The invention relates, in part, to the use of compositions of poly N-acetylated glucosamine (PNAG) and antibodies specific to PNAG in the prevention and treatment of infections by certain PNAG-positive pathogens and in detection (including diagnostic) methods.

The invention provides a vaccine against inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and the like. The vaccine comprises a polypeptide comprising a Candida adhesin antigen, typically an isolated agglutinin-like sequence (Als) protein antigen, formulated with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients.

The present application relates to modified T cell epitopes derived from fungal ribotoxins, including -sarcin, clavin, gigantin, mitogillin, and restrictocin, as well as modified ribotoxin molecules comprising one or more of the modified epitopes. The modified ribotoxin molecules inhibit protein synthesis, like the wild type ribotoxins, but exhibit reduced immunogenicity as compared to the corresponding wild type ribotoxin. Another aspect relates to a fusion protein which comprises a modified ribotoxin fused or conjugated or otherwise linked to a targeting molecule that is effective for binding a target of interest. Another aspect relates to the use of the modified ribotoxin or fusion protein for treating or managing a disease or condition.

The invention provides a peptide obtainable from C. albicans as well as variants and fragments thereof, and labelled forms of these. The peptide is immunogenic and specific binding partners for the peptide and labelled forms of these specific binding partners form a further aspect of the invention. The peptide is a fragment of the ECE1 protein and has been found to be both immunogenic and act as a pore-forming toxin. A range of therapeutic and diagnostic applications for the peptide and the specific binding partners for it form further aspects of the invention. In addition, the peptide may be used in screens for identifying compounds having useful anti-fungal activity.

This disclosure provides, in one aspect, a method for analyzing a sample from a subject for a biomarker that is indicative of the subject's immune response to -glucan. Generally, the method includes obtaining a biological sample from a subject, analyzing the sample for a biomarker anti--glucan antibody compared to a reference standard, computing a Relative Antibody Unit (RAU) value for anti--glucan antibody in the sample, and identifying the subject as biomarker positive if the RAU value is greater than a predetermined RAU value for the biomarker anti--glucan antibody.

The present disclosure provides immunogenic materials and methods useful for reducing the risk of fungal infections, particularly valley fever. The disclosure also provides assays for identifying compounds useful to treat valley fever, as well as methods for ameliorating the symptoms of valley fever.

A Dectin-2 ligand vaccine adjuvant and a method of making and using the Dectin-2 ligand vaccine adjuvant in a vaccine to immunize a patient are disclosed. Also discloses is a vaccine composition comprising a Bl-Eng2 antigen and methods of using the vaccine composition to immunize a subject against a fungal infection.

This invention relates to compositions for delivering one or more active ingredients, and more particularly to compositions, e.g. beads, comprising a matrix material which matrix material comprises a microorganism. In particular, the invention relates to compositions comprising a microorganism selected from live, killed, attenuated and inactivated microorganisms. The matrix material may also comprise a surfactant and may further comprise an adjuvant. The invention further relates to the manufacture and use of such compositions, and to other subject matter.

The present disclosure generally relates to a microneedle patch composition capable of delivering therapeutically active ingredients to a perilesional site for treatment of a skin condition. The present disclosure also relates to a method of treating a skin condition comprising applying a dissolvable microneedle patch perilesionally wherein the dissolvable microneedle patch comprising a plurality of microneedles; a therapeutically active ingredient and a biodegradable polymer.

The application provides a dissolvable microneedle device to deliver immune stimulants to the skin. The application also provides a method of treating a skin condition comprising applying a dissolvable microneedle device to the skin.