Abstract: An improved, cost effective and shortened process of purification of the capsular polysaccharide of S. pneumoniae, Group B Streptococcus, H. influenzae, S. typhoid and N. meningitidis is disclosed. The process includes a cocktail of enzyme treatment, tangential flow filtration, and multimodal chromatography purification. For Gram-negative bacteria, endotoxin removal process involves endotrap HD resin. This shortened process achieved the purity required by WHO/EP/BP for the use in human vaccine preparation, with simple steps and higher yield as compared to conventional processes. The steps of the process avoid use of organic solvents such as, for example, alcohol, phenol, and ultracentrifugation that are otherwise expensive and time consuming to perform, and/or health hazards for commercial use. This process disclosed is also simple, efficient, non-toxic, easy to scale-up, and environmentally friendly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medium composition for production of botulinum toxin and, more particularly, to a medium composition for culture of Clostridium sp. capable of producing botulinum toxin. The medium composition of the present invention comprises a casein hydrolysate and at least one plant-derived peptone selected from the group consisting of a garden pea hydrolysate, a cotton seed hydrolysate and a wheat gluten hydrolysate. When the medium according to the present invention, which contains plant-derived peptones, casein hydrolysates and minerals, is used for culture of Clostridium botulinum, the growth rate of the bacterium in the medium is higher than that in each of the medium that is in current use and the medium comprising plant-derived peptones alone. In addition, when the medium of the present invention is used, a high concentration of botulinum toxin can be produced by culturing the bacterium in a safe manner.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of outer membrane vesicles (OMV) and their uses. More particularly the present invention provides OMV obtained from a bacterium being an ompA mutant and/or a mutant in one or more components of the TolPal complex and presenting a heterologous antigen on its surface. The heterologous antigen is selected from the group consisting of Chlamydia trachomatis CT823, CT681, CT372, CT443, CT043, CT733, CT279, CT601 and CT153 for the treatment, prevention or diagnosis of Chlamydia infection.

Abstract: Provided are non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae vaccines useful for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma in a patient. In certain aspects, the vaccine is a monobacterial vaccine. Bacterial strains for use in the vaccines of the present application are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to immunological compositions of outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of H. somni, as well as methods of extraction, a respiratory challenge model, methods of administration and diagnostic assays and kits.

Abstract: The present invention is a Haemophilus parasuis vaccine against serovar type 4 capable of triggering a protective immune response when administered to pigs as a killed vaccine. The present invention is also a method for vaccinating swine against Haemophilus parasuis infection, serovar type 4, by a) clonally propagating one or more cells which are capable of triggering an immune response against Haemophilus parasuis infection, serovar type 4, that protects the pig against Haemophilus parasuis infection, and b) combining an immunologically effective amount of the cells with a veterinarily acceptable carrier in a form suitable for administration as a vaccine to the pig, and c) administering as a killed vaccine. The cell culture is from a pathogenic parent strain.

Abstract: There is provided a method for prophylaxis or treatment of asthma in an individual. The method comprises administering to the individual an effective amount of a Non-typable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) vaccine. The vaccine is typically an oral whole killed NTHi vaccine.

Abstract: The invention described herein relates to a Haemophilus influenzae (H. influenzae) regulon encoding type IV pili. In particular, the invention relates to type IV pili from nontypeable H. influenzae (NTHi) and from H. influenzae strains a, b, c, e and f. The invention provides isolated H. influenzae pilus polynucleotides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides as well as polynucleotides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides involved in the assembly/disassembly of the structure. The invention also relates to uses of these polynucleotides and/or polypeptides including methods for eliciting an immune response to H. influenzae and methods of treating and preventing H. influenzae related pathological conditions.

Abstract: Heat treated bacterins, a method of producing heat treated bacterins, and porcine emulsion vaccines prepared from such heat treated bacterins are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is a live vaccine from a culture of cells of Haemophilus parasuis exhibiting attenuated pathogenicity and capable of triggering a protective immune response when administered to pigs. The cell culture was modified from a pathogenic parent strain by MNNG mutagenesis and was selected by complete dependence on streptomycin for growth. Several SNPs have been identified as associated with specific proteins that are associated with virulence as seen in the literature in H. parasuis or related bacterial species.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for immunizing children under six months of age by administering to the child a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one antigen derived from an influenza virus.

Abstract: The present invention is a Haemophilus parasuis vaccine against serovar type 4 capable of triggering a protective immune response when administered to pigs as a killed vaccine. The present invention is also a method for vaccinating swine against Haemophilus parasuis infection, serovar type 4, by a) clonally propagating one or more cells which are capable of triggering an immune response against Haemophilus parasuis infection, serovar type 4, that protects the pig against Haemophilus parasuis infection, and b) combining an immunologically effective amount of the cells with a veterinarily acceptable carrier in a form suitable for administration as a vaccine to the pig, and c) administering as a killed vaccine. The cell culture is from a pathogenic parent strain.

Abstract: This invention provides isolated or recombinant polypeptides that are useful to vaccinate individuals suffering from chronic/recurrent biofilm disease or as a therapeutic for those with an existing infection. The individual's immune system will then naturally generate antibodies which prevent or clear these bacteria from the host by interfering with the construction and or maintenance of a functional protective biofilm. Alternatively, antibodies to the polypeptides can be administered to treat or prevent infection. Bacteria that cannot form functional biofilms are more readily cleared by the remainder of the host's immune system.

Abstract: Meningococcal protein NMB 1870 has been described in the prior art. The inventors have found that NMB 1870 is an effective antigen for eliciting anti-meningococcal antibody responses, and that it is expressed across all meningococcal serogroups. Forty-two different NMB 1870 sequences have been identified, and these group into three variants. Serum raised against a given variant is bactericidal within the same variant group, but is not active against strains which express one of the other two variants i.e. there is intra-variant cross-protection, but not inter-variant cross-protection. For maximum cross-strain efficacy, therefore, the invention uses mixture comprising different variants of NMB 1870.

Abstract: This invention provides diatom-based vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising Haemophilus influenzae Protein E and Pilin A. More particularly, the present application relates to fusion proteins and immunogenic compositions comprising Protein E and PilA, vaccines comprising such immunogenic compositions and therapeutic uses of the same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of bacterial polysaccharide antigen vaccines. In particular, the present invention relates to bacterial polysaccharides conjugated to protein D from H. influenzae.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated polypeptides having oligopeptide permease activity and an amino acid sequence that has at least 80% identity with a Haemophilus parasuis OppA polypeptide. Also provided by the present invention are isolated polynucleotides that encode the polypeptides described herein, and antibody that specifically binds a polypeptide described herein. The present invention further provides genetically modified microbes, such as attenuated Haemophilus parasuis strains and other microbes that express polypeptides described herein. Also included are methods for using the polypeptides, polynucleotides, antibody, and genetically modified microbes.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses methods, assays and kits for the detection of pathogenic bacteria in a patient and for the differential diagnosis of pulmonary diseases associated with pathogenic bacteria from pulmonary diseases not associated with pathogenic bacteria.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods related to vaccination for AOM and children prone to AOM.

Abstract: Precipitated bacterial capsular polysaccharides can be efficiently re-solubilized using alcohols as solvents. The invention provides a process for purifying a bacterial capsular polysaccharide, comprising the steps of (a) precipitation of said polysaccharide, followed by (b) solubilization of the precipitated polysaccharide using ethanol. CTAB can be used for step (a). The material obtained, preferably following hydrolysis and sizing, can be conjugated to a carrier protein and formulated as a vaccine. Also, in vaccines comprising saccharides from both serogroups A and C, the invention provides that the ratio (w/w) of MenA saccharide:MenC saccharide is >1.

Abstract: The present invention provides materials and methods to facilitate the transcutaneous delivery of therapeutic agents. In some embodiments, agonists of tight junctions are used in compositions to facilitate the uptake of therapeutic agents from the skin. In a particular embodiment, the present invention provides immunogenic compositions comprising a tight junction agonist and an antigen. In a particular embodiment, the present invention provides vaccine compositions comprising a tight junction agonist and an antigen.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for stabilization of active agents. The active agents are distributed, mixed or embedded in a silk fibroin matrix, thereby retaining the bioactivity of the active agents upon storage and/or transportation. In some embodiments, the storage-stable vaccine-silk compositions are also provided herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotides, vectors and vaccines comprising such oligodeoxynucleotides, to their use as a medicament, to their use in preventing or combating infectious disease and to methods for the detection of such oligodeoxynucleotides.

