The use of flagellin and flagellin related polypeptide for the protection of mammals from the effects of apoptosis is described.

This invention concerns compositions and methods of treating or diagnosing inflammatory disorders and other disorders, as well as compositions and methods of treating HIV.

The present invention generally provides methods and compositions for eliciting an immune response against Neisseria spp. bacteria in a subject, particularly against a Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B strain.

The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising leukotoxin, including methods to treat lymphoma, and methods to diagnose lymphoma. The lymphoma includes lymphoma cells expressing activated LFA-1, and the leukotoxin binds to the activated LFA-1 on the lymphoma cells and destroys the lymphoma cells by apoptosis or necrosis, thereby treating said lymphoma.

Compositions and methods for altering cell activity and function by expressing a light-activated ion pump polypeptide in a cell and contacting the cell with light that activates the expressed light-activated ion pump polypeptide. In some aspects of the invention, a light-activated ion pump polypeptide is a modified haloarcula halorhodopsin polypeptide, for example, a modified Halo 57 polypeptide.

A mutant hydrolase optionally fused to a protein of interest is provided. The mutant hydrolase is capable of forming a bond with a substrate for the corresponding nonmutant (wild-type) hydrolase which is more stable than the bond formed between the wild-type hydrolase and the substrate and has at least two amino acid substitutions relative to the wild-type hydrolase. Substrates for hydrolases comprising one or more functional groups are also provided, as well as methods of using the mutant hydrolase and the substrates of the invention. Also provided is a fusion protein capable of forming a stable bond with a substrate and cells which express the fusion protein.

The present invention relates to chimeric protein vaccines and methods of use thereof in the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of generating an immune response in a mammal, that includes administering to the mammal, a composition having a chimeric protein having at least one of: a portion of a cholera toxin, a portion of a heat-labile toxin, and a portion of a shiga toxin; and an antigen having at least one of: an antigenic material from S. aureus and an antigenic material from a S. aureus-specific polypeptide.

The present invention provides isolated metal regulated polypeptides obtainable from a Campylobacter spp., and compositions including the polypeptides. The present invention also includes methods for using the compositions disclosed herein, including methods for treating in infection in a subject, for treating a condition caused by a Campylobacter spp., and for decreasing colonization of an animal.

The use of flagellin and flagellin related polypeptides for the protection of mammals from the effects of apoptosis is described.

The present invention provides isolated polypeptides isolatable from a Staphylococcus spp. Also provided by the present invention are compositions that include one or more of the polypeptides, and methods for making and methods for using the polypeptides.