Abstract: Technologies for the prevention and/or treatment of pneumococcal infections.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide for a Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) Multiple Antigen Presenting System (MAPS) immunogenic composition comprising an immunogenic polysaccharide which induces an immune response, where at least one M. tuberculosis peptide or polypeptide antigen is associated to the immunogenic polysaccharide by complementary affinity molecules. In some embodiments, the immunogenic polysaccharide can be an antigenic capsular polysaccharide of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Type 5 (CP5) or Type 8 (CP8), or a combination of Type 5 or Type 8 capsular polysaccharide from Staphylococcus aureus, or alternatively, a different immunogenic capsular or noncapsular polysaccharide, and where the protein or peptide M. tuberculosis antigens are indirectly linked via an affinity binding pair. The present M. tuberculosis-MAPS immunogenic compositions can elicit both humoral and cellular immune responses to the immunogenic polysaccharide and one or multiple M. tuberculosis antigens at the same time.

Abstract: The disclosure provides modified biotin-binding proteins which can be expressed in soluble form in high yield in bacteria. Also provided are fusion proteins comprising the modified biotin-binding protein and an antigen. The disclosure further provides non-hemolytic variants of alpha-hemolysin from S. aureus and fusion protein comprising non-hemolytic variant of alpha-hemolysin and a biotin-binding domains. Immunogenic compositions comprising the proteins are also disclosed and use of such immunogenic compositions for inducing an immune response or for vaccinating a subject are also disclosed.

Abstract: Technologies for the prevention and/or treatment of pneumococcal infections.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to separation matrix comprising a lipoic acid (LA) compound or derivative thereof for use in a method for purifying and isolating a biotin-binding protein, including fusion proteins and complexes thereof. Embodiments described herein relate to methods for reversible binding of a biotin-binding protein, e.g., rhizavidin, including fusion proteins and complexes thereof to a matrix comprising a lipoic acid (LA) compound or derivative thereof immobilized to a solid support, where the biotin-binding protein can be detached from the matrix, making it possible to isolate the biotin-binding protein efficiently and quickly and under a mild conditions while minimizing protein denaturation and maximizing protein purification and isolation.

Abstract: The disclosure provides modified biotin-binding proteins which can be expressed in soluble form in high yield in bacteria. Also provided are fusion proteins comprising the modified biotin-binding protein and an antigen. The disclosure further provides non-hemolytic variants of alpha-hemolysin from S. aureus and fusion protein comprising non-hemolytic variant of alpha-hemolysin and a biotin-binding domains. Immunogenic compositions comprising the proteins are also disclosed and use of such immunogenic compositions for inducing an immune response or for vaccinating a subject are also disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosure provides modified biotin-binding proteins which can be expressed in soluble form in high yield in bacteria. Also provided are fusion proteins comprising the modified biotin-binding protein and an antigen. The disclosure further provides non-hemolytic variants of alpha-hemolysin from S. aureus and fusion protein comprising non-hemolytic variant of alpha-hemolysin and a biotin-binding domains. Immunogenic compositions comprising the proteins are also disclosed and use of such immunogenic compositions for inducing an immune response or for vaccinating a subject are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides for immunogenic compositions and methods for producing an immunogenic composition with multiple immunity-inducing fractions of killed, whole-cell Streptococcus pneumoniae by selectively disrupting a whole cell bacterial preparation in such a manner that a soluble fraction that induces a primarily antibody response, and a cellular fraction that induces a primarily antibody-independent response, remain in the immunogenic composition.

Abstract: The present application is generally directed to methods for identifying immunogens from organisms and pathogens, and in particular for identifying immunogens which when administered as vaccines elicit a cellular and/or humoral immune response. The present application is also directed to pneumococcal T-cell immunogens, and vaccine compositions comprising one or a combination of pneumococcal immunogens and methods for treating or preventing pneumococcal infections using the vaccines thereof. The present invention also encompasses use of the pneumococcal immunogens for diagnostic purposes to identify a subject with a pneumococcal infection.

