An object of the present invention is to provide a protective method for liver comprising the administration of an extract from inflamed tissues inoculated with vaccinia virus to a patient who needs the treatment and to provide a liver protective agent, etc. where such an extract is an active ingredient. In the present invention, it has been recognized that, in hepatocytes, activation of NF-B, expression of NF-B target genes, activation of JNK, apoptosis and fat accumulation can be inhibited or suppressed. The agent containing the extract as an active ingredient is a drug exhibiting less adverse action and high safety. Accordingly, the present invention provides very useful protective method for liver and liver protecting agent.

The present invention features compositions that include a fungal glucosylceramide (GlcCer) purified from a non-pathogenic fungus (e.g., Candida utilis) and, optionally, an adjuvant. The invention also features methods of treating a patient who has a fungal disease and methods of preventing a fungal disease in a subject by administration of these compositions. Also within the scope of the invention are methods of formulating a fungal vaccine by: (a) providing a fungal glucosylceramide isolated from a non-pathogenic fungus; and (b) combining the fungal glucosylceramide with an adjuvant in a physiologically acceptable excipient.

The present invention relates to an immunogenic fusion protein comprising a first amino acid sequence having at least 80% sequence identity with the amino acid sequence of the N-terminal region of a first group B Streptococcus surface protein, which is fused to a second amino acid sequence having at least 80% sequence identity with the amino acid sequence of the N-terminal region of a second group B Streptococcus surface protein. Each of the first and the second group B Streptococcus surface protein is selected from the group consisting of Rib protein, Alp1 protein, Alp2 protein, Alp3 protein, Alp4 protein and AlpC protein. The immunogenic fusion protein further comprises at least one amino acid sequence having at least 80% sequence identity with the amino acid sequence of the N-terminal region of the group B Streptococcus surface protein Alp1, Alp2, Alp3 or Alp4. The invention further pertains to an isolated nucleotide sequence encoding the immunogenic fusion protein; a vector; a host cell; an immunogenic product, a vaccine; and a method for preventing or treating a group B Streptococcus infection.

The present invention relates methods and compositions for preventing or treating various immune diseases including graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) using populations or compositions of immunoregulatory T cells specific for an irrelevant antigen; such cells being activated in vivo by a simultaneous, separate or sequential administration of said antigen.

The present invention relates to photon-irradiated streptococcal vaccine preparations and methods for their use.

The invention provides immunotherapeutic and prophylactic bacteriophage viral-like particle (VLPs) which are useful in the treatment and prevention of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and related disorders, including cervical cancer and persistent infections associated with HPV. Related compositions (e.g. vaccines), nucleic acid constructs, and therapeutic methods are also provided. VLPs and related compositions of the invention induce high titer antibody responses against HPV L2 and protect against HPV challenge in vivo. VLPs, VLP-containing compositions, and therapeutic methods of the invention induce an immunogenic response against HPV infection, confer immunity against HPV infection, protect against HPV infection, and reduce the likelihood of infection by HPV infection.

The invention relates to methods for treating human amyloid disease by administration of modified Aβ peptide immunogens.

A method of identification and elimination of immunodominant epitopes to elicit a response to secondary epitopes, especially conserved structures, is described, and applied to influenza haemagglutinin (HA). Identification of the primary epitopes in (HA), and replacement of amino acids having high LODrps with corresponding low LODrps amino acids produces an HA molecule which induces antibody responses to conserved HA residues. Modified HA molecules induce a broadly neutralizing vaccine.

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

The present relation relates to a transgenic Vero cell line expressing CD4 and CCR5. The present invention encompasses the preparation and purification of immunogenic compositions which are formulated into the vaccines of the present invention.