Abstract: The invention relates to a medium for culturing pathogenic bacteria to produce an immunogenic factor. The medium comprises non-animal derived proteinaceous material. The invention also relates to the use of the medium to cultivate pathogenic bacteria, obtaining immunogenic factors from the bacteria being cultivated and preparing vaccines using the immunogenic factors.

Abstract: Immunologically active polypeptides with no or reduced toxicity useful for the preparation of an antipertussis vaccine. Method for the preparation of said polypeptides which comprises, cultivating, a microorganism transformed with a hybrid plasmid including the gene/s which codes for at least one of said polypeptides in a suitable medium and recovering the desired polypeptide from the cells or from the culture medium.

Abstract: The invention provides proteins from Neisseria meningitidis (strains A & B), including amino acid sequences, the corresponding nucleotide sequences, expression data, and serological data. The proteins are useful antigens for vaccines, immunogenic compositions, and/or diagnostics.

Abstract: This invention provides polypeptides of Helicobacter pylori cytotoxin protein. The invention also provides prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines comprising the polypeptides of Helicobacter pylori cytotoxin protein, and methods for their preparation.

Abstract: A non-toxic mucosal adjuvant is provided which may be admixed with further antigens to provide a vaccine administrable to mucosal surfaces in organisms including man. Preferably, the non-toxic mucosal adjuvant is a detoxified mutant of a bacterial ADP-ribosylating toxin, optionally comprising one or more amino acid additions, deletions or substitutions.

Abstract: Molecular mimetics of a surface-exposed epitope on loop 4 of PorA of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (MenB) P1.2 serosubtype and antibodies produced against the same are disclosed. Compositions containing such molecular mimetics or the antibodies thereto can be used to prevent MenB disease, as well as for diagnosis of MenB infection.

Abstract: An immunogenic detoxified protein is provided which comprises the amino acid sequence of subunit A of an E. coli heat labile toxin (LT-A) or a fragment thereof in which at least amino acid Ala-72 of the A subunits mutated, preferably by substitution with Arg. The toxoid is useful as vaccine against an enterotoxigenic strain of E. coli and is produced by recombinant DNA means by site-directed mutagenesis. It is also an effective adjuvant.

Abstract: An immunogenic detoxified protein is provided which comprises the amino acid sequence of subunit A of an E. coli heat labile toxin (LT-A) or a fragment thereof in which at least amino acid Ala-72 of the A subunit is mutated, preferably by substitution with Arg. The toxoid is useful as vaccine against an enterotoxigenic strain of E. coli and is produced by recombinant DNA means by site-directed mutagenesis. It is also an effective adjuvant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new method for the growth of Helicobacter pylori and purification of the cytotoxin produced by H. pylori. In particular, H. pylori is cultured in a medium comprising more than 1 gl−1 of glucose to produce a vacuolating cytotoxin.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to immunogenic compositions comprising an immunologically effective amount of an antigen against which an immune response is desired and a mucosal adjuvant, wherein the mucosal adjuvant comprises a detoxified mutant A subunit or detoxified mutant holotoxin of pertussis toxin (PT) or Pseudomonas endotoxin A, wherein the antigen is not the detoxified mutant. The present invention is also directed to methods for the manufacture of the same, and to methods of enhancing an immune response to an antigen in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal the immunogenic compositions.

Abstract: The present invention provides conjugate compounds comprising at least one heat shock protein or portion thereof including at least one immunostimulatory domain and at least one capsular oligosaccharide or polysaccharide of a pathogenic bacteria. The compound comprises oligosaccharides of the Meningococci C (MenC) group and a heat shock protein selected from M. bovis BCG GroE1-type 65 kDa hsp (hspR65), recombinant M. tuberculosis DnaK-type 70 kDa hsp (hspR70) and a heat shock protein from H. pylori. The invention also provides processes for producing conjugate compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising conjugate compounds, therapeutic compositions comprising conjugate compounds, and methods of inducing an immune response.

Abstract: An immunogenic detoxified protein comprising the amino acid sequence of subunit A of a cholera toxin (CT-A) or a fragment thereof or the amino acid sequence of subunit A of an Escherichia coli heat labile toxin (LT-A) or a fragment thereof wherein the amino acids at, or in positions corresponding to Ser-63 and Arg-192 are replaced with another amino acid. The immunogenic detoxified protein is useful as vaccine for Vibrio cholerae or an enterotoxigenic strain of Escherichia coli and is produced by recombinant DNA means by site-directed mutagenesis.

