Abstract: A bacterin including effective immunizing amounts of two non-crossprotective isolates of inactivated Borrelia burgdorferi, an adjuvant in an amount effective to enhance the immunogenicity of the inactivated Borrelia burgdorferi isolates and a suitable carrier is provided herein. The bacterin may also contain a third non-crossprotective isolate. A bacterin including effective immunizing amounts of an antigenic subunit derived from a first Borrelia burgdorferi isolate and a second, non-crossprotective Borrelia burgdorferi isolate, an adjuvant in an amount effective to enhance the immunogenicity of the antigenic subunits and a suitable carrier is also provided. The bacterin may also contain an effective immunizing amount of an antigenic subunit of a third Borrelia burgdorferi.

Abstract: An OspC Dra fragment fusion peptide isolated from Borrelia burgdorferi is described herein for the prevention, treatment and early diagnosis of Lyme disease in humans and other animals. This invention also relates to a screening method detecting anti-Osp borreliacidal antibody activity, and antibodies reacting with a protein fragment encoded by a DraI-SmaI DNA fragment of OspC.

Abstract: A bacterin including effective immunizing amounts of two non-crossprotective isolates of inactivated Borrelia burgdorferi, an adjuvant in an amount effective to enhance the immunogenicity of the inactivated Borrelia burgdorferi isolates and a suitable carrier is provided herein. The bacterin may also contain a third non-crossprotective isolate. A bacterin including effective immunizing amounts of an antigenic subunit derived from a first Borrelia burgdorferi isolate and a second, non-crossprotective Borrelia burgdorferi isolate, an adjuvant in an amount effective to enhance the immunogenicity of the antigenic subunits and a suitable carrier is also provided. The bacterin may also contain an effective immunizing amount of an antigenic subunit of a third Borrelia burgdorferi.

Abstract: A bacterin including effective immunizing amounts of two non-crossprotective isolates of inactivated Borrelia burgdorferi, an adjuvant in an amount effective to enhance the immunogenicity of the inactivated Borrelia burgdorferi isolates and a suitable carrier is provided herein. The bacterin may also contain a third non-crossprotective isolate. A bacterin including effective immunizing amounts of an antigenic subunit derived from a first Borrelia burgdorferi isolate and a second, non-crossprotective Borrelia burgdorferi isolate, an adjuvant in an amount effective to enhance the immunogenicity of the antigenic subunits and a suitable carrier is also provided. The bacterin may also contain an effective immunizing amount of an antigenic subunit of a third Borrelia burgdorferi.

Abstract: An OspC Dra fragment fusion peptide isolated from Borrelia burgdorferi is described herein for the prevention, treatment and early diagnosis of Lyme disease in humans and other animals. This invention also relates to a screening method detecting anti-Osp borreliacidal antibody activity, and antibodies reacting with a protein fragment encoded by a DraI-SmaI DNA fragment of OspC.

Abstract: A method of performing an assay to determine whether a patient has been exposed to or infected by Borrelia burgdorferi is disclosed which comprises collecting serum from the patient; preparing a sample mixture comprising a portion of the patient's serum and an inoculum of viable Borrelia burgdorferi organisms; incubating the sample mixture; determining the number of viable organisms remaining in the sample mixture after incubation; and comparing the number with the quantity of viable organisms remaining in a control. An assay kit is also disclosed which is useful for determining whether a patient has been exposed to or infected by Borrelia burgdorferi. The kit contains reagents necessary to practice the assay method disclosed herein. In its broadest form, the kit comprises an inoculum of viable Borrelia burgdorferi organisms. The kit can also contain an aliquot of normal serum, an aliquot of BSK medium and/or an aliquot of complement. Other reagents, tubes and other materials can also be included in the kits.

Abstract: Apparatus for isolating and identifying microorganisms in blood or the like which comprises a tubular collection vessel which is sealed at both ends but includes means at one end for permitting the removal of fluid therein by the application of vacuum when the seal at that end is broken, a multisection filtration unit comprising a first section provided with means for receiving said one end of the collection vessel, means in said section for breaking the seal in said one end of the vessel when it is received by said first section, a second section of said filtration unit nested against the bottom of the first section, a filter membrane positioned between the nested first and second sections of said filtration unit, said filter membrane being in open communication with said one end of the collection vessel which is received by said first section, a third section of said filtration unit nested against the second section on the opposite side of the filter membrane from the nested first and second sections, and m

Abstract: The present invention concerns novel enrichments for enhancing the detection of the etiological agents of bacteremia. The blood enrichments of this invention are based upon the discovery that a novel supplement which includes a Fildes peptic digest of blood and certain other compounds enables conventional blood culture media to support the growth of a greater variety of microorganisms than has been possible previously and to stimulate growth rates of microorganisms. Use of the enrichment of the present invention will permit prompt and accurate detection of a broad range of etiological agents of bacteremia and facilitate the work of clinical microbiologists. The products of the invention can be utilized in antibiotic sensitivity testing, and are especially useful in automated machines for such testing.