Abstract: The present invention provides antigens, for use in the treatment or prevention of C. burnetii infection. Also provided are nucleic acids encoding such antigens, and antibodies raised against such antigens.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method and supplement for preventing and/or treating gastrointestinal distress, including ulcer conditions, in animals are disclosed. The supplement comprises mastic gum and an emulsifying agent such as lecithin. The supplement may also comprise B vitamins, one or more prebiotics or probiotics, and one or more minerals as well as, pH buffers and flavoring. A disclosed method of preventing and/or treating gastrointestinal distress comprises orally dosing an animal with the supplement at least one daily.

Abstract: A spore-forming Bacillus species, and more particularly, a Bacillus subtilis strain identified as MB40 is provided. Compositions comprising the MB40 strain, methods of making products comprising the same, and methods of using the same are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an attenuated mutant strain of Salmonella comprising a recombinant DNA molecule encoding Mesothelin. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of said attenuated mutant strain of Salmonella in cancer immunotherapy.

Abstract: Provided is a composition for preventing, ameliorating, or treating inflammatory diseases, the composition including, as active ingredients, lactic acid bacteria-derived extracellular vesicles isolated from culture fluid of lactic acid bacteria; and a method for diagnosing atopic dermatitis. The composition including the lactic acid bacteria-derived extracellular vesicles as active ingredients is expected to be usefully used in development of drugs, cosmetics, or health functional food for preventing, ameliorating, or treating inflammatory diseases such as atopic dermatitis, chronic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sepsis, etc. Also, the composition will be usefully used for diagnosis of atopic dermatitis by measuring the distribution of lactic acid bacteria-derived extracellular vesicles in a urine or blood sample.

Abstract: Knockout of the meningococcal mltA homolog gives bacteria that spontaneously release vesicles that are rich in immunogenic outer membrane proteins and that can elicit cross-protective antibody responses with higher bactericidal titres than OMVs prepared by normal production processes. Thus the invention provides a bacterium having a knockout mutation of its mltA gene. The invention also provides a bacterium, wherein the bacterium: (i) has a cell wall that includes peptidoglycan; and (ii) does not express a protein having the lytic transglycosylase activity MltA protein. The invention also provides compositions comprising vesicles that, during culture of bacteria of the invention, are released into the culture medium.

Abstract: Certain embodiments are direct to a vaccine composition comprising an immunizing amount of an Ehrlichia sonicate, wherein the Ehrlichia sonicate elicits a protective physiologic response. In certain aspects the Ehrlichia is one or more of E. canis, E. chaffeensis, E. muris, E. ruminantium, E. ewingii, and E. ovis.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a method for detecting infection of an animal by Mycobacterium bovis. The method generally includes obtaining a biological sample from a host animal at risk of being infected by Mycobacterium bovis and analyzing the sample for the presence or absence of at least one M. bovis polypeptide. In some embodiments, the method can further include analyzing the sample for the presence or absence of at least one M. bovis lipid. In some embodiments, the method can further include detecting at least one host polypeptide whose expression is greater in a host infected with M. bovis compared to expression in a host known to be uninfected with M bovis.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vaccine which has a high therapeutic effect on mycoplasma infection and is highly safe. For the purpose of developing effective therapeutic methods for mycoplasma infection, mycoplasma-mimic particles which are effective as a vaccine for mycoplasma infection are provided, and also provided are bacterium-mimic particles including common bacteria. Bacterium-mimic particles such as mycoplasma-mimic particles can be provided by producing liposome particles in which a lipid antigen specific to a pathogenic bacterium such as mycoplasma is contained as a liposome-constituting lipid component. The administration of the mycoplasma-mimic particles enables the induction of a potent immunological activity in living bodies. The mycoplasma-mimic particles can be used as an excellent vaccine for the prevention or treatment of mycoplasma infection.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions comprising substantially non-viable Gram-negative bacterial organisms that have a substantial reduction in endotoxin activity and/or pyrogenicity and methods for treating a cancer using the same. Also provided are methods for treating cancer provided herein, comprising administering to a mammal diagnosed with cancer, substantially non-viable Gram-negative bacteria having a substantial reduction in endotoxin activity and/or pyrogenicity, in an amount sufficient to inhibit growth or metastasis of the cancer. An additional method is provided comprising administering viable or non-viable Gram-negative bacterial organisms that have a genetic defect that results in a substantial loss of lipopolysaccharide within the outer membrane of the bacteria. Further provided are methods for reducing endotoxin activity and/or pyrogenicity in Gram-negative bacteria comprising treatment with polymyxin and glutaraldehyde.

