Abstract: Provided herein are compositions designed to reduce or prevent bacterial infections (for example pneuomococcal infections), nasal carriage, nasal colonization, and central nervous system invasion. Provided herein is a composition comprising a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:19 or a variant thereof that can elicit an anti-neuraminidase immune response. Further provided are methods of making and using the compositions disclosed herein. Specifically provided are methods of generating antibodies in a subject comprising administering to the subject an agent or composition taught herein. Also provided are methods of reducing or preventing nasal carriage or pneumococcal infection in a subject comprising administering to the subject a composition taught herein.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide for immunogenic portions of Streptococcus pneumoniae surface protein A and surface protein C lacking alpha helical structure.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions designed to reduce or prevent bacterial infections (for example pneuomococcal infections), nasal carriage, nasal colonization, and central nervous system invasion. Provided herein is a composition comprising a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:19 or a variant thereof that can elicit an anti-neuraminidase immune response. Further provided are methods of making and using the compositions disclosed herein. Specifically provided are methods of generating antibodies in a subject comprising administering to the subject an agent or composition taught herein. Also provided are methods of reducing or preventing nasal carriage or pneumococcal infection in a subject comprising administering to the subject a composition taught herein.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions designed to reduce or prevent pneuomococcal infections, nasal carriage, nasal colonization, and central nervous system invasion. Provided herein is a composition comprising a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19 or a variant thereof that can elicit an anti-neuraminidase immune response. Further provided are methods of making and using the compositions disclosed herein. Specifically provided are methods of generating antibodies in a subject comprising administering to the subject an agent or composition taught herein. Also provided are methods of reducing or preventing nasal carriage or pneumococcal infection in a subject comprising administering to the subject a composition taught herein.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for eliciting an immune response against Streptococcus pneumoniae are described. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to immunogenic PcpA polypeptides, including fragments of PcpA and variants thereof, and nucleic acids that encode the polypeptides. The present disclosure further relates to methods of making and using the immunogenic polypeptides. Further provided is a method of diagnosing pneumococcal infection (e.g., pneumonia) in a subject by obtaining a biological sample from the subject and detecting one or more pneumococcal antigens that are selectively expressed during invasion (e.g., PcpA or fragments thereof).

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions designed to reduce or prevent pneuomococcal infections, nasal carriage, nasal colonization, and central nervous system invasion. Provided herein is a composition comprising a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19 or a variant thereof that can elicit an anti-neuraminidase immune response. Further provided are methods of making and using the compositions disclosed herein. Specifically provided are methods of generating antibodies in a subject comprising administering to the subject an agent or composition taught herein. Also provided are methods of reducing or preventing nasal carriage or pneumococcal infection in a subject comprising administering to the subject a composition taught herein.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods for eliciting an immune response against Streptococcus pneumoniae. More particularly, the compositions and methods relate to immunogenic polypeptides, including fragments of PcpA and variants thereof, and nucleic acids, vectors and transfected cells that encode or express the polypeptides. Methods of making and using the immunogenic polypeptides are also described.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for eliciting an immune response against Streptococcus pneumoniae are described. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to immunogenic PcpA polypeptides, including fragments of PcpA and variants thereof, and nucleic acids that encode the polypeptides. The present disclosure further relates to methods of making and using the immunogenic polypeptides. Further provided is a method of diagnosing pneumococcal infection (e.g., pneumonia) in a subject by obtaining a biological sample from the subject and detecting one or more pneumococcal antigens that are selectively expressed during invasion (e.g., PcpA or fragments thereof).

Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide for immunogenic portions of Streptococcus pneumoniae surface protein A and surface protein C lacking alpha helical structure.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are: epitopic regions of Pneumococcal Surface Protein C or “PspC”, different clades of PspC, isolated and/or purified nucleic acid molecules such as DNA encoding a fragment or portion of PspC such as an epitopic region of PspC or at least one epitope of PspC, uses for such nucleic acid molecules, e.g., to detect the presence of PspC or of S. pneumoniae by detecting a nucleic acid molecule therefor in a sample such as by amplification and/or a polymerase chain reaction, vectors or plasmids which contain and/or express such nucleic acid molecles, e.g.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are: epitopic regions of Pneumococcal Surface Protein C or “PspC”, different clades of PspC, isolated and/or purified nucleic acid molecules such as DNA encoding a fragment or portion of PspC such as an epitopic region of PspC or at least one epitope of PspC, uses for such nucleic acid molecules, e.g., to detect the presence of PspC or of S. pneumoniae by detecting a nucleic acid molecule therefor in a sample such as by amplification and/or a polymerase chain reaction, vectors or plasmids which contain and/or express such nucleic acid molecles, e.g.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are: epitopic regions of Pneumococcal Surface Protein C or “PspC”, different clades of PspC, isolated and/or purified nucleic acid molecules such as DNA encoding a fragment or portion of PspC such as an epitopic region of PspC or at least one epitope of PspC, uses for such nucleic acid molecules, e.g., to detect the presence of PspC or of S. pneumoniae by detecting a nucleic acid molecule therefor in a sample such as by amplification and/or a polymerase chain reaction, vectors or plasmids which contain and/or express such nucleic acid molecles, e.g.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are: epitopic regions of Pneumococcal Surface Protein C or “PspC”, different clades of PspC, isolated and/or purified nucleic acid molecules such as DNA encoding a fragment or portion of PspC such as an epitopic region of PspC or at least one epitope of PspC, uses for such nucleic acid molecules, e.g., to detect the presence of PspC or of S. pneumoniae by detecting a nucleic acid molecule therefor in a sample such as by amplification and/or a polymerase chain reaction, vectors or plasmids which contain and/or express such nucleic acid molecles, e.g.

Abstract: The present invention provides chimeric proteins such as Salivary Binding Protein (SBR) coupled to the B subunit of cholera toxin. Such a chimeric protein, when expressed in attenuated Salmonella typhymurium produces significant increases in serum IgG and salivary IgA antibody levels after oral immunization. In another embodiment of the present invention, the recombinant plasmid contains a salivary binding protein-cholera toxin A2/B chimeric protein expressed in E. coli. Intragastric immunization of SBR coupled to CTB in this chimeric protein form leads to increased antigen responsive T cells. In another embodiment of the present invention, the recombinant plasmid contains a salivary binding protein-cholera toxin.sup..DELTA.A1 chimeric protein expressed in Salmonella typhimurium. Oral immunization using this recombinant plasmid results in increased serum IgG responses to antigen. Oral immunization using this recombinant plasmid also resulted in increased salivary IgA antibody responses to antigen.