The present invention provides highly efficient methods, and compositions related thereto, for generating high titer human antibodies or antibody fragments thereof in a mammalian subject. The methods comprise administering a virus or virus-like particle to a mammal comprising heterologous immune cells and isolating a population of immunoglobulin-producing cells from the mammal, thereby producing the antibodies or antibody fragments thereof.

The present invention relates to a composition comprising Brachyspira hyodysenteriae bacteria, particularly in the field of immunization against swine dysentery. The composition of the invention may comprise bacteria from at least two genetically diverse strains of B. hyodysenteriae. The composition of the invention may also comprise bacteria of a strain deposited at the Collection Nationale de Cultures de Microorganismes (CNCM), Institut Pasteur, on Mar. 14, 2013, with registration number CNCM I-4720. The invention relates also to the composition of the invention for use as a vaccine, preferably a universal vaccine against swine dysentery caused by B. hyodysenteriae.

The present invention relates to an immunoassay for the detection of Borrelia specific IgG, IgM and IgG/IgM antibodies in biological samples suspected of Lyme infection. The immunoassay can be performed via a standard immunoassay format or on an automated platform. In various embodiments, the immunoassay uses one or more Borrelia specific chimeric peptides VlsE-FlaB (designated pFlaB-mV), VlsE-ErpP (designated pErp59-mV), VlsE-P35 (designated pP35-mV) alone or in combination with one or more outer surface protein C (Osp C) types B or I, p58 and DbpA. Other aspects of the invention provide antigen/substrate combinations and compositions comprising combinations of the disclosed peptides and/or proteins for use in the immunoassays described herein.

The present invention relates to Brachyspira hyodysenteriae strains and their use in diagnosis or treatment. In addition, the invention provides a vaccine against diarrheal disease, in particular swine dysentery.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the prevention and treatment of Borrelia infection. Particularly, the present invention relates to a polypeptide comprising a hybrid C-terminal fragment of an outer surface protein A (OspA), a nucleic acid coding the same, an antibody specifically binding the same, a pharmaceutical composition (particularly for use as a medicament or in a method of treating or preventing a Borrelia infection) comprising the polypeptide and/or the nucleic acid and/or the antibody, a method of treating or preventing a Borrelia infection and a method of immunizing a subject.

Provided are Leptospiral virulence modifying (VM) proteins, or fragments comprising the DNase domain thereof, and their use as vaccines and therapeutic agents. Also provided are pan-vaccines comprising multiple VM proteins.

The present invention relates to a polypeptide comprising a mutant fragment of an outer surface protein A (OspA), a nucleic acid coding the same, a pharmaceutical composition (particularly for use as a medicament of in a method of treating or preventing a Borrelia infection) comprising the polypeptide and/or the nucleic acid, a method of treating or preventing a Borrelia infection and a method of immunizing a subject.

The invention relates to the development of chimeric OspA molecules for use in a new Lyme vaccine. More specifically, the chimeric OspA molecules comprise the proximal portion from one OspA serotype, together with the distal portion from another OspA serotype, while retaining antigenic properties of both of the parent polypeptides. The chimeric OspA molecules are delivered alone or in combination to provide protection against a variety of Borrelia genospecies. The invention also provides methods for administering the chimeric OspA molecules to a subject in the prevention and treatment of Lyme disease or borreliosis.

Stage-specific Borrelia antigens for diagnosing, treating and/or preventing Lyme disease are provided. The antigens include chimeric Borrelia antigen constructs and mutant recombinant proteins comprising OspC and OspE epitopes, respectively. The antigens are used in multiprotein assays that differentiate early, middle and late stage infection, and/or in vaccine preparations.

Chimeric polyvalent recombinant proteins for use as vaccines and diagnostics for Lyme disease (e.g. in canines and humans) are provided. The chimeric proteins comprise epitopes of the loop 5 region and/or the alpha helix 5 region of outer surface protein C (OspC) types and/or OspE types. The OspC types may be associated with mammalian Borrelia infections.