The invention generally relates to collagen-binding agent compositions and methods of using the same. More specifically, the invention relates in part to new collagen-binding agent compositions and methods that may be used to treat damaged collagen within tissues or used to specifically target therapeutics to tissues containing undamaged or damaged collagen.

The present invention provides capsular polysaccharides from Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes identified using NMR. The present invention further provides polysaccharide-protein conjugates in which capsular polysaccharides from one or more of these serotypes are conjugated to a carrier protein such as CRM197. Polysaccharide-protein conjugates from one or more of these serotypes may be included in multivalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines having polysaccharides from multiple additional Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes.

The present invention provides capsular polysaccharides from Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes identified using NMR The present invention further provides polysaccharide-protein conjugates in which capsular polysaccharides from one or more of these serotypes are conjugated to a carrier protein such as CRM197. Polysaccharide-protein conjugates from one or more of these serotypes may be included in multivalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines having polysaccharides from multiple additional Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes.

Compounds having cytotoxic and/or anti-mitotic activity are disclosed. Methods associated with preparation and use of such compounds, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, are also disclosed. Also disclosed are compositions having the structure: (T)-(L)-(D), wherein (T) is a targeting moiety, (L) is an optional linker, and (D) is a compound having cytotoxic and/or anti-mitotic activity.

Disclosed is an advancement in provoked chemical cleavage. Thereby the invention provides the use of a diene as a chemically cleavable group attached to a Construct, and the use of a dienophile to provoke the release of the Construct by allowing the diene to react with a dienophile capable of undergoing an inverse electron demand Diels Alder reaction with the diene. The invention includes a kit for releasing a Construct C.sup.A bound to a Trigger T.sup.R, the kit having a tetrazine and a dienophile, wherein the Trigger is the tetrazine. The invention also includes the use of the formation of a pyridazine by reacting a tetrazine having a Construct C.sup.A bound thereto and a dienophile, as a chemical tool for the release, in a chemical, biological or physiological environment, of the Construct.

Disclosed is an advancement in provoked chemical cleavage. Thereby the invention provides the use of a diene as a chemically cleavable group attached to a Construct, and the use of a dienophile to provoke the release of the Construct by allowing the diene to react with a dienophile capable of undergoing an inverse electron demand Diels Alder reaction with the diene. The invention includes a kit for releasing a Construct C.sup.A bound to a Trigger T.sup.R, the kit having a tetrazine and a dienophile, wherein the Trigger is the tetrazine. The invention also includes the use of the formation of a pyridazine by reacting a tetrazine having a Construct C.sup.A bound thereto and a dienophile, as a chemical tool for the release, in a chemical, biological or physiological environment, of the Construct.

The current invention involves the use of protein lectins produced by plants including the non-toxic carbohydrate binding subunits (B subunits) of plant “AB toxins” (PTB lectins) as delivery vehicles for mobilizing associated drug substances for delivery to animal and human cells. The resulting protein fusions or conjugates retain lectin carbohydrate specificity for binding to cells and cellular trafficking activity so as to deliver an associated drug compound to the site of disease manifestation. One embodiment of this invention concerns the ability of ricin toxin B subunit, as a model PTB lectin, to deliver enzyme replacement therapeutic drugs to cells of several organs of the body including the brain and central nervous system, eyes, ears, lungs, bone, heart, kidney, liver, and spleen for treating lysosomal diseases.

The provided technology is in the field of conjugating native, non-detergent extracted, outer membrane vesicles (nOMV) to antigens to form nOMV-linker-antigen conjugates, which are particularly useful for immunogenic compositions and immunisation; processes for the preparation and use of such conjugates is also provided.

The present disclosure relates generally to methods of preparing glycoconjugates containing a saccharide conjugated to a carrier protein by use of stable nitroxyl radical related agent/oxidant as an oxidizing agent, to immunogenic compositions comprising such glycoconjugates, and to methods for the use of such glycoconjugates and immunogenic compositions.

The present invention provides pneumococcal conjugate vaccine formulations comprising surfactant systems incorporating polysorbate 20 or a combination of a poloxamer and a polyol.