The invention pertains to an immunization scheme for inducing or amplifying an immune response involving Variant Surface Glycoproteins as carriers for antigenic structures against which the immune response is targeted. The invention is based on a specific priming and boosting schedule using the array presented and soluble VSG variants. Surprisingly, the immunization scheme of the invention elicits a strong and long-lasting antibody response in the immunized subject and therefore is applicable in vaccination approaches, immunotherapy and in the production of novel antibodies.

An improved vaccine for immunization of waterfowl such as ducks and geese comprises an inactivated strain of a Mycoplasma infecting waterfowl, such as Mycoplasma sp. strain 1220; the vaccine can include an excipient and an adjuvant. Methods for immunization of waterfowl with the vaccine are also described.

To provide a gene that controls the deep rooting of a plant, a transgenic plant introduced with the gene, a method for controlling the deep rooting of a plant using the gene, and such, high-resolution linkage analysis was performed for a genetic locus (Dro1 locus) capable of controlling the deep rooting of a plant, which was detected between a shallow-rooted rice cultivar IR64 and a deep-rooted rice cultivar Kinandang Patong in a large-scale segregating population. As a result, it was revealed that the gene region of Dro1 is located in a region of 6.0 kbp sandwiched between Dro1-INDEL09, which is an InDel marker, and Dro1-CAPS05, which is a CAPS marker. Furthermore, it was confirmed that a transgenic plant transformed with the Kinandang Patong-type Dro1 gene shows a significantly high ratio of deep rooting. It was also confirmed that a plant having the Kinandang Patong-type Dro1 gene is resistant to drought.

The present invention relates to a vaccine comprising dendritic cells and bacterial ghosts for tumor immunotherapy.

A method for increasing the presentation of ETEC CS6 antigen on cell surface, comprising the step of contacting cells expressing said antigen with an aqueous solution comprising 0.6-2.2 percent phenol by weight, such that the presentation of said antigen is increased by at least 100%. A method for the manufacture of a killed whole cell vaccine for immunization against CS6-expressing ETC. Cells and vaccines obtainable by the above methods.

The invention is directed to compositions and methods for generating or enhancing the immune system of a patient against infection by a pathogen, and in particular MTB. Compositions of the invention contain one or more non-naturally occurring antigens that generate an effective cellular or humoral immune response to MTB and/or antibodies that are specifically reactive to mycolic acid or to the surface of MTB. The greater activity of the immune system generated by a vaccine of the invention involve an conjugation of peptides to increase in the generation of memory T cells that provide for a greater and/or longer lived or extended response to an MTB infection. Preferably a response involves an increased generation of antibodies that enhance immunity against MTB infection and promote an enhanced phagocytic response.

Disclosed are yeast-based immunotherapeutic compositions, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antigens, and fusion proteins for the treatment and/or prevention of HIV infection and symptoms thereof, as well as methods of using the yeast-based immunotherapeutic compositions, HIV antigens, and fusion proteins for the prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment of HIV and/or symptoms thereof.

The invention provides in part methods of treating cancers of a specific organ or tissue by administering a composition that is antigenically specific for one or more microbes that are pathogenic in the specific organ or tissue in which the cancer is situated.

The present invention relates to the field of tuberculosis vaccines, and specifically relates to a tuberculosis vaccine, a preparation method thereof, and a use thereof. To address the problem of existing vaccines being unsuitable for patients having weak immunity, the present invention provides a preparation method for a tuberculosis vaccine: first obtaining Mycobacterium single cell bacteria, and using low dosage radiation to irradiate periodically the Mycobacterium single cell bacteria, so as to obtain the tuberculosis vaccine. The present invention completely retains all of the antigen characteristics of the bacteria, and can more rapidly stimulate stronger specific immune responses, thereby achieving effective and long-lasting immunity. The vaccine prepared using the present invention has low toxicity, is rapid-acting and safer, and can be used for the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis for people having immunodeficiency.

The present disclosure relates generally to compositions, dosage forms, and methods for preventing and treating infections. The compositions include intact and substantially non-viable Gram-negative bacterial cells which have been treated to reduce lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-associated endotoxin activity, which surprisingly have increased activity to trigger immune cell production of cytokines.