A dry powder norovirus vaccine is provided, which comprises at least two norovirus antigens representing different genogroups. The vaccine may be produced by formulation with a mixture of different antigens or combination of monovalent powders with each containing one antigen. The formulated vaccine is suitable for mucosal administration and soluble in aqueous solutions for parenteral administration. A method of immunization is also provided, which comprises at least one administration of the vaccine via mucosal and/or parental route. The immunization may have multiple administrations of the vaccine, i.e., one or more immunizations via a mucosal route followed by one or more immunizations via a parenteral route or vice versa, to maximize both mucosal and systemic immune responses and protection against norovirus infections.

The present invention relates to the preparation of the compound immunopotentiator and the application thereof in a foot-and-mouth disease vaccine of pigs. According to the present invention, the foot-and-mouth disease vaccine of pigs is taken as a research subject, and on this basis, several immunopotentiators having obvious immunopotentiating effects are selected for the compound immunopotentiator, and an antigen/vaccine is mixed with the immunopotentiator to prepare a vaccine-immunized pig. An animal experiment result shows that the present invention has obvious immunopotentiating effects. After immunizing the vaccine containing the compound immunopotentiator, a window period for antibody production can be significantly shortened to 7 days; a LPB-ELISA antibody titer is significantly improved, and an antibody pass rate is significantly increased; an immune protection period is also significantly extended, at least up to 7 months.

The present invention relates to methods for increasing the diversity of monoclonal antibodies produced against an antigen. The methods of the invention utilize immunization of a murine host defective in one or more enzymes involved in a post-translational modification of a polypeptide or a modification of a lipid, wherein said modification is exposed on a cell surface. The invention also relates to monoclonal antibodies produced by these methods and which are not produced when a normal mouse is immunized with the same antigen. The invention further relates to compositions comprising these monoclonal antibodies, as well as to such monoclonal antibodies bound or conjugated to a toxin, a detectable marker or to a solid support.

Compositions and methods are described for inducing an immune response against extra-intestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) to thereby provide immune protection against diseases associated with ExPEC. In particular, compositions and methods are described for using conjugates of E. coli polysaccharide antigens O25B, O1A, O2, and O6A covalently bound to a detoxified exotoxin A of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (EPA) carrier protein as vaccines for the prevention of invasive ExPEC disease caused by ExPEC serotypes O1A, O2, O6A and O25B.

The invention pertains to host cells for producing a bioconjugate of an E. coli O18 antigen polysaccharide conjugated to a carrier protein. The host cells are characterized in that they comprise modified Wzy O-antigen polymerases with specific combinations of amino acid substitutions in one or more of positions 199, 377 and 395 as compared to the wild type Wzy O-antigen polymerase of SEQ ID NO: 1, which modified Wzy O-antigen polymerases improve the yield and glycosylation pattern of the O18 bioconjugates produced by the host cells. The invention further relates to methods wherein the host cells are used to produce a bioconjugate of an E. coli O18 antigen polysaccharide conjugated to a carrier protein, compositions comprising these bioconjugates, including multivalent compositions comprising bioconjugates of additional O antigen polysaccharide-serotypes.

Stable lyophilized immunogenic compositions include inter alia live attenuated recombinant flaviviruses, more preferably live attenuated recombinant dengue viruses, at least one carbohydrate, at least one amino acid and is particularly amenable to rapid freeze-drying treatments wherein, the composition preserves desired characteristics of a virus, including virus viability, immunogenicity and stability. The immunogenic composition is devoid of preservatives, polymers and surfactants. The methods for manufacturing the stable lyophilized immunogenic compositions are also provided.

The present invention provides both QuilA-loaded chitosan (QAC)-encapsulated NA vaccine compositions and viral vaccine compositions that encode an Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV) spike (S) protein, an IBV nucleocapsid (N) protein, or both the S protein and the N protein. Additionally, the present invention provides methods in which the disclosed vaccines are administered to a subject to induce an immune response against IBV or to vaccinate the subject against IBV.

The present invention provides cancer stem cell vaccines useful for treating or preventing a variety of tumors, as well as related methods of producing cancer stem cells and antigens thereof and producing vaccine adjuvants with enhanced activity for use with the stem cell vaccines.

Disclosed herein are compositions for vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) comprising a RSV F polypeptide stabilized in a prefusion conformation and an inulin adjuvant. Also disclosed herein are methods of vaccinating a subject against a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection comprising administering to the subject an RSV F polypeptide stabilized in a prefusion conformation and an inulin adjuvant. In some embodiments, the subject is a female, and the method can reduce RSV infection in the subject and/or in the offspring of the subject. In some embodiments, the method decreases vaccine-enhanced respiratory disease (VERD) and/or eosinophilia in the subject or offspring of the subject.

A method of immunological evaluation includes cleaning a skin surface area of a patient. A controlled amount of heat is then applied to the skin surface area. The controlled amount of heat is removed after the skin surface area reaches a predetermined temperature. An amount of antigen is deposited onto the skin surface area and incubated for a predetermined amount of time on the skin surface area. The antigen is removed from the skin surface area and an immunological response at the skin surface area is evaluated. Apparatus for administering heat and memorializing the evaluation are also disclosed.