocking adherence of the organism.

Abstract: This invention is directed to multifunctional, context-activated protides that have two or more effectors with individually distinct biological functions and one or more corresponding activator sites that can each initiate or amplify the biological function of one or more effectors upon context-activation. The context-activated protides of the invention are useful in the diagnosis, prophylaxis, and therapy of a broad range of pathological conditions.