Heptose-1-monophosphate-7-derivatives are modifiable immunomodulators that can be used to prepare clinically active conjugate compounds. Such conjugate compounds are useful in modulating an immune response in a subject.

Anaplasma phagocytophilum surface protein AipA and/or fragments thereof which comprise an invasin domain are used in compositions suitable to elicit an immune response to treat or prevent infections caused by tick-born bacteria of the Anaplasmatacaea family. AipA proteins and protein fragments or antibodies directed to AipA proteins and protein fragments are also used in diagnostic assays to detect exposure to and/or infection with Anaplasmatacaea. AipA and/or fragments thereof are also used for these purposes in combination with one or both of Asp14 and OmpA proteins and/or fragments thereof which comprise an invasin domain. Homologs of these proteins are also used in the compositions and assays.

A vaccine composition comprising a virus antigen wherein the composition comprises less than 5% serum, wherein the virus antigen is a whole virus or derived from a whole virus, the vaccine composition reduces, prevents or avoids cross-stitch spinal deformity in the treated animal. Said vaccine composition for use in a method of treating a disease caused by the intracellular pathogen in an animal and reducing, preventing or avoiding cross-stitch spinal deformity in the treated animal. In cross-stitch vertebra the intervertebral space is completely collapsed. A vaccine composition for use as defined above wherein the animal is a fish. In an embodiment the pathogen is salmon alpha virus (SAV).

Provided herein are chimeric recombinant polypeptides (chimeritopes) for use in vaccines against Anaplasmosis, in assays for diagnosing Anaplasmosis and in assays for measuring antibody titers induced by vaccination. The chimeritopes comprise, for example, antigenic segments of three Anaplasma proteins (OmpA, AipA and Asp14) and a non-antigenic segment of a Borrelia Osp protein (e.g. OspC) that is 10 amino acids in length, proline rich and random coil in conformation. Compositions comprising the chimeritopes, optionally in combination with additional Anaplasma proteins of interest, are also provided, as are methods of using the compositions as vaccines and diagnostic tools.

Provided herein are chimeric polypeptides that may be used, e.g., for the diagnosis of or vaccination against Ehrlichia chaffeensis and/or Ehrlichia canis.

The invention pertains to the use of VirB10 to immunize a host against an infection by a bacterium having T4SS. The invention provides a vaccine comprising VirB10, a fragment of VirB10, a polynucleotide encoding VirB10 or a polynucleotide encoding a fragment of VirB10 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or adjuvant. The invention also provides a method of immunizing a host against an infection caused by a bacterium having T4SS, the method comprising administering to the host a vaccine of the invention. The vaccines and the methods of the invention can be used to immunize against infections caused by bacteria having T4SS in dogs, rabbits, cats, pigs, cattle, sheep, goats, deer, horses, rodents and humans.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a vaccine composition comprising a bacterial strain with a deleted or inactive ntrX gene.

The present invention relates to novel hybrid peptides developed from the combination of membrane surface protein peptide fragments present in anaplasmosis microorganisms, and in particular, bacteria of the species Anaplasma marginale. The present invention further relates to hybrid peptide sets, compositions and kits comprising such novel hybrid peptides, their uses and methods of inducing immune response. Each hybrid peptide, according to the present invention, comprises two or more peptide fragments of amino acid sequences as defined in the present invention linked together by means of a spacer element. The combined peptide fragments are protein peptide fragments of MSP1, MSP1a, MSP1b, MSP2, MSP2-HRV, MSP3, OMP7, OMP8, VirB9 and VirB10.

Provided herein are chimeric recombinant polypeptides (chimeritopes) for use in vaccines against Anaplasmosis, in assays for diagnosing Anaplasmosis and in assays for measuring antibody titers induced by vaccination. The chimeritopes comprise, for example, antigenic segments of three Anaplasma proteins (OmpA, AipA and Asp14) and a non-antigenic segment of a Borrelia Osp protein (e.g. OspC) that is 10 amino acids in length, proline rich and random coil in conformation. Compositions comprising the chimeritopes, optionally in combination with additional Anaplasma proteins of interest, are also provided, as are methods of using the compositions as vaccines and diagnostic tools.

Provided herein are chimeric polypeptides that may be used, e.g., for the diagnosis of or vaccination against Ehrlichia chaffeensis and/or Ehrlichia canis.