Patent

1. An isolated polypeptide chosen from:

(a) an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to the full-length amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 8;

(b) an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to the full-length amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 8;

(c) an isolated polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 8;

(d) the isolated polypeptide of (c), wherein the N-terminal methionine residue of SEQ ID NO:8 is deleted; and

(e) the isolated polypeptide of (a), (b), or (c), wherein the signal peptide amino acid sequence is deleted, and wherein the signal peptide amino acid sequence is set forth in SEQ ID NO:46,

wherein the isolated polypeptide is capable of inducing an immune response to Streptococcus pyogenes , and wherein the isolated polypeptide is capable of eliciting production of an antibody that specifically binds to a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:8.

2. A chimeric polypeptide comprising one or more polypeptide fragments, wherein each one or more polypeptide fragments is at least 15 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 8, wherein the chimeric polypeptide is coupled to a carrier protein.

3. The chimeric polypeptide of claim 2 , comprising two or more polypeptide fragments wherein each of the two or more polypeptide fragments is at least 15 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 8, provided that the two or more polypeptide fragments are linked to form the chimeric polypeptide.

4. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the isolated polypeptide according to claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

5. A method for treatment of Streptococcus pyogenes infection in a host susceptible to Streptococcus pyogenes infection, said method comprising administering to said host the composition according to claim 4 .

6. A method for diagnosing a streptococcal infection in a host susceptible to streptococcal infection comprising:

(a) obtaining a biological sample from the host;

(b) incubating the isolated polypeptide of claim 1 with the biological sample to form a mixture; and

(c) detecting specifically bound polypeptide in the mixture, which indicates the presence of antibody specific to streptococcus.

7. Kit comprising the polypeptide according to claim 1 for detection or diagnosis of streptococcal infection.

8. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 4 further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant.

9. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the chimeric polypeptide of claim 2 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

10. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 9 further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant.

11. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the chimeric polypeptide of claim 3 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

12. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 11 further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant.

13. The isolated polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the isolated polypeptide is coupled to a carrier protein.

14. A method for inducing an immune response in a host specific for the polypeptide of claim 1 , said method comprising administering the polypeptide of claim 1 to the host.

15. The isolated polypeptide of claim 13 , wherein the carrier protein is a bacterial protein.

16. The chimeric polypeptide of claim 2 , wherein the carrier protein is a bacterial protein.

17. A method for inducing an immune response in a host specific for a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:8, said method comprising administering the chimeric polypeptide of claim 2 to the host.

18. The chimeric polypeptide of claim 2 wherein the one or more polypeptide fragments are capable of eliciting production of an antibody that specifically binds to a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:8.