Patent

1. A composition comprising:

a first isolated antibody that specifically binds to a polypeptide having a molecular weight of 94 kDa;

a second isolated antibody that specifically binds to a polypeptide having a molecular weight of 88 kDa;

a third isolated antibody that specifically binds to a polypeptide having a molecular weight of 77 kDa;

a fourth isolated antibody that specifically binds to a polypeptide having a molecular weight of 73 kDa; and

a fifth isolated antibody that specifically binds to a polypeptide having a molecular weight of 64 kDa;

wherein molecular weight is determined by electrophoresis on a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel, wherein the polypeptides having a molecular weight of 94 kDa, 88 kDa, 77 kDa, 73 kDa, and 64 kDa are expressed by a Yersinia pestis at a greater level when incubated in media comprising an iron chelator than when grown in the media without the iron chelator, wherein:

the 94 kDa polypeptide has a mass fingerprint that includes polypeptide fragments having masses of 961.44, 1167.49, 1257.64, 1371.63, 1383.64, 1408.71, 1520.82, 1668.86, 1685.79, 1713.78, 1716.81, 1796.92, 1832.92, 1844.91, 2218.12, and 2426.09 Da;

the 88 kDa polypeptide has a mass fingerprint that includes polypeptide fragments having masses of 888.51, 926.46, 945.53, 960.54, 1171.60, 1176.57, 1289.64, 1332.67, 1357.66, 1403.74, 1418.68, 1507.73, 1578.78, 1672.80, 1735.83, 2400.17, and 2665.28 Da;

the 77 kDa polypeptide has a mass fingerprint that includes polypeptide fragments having masses of 686.37, 784.49, 858.41, 952.50, 1140.65, 1155.66, 1170.64, 1197.57, 1402.71, 1408.68, 1482.73, 1522.71, 1550.77, 1617.74, 1674.78, 1745.84, 1787.92, 1819.96, 1851.87, 1940.75, 2013.02, 2017.97, 2056.96, 2168.01, 2169.10, 2426.25, 2457.00, and 2828.33 Da;

the 73 kDa polypeptide has a mass fingerprint that includes polypeptide fragments having masses of 628.39, 748.43, 909.42, 930.51, 1291.71, 1370.81, 1440.70, 1478.71, 1586.83, 1604.86, 1640.87, 1654.77, 1705.82, 1707.83, 1757.91, 1796.97, 1856.01, 1912.94, 2004.03, 2072.02, 2155.08, 2301.07, 2395.11, 2484.12, 2557.36, 2675.42, 2983.33, 3161.51, 3184.52, 3424.79, and 3471.62 Da; and

the 64 kDa polypeptide has a mass fingerprint that includes polypeptide fragments having masses of 713.42, 759.42, 773.40, 806.41, 919.48, 1023.50, 1051.53, 1102.55, 1164.56, 1186.57, 1199.60, 1281.67, 1394.68, 1444.73, 1479.70, 1545.80, 1667.72, 1692.82, 1730.85, 1789.81, 1904.85, 1968.90, 1981.02, 2009.89, 2027.02, 2058.99, 2162.17, 2363.13, 2377.30, 2819.49, and 2929.46 Da.

2. The composition of claim 1 further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the polypeptides are isolatable from Y pestis strain KIM6+.

4. A composition comprising:

a first isolated antibody that specifically binds to a polypeptide having a molecular weight of 94 kDa;

a second isolated antibody that specifically binds to a polypeptide having a molecular weight of 88 kDa;

a third isolated antibody that specifically binds to a polypeptide having a molecular weight of 77 kDa;

a fourth isolated antibody that specifically binds to a polypeptide having a molecular weight of 73 kDa; and

a fifth isolated antibody that specifically binds to a polypeptide having a molecular weight of 64 kDa;

wherein molecular weight is determined by electrophoresis on a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel, wherein the polypeptides having a molecular weight of 94 kDa, 88 kDa, 77 kDa, 73 kDa, or 64 kDa are expressed by a Yersinia pestis at a greater level when incubated in media comprising an iron chelator than when grown in the media without the iron chelator, and wherein the at least two polypeptides having molecular weights of 94 kDa, 88 kDa, 77 kDa, 73 kDa, or 64 kDa have seroreactive activity with convalescent serum from an animal infected with Y. pestis strain KIM6+, wherein:

the 94 kDa polypeptide has a mass fingerprint that includes polypeptide fragments having masses of 961.44, 1167.49, 1257.64, 1371.63, 1383.64, 1408.71, 1520.82, 1668.86, 1685.79, 1713.78, 1716.81, 1796.92, 1832.92, 1844.91, 2218.12, and 2426.09 Da;

the 88 kDa polypeptide has a mass fingerprint that includes polypeptide fragments having masses of 888.51, 926.46, 945.53, 960.54, 1171.60, 1176.57, 1289.64, 1332.67, 1357.66, 1403.74, 1418.68, 1507.73, 1578.78, 1672.80, 1735.83, 2400.17, and 2665.28 Da;

