Abstract: A non-toxic mucosal adjuvant is provided which may be admixed with further antigens to provide a vaccine administrable to mucosal surfaces in organisms including man. Preferably, the non-toxic mucosal adjuvant is a detoxified mutant of a bacterial ADP-ribosylating toxin, optionally comprising one or more amino acid additions, deletions or substitutions.

Abstract: The invention provides for a method of enhancing immunological responses to an antigen in a vaccine formulation, and for a vaccine formulation that provides for an enhanced immunological response to an antigen. In the method and formulation the antigen is administered with an adjuvant which adjuvant comprises a solution of nitrous oxide gas in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier solvent for the gas and which adjuvant includes at least one fatty acid or ester or other suitable derivative thereof selected from the group consisting of oleic acid, linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, gamma-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid [C20: 5?3], decosahexaenoic acid [C22: 6?3], ricinoleic acid and derivatives thereof selected from the group consisting of the C1 to C6 alkyl esters thereof, the glycerol-polyethylene glycol esters thereof and the reaction product of hydrogenated natural oils composed largely of ricinoleic acid based oils, such as castor oil with ethylene oxide.

Abstract: The invention relates to an immunogenic composition, characterized in that it comprises an adenyl cyclase-hemolysin (AC-Hly) protein, or an immunogenic portion of this AC-Hly, of a strain of Bordetella chosen from B. pertussis, B. parapertussis or B. bronchiseptica, and in that it comprises, in addition, a bacterial extract containing the expression products of the vrg genes of a strain of Bordetella chosen from B. pertussis, B. parapertussis or B. bronchiseptica, or a portion of these expression products which is sufficient to induce an immune response in a host to which the extract might be administered.

Abstract: This invention, in one aspect, relates to synthetic immunoreactive peptides. These peptides are approximately 20-25 amino acids in length which are portions of the N termini of the M proteins of the most prevalent United States (U.S.) Group A Streptococcus (GAS) serotypes. At least some of the synthetic peptides can be recognized by M type-specific antibodies and are capable of eliciting functional opsonic antibodies and/or anti-attachment antibodies without eliciting tissue cross-reactive antibodies. In another aspect, it relates to compositions or vaccines comprising these synthetic serotype-specific peptides, including polypeptides and proteins. The invention may also be isolated antibodies which are raised in response to the peptides, compositions or vaccines. The invention further relates to kits for using the peptides, compositions, or antibodies.

Abstract: The current invention provides new Gram negative polypeptides exhibiting lipid A 3-O-deacylase activity and are capable of modifying and/or detoxifying gram negative LPS. The present invention also provides Gram negative bacteria, Gram negative bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and compositions comprising LPS, which are provided with or treated with a 3-O-deacylase activity according to the invention and which may be used for pharmaceutical and/or veterinary purposes, in particular for the preparation of whole cell or acellular vaccines against pathogenic Gram negatives such as Bordetella pertussis, Bordetella parapertussis and Bordetella bronchiseptica.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to Bordetella bacteria having a double mutation, a first mutation in a gene of the Type III secretion system and a second mutation in a gene of the adenylate cyclase toxin (CyaA) locus of the bacteria so that the mutations result in no Type III secretion system, a non-functional Type III secretion system, no CyaA protein, or a non-functional CyaA protein or a combination thereof. The Bordetella bacteria double mutant is attenuated while maintaining the efficacy of the bacteria to elicit an immune response. The present invention also pertains to vaccine compositions and methods for treating and immunizing a mammal against a disease caused by infection of Bordetella bacteria or a disease caused by a pathogen.

Abstract: A method of inducing either a TH1 polarised immune response, a TH2 polarised immune response or a combined TH1 and TH2 response to an antigen and associated vaccine formulations are disclosed. A method is provided for inducing a polarised TH1 response by parenteral administration of microparticles sized such that at least 50% of the microparticles are less than 5 ?m, the microparticles containing antigen entrapped or encapsulated by a biodegradable polymer. Additionally, a method is provided for inducing a polarised TH2 response by parenteral administration of nanoparticles sized such that at least 50% of the nanoparticles are less than 600 nm, the nanoparticles containing antigen entrapped or encapsulated by a biodegradable polymer. Vaccine formulations containing the B. pertussis antigens PTd, FHA or a combination of PTd and FHA are provided.

Abstract: New pertussis toxin (PT) mutants are described being immunologically active and having reduced or no toxicity, characterized in that at least one of the aminoacid residues Glu129, Asp11, Trp26, Arg9, Phe50, Asp1, Arg13, Tyr130, Gly86, Ile88, Tyr89, Tyr8, Gly 44, Thr53 and Gly80 or subunit's 1 aminoacid sequence is deleted and substituted by a different aminoacid residue selected in the group of natural aminoacids; Bordetella strains capable of providing and secreting said PT mutants and means and methods for obtaining them are also described. The Bordetella strains and the PT mutants produced by them are particularly suitable for the preparation of effective cellular and acellular antipertussis vaccines. (FIG.

