Abstract: The present invention provides a method of detecting Staphylococcus aureus in a subject, by contacting a sample obtained from the subject with at least one detectably labeled probe of the invention or detecting in the sample identity to a sequence of the invention. The invention is also directed to kits, microarrays and detectable Staphylococcus aureus polynucleotide probes useful in detecting the presence of Staphylococcus aureus.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to a non-lipidated and non-pyruvylated Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B polypeptide and methods of use thereof. In another aspect, the invention relates to an immunogenic composition including an isolated non-lipidated, non-pyruvylated ORF2086 polypeptide from Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B, and at least one conjugated capsular saccharide from a meningococcal serogroup, and methods of use thereof.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with an air gap includes a plurality of gate stacks disposed on a substrate; a liner layer conformally covering the gate stacks and the substrate; and a dielectric stack disposed on the liner layer on the gate stacks. The air gap is formed between the liner layer and the dielectric stack on two adjacent gate stacks. A height of the air gap is greater than heights of the two adjacent gate stacks, and the air gap includes: a lower portion between the two adjacent gate stacks, sidewalls and a bottom of the lower portion exposing the liner layer; a middle portion above the lower portion; and an upper portion above the middle portion. Sidewalls of the upper portion expose the dielectric stack, a top surface of the upper portion is covered by the dielectric stack, and the upper portion has a smaller width than the lower portion.

Abstract: Described herein are engineered alpha-hemolysin subunits having mutated oligomerization domains for assembling into heptameric nanopores in lipid bilayers.

Abstract: Embodiments concern methods and compositions for treating or preventing a bacterial infection, particularly infection by a Staphylococcus bacterium. Aspects include methods and compositions for providing a passive immune response against the bacteria. In certain embodiments, the methods and compositions involve an antibody that binds Coagulase (Coa). Further aspects relate to immunogenic compositions comprising at least one Staphylococcal coagulase R Domain, wherein the R Domain is 80% identical in sequence to a R Domain.

Abstract: Agents, compositions, methods and kits useful for the treatment and diagnosis of Staphylococcal intramammary infection are disclosed. The agents, compositions, methods and kits are derived from genes expressed during Staphylococcal intramammary infection, and more particularly genes SACOL0442, based on the gene nomenclature from the Staphylococcus aureus COL (SACOL) genome.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel immunogenic proteins derived from Staphylococcus aureus, as well as methods for their use in conferring protective immunity against S. aureus infections. Also disclosed are nucleic acids encoding the proteins and methods of use of these nucleic acids.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost and safe approach to efficient delivery of a substance to phagocytes. In particular, the present invention relates to a carrier for delivery of a substance to phagocytes, the carrier comprising a lactic acid bacterium and/or an extract thereof.

Abstract: Methods of inhibiting or reducing tumor metabolism and growth are disclosed. A composition containing oxygen scavenging membrane fragments is administered within a tumor to create a hypoxic environment. This interferes with tumor growth and metabolism, and can lead to tumor death.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel immunogenic proteins derived from Staphylococcus aureus, as well as methods for their use in conferring protective immunity against S. aureus infections. Also disclosed are nucleic acids encoding the proteins and methods of use of these nucleic acids.

Abstract: The invention relates to the compositions of synthetic oligo-?-(1?6)-2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranosides conjugated to carriers, and methods for making and use same.

Abstract: The present invention features incapacitated whole-cell bacterial immunogenic compositions and methods of their production, which compositions are useful to deliver antigens in a manner resembling the live infectious organism in terms of elicitation of a robust immune response, but with reduced risk or no risk of disease. The compositions of the invention are produced by rendering a bacterium bacteriostatic through expression of a recombinant promoter in the bacterial cell, which promoter can be operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding a recombinant gene product. In one embodiment, where the bacterium is a gram negative host, the recombinant gene product provides for reduced toxicity of LPS. In one embodiment, the gene product is a bacteriophage protein, such as endolysin, holin, or ndd.

