Immunogenic compositions containing a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gp140 protein, sorbitol, polysorbate 20, and histidine buffer are described. The described immunogenic compositions are advantageous in that they are stable at refrigerated temperature for extended periods of time, and are compatible with an adjuvant. Also described are methods of using the immunogenic compositions to induce an immune response against an HIV in a subject. The immunogenic compositions can be administered alone, or in combination with one or more additional HIV antigens, or one or more adenovirus vectors encoding the one or more additional HIV antigens.

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.

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.

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.

A method of preparing a composition comprising one or more antigens adsorbed to an amino acid wherein said method comprises: (i) mixing a solution of one or more antigens with a solution of the amino acid in an aqueous acid whilst neutralizing the mixture of solutions, thereby forming an adsorbate comprising the one or more antigens and the amino acid; (ii) separating the adsorbate into a desired buffer by cross-flow filtration thereby forming said composition; and (iii) recovering said composition; wherein steps (i) to (iii) are performed in a sterile environment and within a closed system.

Infant pacifiers, compositions, and methods of use thereof, for preventing or reducing risk of developing a hyperallergenic immune system or allergic condition are provided.

The present invention provides highly active cyclic-di-nucleotide (CDN) immune stimulators that activate DCs via a recently discovered cytoplasmic receptor known as STING (Stimulator of Interferon Genes). In particular, the CDNs of the present invention are provided in the form of a composition comprising one or more cyclic purine dinucleotides induce STING-dependent type I interferon production, wherein the cyclic purine dinucleotides present in the composition are substantially pure 2′,5′,2′,5′ and 2′,5′,3′,5′ CDNs, and preferably Rp,Rp stereoisomers thereof.

The present invention is based upon the identification of a number of antigens derived from species of the genus Teladorsagia, which can be used to raise immune responses in animals—particularly those animals susceptible or predisposed to infection by (or with) one or more Teladorsagia species. The antigens may be exploited to provide compositions and vaccines for raising protective immune responses in animals—the protective immune responses serving to reduce, prevent, treat or eliminate Teladorsagia infections/infestations.

The present invention relates, e.g., to a composition comprising peptides represented by SEQ ID NO:1-SEQ ID NO:28 and/or SEQ ID NO:41-SEQ ID NO:47, or active variants thereof, wherein the peptides or active variants can bind specifically to an antibody induced by a causative agent of Lyme disease (a pathogenic Borrelia), e.g. in a sample from a subject having Lyme disease. Compositions of the invention may comprise multiple peptides, from multiple proteins. Diagnostic kits comprising the peptides are described, as are diagnostic assays using the peptides.

The present invention relates to a probiotic cell transformed with a construct suitable to overexpress and display on the surface of the probiotic cell a fusion protein comprising at least a portion of a transport protein coupled to at least a portion of one or more antigenic proteins or peptides. Probiotic-derived vesicles displaying this fusion protein as well as methods of inducing an immune response using the probiotic cells or vesicles are also disclosed.