Abstract: The invention relates to adjuvants that contain a lecithin, an oil and an amphiphilic surfactant and that are capable of forming a stable oil-in-water emulsion vaccine so as to minimize local reactions to the vaccine in the injected animal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nanoparticle vaccines comprised of a carrier, particularly polymerized lipids, having multiple copies of an antigen or combinations of different antigens displayed on the carrier. Such antigen-displaying nanoparticles may also display a targeting molecule on its surface in order to direct it to a specific site or cell type to optimize a desired immune response. The present invention also relates to encapsulating an antigen or combinations of different antigens within such nanoparticles, with or without a targeting molecule displayed on its surface. The antigens used in this invention are effective to produce an immune response against a variety of pathological conditions.

Abstract: Mucosal DTPa vaccines, especially intranasal vaccines, comprising (a) a diphtheria antigen, a tetanus antigen and an acellular pertussis antigen, and (b) a detoxified mutant of cholera toxin (CT) or E. coli heat labile toxin (LT). Component (b) acts as a mucosal adjuvant. The acellular pertussis antigen preferably comprises pertussis holotoxin (PT) and filamentous haemagglutinin (FHA) and, optionally, pertactin. The mucosally-delivered combined DTPa formulation is capable of generating a level of protection against B. pertussis infection equivalent to that observed by alum-adjuvanted parenteral administration.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of immunizing a mammal against infection by a first Bordetella species. The method comprises administering to the mammal a preparation comprising a portion of the amino acid sequence of mature adenylate cyclase of a second Bordetella species. The invention also relates to vaccine preparations comprising a portion of the amino acid sequence of mature adenylate cyclase from Bordetella species.

Abstract: A modulated immune response to an antigen is achieved by coadministering the antigen and a genetically-detoxified pertussis holotoxin, particularly one retaining its immunogenicity, to a host. The modulated immune response enables immunogenic compositions, including multivalent pediatric vaccines such as DTP, to be provided which produce a modulated immune response in the absence of extrinsic adjuvants such as alum. The adjuvanting effect achieved by the genetically-detoxified pertussis holotoxin enables at least the same level of adjuvanting effect to be achieved as previously attained by alum, without the undesirable side effects thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to an immunogenic composition comprising a bacterial extract containing at least one expression products of the vrg genes of a strain of Bordetella chosen from B. pertussis, B. parapertussis, or B. bronchiseptica. The invention also relates to a method for producing the extract, comprising culturing the bacteria on blood medium to obtain isolated nonhemolytic colonies; inoculating cells of one or more colonies in liquid medium to give a suspension of cells; separating the cells from the liquid medium after culture; suspending the separated cells in a buffer comprising urea for at least an amount of time sufficient to form a bacterial lysate; and separating intact cells and insoluble material from soluble material, wherein the extract comprises the soluble material.

Abstract: A method of inducing either a TH1 polarized immune response, a TH2 polarized immune response or a combined TH1 and TH2 response to an antigen and associated vaccine formulations are disclosed. A method is provided for inducing a polarized TH1 response by parenteral administration of microparticles sized such that at least 50% of the microparticles are less than 5 ?m. The microparticles containing antigen entrapped or encapsulated by a biodegradable polymer. Additionally, a method is provided for inducing a polarized TH2 response by parenteral administration of nanoparticles sized such that at least 50% of the nanoparticles are less than 600 nm, the nanoparticles containing antigen entrapped or encapsulated by a biodegradable polymer. Vaccine formulations containing the B. pertussis antigens PTd, FHA or a combination of PTd and FHA are provided.

Abstract: A non-toxic mucosal adjuvant is provided which may be admixed with further antigens to provide a vaccine administrable to mucosal surfaces in organisms including man. Preferably, the non-toxic mucosal adjuvant is a detoxified mutant of a bacterial ADP-ribosylating toxin, optionally comprising one or more amino acid additions, deletions or substitutions.

Abstract: Pertactin (PRN) is an outer membrane protein expressed by Bordetella pertussis, Bordetella parapertussis, and Bordetella bronchiseptica, which induces protective immunity to Bordetella infections. The immunodominant and immunoprotective epitopes of pertactin include two repeated regions, I and II. Comparison of these two repeated regions showed the pertactin of B. parapertussis is invariant, whereas the pertactin of B. pertussis varies mostly in region I and B. bronchiseptica varies in both the repeated regions I and II. Compositions containing pertactins and pertactin fragments containing variant sequences in these regions are useful as immunogenic compositions.

