The invention provides methods and compositions for detecting and diagnosing sexually transmitted infections using a string of epitopes (SOE) specific for detection of causative microorganisms. The antigenic epitopes may be single epitope sequences, a plurality of epitope sequences joined by repeats of glycine (-GG-) and/or lysine (-KK-) to form a series of epitopes (SOE), or nucleotide sequences encoding one or more SOEs and host cells harboring said SOE nucleotide sequences. SOEs specific for highly immunogenic regions of proteins from Trichomonas, Treponema and Neisseria species are provided. SOEs to detect the presence of trichomonas species comprise regions from Trichomonas-sptciric aldolase, GAPDH, a-enolase and a-actinin proteins. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising SOEs can also be used as vaccines or to elicit an immune response to specific microorganisms.

The present invention encompasses vaccines or compositions comprising the chimeric KSAC protein that possesses immunogenic and protective properties, and methods of use including administering to an animal the antigenic KSAC protein thereof to protect animals. The invention also encompasses methods for making and producing the soluble, disaggregated, refolded or active proteins from inclusion bodies produced from prokaryotes or eukaryotes.

Provided is an immunogenic composition including a peptide, wherein consecutive amino acids of the peptide include at least amino acids 186-193 of SEQ ID NO:1 and one or more adjuvants. In an example, the peptide is covalently linked to an amino acid sequence including SEQ ID NO:2. Also provided is a method of vaccinating a subject against Borrelia burgdorferi, including administering to the subject an effective amount of the immunogenic composition

Provided is an immunogenic composition including a peptide, wherein consecutive amino acids of the peptide include at least amino acids 186-193 of SEQ ID NO:1 and one or more adjuvants. In an example, the peptide is covalently linked to an amino acid sequence including SEQ ID NO:2. Also provided is a method of vaccinating a subject against Borrelia burgdorferi, including administering to the subject an effective amount of the immunogenic composition

The present invention relates to an immunogenic polypeptide, a nucleic acid encoding the same, a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same and the immunogenic polypeptide, nucleic acid or pharmaceutical composition for use as a medicament, particularly a vaccine, or for use in a method of treating or preventing a Borrelia infection.

The present invention relates to a modified virus-like particle of RNA bacteriophage AP205 (AP205 VLP) comprising AP205 coat protein dimers to which antigenic polypeptides are fused at the N-terminus and/or at the C-terminus. The modified AP205 VLPs can be used as a platform, in particular for vaccine development, in generating immune responses against a variety of antigens.

The present invention provides a vaccine for canine Lyme disease and methods of making and using the vaccine alone, or in combinations with other protective agents.

Ferritin proteins comprising a mutation replacing a surface-exposed amino acid with a cysteine, an N- or C-terminal linker comprising a cysteine, and/or one or more immune-stimulatory moieties linked to the ferritin protein via a surface-exposed amino acid are disclosed. The ferritin proteins can further comprise a non-ferritin polypeptide and be antigenic, e.g., for use in eliciting antibodies against the non-ferritin polypeptide.

Antigenic polypeptides comprising linear immunodominant epitopes of Borrelia outer surface protein A (OspA) or Borrelia outer surface protein C (OspC) are useful as vaccines against Lyme disease, and as diagnostics for detecting Borrelia infections. The OspA and OspC antigenic polypeptides typically comprise a plurality of peptides representing epitope containing regions from multiple distinct phyletic groups. The antigenic polypeptides may also include epitopes from both Borrelia OspA and Borrelia OspC.

The present invention includes compositions and methods of preparing flagellar-coiling protein 1 (Fcp1)-deficient Leptospira bacterium. In one aspect, the invention includes an isolated, flagellar-coiling protein 1 (Fcp1)-deficient Leptospira bacterium. Another aspect includes a composition comprising a flagellar-coiling protein 1 (Fcp1) deficient Leptospira bacterium. Yet another aspect includes a method of producing a motility-deficient Leptospira bacterium comprising inhibiting expression of a wild-type flagellar-coiling protein 1 (Fcp1) gene. Methods of stimulating an immune response and reducing or treating an infectious disease caused by one or more Leptospira bacteria in a subject in need thereof comprising administering a composition comprising an effective amount of flagellar-coiling protein 1 (Fcp1) deficient Leptospira bacteria to the subject are also included.