Abstract: The invention relates to a culture medium for Haemophilus influenzae type b, characterized in that the source of protein nitrogen is of non-animal origin and comprises at least one plant peptone and in that the heme source consists of protoporphyrin IX. This medium serves in particular for the production of polyribosyl phosphate (PRP) and for the manufacture of a vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis.

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 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: A cell culture growth substrate comprising submucosal tissue of a warm-blooded vertebrate and a method for culturing fastidious organisms is described. Submucosal tissue used in accordance with the present invention supports the proliferation of cells when said cells are contacted with submucosal tissue under conditions conducive to cell proliferation.

Abstract: A conjugate vaccine for Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae comprising lipooligosaccharide from which esterified fatty acids have been removed conjugated to an immunogenic carrier. The vaccine is useful for prevention of otitis media and respiratory infections in mammals.

Abstract: A novel peptide obtained from Haemophilus paragallinarum has been found useful for preventing avian infectious coryza. This polypeptide induces production of hemagglutination-inhibition antibody and prevents infection and onset of avian infectious coryza. The invention further provides a gene coding for the polypeptide, a recombinant vector for expression of this gene, a host transformed with this vector, a process for preparing the polypeptide in a host, a vaccine for avian infectious coryza comprising the polypeptide as an active ingredient, a monoclonal antibody obtained using the polypeptide as an immunogen, and a diagnostic agent and a therapeutic agent for avian infectious coryza using the peptide and the antibody.

Abstract: The present invention provides the sequencing of the entire genome of Haemophilus influenzae Rd, SEQ ID NO: 1. The present invention further provides the sequence information stored on computer readable media, and computer-based systems and methods which facilitate its use. In addition to the entire genomic sequence, the present invention identifies over 1700 protein encoding fragments of the genome and identifies, by position relative to a unique Not I restriction endonuclease site, any regulatory elements which modulate the expression of the protein encoding fragments of the Haemophilus genome.

Abstract: An assay for compounds useful in the treatment of a bacterial induced coagulation disorder has the following steps: a) incubating a plasma sample with a strain of bacteria; b) adding a compound to be assayed to the plasma sample before, during or after step (a); c) conducting an activated partial thromboplastin time test; d) determining the clotting time.

Abstract: The present invention provides immunogenic synthetic peptides which are useful alone or in PRP-conjugates in vaccines against Hemophilus influenza infection. Modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.

Abstract: Novel vaccines for use against Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae are disclosed. The vaccines contain at least one Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae outer membrane lipoprotein A, or an immunogenic fragment thereof. Also disclosed are DNA sequences encoding these proteins, vectors including these sequences and host cells transformed with these vectors. The vaccines can be used to treat or prevent porcine respiratory infections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a universal test systems and methods of use thereof for identifying a microorganism among at least two groups of widely divergent microorganisms. The universal test system comprises a predetermined combination of non-redundant biochemical tests comprising a substrate for at least one enzyme wherein the substrate, if acted on by the enzyme results in formation of a detectable product. Detectable products from the combination of biochemical tests are then used to identify the microorganism.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of identifying a compound capable of disrupting the addition of choline onto a bacterial cell surface component comprising incubating a sample of bacteria in a solution containing choline in the presence or absence of a test compound, and assessing the effect of the test compound on the addition of choline onto the bacterial cell surface component, wherein a lower level of choline on the cell surface component in the presence of the test compound, compared with the level of choline on the cell surface component in the absence of the test compound, is an indication that the test compound inhibits the addition of choline onto the cell surface component.

Abstract: Synthetic peptides have an amino acid sequence corresponding to at least one antigenic determinant of at least one protein, usually a structural protein, particularly the P1, P2 and P6 protein, of Haemophilus influenzae (Hi), particularly type b, and are used as is, in chimeric T-B form, in lipidated form, linked to a carrier molecule, particularly a synthetic PRP molecule and/or polymerized to form molecular aggregates, in vaccines against Hi.

Abstract: High molecular weight surface proteins of non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae which exhibit immunogenic properties and genes encoding the same are described. Specifically, genes coding for two immunodominant high molecular weight proteins, HMW1 and HMW2, have been cloned, expressed and sequenced, while genes coding for high molecular proteins HMW3 and HMW4 have been cloned, expressed and partially sequenced.

Abstract: An extract based on modified bacterial proteins includes a mixture of acid bacterial polyanions having a molecular weight in the range from 10,000 to 1,000,000 and an isoelectric point in the range from 2.5 to 5.5, and in which the added weights of the constituent amino acids amount to at least 50% of the extract. The preparation or this protein extract includes a cultivation of bacteria in an aqueous medium and then the alkaline extraction of this bacterial suspension and the purification of the protein extract. The alkaline extraction is carried out in the presence of a dilute aqueous source of OH.sup.- ions and at a stable pH in the range from 11 to 13, the decrease of this pH during the acid extraction not exceeding 0.4. The protein extract thus obtained can be used as an active ingredient in a pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: The invention is a carbohydrate receptor for pathogenic bacteria. The receptor is a purified carbohydrate compound that is a member selected from the group consisting of fucosyl-asialo GM1, asialo GM1, and asialo GM2. The invented receptor can be included in a composition having a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The invention includes methods for purifying, detecting, or removing bacteria from diseased tissue. The applicants have discovered a carbohydrate receptor for a variety of different species of disease-producing bacteria. The structure of the receptor is N-acetylgalactosamine-beta-1-4-galactose-beta-1-4-glucose, abreviated GalNAc.beta.1-4Gal.beta.1-4Glc. The receptor is present in human and animal tissues as complex molecules and can serve as the attachment site for bacterial infection. For example, fucosyl-asialo GM1, asialo GM1, and asialo GM2 are three biological molecules which occur in cell membranes and contain the carbohydrate receptor.

