The present invention features incapacitated whole-cell bacterial immunogenic compositions and methods of their production, which compositions are useful to deliver antigens in a manner resembling the live infectious organism in terms of elicitation of a robust immune response, but with reduced risk or no risk of disease. The compositions of the invention are produced by rendering a bacterium bacteriostatic through expression of a recombinant promoter in the bacterial cell, which promoter can be operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding a recombinant gene product. In one embodiment, where the bacterium is a gram negative host, the recombinant gene product provides for reduced toxicity of LPS. In one embodiment, the gene product is a bacteriophage protein, such as endolysin, holin, or ndd.

The present invention provides isolated polypeptides isolatable from a Yersinia 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.

The invention provides methods for treating or preventing microbial (eg, bacterial) infections and means for performing these methods. In particular, treatment of infections requiring rapid and durable therapy is made possible, such as for treating acute conditions such as septicemia, sepsis, SIRS or septic shock. The invention is particularly useful, for example, for treatment of microbes such as for environmental, food and beverage use. The invention relates inter alia to methods of controlling microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) or biofouling of a substrate or fluid in an industrial or domestic system. The invention also useful for the treatment of pathogenic bacterial infections in subjects receiving a treatment for a disease or condition, such as a transplant or a treatment for cancer, a viral infection or an autoimmune disease.

Compositions for use in diagnostic screens for Mycoplasma haemofelis are provided. In one embodiment an immunogenic peptide selected from SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 60, or a fragment thereof, is immobilized on a solid support and is used to detect the presence of Mycoplasma haemofelis antibodies in a patient bodily fluid. In accordance with one embodiment a method for detecting a Mycoplasma haemofelis infection in a feline species, is provided.

In one aspect, the invention relates to an isolated polypeptide including the amino acid sequence of a carrier polypeptide and the amino acid sequence of an ORF2086 polypeptide. In another aspect, the invention relates to an immunogenic conjugate including ORF2086 polypeptide and a carrier polypeptide. The invention further includes immunogenic compositions and methods for inducing an immune response against Neisseria meningitidis in a mammal.

The present invention provides attenuated, aroA mutant B. bronchiseptica strains that are effective to elicit an immune response in an animal against B. bronchiseptica. Also provided are immunogenic compositions and vaccines which include the attenuated, aroA mutant B. bronchiseptica strains. Also provided are kits for use with such compositions and vaccines. Also provided are methods of orally administering attenuated, aroA mutant B. bronchiseptica strains, compositions, and vaccines to animals.

An effective treatment method and composition for controlling a variety of diseases including disease in poultry are disclosed. The inventive concept set forth herein provides an improved long-lasting treatment having a positive latency effect for a broad variety of diseases that is easy to administer and cost effective. The disclosed method of treatment utilizes a compound derived from a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of gram-negative bacteria. By administering the compound early in broiler life, disease prevention and treatment via immune modulation result. The treatment has a lasting effect throughout the entire broiler production period. The composition itself is a natural product and thus has no adverse environmental impact unlike known antibiotic regimens. By providing effective treatment during the stage of life where feed consumption is lowest by volume, costs to the producer are advantageously limited.

Vaccination with the combination of Ag85B-TB10.4 and IC31® adjuvant generated a high amount of polyfunctional CD4.sup.+T cells expressing high levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2. This in turn led to significant protection against infection with M. tuberculosis in the mouse aerosol challenge model of tuberculosis. Both the immunogenicity of the vaccine and its ability to protect against TB infection was highly dependent on the antigen dose. Thus, whereas the standard antigen dose of 5 μg, as well as 15 μg, did not induce significant protection against M. tuberculosis, reducing the dose to 0.5 μg increased both the immunogenicity of the vaccine as well as its protective efficacy to a level comparable to that observed in BCG vaccinated mice. Thus, the IC31® adjuvant, with the specified antigen dose, can induce a strong protective Th1 response against M. tuberculosis.

The present invention relates to Roseburia flagellin, and/or a polynucleotide sequence encoding said Roseburia flagellin, and/or a vector comprising said polynucleotide sequence, and/or a host cell, including bacteria, comprising said vector, and/or a host cell, including bacteria, comprising said polynucleotide sequence, for use in modulating the inflammation of a tissue or an organ in a subject.

The present invention relates to Roseburia flagellin, and/or a polynucleotide sequence encoding said Roseburia flagellin, and/or a vector comprising said polynucleotide sequence, and/or a host cell, including bacteria, comprising said vector, and/or a host cell, including bacteria, comprising said polynucleotide sequence, for use in modulating the inflammation of a tissue or an organ in a subject.