Abstract: The invention relates to vaccine compositions having a carrier protein and an antigen of interest entrapped in a complex, methods of making such vaccines, and methods of vaccine administration.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the use of Haemophilus parasuis bacteria of serotype 5 expressing an iron-restriction protein visible on a Western-blot when reacted with serum of a convalescent animal which has recovered from an infection by Haemophilus parasuis bacteria of serotype 4, the said protein not being visible on a Western-blot when Haemophilus parasuis bacteria of serotype 5 grown under iron-replete conditions, are reacted under the same conditions, in a vaccine to protect a subject animal against a disorder arising from Haemophilus parasuis serotype 4 bacteria.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for stabilizing an adjuvant containing vaccine composition, an adjuvanted vaccine composition in dry form and in particular a process for stabilizing an influenza vaccine composition, particularly an adjuvanted influenza vaccine composition in dry form.

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 provides materials and methods to facilitate the transcutaneous delivery of therapeutic agents. In some embodiments, agonists of tight junctions are used in compositions to facilitate the uptake of therapeutic agents from the skin. In a particular embodiment, the present invention provides immunogenic compositions comprising a tight junction agonist and an antigen. In a particular embodiment, the present invention provides vaccine compositions comprising a tight junction agonist and an antigen.

Abstract: The current invention pertains to an aqueous composition containing a biological antigen and an acrylic acid polymer, wherein the composition comprises an electrolyte to provide an osmolarity higher than the osmolarity of a 0.9% (w/v) sodium chloride solution in water. The invention also pertains to the acrylic acid polymer for use in a one shot vaccine against porcine circo virus 2 (PCV2) and optionally Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and in an aqueous composition for reducing fever induced by the biological antigens present in the aqueous composition when the composition is administered to a subject animal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of coating a spore with one or more therapeutic agents. The present invention also relates to a coated spore obtained by the method of the present invention and the use of the coated spore as a vaccine.

Abstract: A recombinant avian infectious coryza vaccine and a process for preparing the same are provided. A process for preparing a recombinant avian infectious coryza vaccine which comprises step of constructing E. coli that may produce as an inclusion body a fusion peptide consisting of peptides derived from outer-membrane protein of Avibacterium paragarinarum serotype A and serotype C, step of culturing said E. coli and collecting and purifying inclusion body from culture, and step of preparing a preparation comprising said purified inclusion body, and an avian infectious coryza vaccine comprising as an active ingredient the fusion peptide. A linker sequence may be inserted between the respective peptides comprising the fusion peptide. For the peptide derived from the serotypes A and C, an amino acid sequence region of Region 2 or its vicinity responsible for protection from infection may be used.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition and an improved single dose vaccine against E. rhusiopathiae and an improved single dose vaccine against E. rhusiopathiae and H. parasuis which provides one or more of the following: 1) confers effective immunity against E. rhusiopathiae and/or H. parasuis; 2) decreases the risk of developing clinical signs of E. rhusiopathiae and/or H. parasuis infection; 3) induces an immune response against E. rhusiopathiae and/or H. parasuis; and 4) has a DOI against E. rhusiopathiae and/or H. parasuis of at least four months. The composition or E. rhusiopathiae vaccine as well as the combined E. rhusiopathiae-H. parasuis composition or vaccine each includes a bacterial component of inactivated E. rhusiopathiae bacteria and a suitable adjuvant. The combined E. rhusiopathiae-H. parasuis composition or vaccine further includes an amount of H. parasuis antigen. The vaccines can be administered to animals in any conventional manner.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with novel compositions and vaccines useful for prophylactic an/or therapeutic treatment of mucosal infections, and in particular it is concerned with oral vaccines and with methods of enhancing mucosal resistance to infection or for treating established infections, of the respiratory tract.

Abstract: The invention relates to vaccines providing protection against infections caused by members of the Pasteurellaceae family comprising outer membrane vesicles as the only active components, wherein the outer membrane vesicles are obtained from one or more strains of the Pasteurellaceae family, with the proviso that hypervesiculating strains are excluded. The invention also relates to a method for preparing such a vaccine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated nucleic acid molecules which encode an antigen from a nontypable Haemophilus influenzae (H. influenzae) species, a vector which comprises such nucleic acid molecule, and a host cell comprising such vector. Furthermore, the invention provides antigens from a nontypable Haemophilus influenzae species, as well as fragments and variants thereof, a process for producing such antigens, and a process for producing a cell, which expresses such antigen. More specifically such antigens are produced by or associated with bacterial infections caused by nontypable Haemophilus influenzae.

