The present invention relates to a vaccine composition for removing boar taint, the vaccine composition including a recombinant protein in which a cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) and n gonadotropin-releasing hormones (GnRH) are fused, and more specifically, provides a recombinant protein for removing boar taint to induce antibodies against GnRH, a recombinant vector for producing the same, a vaccine composition for removing boar taint, the vaccine composition including the recombinant protein, and a method for removing boar taint using the same. The vaccine composition according to the present invention induces antibodies against GnRH in an individual and has the effect of atrophying the testes through the induction of antibodies. Therefore, the present invention can be usefully used to remove boar taint by immunologically castrating a boar at low cost and with high safety and minimal side effects.

The present invention provides a method of determining the identity and/or amount of an anti-IL-31 antibody in a sample. Such a method includes incubating a sample comprising an anti-IL-31 antibody with at least one mimotope selected from a feline IL-31 mimotope, a canine IL-31 mimotope, a horse IL-31 mimotope, and a human IL-31 mimotope; and determining the identity and/or quantity of the anti-IL-31 in the sample.

The present invention is in the field of pneumococcal capsular saccharide conjugate vaccines. Specifically, an immunogenic composition for infants is provided comprising a multivalent Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccine comprising 2 or more capsular saccharide conjugates from different serotypes, wherein the composition comprises a serotype 22F saccharide conjugate. Such a vaccine may be used in infant populations to reduce the incidence of elderly pneumococcal disease such as exacerbations of COPD and/or IPD.

The present invention provides cell-targeting molecules which can deliver a CD8+ T-cell epitope cargo to the MHC class I presentation pathway of a target cell. The cell-targeting molecules of the invention can be used to deliver virtually any CD8+ T-cell epitope from an extracellular space to the MHC class I pathway of a target cell, which may be a malignant cell and/or non-immune cell. The target cell can then display on a cell-surface the delivered CD8+ T-cell epitope complexed with MHC I molecule. The cell-targeting molecules of the invention have uses which include the targeted labeling and/or killing of specific cell-types within a mixture of cell-types, including within a chordate, as well as the stimulation of beneficial immune responses. The cell-targeting molecules of the invention have uses, e.g., in the treatment of a variety of diseases, disorders, and conditions, including cancers, tumors, growth abnormalities, immune disorders, and microbial infections.

In one aspect, the invention relates to an immunogenic composition comprising modified O-polysaccharide molecules derived from E. coli lipopolysaccharides and conjugates thereof. Multivalent vaccines may be prepared by combining two or more monovalent immunogenic compositions for different E. coli serotypes. In one embodiment, the modified O-polysaccharide molecules are produced by a recombinant bacterium that includes a wzz gene.

The present invention relates to virus-like particles of plant virus Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV), and in particular to modified VLPs of CMV comprising Th cell epitopes, in particular universal Th cell epitopes. Furthermore, these modified VLPs serve as, preferably, vaccine platform, for generating immune responses, in particular antibody responses, against antigens linked to said modified VLPs. The presence of the Th cell epitopes, in particular universal Th cell epitopes, led to a further increase in the generated immune response.

Carrier proteins modified to incorporate one or more pilin glycotags and applications thereof for O-linked glycosylation are provided. In particular, a modified carrier protein comprising a carrier protein that comprises at least one GlycoTag, wherein the at least one GlycoTag is a Neisseria gonorrhoeae PglL GlycoTag (NgGlycoTag), Neisseria lactamica PglL GlycoTag (NlGlycoTag), or Neisseria shayeganii GlycoTag (NsGlycoTag), or combinations thereof is provided, together with nucleic acids and vectors encoding the modified carrier protein, host cells comprising these modofoed carrier proteins or nucleic acids encoding them, bioconjugates, methods of making bioconjugates and uses of the bioconjugates.

The present disclosure is directed to a modified acellular pertussis booster vaccine comprising a TLR agonist and methods of using the same for inducing an immune response.

Modified capsular saccharides comprising a blocking group at a hydroxyl group position on at least one of the monosaccharide units of the corresponding native capsular saccharide, wherein the blocking group is of the formula (Ia) or (Ib): —OX—Y (Ia) or —O—R.sup.1 (Ib) wherein X is C(O), S(O) or SO.sub.2; Y is NR.sup.1R.sup.2 or R.sup.3; R.sup.1 is C.sub.1-6 alkyl substituted with 1, 2 or 3 groups independently selected from hydroxyl, sulphydryl and amine; R.sup.2 is H or C.sub.1-6 alkyl; and R.sup.3 is C.sub.1-6 alkyl; processes for modifying a capsular saccharide with the blocking groups; saccharide-protein conjugates comprising the modified capsular saccharide; processes for making the saccharide-protein conjugates, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the modified capsular saccharides and/or saccharide-protein conjugates; and methods and uses of the same.

In one aspect, the invention relates to an isolated polypeptide including the amino acid sequence of a carrier polypeptide and the amino acid sequence of an ORF2086 polypeptide. In another aspect, the invention relates to an immunogenic conjugate including ORF2086 polypeptide and a carrier polypeptide. The invention further includes immunogenic compositions and methods for inducing an immune response against Neisseria meningitidis in a mammal.