Abstract: The present invention discloses compositions derived from an isolated Bacillus species, spores, or an extracellular product of Bacillus coagulans comprising a supernatant or filtrate of a culture of said Bacillus coagulans strain, suitable for topical application to the skin or mucosal membranes of a mammal, which are utilized to inhibit the growth of bacterium, yeast, fungi, virus, and combinations thereof. The present invention also discloses methods of treatment and therapeutic systems for inhibiting the growth of bacterium, yeast, fungi, virus, and combinations thereof, by topical application of therapeutic compositions which are comprised, in part, of isolated Bacillus species, spores, or an extracellular product of Bacillus coagulans comprising a supernatant or filtrate of a culture of said Bacillus coagulans strain.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a broadly reactive vaccine against Gram-negative bacteria which is composed of a biological glycan-pilus conjugate. The conjugate core is a common pilus type to which is attached the glycan of choice in vivo. Pooling of these bioconjugates produces a multivalent vaccine. These pili give high bronchial titers when delivered by the intranasal route. Mice vaccinated with pure glycosylated P. aeruginosa strain 1244 pili in this manner are protected against respiratory challenge with P. aeruginosa strain 1244. The present invention further relates to a DNA and amino acid sequence of a new gene, pilO, which is capable of glycosylating pilin of Gram-negative bacteria and uses thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to pseudomycin natural products including pseudomycins A′ and B′, methods for making such pseudomycins, and methods employing antifungal activity of these pseudomycins. NMR and mass spectrometry indicate formula (I) for pseudomycin A′. NMR and mass spectrometry indicate formula (II) for pseudomycin B′.

Abstract: A composition and method for treating or preventing infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa is disclosed. The composition includes a P. aeruginosa pilin peptide modified to prevent oligomerization of the pilin. The method involves administered the composition to a person infected with Pseudomonas are at risk of such infection.

Abstract: The present invention discloses compositions derived from an isolated Bacillus species, spores, or an extracellular product of Bacillus coagulans comprising a supernatant or filtrate of a culture of said Bacillus coagulans strain, suitable for topical application to the skin or mucosal membranes of a mammal, which are utilized to inhibit the growth of bacterium, yeast, fungi, virus, and combinations thereof. The present invention also discloses methods of treatment and therapeutic systems for inhibiting the growth of bacterium, yeast, fungi, virus, and combinations thereof, by topical application of therapeutic compositions which are comprised, in part, of isolated Bacillus species, spores, or an extracellular product of Bacillus coagulans comprising a supernatant or filtrate of a culture of said Bacillus coagulans strain.

Abstract: Vascular damage has proven to be dose limiting in administering immunotoxins into the brain to treat brain tumors. Vascular toxicity of immunotoxins which rely in part on exposure to lowered pH in cellular endosomes and lysosomes can be avoided by administering an endosome pH-raising agent systemically during some or all of the time that the immunotoxin is present in the brain of the organism. Suitable endosome pH-raising agents include lysosomotrophic amines, proton ionophores, and vacuolar H+ ATPase inhibitors. The invention increases the therapeutic window of the immunotoxins and increases the likelihood the treatment will have an effect on the course of the tumor.

Abstract: The present invention discloses compositions derived from an isolated Bacillus species, spores, or an extracellular product of Bacillus coagulans comprising a supernatant or filtrate of a culture of said Bacillus coagulans strain, suitable for topical application to the skin or mucosal membranes of a mammal, which are utilized to inhibit the growth of bacterium, yeast, fungi, virus, and combinations thereof. The present invention also discloses methods of treatment and therapeutic systems for inhibiting the growth of bacterium, yeast, fungi, virus, and combinations thereof, by topical application of therapeutic compositions which are comprised, in part, of isolated Bacillus species, spores, or an extracellular product of Bacillus coagulans comprising a supernatant or filtrate of a culture of said Bacillus coagulans strain.

Abstract: The invention relates to pseudomycin natural products including pseudomycins A′ and B′, methods for making such pseudomycins, and methods employing antifungal activity of these pseudomycins.

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 provides gram-negative bacterial strains that produce substantially pure non-pyrogenic lipopolysaccharide or lipid A. The present invention also relates to a use of said strains for the preparation of non-pyrogenic DNA and use of the same for introducing endogenous or foreign genes into animal cells or animal tissue. Further, the present invention relates to a use of said strains for the preparation of non-pyrogenic recombinant mammalian, protozoan and viral proteins. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a use of said strains for the preparation of non-pyrogenic bacterial vaccines and vaccine vectors. Yet a further use of the present invention relates to a use of said strains for the preparation of non-pyrogenic bacterial proteins and polysaccharides antigens for use as vaccines.

Abstract: A C-terminal pilin peptide vaccine for immunizing or treating a patient for infection by a Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) infection is disclosed. The peptide comprises the peptide identified as SEQ ID NOS. 3-6; and a carrier protein conjugated to the peptide. Also disclosed is a pilin peptide C-terminal PA pilin peptide having the amino acid sequence identified as SEQ ID NO:3, and analogs thereof having one of residues T, K, or A at position 130, D, T, or N at position 132, Q, A, or V at position 133, E, P, N, or A at position 135, Q, M, or K at position 136, and I, T, L, or R at position 138, excluding SEQ ID NOS: 1, 2, 9, 10, and 11, and the ability to cross-react with antibodies against the corresponding C-terminal peptides from PA strains PAK and PAO.

