Patent
Streptococcus proteins and polynucleotides encoding them are disclosed. Said proteins are antigenic and therefore useful vaccine components for the prophylaxis or therapy of streptococcus infection in animals. Also disclosed are recombinant methods of producing the protein antigens as well as diagnostic assays for detecting streptococcus bacterial infection.
1. An isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to the full-length amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:4 or SEQ ID NO:60, wherein the isolated polypeptide elicits antibodies that specifically bind to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:4, and wherein the isolated polypeptide is capable of inducing an immune response to Streptococcus.
2. The isolated polypeptide according to claim 1 wherein the Streptococcus is Streptococcus pneumoniae.
3. An isolated polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:4 or SEQ ID NO:60.
4. An immunogenic composition comprising the isolated polypeptide according to either claim 1 or claim 3 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.
5. A method for inducing an immune response against Streptococcus , wherein said Streptococcus causes meningitis, otitis media, bacteremia or pneumonia infection in an individual, said method comprising administering to said individual the composition according to claim 4 .
6. A method for inducing an immune response against streptococcal infection in an individual susceptible to streptococcal infection, said method comprising administering to said individual the composition according to claim 4 .
7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein said individual is a mammal.
8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein said individual is a human.
9. The method according to claim 6 , wherein said streptococcal infection is a S. pneumoniae , group A streptococcus ( S. pyogenes ), group B streptococcus ( S. agalactiae ), S. dysgalactiae , or S. uberis infection.
10. The method according to claim 6 , wherein said streptococcal infection is a S. pneumoniae infection.
11. The immunogenic composition according to claim 4 further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant.
12. A method for inducing an immune response against streptococcal infection in an individual susceptible to streptococcal infection, said method comprising administering to said individual the composition according to claim 11 .
13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein said individual is a mammal.
14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein said individual is a human.
15. The method according to claim 12 , wherein said streptococcal infection is a S. pneumoniae , group A streptococcus ( S. pyogenes ), group B streptococcus ( S. agalactiae ), S. dysgalactiae , or S. uberis infection.
16. The method according to claim 12 , wherein said streptococcal infection is a S. pneumoniae infection.