The present invention provides capsular polysaccharides from Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes identified using NMR. The present invention further provides polysaccharide-protein conjugates in which capsular polysaccharides from one or more of these serotypes are conjugated to a carrier protein such as CRM197. Polysaccharide-protein conjugates from one or more of these serotypes may be included in multivalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines having polysaccharides from multiple additional Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes.

Provided herein are host cells capable of producing hybrid oligosaccharides and polysaccharides, wherein said hybrid oligosaccharides and polysaccharides do not comprise a hexose at the reducing end of their first repeat unit. Also provided herein are hybrid oligosaccharides or polysaccharides and bioconjugates which can be produced by the host cells described herein, wherein said bioconjugates comprise a carrier protein linked to a hybrid oligosaccharide or polysaccharide that does not comprise a hexose at the reducing end of its first repeat unit.

A synthetic dystroglycan oligosaccharide comprising:

##STR00001##

wherein a repeating disaccharide motif consists of Glucuronic Acid (ClcA) and Xylose (Xyl) having a defined glycosyl connection GlcA-β-(1.fwdarw.3)-Xyl-α-(1.fwdarw.3)-GlcA; wherein either end of the synthetic dystroglycan oligosaccharide is conjugatable with chemical or biological vehicle or support; wherein the non-reducing terminal

##STR00002##

is conjugatable win any oligosaccharides or groups that can modify a hydroxyl functionality; and wherein the reducing terminal is conjugatable with any tags, oligosaccharides or anything that can modify a hydroxyl functionality.

It is provided i) an amorphous carbohydrate with improved chemical stability and/or physical features, ii) a method for producing an amorphous carbohydrate with improved chemical stability and/or physical features, and iii) a method for improving the chemical stability and/or the physical features of an amorphous carbohydrate.

The present invention relates a heteropolysaccharide characterized in that it is substantially composed of the monosaccharides glucose and galactose and rhamnose and N-acetylgalactosamine and a process for the production thereof. The invention further relates to a bacterium capable of producing said heteropolysaccharide and to the use of the heteropolysaccharide and the bacterium for improving the texture of fermented milk products.

The present invention generally relates to the field of detecting and preventing infectious diseases caused by Enterococcus faecalis and/or Enterococcus faecium. More specifically, the invention relates to an Enterococcus faecalis and/or Enterococcus faecium antigen which comprises at least one unit having the following general formula: ##STR00001##

In a prior art reactor set up dense aggregates of microorganisms are formed, typically in or embedded in an extracellular matrix. Such may relate to granules, to sphere like entities having a higher viscosity than water, globules, a biofilm, etc. The dense aggregates comprise extracellular polymeric substances, or biopolymers, in particular linear polysaccharides. The present invention is in the field of extraction of a biopolymer from a granular sludge, a biopolymer obtained by such method, and a use of such method.

A neutral salt consisting of a polyaminosaccharide cation and an anion, as well as a procedure for the preparation of the neutral salt and uses thereof as a biomaterial and as an ingredient in pharmaceutical compositions are disclosed. Indeed, said neutral salt has surprisingly exhibited high water-solubility and high purity, the preparation procedure having minimised the content of high-risk contaminants in the final product and reduced reaction and purification times.

The present invention provides mouthwash or mouthrinse compositions comprising one or more structuring agents selected from: a colloidal gum, a cellulosic polymer, an acrylate polymer, or a clay or fine particulate, and an orally acceptable aqueous carrier. In some embodiments, the total concentration of the one or more structuring agents is less than 5%, by weight, of the composition.

Disclosed herein is a sulfated octasacchande of formula (I), a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or ester thereof: wherein R.sup.1 is —NHAc or —NHSO.sub.3H; and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are independently H, or —SO.sub.3H. Also encompasses herein is a method of treating neuron injury and/or diseases associated with a disrupted autophagy flux. The method includes administering an effective amount of the sulfated octasaccharide of formula (I) to a subject in need of such treatment.