Omp85 proteins of
Nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of the Omp85 proteins of N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis , and fragments thereof are useful in vaccine compositions, therapeutic compositions and diagnostic compositions for use in the prevention, treatment and diagnosis of non-symptomatic gonococcal infection or symptomatic disease and non-symptomatic meningococcal infection and symptomatic disease. Antibodies are developed to these proteins and also useful in the compositions and methods described herein.
1. A method of producing an immunogenic composition comprising isolating a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having 95% or greater sequence identity with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, and providing said polypeptide with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein said composition induces antibodies in a mammal that bind to said amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 and that interfere with adherence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae as measured by the gonococcal cell adherence assay.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said polypeptide is fused to a second polypeptide or protein.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein said second polypeptide or protein is an antigen from a pathogenic bacterial species that is heterologous or homologous to Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Neisseria meningitidis.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises an adjuvant.