Abstract: The present invention provides parenteral adjuvants comprising detoxified mutants of bacterial ADP-ribosylating toxins, particularly those from pertussis (PT), cholera (CT), and heat-labile E. coli (LT).

Abstract: This invention provides a composition of at least one Bordetella antigen and an effective adjuvant amount of interleukin-12 (IL-12), and uses thereof as a vaccine against Bordetella infection. Methods for using IL-12 as an adjuvant in combination with vaccines against Bordetella are also provided.

Abstract: The composition includes fingi belonging to one or more species of fungi of the genus Trichoderma, selected from T. asperellum, T. atroviride, T. inhamatum and their mixtures, useful as an agent for the biological control of phytopathogenic organisms. The composition is suitable for protecting or treating plants and plant material against infections and diseases caused by plant pathogens, and/or to stimulate plant growth, and/or to induce systemic resistance in plants to diseases caused by phytopathogenic organisms, and/or to control biodeterioration agents of materials.

Abstract: A vaccine having a good vaccination effect, which comprises an antigen; a peptide selected from the group consisting of a peptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, a peptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, and a peptide derived from a peptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2; and an immune activator.

Abstract: The invention relates to adjuvants that contain a lecithin, an oil and an amphiphilic surfactant and that are capable of forming a stable oil-in-water emulsion vaccine so as to minimize local reactions to the vaccine in the injected animal.

Abstract: The invention relates to adjuvants that contain a lecithin, an oil and an amphiphilic surfactant and that are capable of forming a stable oil-in-water emulsion vaccine so as to minimize local reactions to the vaccine in the injected animal.

Abstract: Immunologically active polypeptides with no or reduced toxicity useful for the preparation of an antipertussis vaccine. Method for the preparation of said polypeptides which comprises, cultivating, a microorganism transformed with a hybrid plasmid including the gene/s which codes for at least one of said polypeptides in a suitable medium and recovering the desired polypeptide from the cells or from the culture medium.

Abstract: A multi-component vaccine composition is described comprising acellular pertussis vaccine components, diphtheria toxoid, tetanus toxoid and inactivated poliovirus. The composition also may contain a conjugate of a capsular polysaccharide on Haemophilus influenzae type b and tetanus toxoid or diphtheria toxoid, which may be reconstituted from a lyophilized state by the other component. The administration of the multiple component vaccine resulted in no diminution of the immunogenicity of any component as a result of interference by other components of the vaccine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel use of a Bordetella adenylcyclase toxin in the manufacturing of vectors for targeting in vivo a molecule of interest, specifically to CD11b expressing cells. The invention also relates to an immunogenic composition that primes immune responses, to pharmaceutical compositions and to a new vector for molecule delivery to CD11b expressing cells.

Abstract: The invention concerns a Bordetella strain deficient in the production of toxin and expressing a hybrid protein comprising at least part of the filamentous hemagglutin (FHA) and at least part of a protein heterologous to FHA. The gene coding for the toxin has been eliminated, or at least partially deleted or mutated so as to produce an inactive toxin. This strain can be used as vaccine. The invention also concerns liposomes containing at least part of the FHA protein and at least one protein heterologous to the FHA protein, and the use of FHA for the stimulation of immune responses.

Abstract: The invention relates to an immunogenic composition, characterized in that it comprises an adenyl cyclase-hemolysin (AC-Hly) protein, or an immunogenic portion of this AC-Hly, of a strain of Bordetella chosen from B. pertussis, B. parapertussis or B. bronchiseptica, and in that it comprises, in addition, a bacterial extract containing the expression products of the vrg genes of a strain of Bordetella chosen from B. pertussis, B. parapertussis or B. bronchiseptica, or a portion of these expression products which is sufficient to induce an immune response in a host to which the extract might be administered.

Abstract: The invention relates to adjuvants that contain a lecithin, an oil and an amphiphilic surfactant and that are capable of forming a stable oil-in-water emulsion vaccine so as to minimize local reactions to the vaccine in the injected animal.

Abstract: The invention provides the use of an antigen which is a mucosally immunogenically active substance comprising the 50 kD C fragment of tetanus toxin, an immunogenic fragment thereof, or a derivative thereof formed by amino acid deletion, substitution or insertion for the manufacture of a vaccine composition for administration to a mucosal surface to induce an immune response in the mucosal surface against tetanus infection. The Vaccine composition preferably contains the P.69 outer membrane protein of B. pertussis, and B. pertussis filamentous haemaglutiuin. The invention also provides vaccine compositions per se and a method of treating tetanus and optionally whooping cough using the vaccine compositions.