Abstract: The present invention demonstrates that bisphosphonates have an intrinsic adjuvant activity and directly stimulate B cell antibody secretion. Accordingly, the present invention provides vaccines comprising a bisphosphonate, methods for stimulating an immune response, enhancing the immunogenicicty of an immunogen, and methods of treating an infection, an autoimmune disease, an allergy, and/or a cancer using the same.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a nutritional and medicinal oral composition for veterinary use, comprising the following steps: a) providing cores of extruded products of complete feed, and b) coating the cores of extruded products of complete feed provided in step a) with at least one layer of a fatty material comprising at least one medicinal agent, said medicinal agent comprising (i) at least one pre-conditioned active substance in the form of a solution or a suspension of said active substance in an oily liquid, or (ii) at least one pre-conditioned active substance in the form of waxy granulates, at a temperature lower than 40° C.

Abstract: This document relates to methods and materials for producing immune responses against polypeptides involved in antibiotic resistance. For example, vaccines against polypeptides involved in antibiotic resistance as well as methods for vaccinating mammals against polypeptides involved in antibiotic resistance are provided.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for immunogenic compositions against Pigeon Fever, and methods for their use and preparation. The immunogenic compositions, in alternate embodiments, also include other equine pathogens.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions comprising substantially non-viable Gram-negative bacterial organisms that have a substantial reduction in endotoxin activity and/or pyrogenicity and methods for treating a cancer using the same. Also provided are methods for treating cancer provided herein, comprising administering to a mammal diagnosed with cancer, substantially non-viable Gram-negative bacteria having a substantial reduction in endotoxin activity and/or pyrogenicity, in an amount sufficient to inhibit growth or metastasis of the cancer. An additional method is provided comprising administering viable or non-viable Gram-negative bacterial organisms that have a genetic defect that results in a substantial loss of lipopolysaccharide within the outer membrane of the bacteria. Further provided are methods for reducing endotoxin activity and/or pyrogenicity in Gram-negative bacteria comprising treatment with polymyxin and glutaraldehyde.

Abstract: Mycobacterial-specific biomarkers and methods of using such biomarkers for diagnosis of mycobacterial infection in a mammal are disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides immunogenic compositions useful in prevention and treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infection. In particular, the disclosure provides methods of inducing an immune response against a panton-valentine leukocidin (PVL)-expressing S. aureus, methods of preventing or treating S. aureus infections, and composition for preventing or treating S. aureus infections.

Abstract: Vaccines comprising TRAP polypeptides and Salmonella enteritidis vectors comprising TRAP polypeptides are provided. The vaccines may also include a CD154 polypeptide capable of binding to CD40. Also provided are methods of enhancing an immune response against Apicomplexan parasites and methods of reducing morbidity associated with infection with Apicomplexan parasites.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel process for purifying bacterial polysaccharide. It is an efficient and scalable process for removing impurities from Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C (Men-C) polysaccharide which is capable of being used as such in a derivatized form or linked to other molecules, for the preparation of vaccines, more particularly conjugate vaccines for N. meningitidis infection.

Abstract: Provided herein are Salmonella enteritidis 13A strains and compositions comprising these strains. Also provided are methods of enhancing an immune response against Influenza A and methods of reducing morbidity associated with an Influenza A infection. Methods of enhancing an immune response to a vaccine vector by expressing a polypeptide of CD154 capable of binding CD40 are also disclosed. Methods of developing a bacterial vaccine vector are disclosed. Methods of generating scarless site-specific mutations in a bacterium are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided herein are Mycobacterium smegmatis porin nanopores, systems that comprise these nanopores, and methods of using and making these nanopores. Such nanopores may be wild-type MspA porins, mutant MspA porins, wild-type MspA paralog porins, wild-type MspA homolog porins, mutant MspA paralog porins, mutant MspA homolog porins, or single-chain Msp porins. Also provided are bacterial strains capable of inducible Msp porin expression.

Abstract: A Listeria bacterium is disclosed which comprises a first mutation in the multidrug resistance transporter M (MdrM) gene which causes a decrease in interferon-? production in macrophages as compared to wild-type Listeria bacterium and a second mutation in the multidrug resistance transporter T (MdrT) gene which causes a decrease in interferon-? production in macrophages as compared to the wild-type Listeria bacterium.

Abstract: Various aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to methods and compositions for functionalizing endogenous bacteria in vivo. The methods include delivering to endogenous bacterial cells a recombinant bacteriophage or phagemid that is engineered to contain at least one genetic circuit.

