The present invention provides a method of producing a polysaccharide-protein conjugate with capsular polysaccharide from Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 19F conjugated to a carrier protein. The method includes a prolonged incubation step prior to filtration to remove free polysaccharide.

The invention generally relates to compositions and methods for treating, detecting and assisting in the diagnosis of Streptococcus pyogenes infection, of rheumatic fever or of poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN), and compositions and methods for assessing the propensity for developing rheumatic fever or PSGN in subjects in need thereof. Recombinant polypeptides, including recombinant Streptococcus pyogenes SpnA polypeptides, and compositions comprising such polypeptides, for use in such methods are also provided.

An object is to provide a culture medium in which Enterococcus can be selectively detected. The culture medium for detecting Enterococcus contains an ionic surfactant and polyvinyl alcohol. The culture medium for detecting Enterococcus may further contain a suppressant on Gram-negative bacteria and a -glucosidase substrate from which a colored chromogen compound can be released.

Provided are methods for diagnosing a disease in a subject with a previous streptococcal infection by determining the presence or absence of one or more autoantibodies in a biological sample from the subject, wherein the one or more autoantibodies recognize an antigen from a protein selected from the group consisting of ELAVL2, ELAVL3, ELAVL4, Nova-1, Nova-2, Cdr1, Cdr2; and Cdr3. The presence of such autoantibodies is indicative of a positive diagnosis for a post-streptococcal disease such as PANDAS, post-GABHS glomerulonephritis, rheumatic fever, autism and Syndenham's chorea.

Disclosed is a new and emerging serotype of Streptococcus pneumoniae designated serotype 6C, and assays and monoclonal antibodies useful in identifying same. Also disclosed is a novel pneumococcal polysaccharide with the repeating unit {.fwdarw.2) glucose 1 (1.fwdarw.3) glucose 2 (1.fwdarw.3) rhamnose (1.fwdarw.3) ribitol (5.fwdarw.phosphate}. This new serotype may be included in pneumococcal vaccines.

The subject invention provides materials and methods that effectively support innate immunity and/or disperse pathogenic biofilms using readily available, nontoxic, natural substances, while supporting restoration of normal microbiotic homeostasis. In one embodiment, the subject invention provides anti-biofilm compositions comprising one or more probiotic organisms, anti-microbial honey, and other ingredients such as prebiotic compounds, other hive products, green tea derivatives, other plant derivatives, and vitamin D3.

The object is to provide a lysis method and lysis treatment solution for efficiently lysing cells of various Streptococcus bacteria in milk of a livestock animal to release a specific antigen substance contained in the cells for detecting whether causative bacterium of mastitis is a Streptococcus bacterium or not by using the milk, as well as a detection method using an immunochromatographic device. There is provided a method for lysing a Streptococcus bacterium, which comprises the step of mixing a lysis agent containing a lytic enzyme with milk obtained form a livestock animal to lyse a Streptococcus bacterium existing in the milk. The lytic enzyme is preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of lysozyme, labiase, and -N-acetylglucosaminidase.

Recurrent tonsillitis disease (RT) is a common indication for pediatric tonsillectomy, the most frequent childhood surgery. It is unknown why some children develop RT. The present disclosure demonstrates that RT tonsils exhibit significantly smaller germinal centers than non-RT tonsils, concomitant with a bias against Group A Streptococcus (GAS)-specific germinal center follicular helper CD4.sup.+ T cells (GC Tfh), and significantly reduced antibodies to the GAS virulence factor SpeA. The present disclosure also shows a significant immunogenetic component to this disease, with the identification of at risk and protective HLA alleles for RT. Finally, the present disclosure identifies a new cell type, granzyme B+GC Tfh cells, which are activated by SpeA, are significantly more abundant in RT GC Tfh cells, and have the capacity to kill B cells, thus, providing a window into the immunology and genetics of a classic childhood disease and identifies a new type of pathogenic T cell.

Provided among other things is a sampling system for determining an amount or type of contamination a narrow, elongated passageway in a medical device, said sampling system comprising: (a) a fluid supply system that supplies to said passageway a sampling liquid for flowing through said passageway and a gas for flowing through said passageway; and (b) a receiving container that receives liquid from said passageway, wherein said sampling liquid is sterile, wherein said sampling liquid is configured to allow recovery of viable pathogens from the passageway, and wherein said sampling liquid comprises an amount and selection of surfactant effective to enhance the dislodgement of Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria from the narrow passageways.

The present invention generally relates to the field of detecting and preventing infectious diseases caused by Enterococcus faecalis and/or Enterococcus faecium. More specifically, the invention relates to an Enterococcus faecalis and/or Enterococcus faecium antigen which comprises at least one unit having the following general formula:

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