Abstract: An effective Staphylococcus aureus vaccine may require several antigenic components, and so various combinations of S. aureus antigens are identified for use in immunization. These polypeptides may optionally be used in combination with S. aureus saccharides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for preventing and treating Staphylococcus aureus in a subject. Therapeutic compositions of the present invention comprise leukocidin E and/or D proteins or polypeptides and anti-leukocidin E and/or D antibodies. The invention further relates to methods of identifying inhibitors of LukE/D cytotoxicity and inhibitors of LukE/D-leukocyte binding.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel immunogenic proteins derived from Staphylococcus aureus, as well as methods for their use in conferring protective immunity against S. aureus infections. Also disclosed are nucleic acid encoding the proteins and methods of use of these nucleic acids.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for releasing capsular polysaccharide from S. aureus type 5 or type 8 cells, comprising the step of treating the cells with acid. The invention further provides a process for purifying capsular polysaccharide from S. aureus type 5 or type 8 cells comprising this method. Other processing steps may be included in the process, such as enzymatic treatment, e.g. to remove nucleic acid, protein and/or peptidoglycan contaminants; diafiltration, e.g. to remove low molecular weight contaminants; anion exchange chromatography, e.g. to remove residual protein; and concentration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vaccine composition for preventing staphylococcus aureus infection containing, as an active ingredient, a ribitol-phosphate which has been modified only by a ?-configuration in N-Acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), a repeating unit of the ribitol-phosphate, or a wall teichoic acid (WTA) containing the repeating unit. The composition according to the present invention contains a coupling motif (an epitope) for an anti-WTA antibody, and thus can be effectively used as a vaccine composition or to prevent staphylococcus aureus infection by generating anti-WTA antibody.

Abstract: A method of providing protection against pneumococcal infection in a subject is disclosed. The method includes steps of administering to the subject a composition that includes combination of three recombinant pneumococcal neuraminidases: NanA, NanB, and NanC of S. pneumoniae strains CGSP14, wherein administration of the recombinant pneumococcal neuraminidases elicits an immune response to S. pneumoniae, and treats the subject. In one embodiment, the method further includes a step of adding adjuvants to enhance the immune response. The method also includes a step of using passive antibodies, wherein said passive antibodies are anti-neuraminidase antibodies generated from neuraminidases-immunized humanized animals: NanA, NanB, and NanC. Meanwhile, this invention also provides a method for the molecular diagnosis of pneumococcal infection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for use in modulating, including inhibiting the growth and/or reducing the virulence of gram-positive bacteria. The present invention provides methods and compositions for disrupting the cell wall and/or cell membrane in gram-positive bacteria such that cell wall or cell membrane target(s) are rendered exposed or accessible and sensitive to a modulation thereof. Methods for modulation of one or more gram-positive bacterial cell wall or cell membrane targets in a gram-positive bacteria are provided comprising disrupting the cell wall such that the cell wall or cell membrane target, which is particularly a sortase, is rendered exposed or accessible and sensitive to a modifying, modulating or binding agent, which is particularly an antibody or fragment thereof, wherein the cell wall or cell membrane target is inaccessible or relatively insensitive to the modifying, modulating or binding agent in the absence of cell wall disruption.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing a conjugate of a S. aureus type 5 or type 8 capsular polysaccharide and a carrier molecule, comprising the steps of: (a) depolymerizing the capsular polysaccharide, to give a polysaccharide fragment; (b) oxidizing the fragment in order to introduce an aldehyde group into at least one saccharide residue in the fragment, to give an oxidized saccharide residue; and (c) coupling the oxidized saccharide residue to a carrier molecule via the aldehyde group, thereby giving the conjugate. The coupling in step (c) may be direct, or may be via a linker molecule. The invention also provides a conjugate obtained or obtainable by this process.

Abstract: Adding stabilizing additives to immunogenic compositions is effective in enhancing antigen stability. Suitable stabilizing additives include EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), sucrose, arginine, protease inhibitors, glycerol and/or citrate.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and compositions for treating or preventing a bacterial infection, particularly infection by a Staphylococcus bacterium. The invention provides methods and compositions for stimulating an immune response against the bacteria. In certain embodiments, the methods and compositions involve an Ebh antigen.

