Modified capsular saccharides comprising a blocking group at a hydroxyl group position on at least one of the monosaccharide units of the corresponding native capsular saccharide, wherein the blocking group is of the formula (Ia) or (Ib): —OX—Y (Ia) or —O—R.sup.1 (Ib) wherein X is C(O), S(O) or SO.sub.2; Y is NR.sup.1R.sup.2 or R.sup.3; R.sup.1 is C.sub.1-6 alkyl substituted with 1, 2 or 3 groups independently selected from hydroxyl, sulphydryl and amine; R.sup.2 is H or C.sub.1-6 alkyl; and R.sup.3 is C.sub.1-6 alkyl; processes for modifying a capsular saccharide with the blocking groups; saccharide-protein conjugates comprising the modified capsular saccharide; processes for making the saccharide-protein conjugates, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the modified capsular saccharides and/or saccharide-protein conjugates; and methods and uses of the same.

In one aspect, the invention relates to an isolated polypeptide including the amino acid sequence of a carrier polypeptide and the amino acid sequence of an ORF2086 polypeptide. In another aspect, the invention relates to an immunogenic conjugate including ORF2086 polypeptide and a carrier polypeptide. The invention further includes immunogenic compositions and methods for inducing an immune response against Neisseria meningitidis in a mammal.

In one aspect, the invention relates to an isolated polypeptide including the amino acid sequence of a carrier polypeptide and the amino acid sequence of an ORF2086 polypeptide. In another aspect, the invention relates to an immunogenic conjugate including ORF2086 polypeptide and a carrier polypeptide. The invention further includes immunogenic compositions and methods for inducing an immune response against Neisseria meningitidis in a mammal.

Novel methods and uses for modulating immune responses are provided. The methods and uses involve the use of a TIFA activator such heptose-1,7-5 bisphosphate or an analogue or derivative thereof. The methods may be used to activate, inhibit or otherwise modify an immune response so as to either prevent or treat infectious or inflammatory diseases or cancer. Also provided are methods to identify compounds capable of modulating immune responses.

Novel methods and uses for modulating immune responses are provided. The methods and uses involve the use of a TIFA activator such heptose-1,7-5 bisphosphate or an analogue or derivative thereof. The methods may be used to activate, inhibit or otherwise modify an immune response so as to either prevent or treat infectious or inflammatory diseases or cancer. Also provided are methods to identify compounds capable of modulating immune responses.

A multivalent vaccine composition, a method of producing the multivalent vaccine composition, and an apparatus containing the multivalent vaccine composition. The multivalent vaccine composition may include a mixture. The mixture may include Neisseria meningitides serogroups A, C, Y, and W-135 oligosaccharides conjugated to glycan-free carrier proteins. When administered, the multivalent vaccine composition may provide long-lasting immunity to humans of all age groups, including infants.

A multivalent vaccine composition, a method of producing the multivalent vaccine composition, and an apparatus containing the multivalent vaccine composition. The multivalent vaccine composition may include a mixture. The mixture may include Neisseria meningitides serogroups A, C, Y, and W-135 oligosaccharides conjugated to glycan-free carrier proteins. When administered, the multivalent vaccine composition may provide long-lasting immunity to humans of all age groups, including infants.

In one aspect, the invention relates to a composition including a first polypeptide having the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 and a second polypeptide having the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2. In one embodiment, the composition includes about 120 μg/ml of a first polypeptide including the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, 120 μg/ml of a second polypeptide including the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2, about 2.8 molar ratio polysorbate-80 to the first polypeptide, about 2.8 molar ratio polysorbate-80 to the second polypeptide, about 0.5 mg/ml aluminum, about 10 mM histidine, and about 150 mM sodium chloride. In one embodiment, a dose of the composition is about 0.5 ml in total volume. In one embodiment, two-doses of the composition induce a bactericidal titer against diverse heterologous subfamily A and subfamily B strains in a human.

In one aspect, the invention relates to a composition including a first polypeptide having the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 and a second polypeptide having the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2. In one embodiment, the composition includes about 120 μg/ml of a first polypeptide including the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, 120 μg/ml of a second polypeptide including the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2, about 2.8 molar ratio polysorbate-80 to the first polypeptide, about 2.8 molar ratio polysorbate-80 to the second polypeptide, about 0.5 mg/ml aluminum, about 10 mM histidine, and about 150 mM sodium chloride. In one embodiment, a dose of the composition is about 0.5 ml in total volume. In one embodiment, two-doses of the composition induce a bactericidal titer against diverse heterologous subfamily A and subfamily B strains in a human.

The invention provides peptides derived from a ubiquitous protein, and nucleic acids encoding such peptides. The invention extends to various uses of these peptides and nucleic acids, for example, as antigens for use in vaccines per se and in the generation of antibodies for use in therapeutic drugs for the prevention, amelioration or treatment of infections caused by sepsis-inducing bacteria. The invention particularly benefits immunocompromised hosts such as neonates, babies, children, women of fertile age, pregnant women, foetuses, the elderly and diabetics.