Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated or purified asporogenous Bacillus megaterium (B. megaterium) strains comprising a B. megaterium genome, wherein said genome is modified in that the spo0A gene is deleted or functionally deleted and the strain does not produce spores. The aspororogenous strains of the invention may be further modified by a deletion or functional deletion of one or more genes selected from xylA, xylR, leuC and leuD. The strains of the invention may further comprise an expression vector, wherein the expression vector comprises a sequence of nucleotides that encodes a heterologous polypeptide, operatively liked to a promoter. Also provided by the invention are modified expression vectors and promoters for use in the B. megaterium expression systems of the invention and methods of use thereof.

Abstract: The present invention features antigen binding proteins that bind to a region found to have an epitope that can be targeted to provide protection against S. aureus infection. The region is designated herein as the “CS-D7” target region. The CS-D7 target region provides an S. aureus ORF0657n epitope that can be targeted to reduce the likelihood or severity of an S. aureus infection.