Abstract: A method for in vitro diagnosis of Staphylococcus aureus producing Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL), using a biological sample derived from an individual liable to be colonized by or infected with Staphylococcus aureus, wherein the diagnosis is carried out by detection of PVL using a routine immunological test, and the biological sample is pretreated in order to denature the PVL.

Abstract: The present application describes a process for conjugating a PNAG which is less than 40% N-acetylated to a carrier protein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for treatment of microbial infections and for the enhancement of resistance to infection. The invention comprises administration of an effective amount of bacterial lysate compositions for the treatment of pathological conditions of microbial infections. The present invention can also be used to enhance the immune system to prevent infections by the administration of an effective amount of the compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of immunology. The present invention provides agonists and antagonists of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 13. In particular, the present invention provides TLR13 activating and inhibiting nucleic acids, and provides such nucleic acids for use as pharmaceutical agents. The present invention further provides in vitro methods using such nucleic acids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to chimeric protein vaccines and methods of use thereof in the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of generating an immune response in a mammal, that includes administering to the mammal, a composition having a chimeric protein having at least one of: a portion of a cholera toxin, a portion of a heat-labile toxin, and a portion of a shiga toxin; and an antigen having at least one of: an antigenic material from S. aureus and an antigenic material from a S. aureus-specific polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to immunogenic compositions, comprising polypeptides and polysaccharides from Staphylococcus aureus. The present invention also relates to immunogenic compositions, comprising Staphylococcus aureus capsule polysaccharides conjugated to a carrier protein. In addition, the invention relates to methods of inducing an immune response in subjects against Staphylococcus aureus using immunogenic compositions of the Staphylococcus aureus polypeptides and capsule polysaccharides.

Abstract: Agents, compositions, methods and kits useful for the treatment and diagnosis of Staphylococcal intramammary infection are disclosed. The agents, compositions, methods and kits are derived from genes expressed during Staphylococcal intramammary infection, and more particularly genes SACOL0029, SACOL0264, SACOL0442, SACOL0718, SACOL0720, SACOL1353, SACOL1416, SACOL1611, SACOL1944, SACOL2144, SACOL2365 or SACOL2599, based on the gene nomenclature from the Staphylococcus aureus COL (SACOL) genome.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of producing vaccines directed against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV), with the methods comprising culturing, harvesting and/or suspending the MRSA or VEEV in the presence of a radiation-protective composition and irradiating the MRSA with a dose of radiation sufficient to render the MRSA or VEEV replication-deficient and/or non-infective. The radiation-protective compositions used in the methods of the present invention comprise at least one nucleoside, at least one antioxidant and at least one small peptide.

Abstract: The invention provides TLR agonists and conjugates thereof useful in vaccines and to prevent, inhibit or treat a variety of disorders including pathogen infection and asthma.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods and compositions useful in a vaccination strategy capable of neutralizing HIa to provide immunoprotection against S. aureus pneumonia. In certain aspects the invention includes a HIa with reduced toxicity, represented by a recombinant mutant form of HIa (HlaH35L) in which histidine 35 is converted to leucine, which can be used to abrogate the productive assembly of the toxin and protect a subject from staphylococcal pneumonia.

Abstract: The present invention relates to chimeric protein vaccines and methods of use thereof in the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of generating an immune response in a mammal, that includes administering to the mammal, a composition having a chimeric protein having at least one of: a portion of a cholera toxin, a portion of a heat-labile toxin, and a portion of a shiga toxin; and an antigen having at least one of an antigenic material from S. aureus and an antigenic material from a S. aureus-specific polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of vaccinology, especially of vaccines against Staphylococcus aureus, for both human and veterinary application. In particular the invention relates to a Staphylococcal superantigen-like 3 (SSL3) protein or its homolog, an immunogenic fragment of either protein, for use in a vaccine against S. aureus. In addition the invention relates to vaccines, methods, and medical uses of these proteins.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and compositions for treating or preventing a bacterial infection, particularly infection by a Staphylococcus bacterium. The invention provides methods and compositions for stimulating an immune response against the bacteria. In certain embodiments, the methods and compositions involve a non-toxigenic Protein A (SpA) variant.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and compositions for treating or preventing a bacterial infection, particularly infection by a Staphylococcus bacterium. The invention provides methods and compositions for stimulating an immune response against the bacteria. In certain embodiments, the methods and compositions involve a non-toxigenic Protein A (SpA) variant or an antibody directed thereto.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and compositions for treating or preventing a bacterial infection, particularly infection by a Staphylococcus bacterium. The invention provides methods and compositions for stimulating an immune response against the bacteria. In certain embodiments, the methods and compositions involve an EsaC polypeptide.

