Abstract: The invention relates to composite antigens comprising a peptide with contiguous amino acid sequence derived from a plurality of antigenic epitopes of one or more pathogens that induces an immune response in a mammal that is protective against infection by the one or more pathogens. In addition. The invention also relates to antibodies to composite antigens of the invention and to methods of administering vaccines comprising antigens or vaccines of antibodies for treating and/or preventing an infection.

Abstract: The invention is directed to compositions and methods for collecting, transporting, and storing, without refrigeration, biological materials, which may comprise samples of biological, clinical, forensic, and/or environmental origin. These compositions preserve the viability of the collected organisms and/or the RNA/DNA and proteins in the sample composition mixture and permit the long-term storage of samples. Compositions are compatible with subsequent manipulation of the sample, including propagation and culture of the collected microorganisms, or isolation, purification, detection, and characterization of proteins, nucleic acids, and other macromolecules.

Abstract: The invention relates to composite antigens comprising an antigen obtained or derived from an antigenic epitope of one or more pathogens that induces an immune response in a mammal, an antigen obtained or derived from bacterial cell wall material that induces an immune response in a mammal such as LTA, PNG or LPS, and a T cell stimulating antigen such as CRM. Preferably the composite antigen comprises an immunogenic composition or a vaccine that is effective against the pathogen or can generate antibodies that can be collected that are protective against infection by the pathogen. In addition, the invention relates to vaccines comprising composite antigens and to method for treating and preventing an infection.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions comprising a nucleic acid that encodes a peptide or a peptide that induces an immune response in an animal or a mammal that is protective against infection by one or more pathogens. In addition, the invention relates to vaccines comprising compositions and to method for treating and preventing an infection in animals and mammals such as humans.

Abstract: The invention is directed to compositions and methods for collecting, transporting, and storing, without refrigeration, biological materials, which may comprise samples of biological, clinical, forensic, and/or environmental origin. These compositions preserve the viability of the collected organisms and/or the RNA/DNA and proteins in the sample composition mixture and permit the long-term storage of samples. Compositions are compatible with subsequent manipulation of the sample, including propagation and culture of the collected microorganisms, or isolation, purification, detection, and characterization of proteins, nucleic acids, and other macromolecules.

Abstract: The invention is directed to compositions and methods for collecting, transporting, and storing, preferably without refrigeration, biological materials, which may comprise samples of biological, clinical, forensic, and/or environmental origin. Compositions preserve the fidelity and/or viability of the collected organisms and/or macromolecules in the sample and permit long-term storage. Compositions are compatible with manipulation of the sample, including propagation and culture of the microorganisms, or isolation, purification, detection, and characterization of macromolecules. Compositions containing microorganisms or macromolecules can be further processed, for example, by nucleic acid testing with greater fidelity and detection as compared to conventional microbial transport media.

Abstract: The invention relates to composite antigens comprising an antigen obtained or derived from an antigenic epitope of one or more pathogens that induces an immune response in a mammal, an antigen obtained or derived from bacterial cell wall material that induces an immune response in a mammal such as LTA, PNG or LPS, and a T cell stimulating antigen such as CRM. Preferably the composite antigen comprises an immunogenic composition or a vaccine that is effective against the pathogen or can generate antibodies that can be collected that are protective against infection by the pathogen. In addition, the invention relates to vaccines comprising composite antigens and to method for treating and preventing an infection.

Abstract: The invention is directed to compositions and methods for stimulating, enhancing or modulating the immune system of a patient before or after infection by a pathogen, and in particular multidrug resistant (MDR) MTB and extremely drug resistant (XDR) MTB. Compositions of the invention contain non-naturally occurring antigens that generate an effective cellular and/or humoral immune response to MTB and/or antibodies that are specifically reactive to MTB antigens. The greater activity of the immune system generated by a vaccine of the invention increases generation of memory T cells that provide for a greater and/or extended response to an MTB infection. Responses involve an increased generation of antibodies that enhance immunity against MTB infection and promote an enhanced phagocytic response.

Abstract: The invention is directed to compositions and methods for isolating, detecting, amplifying, and quantitating pathogen-specific nucleic acids in a biological sample, and in particular PCR ready compositions that contain enzyme and are stable or long periods of time. The invention also provides diagnostic kits containing specific amplification primers and labeled detection probes that specifically bind to the amplification products obtained therefrom. Also disclosed are compositions and methods for the isolation and characterization of nucleic acids that are specific to one or more pathogens, including for example Influenza virus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, from a wide variety of samples including those of biological, environmental, clinical and/or veterinary origin.

Abstract: Disclosed is an enhanced method for rapid and cost-effective analysis of sequences of a microorganism by qPCR. These methods identify allelic variation, SNPs, and genetic mutations of a particular gene such as those responsible for conferring resistance or sensitivity to an antibiotic, chemotherapy, or another chemical compound. By selection of appropriate gene regions, mutation loci that confer resistance to key antibiotics can be identified by qPCR. Additionally, the approach can identify heteroresistant strains, e.g., populations of strains from a sample that contain both mutation and wild-type nucleotides. By selecting appropriate that bind efficiently to the area of mutation can identify resistance conferring mutations. Methods are useful to sequences derived from viral agents, such as influenza virus, bacterial agents, such as tuberculosis bacteria, and cancer cells.