Abstract: The present invention relates to immunogenic compositions comprising capsular polysaccharide or oligosaccharide of H. influenzae B (PRP) and methods of making such compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a combination vaccine comprising a mixture of antigens for protection against diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, and infections caused by Haemophilus influenzae and polio viruses. The present invention also relates to inclusion of antigens for protection against infections caused Hepatitis virus and other pathogens, such that administration of the vaccine can simultaneously immunize a subject against more than one pathogen. The invention in particular relates to a fully liquid stable combination vaccine comprising the antigens as indicated above and the methods for manufacturing the same.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods related to vaccination for AOM and children prone to AOM.

Abstract: An immunogenic composition comprising a Hib saccharide conjugate and at least two further bacterial saccharide conjugates is provided, wherein the Hib conjugate is present in a lower saccharide dose than the mean saccharide dose of all the at least two further bacterial saccharide conjugates.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions including siderophore receptor polypeptides and porins from gram negative microbes, and preferably, lipopolysaccarhide at a concentration of no greater than about 10.0 endotoxin units per milliliter. The present invention also provides methods of making and methods of using such compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to immunogenic compositions comprising a dried solid or highly viscous liquid formulation of inactivated polio virus (IPV) and a stabilizing agent wherein the IPV retains its antigenicity and/or immunogenicity. Methods of producing a dried formulation of IPV which retains its antigenicity/immunogenicity are described.

Abstract: The present invention is a culture of cells of Haemophilus parasuis exhibiting attenuated pathogenicity and capable of triggering a protective immune response when administered to pigs as a live vaccine. The present invention is also a method of preparing the cell culture, a method of preparing a vaccine from the cell culture, and a live vaccine based on the cell culture. The cell culture was modified from a pathogenic parent strain by MNNG mutagenesis and was selected by complete dependence on streptomycin for growth.

Abstract: The invention described herein relates to a Haemophilus influenzae (H. influenzae) regulon encoding type IV pili. In particular, the invention relates to type pili from nontypeable H. influenzae (NTHi) and from H. influenzae strains a, b, c, e and f. The invention provides isolated H. influenzae pilus polynucleotides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides as well as polynucleotides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides involved in the assembly/disassembly of the structure. The invention also relates to uses of these polynucleotides and/or polypeptides including methods for eliciting an immune response to H. influenzae and methods of treating and preventing H. influenzae related pathological conditions.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the use of Haemophilus parasuis bacteria of serotype 5 expressing an iron-restriction protein visible on a Western-blot when reacted with serum of a convalescent animal which has recovered from an infection by Haemophilus parasuis bacteria of serotype 4, the said protein not being visible on a Western-blot when Haemophilus parasuis bacteria of serotype 5 grown under iron-replete conditions, are reacted under the same conditions, in a vaccine to protect a subject animal against a disorder arising from Haemophilus parasuis serotype 4 bacteria.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are a mutant of a gram negative bacterium, wherein said bacterium has at least one mutation in a nucleotide sequence which codes for a polypeptide having an identity which is equal or more than 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% with an amino acid sequence coded by a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of nucleotide sequences identified SEQ ID NO: 2, 6, 9, 12, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34, 37, 40, 43, 46, 49, 52, 55, 58, 61, 64, 67, 70, 75, 78, 81, 84, 87, 90, 93; said mutation resulting in attenuated virulence of the bacterium. Immunogenic compositions and vaccines containing such a mutant are also disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: The invention discloses pharmaceutical compositions in liquid form comprising a peptide with the amino acid sequence KLKL5KLK and an oligodeoxynucleotide with the nucleic acid sequence (dIdC)13 and wherein the peptide and the oligodeoxynucleotide are present as sterile-filterable nanoparticles in the composition, thereby forming a suspension, characterized in that the mean particle size of the solid particles is less than 1 ?m.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for purifying bacterial cytolysins such as pneumococcal pneumolysin. A single chromatography step produces excellent purification of the cytolysin by binding soluble aggregated cytolysin to a hydrophobic interaction chromatography material in the presence of detergent and high salt.

Abstract: A method of identifying a biofilm that includes non-typeable Haemophilus influenza (NTHi) including a step of screening a sample for the presence of one or more biofilm-specific proteins that are expressed by NTHi. In some cases, an NTHi biofilm-related disease in a subject is diagnosed. Also disclosed are protein microarrays for screening biofilm-specific proteins in a sample, formulations comprising one or more biofilm-specific proteins or fragments thereof, and methods for inducing an immune response in a patient against a biofilm-related infection.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions including siderophore receptor polypeptides from gram negative microbes, and preferably, lipopolysaccarhide at a concentration of no greater than about 10.0 endotoxin units per milliliter. The present invention also provides methods of making and methods of using such compositions.