Compositions and methods are described for inducing an immune response against extra-intestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) to thereby provide immune protection against diseases associated with ExPEC. In particular, compositions and methods are described for using conjugates of E. coli polysaccharide antigens O25B, O1A, O2, and O6A covalently bound to a detoxified exotoxin A of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (EPA) carrier protein as vaccines for the prevention of invasive ExPEC disease caused by ExPEC serotypes O1A, O2, O6A and O25B.

The present invention encompasses methods and compositions for generating a biomimetic proteoglycan. The invention includes methods of treating a disease, disorder, or condition of soft tissue using a biomimetic proteoglycan.

The invention relates to a novel process for obtaining direct sulfation of unprotected sugars, in particular polysaccharides, using ecologically acceptable solvents.

Described herein is an isolated biological polysaccharide compound. The biological polysaccharide compound may be characterised by being isolated and having: glycosyl linkages comprising 1:3 linked glucopyranosyl residue of 65-95% wt and 1:6 linked glucopyranosyl residue of 5-25% wt; and a purity of 85-100% β-glucan; and a molecular weight of 0.5 to 2.2 MDa; and a TNF-alpha cytokine response in a human bioassay that is at least 1.5 times greater than a negative control TNF-alpha cytokine response in a human bioassay; and being essentially insoluble in aqueous solutions. In at least one embodiment, methods are described of treating skin by topical application of a vehicle containing the isolated biological polysaccharide to a skin site such as a wound or burn. A method of manufacture is also described.

Provided is a low-molecular-weight holothurian glycosarninoglycan, with the constituent units thereof being a glucuronic acid group, an N-acetaminogalactose group and a fucose group, and a sulfate ester group or acetyl ester group thereof. Glucuronic acid and N-acetaminogalactose are interconnected via β(1-3) and β(1-4) glucosidic bonds to form a backbone of a disaccharide repeating structural unit, and a fucose group is connected to the backbone as a side chain. On a molar ratio basis, the ratio of the glucuronic acid group:the N-acetaminogalactose group:the fucose group is 1:(0.8-1.2):(0.6-1.2). In the structure of the low-molecular-weight holothurian glycosaminoglycan, 10-30% of glucuronic acid groups are modified, on the 2-position, with a sulfate ester group, and the rest are hydroxyl groups; and a proportion of 10-30% of fucose groups is modified, on the 2-position, with an acetyl ester group, and the rest are hydroxyl or sulfate ester groups. The low-molecular-weight holothurian glycosarninoglycan of the present invention has anti-inflammation, anti-vasculopathy, anti-tumor or anti-tumor-metastasis functions, and the effect of improving learning and memory abilities, and can be used for preparing a related drug or health-care product.

The present invention features a method for solubilizing chitin in an aqueous solution by dissolving a sample containing chitin in a basic solution and autoclaving the sample. The present invention also features a method for quantifying the amount of chitin in a sample. Chitin binding proteins are used to quantify the amount of chitin using a modified ELISA assay. Results of the assay may be compared to a control containing known amounts of chitin to quantify the chitin in the sample.

Disclosed herein are polysaccharide-elastomer masterbatch compositions and processes for preparing the masterbatch compositions. One method comprises a step of a) mixing i) an aqueous polysaccharide dispersion, or ii) a basic aqueous polysaccharide solution, with a rubber latex solution containing a rubber component to form a mixture. The method further comprises the steps of: b) coagulating the mixture obtained in step a) to produce a coagulated mass; and c) drying the coagulated mass obtained in step b). The masterbatch compositions are useful in preparing rubber-containing articles.

The subject of this invention are native forms of fucoidan polysaccharide, desulfated fucoidan and derivatives obtained by processing to the level of fucose-oligosaccarides containing preferentially, but not exclusively less than 20 monosaccaride fucose units alpha-linked by a glycosidic bond, with an average molecular weight of preferentially less than 3 kDa. The poly- and oligosaccarides that are described according to the invention are natural and safe, and are used as a dietary supplement for the use in prevention and treatment of pathologies associated with Noroviruses or Rotaviruses, Salmonella sp. or Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Campylobacter jejuni and other enteroviruses and enteric pathogens that cause bacterial gastroenteritis, as well as in the food production process. The invention also relates to a method for the desulfation and fragmentation of fucoidans to generate desulfated poly- or oligo-fucoses.

Disclosed herein are compositions comprising insoluble alpha-glucan particles having a high degree of crystallinity and small particle size. For example, the alpha-glucan particles can have a degree of crystallinity of at least about 0.65, and/or an average size of less than a micron. At least 50% of the glycosidic linkages of the insoluble alpha-glucan in the disclosed particles are alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages. Further disclosed are methods of producing insoluble alpha-glucan particles, as well as their use in various applications and products.

The present invention relates to methods for purifying bacterial polysaccharides, in particular for removing impurities from cellular lysates of bacteria producing polysaccharides, comprising: a) acid hydrolysis; b) a first ultrafiltration/diafiltration-(UFDF-1); b) carbon filtration; c) chromatography; and d) a second ultrafiltration/diafiltration-(UFDF-2).