The invention provides compositions comprising bacterial strains for treating and preventing inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

An effective treatment mechanism in controlling a variety of diseases by modulating the inflammatory response often associated with disease is disclosed. The disclosed inventive concept is based on the modulation of TLR4 by use of a member of the Variovorax group or the Rhodobacter group. Specifically, the Gram-negative bacterium Variovorax paradoxus or the Gram-negative bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides is used according to the disclosed inventive concept in the treatment of disease by reducing or inhibiting inflammatory responses.

Provided is an isolated mammalian negative strand RNA virus, metapneumovirus (MPV), within the sub-family Pneumoviridae, of the family Paramyxoviridae. Also provided are isolated mammalian negative strand RNA viruses identifiable as phylogenetically corresponding or relating to the genus Metapneumovirus and components thereof. In particular, provided is a mammalian MPV, subgroups and variants thereof. Also provided are genomic nucleotide sequences of different isolates of mammalian MPV, in particular, human MPV. Disclosed is the use of the sequence information of different isolates of mammalian MPV for diagnostic and therapeutic methods. Provided are nucleotide sequences encoding the genome of an MPV or a portion thereof, including both mammalian and avian MPV. Further described are chimeric or recombinant viruses encoded by the nucleotide sequences and chimeric and recombinant mammalian MPV that comprise one or more non-native or heterologous sequences. Also provided are vaccine formulations comprising mammalian or avian MPV, including recombinant and chimeric forms thereof. The vaccine preparations encompass multivalent vaccines, including bivalent and trivalent vaccine preparations.

Disclosed herein are unique adjuvant compositions comprising an attenuated derivative of a bacterial pathogen that undergoes lysis in vivo. In exemplary embodiments, the bacterial pathogen is a Salmonella spp. Also disclosed are methods for enhancing an immune response using the adjuvants disclosed herein.

The disclosure relates to mutant recombinant influenza virus gene segment 7 with at least one mutation that modulates expression of M2 and M42 polypeptide. Also disclosed are recombinant influenza viruses comprising the mutant influenza virus gene segment 7, compositions comprising the mutant recombinant influenza virus gene segment 7, use of such mutant recombinant influenza virus gene segment 7 and mutant recombinant Influenza viruses.

This invention pertains to the identification of antibody mediated epitope mimics and applications of the identification of said mimic peptides in the design of biotherapeutics and vaccines.

An attenuated vaccinia virus GAB-1 and its use in a vaccine for treatment of papillomavirus lesions is described. In preferred embodiments, the Lederle-Chorioallantoic strain of vaccinia virus is serially passaged in chicken embryo-fibroblast (CEF) cells by at least 100 passages. GAB-1 has reduced virulence and is safe to use without side effects after attenuation by serial passaging, but remains highly immunogenic. Experimentation has found that GAB-1 is much more immunogenic than other strains of vaccinia virus, including Western Reserve (WR) and modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA). GAB-1 can be used safely in humans for treating tumorous lesions caused by human papillomavirus (HPV).

Antibodies that bind the apple 3 domain of human coagulation Factor XI and inhibit activation of FXI by coagulation factor XIIa as well as activation of FIX by FXIa are described.

Novel compositions useful as human rhinovirus immunogens are provided. The compositions enable a host response to sites normally not recognized by a host.

The present invention relates to a nucleic acid construct, a recombinant multiply-defective influenza virus, that promotes expression of an immunomodulatory protein in a host. This is applicable to the development of vaccines against infectious diseases, particularly those caused by influenza virus and Coronavirus.