Abstract: Peptides and proteins related to an epitope comprising an outer membrane protein of Haemophilus influenzae are described. The peptides and proteins can be prepared by methods including novel and improved methods of puiification from H. influenzae cultures, and by recombinant DNA and chemical synthetic techniques. Additionally, recombinant vectors containing nucleotide sequences encoding PBOMP-1 and PBOMP-2 related peptides and proteins are also described. Recombinant vectors include plasmid DNA and viral DNA such as human viruses, animal viruses, insect viruses and bacteriophages that direct the expression of the PBOMP-1 and PBOMP-2 related peptides and proteins in appropriate host cells. The peptides, proteins and viruses both "live" and "inactivated" are used as immunogens in vaccine formulations to protect against H. influenzae infections. The peptides and proteins are also used as reagents in immunoassays as well as to prepare immunoglobulins for passive immunization.

Abstract: Peptides and proteins related to an epitope comprising an outer membrane protein of Haemophilus influenzae are described. The peptides and proteins can be prepared by methods including novel and improved methods of purification from H. influenzae cultures, and by recombinant DNA and chemical synthetic techniques. Additionally, recombinant vectors containing nucleotide sequences encoding PBOMP-1 and PBOMP-2 related peptides, proteins and fusion proteins are also described. Recombinant vectors include plasmid DNA and viral DNA such as human viruses, animal viruses, insect viruses and bacteriophages that direct the expression of the PBOMP-1 and PBOMP-2 related peptides, proteins, and fusion proteins in appropriate host cells. The peptides, proteins, fusion proteins and viruses both "live" and "inactivated" are used as immunogens in vaccine formulations to protect against H. influenzae infections.

Abstract: A process for removing endotoxin from Gram-negative polysaccharides such as H. influenzae polyribosylribitol phosphate by adding alcohol incrementally until substantially all lipopolysaccharide precipitates.

Abstract: A process for removing endotoxin from Gram-negative polysaccharides such as polyribosylribitol phosphate by solubilizing polysaccharide-containing powder derived from Gram-negative bacteria fermentation broth to provide a divalent counter ion for endotoxin and adding alcohol incrementally to induce lipopolysaccharide precipition, and mixing material resulting from the alcohol addition with a nonionic resin, a detergent and a chelating agent.

Abstract: Monoclonal antibodies, and cell lines producing them, which show specificity for surface components of Haemophilus influenzae type b have been developed. These monoclonal antibodies may be used in methods and kits for detecting H. influenzae type b and antigens of H. influenzae type b and for purification of outer membrane protein to be used as vaccine.

Abstract: Process for preparing a detoxified polysaccharide-outer membrane protein complex from bacterial envelopes; the so-obtained products which are useful as vaccines against infection by the same bacteria and method for protecting animals against the same infection by administration of a pharmaceutical composition containing the detoxified polysaccharide-outer membrane protein complexes.

Abstract: A high molecular weight capsular polysaccharide from H. influenza type b is an effective immunogenic agent against infection caused by the H. influenza type b bacterium.

Abstract: A vaccine composition comprising a genetically attenuated bacterial strain which contains at least two mutations of the same phenotype which strain is rendered avirulent while retaining immunogenicity.

Abstract: A process for the isolation and purification of immunologically active polyribosyl ribitol phosphate (PRP), the capsular polysaccharide of Haemophilus influenzae type b. The PRP has been purified with ethanol, Cetavlon (hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide) and a phosphate containing adsorbent, hydroxylapatite. The contaminants (nucleic acid, proteins and endotoxins) are removed to the minimum level by a treatment with hydroxylapatite. Also described is a process for the preparation of a combined vaccine containing the PRP (prepared as aforementioned) and B. pertussis antigens. The vaccine elicits anti-PRP antibody and antipertussis antibody (as measured by microagglutination) formations in young animals. This sera with anti-PRP antibody exhibits a strong bactericidal activity.

Abstract: The present invention concerns novel enrichments for enhancing the detection of the etiological agents of bacteremia. The blood enrichments of this invention are based upon the discovery that a novel supplement which includes a Fildes peptic digest of blood and certain other compounds enables conventional blood culture media to support the growth of a greater variety of microorganisms than has been possible previously and to stimulate growth rates of microorganisms. Use of the enrichment of the present invention will permit prompt and accurate detection of a broad range of etiological agents of bacteremia and facilitate the work of clinical microbiologists. The products of the invention can be utilized in antibiotic sensitivity testing, and are especially useful in automated machines for such testing.