Abstract: The disclosure provides modified biotin-binding proteins which can be expressed in soluble form in high yield in bacteria. Also provided are fusion proteins comprising the modified biotin-binding protein and an antigen. The disclosure further provides non-hemolytic variants of alpha-hemolysin from S. aureus and fusion protein comprising non-hemolytic variant of alpha-hemolysin and a biotin-binding domains. Immunogenic compositions comprising the proteins are also disclosed and use of such immunogenic compositions for inducing an immune response or for vaccinating a subject are also disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosure provides modified biotin-binding proteins which can be expressed in soluble form in high yield in bacteria. Also provided are fusion proteins comprising the modified biotin-binding protein and an antigen. The disclosure further provides non-hemolytic variants of alpha-hemolysin from S. aureus and fusion protein comprising non-hemolytic variant of alpha-hemolysin and a biotin-binding domains. Immunogenic compositions comprising the proteins are also disclosed and use of such immunogenic compositions for inducing an immune response or for vaccinating a subject are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present application is generally directed to novel pneumococcal polypeptide antigens and nucleic acids encoding such antigens, and immunogenic compositions comprising such antigens for treating and preventing pneumococcal infection. The present invention further provides method of using the antigens to elicits an immune response (e.g., IL-17A response, a T cell-mediated and/or B-cell-mediated immune responses). The present invention also provides methods of prophylaxis and/or treatment of pneumococcal-mediated diseases, such as sepsis, comprising administering an immunogenic composition including one or more of a combination of pneumococcal antigens or functional fragments thereof as disclosed herein. In some embodiments, one or more pneumococcal antigens can be present in a polysaccharide conjugate. The compositions induce an anti-pneumoccocus immune response when administered to a mammal.

Abstract: A capacitance detecting circuit includes a constant current source supplying a constant current to a voltage detection point, a time measuring unit measuring time of charge until the voltage of the voltage detection point reaches a prescribed voltage, a storage unit and an operation unit. The storage unit stores first data obtained in advance concerning the time of charge of a capacitance element having a known capacitance value, and second data obtained in advance concerning the time of charge of a capacitance component. The operation unit generates third data representing the time of charge of an object of detection from a difference between the first measurement value of the time measuring unit when the capacitance component is connected to the voltage detection point and the second data, and based on the ratio between the third data and the first data and the known capacitance value, calculates the capacitance value of the object of detection.

Abstract: A capacitance detecting circuit includes a constant current source supplying a constant current to a voltage detection point, a time measuring unit measuring time of charge until the voltage of the voltage detection point reaches a prescribed voltage, a storage unit and an operation unit. The storage unit stores first data obtained in advance concerning the time of charge of a capacitance element having a known capacitance value, and second data obtained in advance concerning the time of charge of a capacitance component. The operation unit generates third data representing the time of charge of an object of detection from a difference between the first measurement value of the time measuring unit when the capacitance component is connected to the voltage detection point and the second data, and based on the ratio between the third data and the first data and the known capacitance value, calculates the capacitance value of the object of detection.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide for an immunogenic multiple antigen presenting system comprising a polymer to which antigens are associated by complementary affinity molecules. For example, the polymer can be a polysaccharide, or antigenic polysaccharide, to which protein or peptide antigens from the same or different pathogens are indirectly linked. The present immunogenic compositions can elicit both humoral and cellular immune responses to one or multiple antigens at the same time.

Abstract: The disclosure provides modified biotin-binding proteins which can be expressed in soluble form in high yield in bacteria. Also provided are fusion proteins comprising the modified biotin-binding protein and an antigen. The disclosure further provides non-hemolytic variants of alpha-hemolysin from S. aureus and fusion protein comprising non-hemolytic variant of alpha-hemolysin and a biotin-binding domains. Immunogenic compositions comprising the proteins are also disclosed and use of such immunogenic compositions for inducing an immune response or for vaccinating a subject are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present application is generally directed to methods for identifying immunogens from organisms and pathogens, and in particular for identifying immunogens which when administered as vaccines elicit a cellular and/or humoral immune response. The present application is also directed to pneumococcal T-cell immunogens, and vaccine compositions comprising one or a combination of pneumococcal immunogens and methods for treating or preventing pneumococcal infections using the vaccines thereof. The present invention also encompasses use of the pneumococcal immunogens for diagnostic purposes to identify a subject with a pneumococcal infection.

Abstract: The present invention provides for immunogenic compositions and methods for producing an immunogenic composition with multiple immunity-inducing fractions of killed, whole-cell Streptococcus pneumoniae by selectively disrupting a whole cell bacterial preparation in such a manner that a soluble fraction that induces a primarily antibody response, and a cellular fraction that induces a primarily antibody-independent response, remain in the immunogenic composition.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides for methods for identifying novel immunogens that when administered as vaccines elicit a cellular or humoral immunogenic response. In a particular embodiment, a method identified pneumococcal T-cell immunogens that elicit systemic IL-17A responses, and reduce or protect against pneumococcal colonization.

Abstract: A steam oven is disclosed. The steam oven includes an oven, a water storing element, a steam generating element, a first conveying element, a second conveying element and a heating element, herein the oven includes an orifice. Both of the water storing element and the steam generating element are disposed adjacent to the oven. The first conveying element used for conveying water from the water storing element to the steam generating element is disposed between the water storing element and the steam generating element. The second conveying element used for conveying steam from the steam generating element to the oven via the orifice connects the steam generating element and the oven. The heating element used for heating steam is disposed adjacent to the second conveying element.