Abstract: A modulated immune response to an antigen is achieved by coadministering the antigen and a genetically-detoxified pertussis holotoxin, particularly one retaining its immunogenicity, to a host. The modulated immune response enables immunogenic compositions, including multivalent pediatric vaccines, such as DTP, to be provided which produce a modulated immune response in the absence of extrinsic adjuvants, such as alum. The adjuvanting effect achieved by the genetically-detoxified pertussis holotoxin enables at least the same level of adjuvanting effect to be achieved as previously attained by alum, without the undesirable side effects thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to vaccine compositions and methods for immunizing poultry. The vaccine compositions comprise inactivated bacterial organisms which can be administered to the poultry through oral intake of water.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing chitin or chitosan by culturing a Rhizopus azygosporus fungus or an Actinomucor taiwanensis fungus and isolating chitosan or chitin from the culture.

Abstract: The invention provides for the utilisation of a bacterial vaccining preparation elaborated from a given bacterium of the genus Bordetella or an adenyl cyclase in order to prepare an antigen for the protection of human beings or animals against infections and the toxic effects caused by a bacterium of the genus Bordetella but different from that of the vaccining preparation.

Abstract: A method of immunization, and compositions therefor, are provided for substantially preventing or reducing the symptoms of at least one infectious disease and at least one chronic immune mediated disorder. An immunogenic challenge which supplements the normal childhood immunization schedule can help ensure the proper maturation of the immune system and prevent the development of chronic immune mediated disorders, such as immune-mediated diabetes or SLE.

Abstract: Acellular pertussis vaccines comprise purified toxin or toxoid thereof, filamentous haemagglutinin, pertactin and fimbrial agglutinogens formulated to confer protection to at least 70% of members of an at-risk population. The fimbrial agglutinogens may be prepared from a Bordetella strain, particularly a B. pertussis strain, by a multiple step procedure involving extraction of the fimbrial agglutinogens from cell paste and concentrating and purifying the extracted material.

Abstract: The invention relates to an immunogenic composition, characterized in that it comprises an adenyl cyclase-hemolysin (AC-Hly) protein, or an immunogenic portion of this AC-Hly, of a strain of Bordetella chosen from B. Tertussis, B. parapertussis or B. bronchiseptica, and in that it comprises, in addition, a bacterial extract containing the expression products of the vrg genes of a strain of Bordetella chosen from B. pertussis, B. parapertussis or B. bronchiseptica, or a portion of these expression products which is sufficient to induce an immune response in a host to which the extract might be administered.

Abstract: Autologous promoters are used to effect expression of gene products in Bordetella strains. Hybrid Bordetella genes are constructed comprising a Bordetella gene, particularly one encoding a Bordetella antigen, fused at an ATG codon to a native but autologous Bordetella promoter or other Bordetella strain. Genes and promoters from B. pertussis are preferred. B. pertussis, containing the hybrid gene by insertion into the chromosome of the organism by homologous recombination at specific loci, effects expression of the protein for which the Bordetella gene codes at a production rate different from that achieved for the homologous gene. Specific strains and plasmids are described.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is amino acid sequences of the AC-Hly from B. pertussis. B. parapertussis and/or B. bronchiseptica, carrying epitopes capable of inducing a protective immune response against infection by Bordetella. The subject of the invention is antibodies, especially monoclonal antibodies, directed against these epitopes.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for vaccine priming, using co-treatment, at a temporally similar or at a previous time, with a priming antibody capable of priming, or enhancing, or potentiating the effects of a vaccine, or vaccine composition. Also disclosed are methods of using this process to prevent or treat disease.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a vaccine for combating B. bronchiseptica infection in susceptible animals (such as dogs and swine), containing proteins or polypeptides typical of the fimbrial protein of B. bronchiseptica, or containing recombinant polynucleotides having as part thereof a polynucleotide coding for the protein or polypeptide, and also is concerned with the preparation of said proteins, polypeptides and polynucleotides.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes the singularity of the 18S rRNA gene sequence of the Cordyceps sinensis between the NS3/NS6 primer pair as the index for distinguishing the Cordyceps sinensis from other Cordyceps species.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for immunizing a mammal against infection by a first Bordetella species. The method comprises administering to the mammal a preparation comprising a portion of the amino acid sequence of mature adenylate cyclase of a second Bordetella species. The invention also relates to vaccine preparations comprising a portion of the amino acid sequence of mature adenylate cyclase from Bordetella species.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel antigenic preparations comprising proteinaceous material associated with adenylate cyclase activity in cultures of B. pertussis, the said preparations being useful as components of acellular whooping cough vaccines. The invention further provides methods for the isolation of such antigenic preparations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for making an inactivated vaccine of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae by inactivating the bacteria with Thimerosal. The resulting bacterin is mixed with an adjuvant of aluminum hydroxide and DEAE dextran and injected into pigs. The resulting bacterin and adjuvant mixture can also be mixed with other bacteria such as Bordetella and Pasteurella, for further adjuvant effect. Protective immunity against mycoplasmal pneumonia is elicited in swine using these vaccines.