The invention provides therapeutic compositions that present an artificial repertoire of mammalian pattern recognition receptor (PRR) agonists, so that the pattern of PRR agonists recapitulates a distinct portion of a PRR agonist signature of a mammalian pathogen. The artificial repertoire of PRR agonists may be formulated together in a therapeutic vehicle for combined presentation to an innate immune cell resident in a target tissue in a mammalian host, and the vehicle adapted to deliver the PRR agonists to the target tissue, so as to modulate an immune response.

The present invention discloses a fragment of peptide which can be utilized in patients suffering from a disseminated mycobacterial infection. The fragment of peptide contains a sequence of amino acids with seven residues as formula (I) shown below, wherein X.sub.1 is Leucine (Leu); X.sub.2 is Proline (Pro); X.sub.3 is Glutamate (Glu); X.sub.4 is serine (Ser); X.sub.5 is Serine (Ser); X.sub.6 is Leucine (Leu) and X.sub.7 is Arginine (Arg): X.sub.1-X.sub.2-X.sub.3-X.sub.4-X.sub.5-X.sub.6-X.sub.7 (I).

The present invention relates to the biomarkers for predicting the clinical response to anti-LPS immunoglobulin treatments in patients in need thereof. In particular, the invention provides methods for predicting the clinical response to an anti-LPS immunoglobulin treatment in a patient in need thereof, said method comprising the steps of evaluating the expression of a predictive biomarker selected from the group consisting of CD14, CD68, TLR4, TLR7, IL6, IL8, IL10, IFN-alpha, IGF1, CXCL1, CXCL9, CXCL10, RAGE, GDNF, BCHE, and combination thereof, in said patient.

The invention relates to biomarkers and a method of diagnosing or monitoring depression, anxiety disorder or other psychotic disorder.

The present invention provides an agent for treating ophthalmic diseases and a screening method for an agent for treating ophthalmic diseases and the like. The present invention also provides a method for predicting rejection associated with transplantation of retinal pigment epithelial cell to patients with ophthalmic diseases.

This invention provides an IFN inducer comprising, as an active ingredient, lactic acid bacteria and capable of inducing IFN production, an immunopotentiating agent or prophylactic agent against virus infection comprising such inducer, and a food or drink product comprising such IFN inducer and having IFN-inducing activity, immunopotentiating activity, or prophylactic activity against virus infection. The agent for inducing IFN production comprises, as active ingredients, lactic acid bacteria that can activate plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and promote IFN production, such as Lactococcus garvieae NBRC100934, Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris JCM16167, Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris NBRC100676, Lactococcus lactis subsp. hordniae JCM1180, Lactococcus lactis subsp. hordniae JCM11040, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis NBRC12007, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis NRIC1150, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis JCM5805, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis JCM20101, Leuconostoc lactis NBRC12455, Leuconostoc lactis NRIC1540, Pediococcus damnosus JCM5886, or Streptococcus thermophilus TA-45.

A nanoplasmonic platform can be used for the detection and quantification of multiple HIV subtypes in whole blood with localized surface plasmon resonance. Among other things, this nanoplasmonic platform provides a viable way to detection and quantification of viral load at a point of care with significantly less cost, time, and laboratory resources than existing methods of detection. Although an example of HIV detection in whole blood is provided, the nanoplasmonic platform is adaptable to detect other pathogens and infectious agents or macromolecules.

Provided are novel IFB-a binding molecules of human origin, particularly human-derived anti-IFN-? antibodies as well as IFN-? binding fragments, derivatives and variants thereof. In addition, pharmaceutical compositions, kits, and methods for use in diagnosis and therapy are described.

This invention provides an IFN inducer comprising, as an active ingredient, lactic acid bacteria and capable of inducing IFN production, an immunopotentiating agent or prophylactic agent against virus infection comprising such inducer, and a food or drink product comprising such IFN inducer and having IFN-inducing activity, immunopotentiating activity, or prophylactic activity against virus infection. The agent for inducing IFN production comprises, as active ingredients, lactic acid bacteria that can activate plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and promote IFN production, such as Lactococcus garvieae NBRC100934, Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris JCM16167, Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris NBRC100676, Lactococcus lactis subsp. hordniae JCM1180, Lactococcus lactis subsp. hordniae JCM11040, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis NBRC12007, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis NRIC1150, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis JCM5805, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis JCM20101, Leuconostoc lactis NBRC12455, Leuconostoc lactis NRIC1540, Pediococcus damnosus JCM5886, or Streptococcus thermophilus TA-45.

An assay and a method for identifying a prebiotic to treat a subject in need thereof to promote intestinal barrier integrity or to blunt an inflammatory response are provided.