IMMUNIZATION AGAINST CHLAMYDIA PNEUMONIAE
The published genomic sequence of Chlamydia pneumoniae reveals over 1000 putative encoded proteins but does not itself indicate which of these might be useful antigens for immunization and vaccination or for diagnosis. This difficulty is addressed by the invention, which provides a number of C. pneumoniae protein sequences suitable for vaccine production and development and/or for diagnostic purposes.
1 . An isolated protein comprising amino acids 21-488 of the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:111.
2 . The isolated protein of claim 1 which comprises the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:111.
3 . The isolated protein of claim 1 which is a recombinant protein.
4 . The isolated protein of claim 1 which is a fusion protein.
5 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule which encodes the protein of claim 1 .
6 . An immunogenic composition, comprising:
the protein of claim 1 ; and
a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
7 . The immunogenic composition of claim 6 , further comprising an adjuvant.
8 . The immunogenic composition of claim 7 wherein the adjuvant is selected from the group consisting of an aluminum salt, an oil-in-water emulsion, a saponin adjuvant, Freund's adjuvant, a cytokine, and an immunostimulating agent.
9 . A method for inhibiting replication of Chlamydia pneumoniae in a host cell comprising administering to the host cell an immunologically effective amount of the isolated protein of claim 1 , thereby inhibiting replication of Chlamydia pneumoniae in the host cell.
10 . A method of eliciting an immune response to Chlamydia pneumoniae in a subject, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an immunologically effective amount of an immunogenic composition of claim 6 .
11 . The method of claim 10 wherein the subject is a human.
12 . A method of preparing an immunogenic composition, comprising combining the protein of claim 1 with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.