Polypeptides For Inducing A Protective Immune Response Against Staphylococcus Aureus
The present invention features polypeptides comprising an amino acid sequence structurally related to SEQ ID NO: 1 and uses of such polypeptides. SEQ ID NO: 1 is a truncated derivative of a full length S. aureus polypeptide. The full-length polypeptide is based on full-length SA0024. A His-tagged derivative of SEQ ID NO: 1 was found to produce a protective immune response against S. aureus.
1 : A polypeptide immunogen comprising an amino acid sequence at least 85% identical to SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein said polypeptide provides protective immunity against S. aureus and wherein if one or more additional polypeptide regions are present said additional regions do not provide an terminus containing amino acids 1-27 of SEQ ID NO: 3.
2 : The polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein said amino acid sequence is at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 1.
3 : The polypeptide of claim 2 , wherein said amino acid sequence consists essentially of SEQ ID NO: 1.
4 : The polypeptide of claim 3 , wherein said polypeptide consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or Met-SEQ ID NO: 1.
5 : An immunogen comprising an amino acid sequence at least 85% identical to SEQ ID NO: 1, and one or more additional regions or moieties covalently joined to said amino acid sequence at the carboxyl terminus or amino terminus, wherein each region or moiety is independently selected from a region or moiety having at least one of the following properties: enhances the immune response, facilitates purification, or facilitates polypeptide stability.
6 : A composition able to induce a protective immune response in a patient comprising an immunologically effective amount of the immunogen of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
7 : The composition of claim 6 , wherein said composition further comprises an adjuvant.
8 : A nucleic acid comprising a recombinant gene comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide of claim 1 .
9 : The nucleic acid of claim 8 , wherein said nucleic acid is an expression vector.
10 : A recombinant cell comprising a recombinant gene comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide of claim 1 .
11 : A method of making a S. aureus polypeptide that provides protective immunity comprising the steps of:
(a) growing the recombinant cell of claim 10 under conditions wherein said polypeptide is expressed; and
(b) purifying said polypeptide.
12 : A method of inducing a protective immune response in a patient comprising the step of administering to said patient an immunologically effective amount of an immunogen comprising an amino acid sequence at least 85% identical to SEQ ID NO: 1.
13 : The method of claim 12 , wherein said patient is a human.
14 : The method of claim 13 , wherein said patient is treated prophylactically against S. aureus infection.
15 : A method of inducing a protective immune response in a patient comprising the step of administering to said patient an immunologically effective amount of a polypeptide made by the method of claim 11.