The present invention relates to the field of neisserial vaccine compositions (particularly gonococcal vaccine compositions) and the use of such compositions in medicine. More particularly, the present invention relates to genetically modified gonococci of strain FA1090 and outer membrane vesicles obtained therefrom. The invention also provides a process for preparing the genetically modified gonococci of the invention as well as immunogenic compositions and vaccines comprising the outer membrane vesicles of the invention.

The invention provides nucleic acids, polypeptides, transgenic plants, compositions and methods for conferring pesticidal activity (e.g., insecticidal activity) to bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds. Nucleic acids encoding the insecticidal proteins can be used to transform prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, including plants, to express the insecticidal proteins. The recombinant organisms and compositions containing the recombinant organisms or insecticidal proteins can be used to control a pest (e.g., an insect).

Immunogenic compositions are disclosed that include Neisseria meningitidis microvesicles, such as outer membrane vesicles (OMV) and/or blebs, from PorA.sup.−PorB.sup.− Neisseria, such as PorA.sup.−PorB.sup.−ampM.sup.− Neisseria meningitidis. These immunogenic compositions are of use to induce an immune response to Neisseria, including Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhea.

Immunogenic compositions are disclosed that include Neisseria meningitidis microvesicles, such as outer membrane vesicles (OMV) and/or blebs, from PorA.sup.−PorB.sup.− Neisseria, such as PorA.sup.−PorB.sup.−ampM.sup.− Neisseria meningitidis. These immunogenic compositions are of use to induce an immune response to Neisseria, including Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhea.

The invention provides nucleic acids, polypeptides, transgenic plants, compositions and methods for conferring pesticidal activity (e.g., insecticidal activity) to bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds. Nucleic acids encoding the insecticidal proteins can be used to transform prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, including plants, to express the insecticidal proteins. The recombinant organisms and compositions containing the recombinant organisms or insecticidal proteins can be used to control a pest (e.g., an insect).

The present invention generally provides methods and compositions for eliciting an immune response against Neisseria spp. bacteria in a subject, particularly against a Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B strain.

The present invention generally provides methods and compositions for eliciting an immune response against Neisseria spp. bacteria in a subject, particularly against a Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B strain.

The present invention provides analytical tools for the characterisation of bioconjugates, in particular for the measurement of glycosylation levels, and methods for absolute quantification of glycosylation sequences, as well as sequences and glycosylation sites for use in such methods.

The present invention provides analytical tools for the characterisation of bioconjugates, in particular for the measurement of glycosylation levels, and methods for absolute quantification of glycosylation sequences, as well as sequences and glycosylation sites for use in such methods.

The present invention relates to neisserial LPS having a tetra-acylated lipid A moiety, wherein the tetra-acylated lipid A moiety is modified as compared to the lipid A moiety of a wild-type neisserial LPS in that it lacks one of the secondary acyl chains and lacks a primary acyl chain on the 3-position of the glucosamine at the reducing end of the lipid A moiety. The invention further relates to neisserial bacteria that have been genetically modified to reduce expression of either one of the endogenous lpxL1 or lpxL2 genes and to introduce expression of a heterologous pagL gene. The neisserial LPS of the invention has TLR4 agonist properties and is therefore useful in compositions for inducing or stimulating immune responses, such as vaccines, as well as in other forms of immunotherapy.