Abstract: Provided herein are prime-boost regimens and materials used therein. The prime-boost regimens enhance the immune response to a target antigen. The vaccines used for boost are comprised of recombinant attenuated metabolically active Listeria that encodes an expressible antigen that is cross-reactive with the target antigen. In some examples, the immune response is a cellular immune response.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of treatment and/or prevention of cancer by manipulation of commensal microflora. In particular, the amount, identity, presence, and/or ratio of microflora (e.g., gut microflora) in a subject is manipulated to facilitate one or more co-treatments.

Abstract: Provided is a method for preparing and using cell ghosts with active factors as a synergist of a lymphocyte in vitro culture. The method for preparing cell ghosts comprises: washing a cell to obtain a washed cell; and cleaving the washed cell to obtain cell ghosts, wherein the cell has cytokines capable of promoting the proliferation and differentiation of lymphocytes on their surface.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods, compositions, and kits for enhanced detection of microbes in samples and monitoring of antimicrobial activity in a subject.

Abstract: Knockout of the meningococcal mltA homolog gives bacteria that spontaneously release vesicles that are rich in immunogenic outer membrane proteins and that can elicit cross-protective antibody responses with higher bactericidal titers than OMVs prepared by normal production processes. Thus the invention provides a bacterium having a knockout mutation of its mltA gene. The invention also provides a bacterium, wherein the bacterium: (i) has a cell wall that includes peptidoglycan; and (ii) does not express a protein having the lytic transglycosylase activity MltA protein. The invention also provides compositions comprising vesicles that, during culture of bacteria of the invention, are released into the culture medium.

Abstract: The invention provides proteins from Staphylococcus aureus including amino acid sequences and the corresponding nucleotide sequences. The proteins are useful for vaccines, immunogenic compositions, diagnostics, enzymatic studies and also as targets for antibiotics.

Abstract: Provided are expression vectors for generating an immune response to a mucin. The vectors comprise a transcription unit encoding a secretable polypeptide, the polypeptide comprising a secretory signal, a mucin antigen and CD40 ligand. Also provided are methods of generating an immune response against cells expressing a mucin by administering an effective amount of the vector. Further provided are methods of generating an immune response against cancer cells expressing a mucin in an individual by administering an effective amount of the vector. Still further provided are methods of overcoming anergy to a mucin self antigen by administering an effective amount of the vector.

Abstract: The invention relates to mutant forms of Msp. The invention also relates to nucleic acid characterization using Msp.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition for its use in the prophylactic treatment of a patient against an intracellular pathogen, said composition comprising a solid nanoparticle comprising a porous cationic-polysaccharide solid core, loaded with at least an anionic phospholipid, without said cationic-polysaccharide core being surrounded by any phospholipidic layer, and at least an antigen obtained from said pathogen.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of altering metabolism of phosphate in a livestock via an antibody. The methods involve the development of an antibody against FGF-23 for the purpose of reducing phosphate excretion by an animal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a probiotic fruit beverage comprising a high viable count of acid-adapted probiotic bacteria, such as strains of Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei, and to probiotic fruit beverage obtainable by such method.

Abstract: The present invention provides attenuated M. haemolitica strains that elicit an immune response in animal against M. haemolitica, compositions comprising said strains, methods of vaccination against M. haemolitica, and kits for use with such methods and compositions. The invention further provides multi-valent vaccines, which provide protective immunity when administered in an effective amount to animals susceptible to “shipping fever” or bovine respiratory disease.

Abstract: Provided herein are recombinant Listeria strains expressing a tumor-specific antigenic polypeptide and, optionally, an angiogenic polypeptide wherein a nucleic acid molecule encoding at least one of the polypeptides is operably integrated into the Listeria genome in an open reading frame with a nucleic acid sequence encoding a PEST-containing polypeptide, methods of preparing same, and methods of inducing an immune response, and treating, inhibiting, or suppressing cancer or tumors comprising administering same.

Abstract: Provided herein are Mycobacterium smegmatis porin nanopores, systems that comprise these nanopores, and methods of using and making these nanopores. Such nanopores may be wild-type MspA porins, mutant MspA porins, wild-type MspA paralog porins, wild-type MspA homolog porins, mutant MspA paralog porins, mutant MspA homolog porins, or single-chain Msp porins. Also provided are bacterial strains capable of inducible Msp porin expression.

Abstract: Diseases caused by a spirochete bacteria are treated. Doses of an anti-flagellin monoclonal antibody, spirochetal protein, or Lyme lysate are used in predetermined increasing doses to effectively treat diseases and symptoms caused by spirochete bacteria, and in particular Lyme disease.