Abstract: Disclosed is an enhanced method for rapid and cost-effective analysis of sequences of a microorganism by semi-conductor sequencing, preferably ion-torrent sequencing. This method provides for full length analysis and of multiple areas (e.g. genes) of multiple genomes. These methods identify genetic mutations of a particular gene that are responsible for conferring resistance or sensitivity to an antibiotic or other chemical compound. Multiple different species, strains and/or serotypes of a particular organism are rapidly and efficiently screened and mutations identified along with the complete genome of an organism. By selecting primers pairs of similar size and GC content that produce amplicons with sequences spanning the entire genome, a single PCR reaction analyzed by ion torrent methodology can determine the sequence of a complete genome. Methods are useful to sequences the genomes of viral agents, such as influenza virus, and bacterial agents, such as tuberculosis bacteria.

Abstract: The invention relates to composite antigens comprising a peptide with contiguous amino acid sequence derived from a plurality of antigenic epitopes of one or more pathogens that induces an immune response in a mammal that is protective against infection by the one or more pathogens. In addition. The invention also relates to antibodies to composite antigens of the invention and to methods of administering vaccines comprising antigens or vaccines of antibodies for treating and/or preventing an infection.

Abstract: The invention is directed to compositions and methods for isolating, detecting, amplifying, and quantitating pathogen-specific nucleic acids in a biological sample, and in particular PCR ready compositions that contain enzyme and are stable or long periods of time. The invention also provides diagnostic kits containing specific amplification primers, and labeled detection probes that specifically bind to the amplification products obtained therefrom. Also disclosed are compositions and methods for the isolation and characterization of nucleic acids that are specific to one or more pathogens, including for example Influenza virus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, from a wide variety of samples including those of biological, environmental, clinical and/or veterinary origin.

Abstract: The invention is directed to compositions and methods for rapidly detecting, amplifying, and quantitating one or more pathogen-specific nucleic acids in a biological sample, and in particular, samples obtained from patients with sepsis. The invention also provides diagnostic kits containing specific amplification primers, and labeled detection probes that specifically bind to the amplification products obtained therefrom. The invention is also directed to detecting the quantity or ratio of genomic sequences and mRNA sequences of an individual suspected of being infected with an infectious agent over time to assess the progress of the infection over time. Also disclosed are compositions and methods for the isolation and characterization of nucleic acids that are specific to one or more pathogens, such as, for example, Influenza virus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Plasmodium, and/or HIV from a wide variety of samples including those of biological, environmental, clinical and/or veterinary origin.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions for isolating populations of nucleic acids from biological, forensic, and environmental samples. Also disclosed are methods for using these compositions as one-step formulations for killing pathogens, inactivating nucleases, and releasing polynucleotides from other cellular components within the sample, and stabilizing the nucleic acids prior to further processing or assay. The disclosed compositions safely facilitate rapid sample collection and provide extended storage and transport of the samples at ambient or elevated temperature without contamination of the sample or degradation of the nucleic acids contained therein. This process particularly facilitates the collection of specimens from remote locations, and under conditions previously considered hostile for preserving the integrity of nucleic acids released from lysed biological samples without the need of refrigeration or freezing prior to molecular analysis.

Abstract: The invention is directed to compositions and methods for collecting, transporting, and storing, without refrigeration, biological materials, which may comprise samples of biological, clinical, forensic, and/or environmental origin. These compositions preserve the viability of the collected organisms and/or the RNA/DNA and proteins in the sample composition mixture and permit the long-term storage of samples. Compositions are compatible with subsequent manipulation of the sample, including propagation and culture of the collected microorganisms, or isolation, purification, detection, and characterization of proteins, nucleic acids, and other macromolecules.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions for isolating populations of nucleic acids from biological, forensic, and environmental samples. Also disclosed are methods for using these compositions as one-step formulations for killing pathogens, inactivating nucleases, and releasing polynucleotides from other cellular components within the sample, and stabilizing the nucleic acids prior to further processing or assay. The disclosed compositions safely facilitate rapid sample collection, and provide extended storage and transport of the samples at ambient or elevated temperature without contamination of the sample or degradation of the nucleic acids contained therein. This process particularly facilitates the collection of specimens from remote locations, and under conditions previously considered hostile for preserving the integrity of nucleic acids released from lysed biological samples without the need of refrigeration or freezing prior to molecular analysis.

Abstract: The invention is directed to compositions and methods for stimulating, enhancing or modulating the immune system of a patient before or after infection by a pathogen, and in particular multidrug resistant (MDR) MTB and extremely drug resistant (XDR) MTB. Compositions of the invention contain non-naturally occurring antigens that generate an effective cellular and/or humoral immune response to MTB and/or antibodies that are specifically reactive to MTB antigens. The greater activity of the immune system generated by a vaccine of the invention increases generation of memory T cells that provide for a greater and/or extended response to an MTB infection. Responses involve an increased generation of antibodies that enhance immunity against MTB infection and promote an enhanced phagocytic response.

Abstract: The invention relates to composite antigens comprising a peptide with contiguous amino acid sequence derived from a plurality of antigenic epitopes of one or more pathogens that induces an immune response in a mammal that is protective against infection by the one or more pathogens. In addition, the invention relates to vaccines comprising composite antigens and to method for treating and preventing an infection.

Abstract: The invention relates to composite antigens comprising a peptide with contiguous amino acid sequence derived from a plurality of antigenic epitopes of one or more pathogens that induces an immune response in a mammal that is protective against infection by the one or more pathogens. In addition, the invention relates to vaccines comprising composite antigens and to method for treating and preventing an infection.