The invention provides methods and compositions for treating fibromyalgia (FM) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in an individual. The methods provided herein entail administering a composition comprising an isolated Mycobacterium or antigenic fragments derived therefrom. Also provided herein are methods for assessing alleviation of symptoms and/or alteration of immune system functioning following administration of a composition comprising an isolated Mycobacterium or antigenic fragments derived therefrom.

Vaccines for preventing or treating diabetes, obesity and complications thereof are provided. The vaccines comprise at least one active agent such as attenuated Porphyromonas gingivalis, inactivated Porphyromonas gingivalis, a subunit of Porphyromonas gingivalis, a recombinant or isolated immunogenic polypeptide or peptide from Porphyromonas gingivalis or a cDNA from Porphyromonas gingivalis.

The invention provides methods of modulating an immune system in a vertebrate host for the therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of infection by a first microbial pathogen in a target tissue, comprising administration at an administration site of an effective amount of an antigenic formulation comprising antigenic determinants specific for a second heterologous microbial pathogen.

A method for alleviating arthritis includes administering to a subject in need thereof a postbiotic extract. The postbiotic extract is prepared by a process including the steps of providing a first material having a first isoelectric point ranging from pH 1 to pH 6 and a second material having a second isoelectric point ranging from pH 4 to pH 8, admixing the first material and a probiotic microorganism with water having a pH greater than the second isoelectric point, so as to forma mixture, adding the second material into the mixture and then adjusting a pH of the second material-added mixture to between the first and second isoelectric points so that a precipitate is formed, and subjecting the precipitate to a cell wall isolation treatment to obtain the postbiotic extract.

The disclosure discloses cathelicidin-expressing lactic acid bacteria, and belongs to the technical field of genetic engineering. The disclosure constructs Lactococcus. lactis and Lactobacillus. plantarum expressing a CRAMP protein by optimizing the nucleotide sequence of the CRAMP protein. The Lactobacillus constructed in the disclosure can be used to prepare a vaccine for regulation of intestinal flora disorder, and has advantages in regulation of intestinal flora and intestinal immune response and maintenance. An anaculture can be directly taken as an oral vaccine to stimulate mice and cause a strong cellular immune response. The recombinant L. lactis can be used as a new oral vaccine product with good industrial prospects, plays a positive role in reducing intestinal inflammation, and has important practical significance for promoting health development of the intestinal tract.

A method for synthesizing influenza virus-like particles (VLPs) within a plant or a portion of a plant is provided. The method involves expression of influenza HA in plants and the purification by size exclusion chromatography. The invention is also directed towards a VLP comprising influenza HA protein and plant lipids. The invention is also directed to a nucleic acid encoding influenza HA as well as vectors. The VLPs may be used to formulate influenza vaccines, or may be used to enrich existing vaccines.

PSA is delivered to the host by outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), secretion structures that target bacterial molecules to host cells. Purified OMVs direct the in vitro differentiation of functional Tregs with potent suppressive activity in a PSA dependent manner. Treatment of animals with OMVs containing PSA prevents experimental colitis and suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokine responses in the gut, and indicate that compositions, medicaments, and methods useful for the treatment of inflammation, and more particularly, inflammatory bowel diseases.

Provided herein are chimeric hemagglutinin (HA) polypeptides and uses thereof for inducing an immune response (e.g., an antibody response) against influenza virus. Also provided herein are methods of generating antibodies to the chimeric HA polypeptides in a subject.

Immunogenic compositions for inducing a universal immune response to influenza, and particularly influenza A, by eliciting anti-neuraminidase antibodies which provide protection against heterologous influenza infection. Compositions comprising recombinant baculovirus expression vectors expressing neuraminidase in cultured insect cells dispersed in a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier comprising insect cell culture media, and optional adjuvant. Methods of inducing immune responses against influenza, and particularly influenza A, by eliciting anti-neuraminidase antibodies in a host animal susceptible to infection.

Methods of treating or preventing stress, anxiety, or postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Also provided are methods of improving resilience in a subject by administering a therapeutically effective amount of isolated Mycobacterium.