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: 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: The present invention shows that intranasal administration of E1/E3-defective adenovirus particles may confer rapid and broad protection against viral and bacterial pathogens in a variety of disease settings. Protective responses lasted for many weeks in a single-dose regimen in animal models. When a pathogen-derived antigen gene was inserted into the E1/E3-defective adenovirus genome, the antigen-induced protective immunity against the specific pathogen was elicited before the adenovirus-mediated protective response declined away, thus conferring rapid, prolonged, and seamless protection against pathogens. In addition to E1/E3-defective adenovirus, other bioengineered non-replicating vectors encoding pathogen-derived antigens may also be developed into a new generation of rapid and prolonged immunologic-therapeutic (RAPIT).

Abstract: The present invention relates to ClfA polypeptides wherein amino acid Y474 or an amino acid adjacent to Y474 is mutated such that fibrinogen binding activity is decreased compared to an equivalent ClfA polypeptide without mutation of Y474 or an amino acid adjacent to Y474 as well as immunogenic compositions, vaccines, processes and uses of such mutated ClfA polypeptides.

Abstract: Described is a method for identification, isolation and production of hyperimmune serum-reactive antigens from a specific pathogen, a tumor, an allergen or a tissue or host prone to auto-immunity, said antigens being suited for use in a vaccine for a given type of animal or for humans, which is characterized by the following steps: providing an antibody preparation, providing at least one expression library, identifying antigens which bind, screening the identified antigens, identifying the hyperimmune serum-reactive antigen portion of said identified antigens and which hyperimmune serum-reactive antigens bind to a relevant portion of said individual antibody optionally isolating said hyperimmune serum-reactive antigens and producing said hyperimmune serum-reactive antigens by chemical or recombinant methods.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated polypeptides isolatable from a Staphylococcus 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: The present application relates to immunogenic compositions comprising staphylococcal PNAG which is less than 40% N-acetylated and is conjugated to a carrier protein by a linker bonded to an amine group on PNAG to form a PNAG conjugate. Vaccines, methods of treatment using and processes to make an immunogenic composition comprising PNAG and Type 5 and/or 8 capsular polysaccharides are also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to an antigenic polypeptide referred to as DivlB and variants thereof, vaccines comprising said polypeptide and the use of the vaccine in protecting subjects from microbial infection.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for modulating an immune response in a subject are provided. Methods include administering to the subject a composition comprising an effective amount of a lymphocyte differentiation factor, e.g., protein A (PA), sufficient to modulate the immune response. Compositions include a lymphocyte differentiation factor, e.g., protein A (PA), in an amount less than 1 ?g.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for treatment of microbial infections and for the enhancement of resistance to infection. The invention comprises administration of an effective amount of a protein isolated from bacterial lysate compositions for the treatment of pathological conditions of microbial infections. The present invention can also be used to enhance the immune system to prevent infections by the administration of an effective amount of the compositions.

Abstract: An effective Staphylococcus aureus vaccine may require several antigenic components, and so various combinations of S. aureus antigens are identified for use in immunization. These polypeptides may optionally be used in combination with S. aureus saccharides.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel immunogenic proteins derived from Staphylococcus aureus, as well as methods for their use in conferring protective immunity against S. aureus infections. Also disclosed are nucleic acid encoding the proteins and methods of use of these nucleic acids.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions of the capsular polysaccharide/adhesin (PS/A) of staphylococci. The PS/A may be isolated or synthesized and includes various modifications to the structure of native PS/A based on the chemical characterization of PS/A. The invention also relates to the use of the PS/A as a vaccine for inducing active immunity to infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, other related coagulase-negative staphylococci and organisms carrying the ica (intracellular adhesin) locus, and to the use of antibodies directed to PS/A for inducing passive immunity to the same class of infections.