Abstract: A chimeric protein comprising a Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin (PE) moiety linked to a myelin basic protein (MBP) moiety is disclosed. The MBP moiety is selected from the group comprising: (a) MBP; (b) amino acids 69-88 of guinea-pig myelin basic protein or an antigenic portion thereof; (c) amino acids 84-102 of human myelin basic protein or an antigenic portion thereof; (d) amino acids 143-168 of human myelin basic protein or an antigenic portion thereof; and (e) an amino acid sequence in which one or more amino acids have been deleted, added, substituted or mutated in the amino acid sequences of (a), (b), (c) or (d), the modified sequence of (e) retaining at least 75% homology with the amino acid sequences of (a), (b), (c) or (d), respectively. Each of the MBP moieties of (b), (c) and (d) are linked to the PE moiety by a pentapeptide linker repeated 1-3 times. The chimeric protein is useful in treating autoimmune diseases, and especially multiple sclerosis.

Abstract: The present invention provides immunogenic compositions comprising peptides derived from the amino acid sequence of P. aeruginosa elastase for protecting susceptible hosts against diseases caused by bacterial pathogens which secrete a zinc metalloprotease.

Abstract: This invention provides protease-activatable Pseudomonas exotoxin A-like (“PE-like”) proproteins. The proproteins comprise (1) a cell recognition domain of between 10 and 1500 amino acids that binds to a cell surface receptor; (2) a modified PE translocation domain comprising an amino acid sequence sufficiently homologous to domain II of PE to effect translocation to a cell cytosol upon proteolytic cleavage, wherein the translocation domain comprises a cysteine-cysteine loop that comprises a protease activatable sequence cleavable by a protease and wherein the cysteine-cysteine loop is substantially un-activatable by furin; (3) optionally, a PE Ib-like domain comprising an amino acid sequence up to 1500 amino acids; (4) a cytotoxicity domain comprising an amino acid sequence substantially homologous to domain III of PE, the cytotoxicity domain having ADP-ribosylating activity; and (5) an endoplasmic reticulum (“ER”) retention sequence.

Abstract: This invention provides protease-activatable Pseudomonas exotoxin A-like (“PE-like”) proproteins. The proproteins comprise (1) a cell recognition domain of between 10 and 1500 amino acids that binds to a cell surface receptor; (2) a modified PE translocation domain comprising an amino acid sequence sufficiently homologous to domain II of PE to effect translocation to a cell cytosol upon proteolytic cleavage, wherein the translocation domain comprises a cysteine-cysteine loop that comprises a protease activatable sequence cleavable by a protease and wherein the cysteine-cysteine loop is substantially un-activatable by furin; (3) optionally, a PE Ib-like domain comprising an amino acid sequence up to 1500 amino acids; (4) a cytotoxicity domain comprising an amino acid sequence substantially homologous to domain m of PE, the cytotoxicity domain having ADP-ribosylating activity; and (5) an endoplasmic reticulum (“ER”) retention sequence.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an immunogenic conjugate comprising a carrier molecule coupled to an autoinducer of a Gram negative bacteria. The immunogenic conjugate, when combined with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, forms a suitable vaccine for mammals to prevent infection by the Gram negative bacteria. The immunogenic conjugate is also used to raise and subsequently isolate antibodies or binding portions thereof which are capable of recognizing and binding to the autoinducer. The antibodies or binding portions thereof are utilized in a method of treating infections, a method of inhibiting autoinducer activity, and in diagnostic assays which detect the presence of autoinducers or autoinducer antagonists in fluid or tissue samples.

Abstract: A composition and method for treating or preventing infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa is disclosed. The composition includes a P. aeruginosa pilin peptide modified to prevent oligomerization of the pilin. The method involves administered the composition to a person infected with Pseudomonas are at risk of such infection.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting, moderating or diagnosing Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection is disclosed. In one embodiment, this method comprises inoculating a patient with an effective amount of PcrV antigen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hybrid protein comprising the Pseudomonas aeruginosa outer membrane protein I (OprI) which is fused with its amino terminal end to the carboxy-terminal end of a carboxy-terminal portion of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa outer membrane protein F (OprF), as well as to monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against this hybrid protein. Both, the hybrid protein and the antibodies directed to the hybrid protein confer protection against an infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa to laboratory animals or man.

Abstract: The present invention provides immunogenic compositions comprising peptides derived from the amino acid sequence of P. aeruginosa for protecting susceptible hosts against diseases caused by bacterial pathogens which secrete a zinc metalloprotease.

Abstract: Liposome encapsulated antibiotic therapy has limited application against infectious organisms, which can sequester in non-phagocytic cells. Virulence factors of these infectious organisms, for example bacterial components, when used in the formulation of liposomes can enhance the effectiveness of liposomes as delivery systems in the treatment of disease. In this manner, multi-functional liposomes can be developed to treat target diseases. In addition to serving as antibiotic delivery systems, such liposomes also have an immunization effect. Thus, the liposomes can be used for both the prevention and treatment of diseases.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of treating subjects exhibiting thrombocytopenia or at risk of developing thrombocytopenia. The method includes the step of administering to the subject exhibiting thrombocytopenia or at risk of developing thrombocytopenia, an effective amount of a Pseudomonas solvent extract or active fraction thereof. The Pseudomonas solvent extract is administered in an amount effective to increase platelet levels in the subject.