Described is a vaccine composition comprising an effective amount of at least one polypeptide selected from the group of IdeSsuis, rIdeSsuis, an analogue or a fragment thereof, or a polynucleotide encoding the same. This vaccine composition is used in the prophylactic, metaphylactic or therapeutic treatment of a Streptococcus suis infections in pigs or humans.

The present invention provides capsular polysaccharides from Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes identified using NMR. The present invention further provides polysaccharide-protein conjugates in which capsular polysaccharides from one or more of these serotypes are conjugated to a carrier protein such as CRM197. Polysaccharide-protein conjugates from one or more of these serotypes may be included in multivalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines having polysaccharides from multiple additional Steptococcus pneumoniae serotypes.

The present invention provides a glycoconjugate for administration to a subject in a method comprising the steps of: (i) administering a first dose of glycoconjugate; (ii) subsequently administering a second dose of glycoconjugate; wherein the amount of glycoconjugate in the first dose or first and second doses are atypically low, and also related aspects.

The present invention relates to new conjugated capsular saccharide antigens (glycoconjugates), immunogenic compositions comprising said glycoconjugates and uses thereof.

The present invention relates to new conjugated capsular saccharide antigens (glycoconjugates), immunogenic compositions comprising said glycoconjugates and uses thereof.

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.

Compositions and methods are provided for reducing the mammalian transmission of Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) through the administration to mammalian subjects of vaccine compositions comprising at least one immunogenic polypeptide comprising a S. pneumoniae protein or a fragment or variant thereof that is required for or involved in transmission of the bacteria between mammalian hosts. These vaccine compositions also serve to reduce the incidence rate of at least one invasive disease caused by S. pneumoniae. Methods are also provided for identifying additional genetic factors involved in mammalian transmission of S. pneumoniae.

Disclosed herein are methods for generating a protective immunogenic response via intranasal administration of an immunogenic composition (e.g., vaccine)/therapeutic immunogenic composition in a mammalian subject. Certain dosing positions of the subject during the administration of immunogenic agents, such that nostrils are tilted upwards, while in a modified sitting, reclining and/or supine posture, is surprisingly correlated with the generation of a strong immunogenic response in both humans and animals.

The present invention provides capsular polysaccharides from Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes identified using NMR. The present invention further provides polysaccharide-protein conjugates in which capsular polysaccharides from one or more of these serotypes are conjugated to a carrier protein such as CRM197. Polysaccharide-protein conjugates from one or more of these serotypes may be included in multivalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines having polysaccharides from multiple additional Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes.

The present invention provides capsular polysaccharides from Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes identified using NMR. The present invention further provides polysaccharide-protein conjugates in which capsular polysaccharides from one or more of these serotypes are conjugated to a carrier protein such as CRM197. Polysaccharide-protein conjugates from one or more of these serotypes may be included in multivalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines having polysaccharides from multiple additional Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes.