The present invention is directed to novel polynucleotides, polypeptides, and polyproteins of Mycoplasma surface proteins, all of which are useful in detecting infection and for the preparation of vaccines for treating and preventing diseases in swine and other animals. Vaccines provided according to the practice of the invention are effective against Mycoplasma infections. Detection and therapeutic polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies are also a feature of the present invention. Assays, kits, systems, and nanoparticle encapsulated compositions related to the polynucleotides, polypeptides, polyproteins, antibodies or fragments, derivatives, and variants thereof are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a composition comprising the OspA fusion protein of SEQ ID NO: 1 (LipSID1-S2D1), the OspA fusion protein of SEQ ID NO: 2 (Lip-S4D1-SShybD1) and the OspA fusion protein of SEQ ID NO: 3 (Lip-S5D1-S6D1) for use in a vaccine or for use in a method for eliciting an immune response in a human against Lyme disease.

A Fim3-producing BPZE1 derivative with sufficiently stable fim3 expression to provide improved protection in mice against Fim3-only producing clinical B. pertussis isolates was developed. The fim3 expression in BPZE1f3 did not alter the protective efficacy against Fim2+ strains, nor against strains that produce neither Fim2 nor Fim3.

Formulations of lyophilized Bordetella bacteria which are stable for at least two years when stored at temperatures between -20° and 22.5° C., and which exhibit sufficient homogeneity (no bacterial clumping) bacterial viability and potency to be used as a live vaccine are made by harvesting Bordetella bacteria from a culture at an OD600 between 0.4 and 1.6; mixing the harvested Bordetella bacteria with a lyophilization buffer comprising 5-65% by weight a cryoprotectant sugar and having a temperature between 2-3 5° C., wherein the ratio of harvested Bordetella bacteria to lyophilization buffer is between 5:1 and 1:5 by volume; lyophilizing the mixture of the Bordetella bacteria and the lyophilization buffer; wherein the hold time between the harvesting and lyophilization steps is less than 48 hours; and collecting the lyophilized Bordetella bacteria.

Bordetella pertussis iron receptor proteins or portions thereof (e.g., one or more extracellular domains), alone or spliced into B. pertussis scaffold proteins (e.g., fimbrial or flagellin), are provided and can be used in acellular vaccines to protect against pertussis or other Bordetella diseases in humans and non-human mammals. In addition, Bordetella species grown under iron-starved conditions are provided and can be used in whole cell vaccines to protect against pertussis or other Bordetella diseases in humans and non-human mammals.

This invention describes novel immunogenic complexes, which are designed to trigger a robust host immune response against cancer cells by co-opting the immune system's natural ability to eliminate pathogen-infected host cells. The immunogenic complexes, referred to as microbial mimetics (MM) have unique physical and biochemical properties, which are designed to simulate a pathogenic infection of similar sized bacteria and viruses, permitting tumor-associated and tumor-specific peptide antigens to be presented to immune cells as microbial constituents. The MM are well-suited to mimic a systemic infection with microbe sized particles comprised largely of tumor antigens. Under this framework, tumor cells may be eliminated in the ensuing immune response.

The MM exhibit unique properties, including size tunability and contain antigenic cargo complexed to immune stimulatory molecules, which synergize to potentiate immune responses. The MM constitute a versatile platform for triggering immune responses against cells expressing epitopes contained within the complexed antigenic cargo.

A vaccination method is provided. The method comprises administering to a mammal a histone deacytelase inhibitor in conjunction with a vaccine that expresses an antigen to which the mammal has a pre-existing immunity.

A vaccination method is provided. The method comprises administering to a mammal a histone deacytelase inhibitor in conjunction with a vaccine that expresses an antigen to which the mammal has a pre-existing immunity.

An approach for modifying multiple types of bacteria to produce surface modifications that enhance the immunologic response when used as a vaccine. A series of plasmids (pYF, pYFC, pYFP, pSF, pSPF, and pSCF) may be used to transform bacteria which then produce surface-exposed ligands that bind to complement receptors on antigen presenting cells. When modified bacteria are used as a vaccine, the vaccine recipients produce significantly higher titers of specific antibodies and are better protected against challenges from the disease-causing bacteria.

An approach for modifying multiple types of bacteria to produce surface modifications that enhance the immunologic response when used as a vaccine. A series of plasmids (pYF, pYFC, pYFP, pSF, pSPF, and pSCF) may be used to transform bacteria which then produce surface-exposed ligands that bind to complement receptors on antigen presenting cells. When modified bacteria are used as a vaccine, the vaccine recipients produce significantly higher titers of specific antibodies and are better protected against challenges from the disease-causing bacteria.