Abstract: The present invention relates to mycobacterial lipoarabinomannan cap-specific mannosyl transferases and nucleic acid encoding such transferases. The invention further relates to Mycobacteria in which the lipoarabinomannan cap-specific mannosyl transferases have been inactivated and that therefore express mannose cap-deficient lipoarabinomannan. Such Mycobacteria with mannose cap-deficient lipoarabinomannan may be used as more effective vaccines against mycobacterial diseases as they lack the immunosuppressive action of the mannose cap.

Abstract: The current invention provides new Gram negative polypeptides exhibiting lipid A 3-O-deacylase activity and are capable of modifying and/or detoxifying gram negative LPS. The present invention also provides Gram negative bacteria, Gram negative bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and compositions comprising LPS, which are provided with or treated with a 3-O-deacylase activity according to the invention and which may be used for pharmaceutical and/or veterinary purposes, in particular for the preparation of whole cell or acellular vaccines against pathogenic Gram negatives such as Bordetella pertussis, Bordetella parapertussis and Bordetella bronchiseptica.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Neisserial Lipo-Oligo-Saccharides (LOS) that comprise a tri-saccharide outer core that shows increased binding to the DC-SIGN receptor on dendritic cells, as a result of which the Neisserial LOS's of the invention have increased immunostimulatory activity. The tri-saccharide outer core of the Neiserial LOS's combined with a Lipid A moiety with reduced toxicity is useful as an adjuvant in vaccine preparations.

Abstract: The subject invention lies in the field of vaccines. Specifically new compounds that can be used as adjuvants are provided. Recombinant LPS having a reduced number of secondary acyl chains per molecule of LPS vis a vis the corresponding non modified LPS molecule, said secondary acyl chains being bound to primary acyl chains, said primary acyl chains being bound to the glucosamine of said recombinant LPS molecule, said recombinant LPS being homogenous in acylation pattern is an example of such a compound. Also recombinant LPS having a phosphate group attached to the glucosamine at the non reducing end of the LPS molecule and a phosphate group attached to the glucosamine at the reducing end of the molecule per recombinant LPS molecule provides a further example.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an immunity providing B cell activating molecule derived from a meningococcal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) having at least one epitope, said molecule comprising at least the communal part of the oligosaccharide part (core region) of lipopolysaccharides specific for at least two meningococcal immunotypes, preferably immunotypes L2 and L3 and wherein in galactose is absent in the B cell activating part, as well as derivatives of the molecules with immuno reaction inducing capacity. The invention is also directed at an outer membrane vesicle provided with a group of polypeptides having at least the immunoactivity of outer membrane proteins (OMP's) bound to a membrane, a polypeptide from the group of said outer membrane vesicles being a membrane anchored OMP or OMP fragment with a mutation in one of the surface loops, preferably in a 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 or 8-loop of a class I OMP.