Abstract: The present invention concerns VLPT immunoreactive compositions for E. chaffeensis and compositions related thereto, including vaccines, antibodies, polypeptides, peptides, and polynucleotides. In particular, epitopes for E. chaffeensis VLPT are disclosed.

Abstract: This disclosure is related to marine seismic sources, for example marine seismic sources known in the art as benders. Some embodiments of this disclosure use magnetic reluctance forces to produce seismic energy. For example, pole pieces may be attached to one or more plates of a marine seismic source, and a wire coil may induce an attractive force between the pole pieces to cause deformation of the plates to produce seismic energy. Such marine seismic sources may be components of a marine seismic survey system, and may be used in a method of marine seismic surveying. Methods of making marine seismic sources are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions of vault complexes containing recombinant cytokine fusion proteins that include a cytokine and a vault targeting domain, and methods of using the vault complexes to deliver the cytokines to a cell or subject, and methods for using the compositions to treat cancer, such as lung cancer.

Abstract: Assays for detecting anti-streptococcal antibodies in biological samples using one or more streptococcal antigens are described herein. Various combinations of antigens may be used in the assays. For example, one or more of Ply, PhtD, PhtE, LytB and PcpA may be utilized. Additional streptococcal antigens may also be used. The assays may also be used in combination with assays that detect streptococcal nucleic acids.

Abstract: Provided herein are Mycobacterium smegmatis porin nanopores, systems that comprise these nanopores, and methods of using and making these nanopores. Such nanopores may be wild-type MspA porins, mutant MspA porins, wild-type MspA paralog porins, wild-type MspA homolog porins, mutant MspA paralog porins, mutant MspA homolog porins, or single-chain Msp porins. Also provided are bacterial strains capable of inducible Msp porin expression.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated polypeptides isolatable from a Fusobacterium spp. Also provided by the present invention are compositions that include one or more of the polypeptides, and methods for making and methods for using the polypeptides.

Abstract: Methods for synthesis and manufacture of polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccines at high yield are provided. The methods involve reaction of a hydrazide group on one reactant with an aldehyde or cyanate ester group on the other reactant. The reaction proceeds rapidly with a high conjugation efficiency, such that a simplified purification process can be employed to separate the conjugate product from the unconjugated protein and polysaccharide and other small molecule by-products.

Abstract: Methods and systems for chromatographically purifying a botulinum neurotoxin are provided. These methods and systems allow for efficient purification of a non-complexed form of the botulinum neurotoxin in high purity and yield that can be used as an active ingredient in pharmaceutical preparations.

Abstract: The present invention provides combination vaccines that comprise an immunological agent effective for reducing the incidence of or lessening the severity of PPE caused by L. intracellularis, and one or more immunological active components effective in treatment and/or prophylaxis of at least one further disease-causing organism for swine. Moreover, the present invention also relates to a kit that comprises an immunological agent effective for reducing the incidence of or lessening the severity of PPE caused by L. intracellularis, and one or more immunological active components effective in treatment and/or prophylaxis of at least one further disease-causing organism for swine.

Abstract: Described herein are compositions, vaccines, and methods that include use of a mutated Bordetella strain against allergic diseases such as asthma and skin inflammation. Also described are kits. Other compositions, vaccines, and methods are also described.

Abstract: Described herein is the generation of a plasmid construct for expression of a Yersinia pestis F1-V fusion protein. In the disclosed plasmid, the F1-V fusion protein coding sequence is operably linked to the E. coli htrA promoter, and is fused in-frame to the E. coli HlyA secretion signal sequence. Also described is Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi strain Ty21a containing the F1-V fusion protein expression plasmid, such as for use as an oral vaccine against plague.

Abstract: Problem to be Solved: The present invention provides a novel mucosal adjuvant. Solution: The present invention provides a mucosal adjuvant composition containing at least a composition comprising molecules having a molecular weight in a range of 100 to 300 kDa obtained from cells or culture fluid of Bordetella bronchiseptica. Administration of the mucosal adjuvant composition to a non-human animal at a surface of the mucous membrane can enhance immunity at the surface of mucous membrane. Therefore preventive effects against trans-mucosal infection can be increased by administering an inactivated vaccine against trans-mucosal infection and the mucosal adjuvant composition to a non-human animal at a surface of mucous membrane. The present invention is effective for preventing trans-mucosal infections, including one or more infections of e.g., canine parainfluenza, canine adenovirus, canine coronavirus, canine parvovirus, canine distemper virus, canine herpesvirus, reovirus and pneumovirus.