Abstract: Cloning and sequencing of the Eco RI fragment of B. pertussis chromosomal DNA with 4696 base pairs, containing the genes which code for the five subunits of the pertussis toxin. A hybrid plasmid containing the DNA fragment or its further fragments and a micro-organism transformed by the hybrid plasmid and capable of expressing the cloned DNA fragment or further fragments thereof by synthesis of the pertussis toxin or one or more subunits of the pertussis toxin. The pertussis toxin or one or more subunits of the pertussis toxin so obtained are useful for the preparation of vaccines and diagnostic kits.

Abstract: An immunogenic detoxified protein comprising the amino acid sequence of subunit A of cholera toxin (CT-A) or subunit A of an Escherichia coli heat labile toxin (LT-A) or a fragment thereof wherein one or more amino acids at, or in positions corresponding to Val-53, Ser-63, Val-97, Tyr-104 or Pro-106 are replaced with another amino acid or deleted. Examples of specific replacements include Val-53-Asp, Val-53-Glu, Val-53-Tyr, Ser-63-Lys, Val-97-Lys, Val-97-Tyr, Tyr-104-Lys, Tyr-104-Asp, Tyr-104-Ser, Pro-106-Ser. The immunogenic detoxified protein is useful as vaccine for Vibrio cholerae or an enterotoxigenic strain of Escherichia coli and is produced by recombinant DNA means by site-directed mutagenesis.

Abstract: Helicobacter pylori is known to cause or be a cofactor in type B gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric tumors. In both developed and developing countries, a high percentage of people are infected with this bacterium. The present invention relates generally to certain H. pylori proteins, to the genes which express these proteins, and to the use of these proteins for diagnostic and vaccine applications. Specifically, molecular cloning, nucteotide, and amino acid sequences for the H. pylori cytotoxin (CT), the "Cytotoxin Associated Immunodominant" (CAI) antigen, and the heat shock protein (hsp60). are described herein.

Abstract: A cytotoxin associated immunodominant antigen and the nucleic acid encoding the antigen from Helicobacter pylori are described. This antigen was identified from the cytotoxin positive CCUG 17874 Helicobacter pylori strain, and both the antigen and the DNA encoding it have been sequenced. The antigen is a hydrophilic, surface-exposed protein having a molecular weight of 120-132 kDa. The nucleic acid encoding the antigen may be incorporated into a vector for transformation of host cells for expression of the antigen. Both the DNA and the antigen can be used in assays for detection of disease or infection by Helicobacter pylori, and may find use in treating and preventing infection by Helicobacter pylori and the diseases associated with such infection.

Abstract: Helicobacter pylori known to cause or be a cofactor in type B gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric tumors. In both developed and developing countries, a high percentage of people are infected with this bacterium. The present invention relates generally to certain H. pylori proteins, to the genes which express these proteins, and to the use of these proteins for diagnostic and vaccine applications. Specifically, molecular cloning, nucleotide, and amino add sequences for the H. pylori cytotoxin (CT), the "Cytotoxin Associated Immunodominant" (CAI) antigen, and the heat shock protein (hsp60) are described herein.

Abstract: Nucleic acid and protein compositions are provided from B. pertussis which may find use in diagnosis, prevention and therapy of whooping cough. Particularly, an open reading frame encoding filamentous hemagglutinin precursors provided, with the intact protein for the filamentous hemagglutinin portion thereof, can be expressed in a wide variety of hosts, for use in the production of antibodies, for immunodiagnosis or therapy, or as vaccines for prophylactic purposes.

Abstract: Immunological active polypeptides with no or reduced toxicity useful for the preparation of an antipertussis vaccine. Method for the preparation of said polypeptides which comprises, cultivating a microorganism transformed with a hybrid plasmid including the gene/s which codes for at least one of said polypeptides in a suitable medium and recovering the desired polypeptide from the cells or from the culture medium.

Abstract: A nasal dosage composition for nasal delivery comprising (A) a therapeutic agent; and (B) zonula occludens toxin, as well as a method for the use of the same.