The invention is related to multivalent immunogenic compositions comprising more than one S. pneumoniae polysaccharide protein conjugates, wherein each of the conjugates comprises a polysaccharide from an S. pneumoniae serotype conjugated to a carrier protein, wherein the serotypes of S. pneumoniae are as defined herein. In some embodiments, at least one of the polysaccharide protein conjugates is formed by a conjugation reaction comprising an aprotic solvent. In further embodiments, each of the polysaccharide protein conjugates is formed by a conjugation reaction comprising an aprotic solvent. Also provided are methods for inducing a protective immune response in a human patient comprising administering the multivalent immunogenic compositions of the invention to the patient. The multivalent immunogenic compositions are useful for providing protection against S. pneumoniae infection and/or pneumococcal diseases caused by S. pneumoniae. The compositions of the invention are also useful as part of treatment regimes that provide complementary protection for patients that have been vaccinated with a multivalent vaccine indicated for the prevention of pneumococcal disease.

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 disclosure provides novel adjuvants which may be used in combination with one or more antigens to augment, modulate or enhance a host immune response to the one or more antigens. The adjuvants are based on sialic acid binding molecules and may be combined with any type of antigen. The adjuvants may be formulated for mucosal and/or intranasal administration.

The present invention discloses a conjugate comprising an antigen (for example a saccharide antigen) covalently linked to a Pseudomonas aeruginosa PcrV carrier protein comprising an amino acid sequence which is at least 80% identical to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1-4, wherein the antigen is linked (either directly or through a linker) to an amino acid residue of the P. aeruginosa PcrV carrier protein. The invention also discloses Pseudomonas aeruginosa PcrV proteins that contain glycosylation site consensus sequences.

This application relates to methods for the production of polysaccharide antigen-carrier protein conjugates, in particular conjugates of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) capsular polysaccharide and a carrier protein, in particular CRM197. The methods comprise a hydroxyapatite chromatography step in order to separate the conjugate from free polysaccharide and free carrier protein.

The disclosure describes compositions containing PEGylated compounds using linkers, bivalent polysaccharide covalent PEG compounds, and methods of bivalent polysaccharide-PEG compounds in the development of multivalent vaccines. PEGylated conjugation of capsular polysaccharides to carrier proteins is carried out using homo-bifunctional and/or hetero-bifunctional linkers of specific lengths. Incorporation of bifunctional PEG linkers induces higher titers of functional antibodies with high avidity, eliciting higher immunologic memory, and reduced carrier protein effect. This provides immunochemically cross-reactive capsular polysaccharides wherein one or more cross-reactive capsular polysaccharides are covalently PEG compounded sequentially or concurrently to carrier protein using bifunctional linkers bearing the same or different functional groups. Such a linker and the size of the capsular polysaccharides provides an effective multivalent vaccine with high antibody titers and a reduced carrier effect, with a reduction in the content of the capsular polysaccharide and protein per dose of vaccine which reduces reactogenicity.

The invention relates to composite antigens comprising an antigen obtained or derived from an antigenic epitope of one or more pathogens that induces an immune response in a mammal, an antigen obtained or derived from bacterial cell wall material that induces an immune response in a mammal such as LTA, PNG or LPS, and a T cell stimulating antigen such as CRM. Preferably the composite antigen comprises an immunogenic composition or a vaccine that is effective against the pathogen or can generate antibodies that can be collected that are protective against infection by the pathogen. In addition, the invention relates to vaccines comprising composite antigens and to method for treating and preventing an infection.

The invention provides peptide vaccines comprising the signal peptide domain of selected target antigens of intracellular pathogens. The peptide vaccines of the invention contain multiple class II and class I—restricted epitopes and are recognized and presented by the majority of the vaccinated human population. The invention provides in particular anti tuberculosis vaccines. The invention further provides compositions comprising the vaccines as well as their use to treat or prevent infection.

The invention provides eTEC linked glycoconjugates comprising a saccharide covalently conjugated to a carrier protein through a (2-((2-oxoethyl)thio)ethyl)carbamate (eTEC) spacer, immunogenic compositions comprising such glycoconjugates, and methods for the preparation and use of such glycoconjugates and immunogenic compositions.

The invention relates to a modified factor H binding protein (fHbp), comprising fHbp, or a variant thereof, modified with the addition of at least one exogenous peptide loop; and associated nucleic acid, compositions, and uses. The invention further relates to treatment or prevention of a pathogenic infection or colonisation of a subject using the modified factor H binding protein (fHbp).