The present application is generally directed to novel pneumococcal polypeptide antigens and nucleic acids encoding such antigens, and immunogenic compositions comprising such antigens for treating and preventing pneumococcal infection. The present invention further provides method of using the antigens to elicits an immune response (e.g., IL-17A response, a T cell-mediated and/or B-cell-mediated immune responses). The present invention also provides methods of prophylaxis and/or treatment of pneumococcal-mediated diseases, such as sepsis, comprising administering an immunogenic composition including one or more of a combination of pneumococcal antigens or functional fragments thereof as disclosed herein. In some embodiments, one or more pneumococcal antigens can be present in a polysaccharide conjugate. The compositions induce an anti-pneumococcus immune response when administered to a mammal. The compositions can be used prophylactically to vaccinate an individual and/or therapeutically to induce a therapeutic immune response to an infected individual.

An object of the present invention is to provide immunogenic compositions for protection against S. pneumoniae, in particular against S. pneumoniae serogroup 9, while limiting the number of conjugates. The present invention thereforerelates to new immunogenic compositions for use in pneumococcal vaccines and to vaccination of human subjects, in particular infants and elderly, against pneumoccocal infections using said immunogenic compositions.

The present invention relates to a method for selecting an immunomodulatory kit, selected for an individual patient, for use in the treatment of patients suffering from myeloid leukemias. Different kits are available for selection and ex vivo testing which are composed of substances that have different immunomodulatory effects on leukemia cells. Each kit particularly contains GM-CSF and one (or two) more substances, selected from PICIBANIL, PGE.sub.1, PGE.sub.2, CALCIMYCIN and TNFα, as well as pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvants. The clinical aim is to modify, once the individually selected immunomodulatory kits were administered, blast cells in the body of the patient such that they turn into a “vaccine” which is able to activate the immunoreactive cells (of the patient or of the stem cell donor) in the body against blast cells.

The present invention provides a Lactococcus lactis subspecies lactis isolate WFLU-12 with the accession number o KCTC 13180BP, and a use thereof.

Vaccine formulations are described comprising physically separated, lyophilized antigens and adjuvant components, which may be in lyoparticle form, as well as methods of using and making such formulations. Reconstituted formulations are also described.

Compositions and methods for the prevention and/or treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or COVID-19 are described.

The present invention relates generally to glycoconjugates comprising a saccharide covalently conjugated to a carrier protein through a spacer containing ((2-oxoethyl)thio)). In an aspect the invention provides oxo-eT linked glycoconjugates comprising a saccharide covalently conjugated to a carrier protein through a ((2-oxoethyl)thio) spacer having the formula (I): ##STR00001## wherein: A is a group (C═X).sub.m wherein X is S or O and m is 0 or 1; B is a bond, O, or CH.sub.2; and when m is 0, B can also be (C═O); R is a C.sub.2-C.sub.16 alkylene, C.sub.2-C.sub.16 heteroakylene, NH—C(═O)—C.sub.2-C.sub.16 alkylene, or NH—C(═O)—C.sub.2-C.sub.16 heteroakylene, wherein said alkylene and heteroalkylene are optionally substituted by 1, 2 or 3 groups independently selected from COOR′ where R′ is selected from H, methyl, ethyl or propyl. The invention further relates to immunogenic compositions comprising such glycoconjugates, and to methods for the preparation and use of such glycoconjugates and immunogenic compositions.

The presently disclosed subject matter provides therapeutic methods and compositions for the treatment of bacterial infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. In particular, methods are provided for increasing protective antibody levels induced by pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of an agent that inhibits the interaction between a PD-1 ligand and a PD-1 polypeptide. Immunogenic compositions are also provided comprising one or more pneumococcal polysaccharide antigens and an agent that inhibits the interaction between a PD-1 ligand and a PD-1 polypeptide.

The disclosure provides modified biotin-binding proteins which can be expressed in soluble form in high yield in bacteria. Also provided are fusion proteins comprising the modified biotin-binding protein and an antigen. The disclosure further provides non-hemolytic variants of alpha-hemolysin from S. aureus and fusion protein comprising non-hemolytic variant of alpha-hemolysin and a biotin-binding domains. Immunogenic compositions comprising the proteins are also disclosed and use of such immunogenic compositions for inducing an immune response or for vaccinating a subject are also disclosed.

The instant invention provides various formulations comprising combinations of immunostimulating oligonucleotides, polycationic carriers, sterols, saponins, quaternary amines, TLR-3 agonists, glycolipids, and MPL-A or analogs thereof in oil emulsions, use thereof in preparations of immunogenic compositions and vaccines, and use thereof in the treatment of animals.