the 77 kDa polypeptide has a mass fingerprint that includes polypeptide fragments having masses of 686.37, 784.49, 858.41, 952.50, 1140.65, 1155.66, 1170.64, 1197.57, 1402.71, 1408.68, 1482.73, 1522.71, 1550.77, 1617.74, 1674.78, 1745.84, 1787.92, 1819.96, 1851.87, 1940.75, 2013.02, 2017.97, 2056.96, 2168.01, 2169.10, 2426.25, 2457.00, and 2828.33 Da;

the 73 kDa polypeptide has a mass fingerprint that includes polypeptide fragments having masses of 628.39, 748.43, 909.42, 930.51, 1291.71, 1370.81, 1440.70, 1478.71, 1586.83, 1604.86, 1640.87, 1654.77, 1705.82, 1707.83, 1757.91, 1796.97, 1856.01, 1912.94, 2004.03, 2072.02, 2155.08, 2301.07, 2395.11, 2484.12, 2557.36, 2675.42, 2983.33, 3161.51, 3184.52, 3424.79, and 3471.62 Da; and

the 64 kDa polypeptide has a mass fingerprint that includes polypeptide fragments having masses of 713.42, 759.42, 773.40, 806.41, 919.48, 1023.50, 1051.53, 1102.55, 1164.56, 1186.57, 1199.60, 1281.67, 1394.68, 1444.73, 1479.70, 1545.80, 1667.72, 1692.82, 1730.85, 1789.81, 1904.85, 1968.90, 1981.02, 2009.89, 2027.02, 2058.99, 2162.17, 2363.13, 2377.30, 2819.49, and 2929.46 Da.

5. The composition of claim 4 further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

6. The composition of claim 4 wherein the polypeptides are isolatable from Y. pestis strain KIM6+.

7. A composition comprising:

a first isolated antibody that specifically binds to a polypeptide having a molecular weight of 94 kDa;

a second isolated antibody that specifically binds to a polypeptide having a molecular weight of 88 kDa;

a third isolated antibody that specifically binds to a polypeptide having a molecular weight of 77 kDa;

a fourth isolated antibody that specifically binds to a polypeptide having a molecular weight of 73 kDa; and

a fifth isolated antibody that specifically binds to a polypeptide having a molecular weight of 64 kDa;

wherein molecular weight is determined by electrophoresis on a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel, wherein the polypeptides having a molecular weight of 88 kDa, 77 kDa, 73 kDa, or 64 kDa are expressed by a Yersinia pestis at a greater level when incubated in media comprising an iron chelator than when grown in the media without the iron chelator, wherein:

the polypeptide with a molecular weight of 88 kDa comprises the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO:243, SEQ ID NO:244, SEQ ID NO:245, SEQ ID NO:246, SEQ ID NO:247, SEQ ID NO:248, SEQ ID NO:249, SEQ ID NO:250, SEQ ID NO:251, SEQ ID NO:252, SEQ ID NO:253, SEQ ID NO:254, SEQ ID NO:255, SEQ ID NO:256, SEQ ID NO:257, SEQ ID NO:258, and SEQ ID NO:259;

the polypeptide with a molecular weight of 77 kDa comprises the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO:260, SEQ ID NO:261, SEQ ID NO:262, SEQ ID NO:263, SEQ ID NO:264, SEQ ID NO:265, SEQ ID NO:266, SEQ ID NO:267, SEQ ID NO:268, SEQ ID NO:269, SEQ ID NO:270, SEQ ID NO:271, SEQ ID NO:272, SEQ ID NO:273, SEQ ID NO:274, SEQ ID NO:275, SEQ ID NO:276, SEQ ID NO:277, SEQ ID NO:278, SEQ ID NO:279, SEQ ID NO:280, SEQ ID NO:281, SEQ ID NO:282, SEQ ID NO:283, SEQ ID NO:284, SEQ ID NO:285, SEQ ID NO:286, and SEQ ID NO:287;

the polypeptide with a molecular weight of 73 kDa comprises the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO:288, SEQ ID NO:289, SEQ ID NO:290, SEQ ID NO:291, SEQ ID NO:292, SEQ ID NO:293, SEQ ID NO:294, SEQ ID NO:295, SEQ ID NO:296, SEQ ID NO:297, SEQ ID NO:298, SEQ ID NO:299, SEQ ID NO:300, SEQ ID NO:301, SEQ ID NO:302, SEQ ID NO:303, SEQ ID NO:304, SEQ ID NO:305, SEQ ID NO:306, SEQ ID NO:307, SEQ ID NO:308, SEQ ID NO:309, SEQ ID NO:310, SEQ ID NO:311, SEQ ID NO:312, SEQ ID NO:313, SEQ ID NO:314, SEQ ID NO:315, SEQ ID NO:316, SEQ ID NO:317, and SEQ ID NO:318; and

the polypeptide with a molecular weight of 64 kDa comprises the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO:319, SEQ ID NO:320, SEQ ID NO:321, SEQ ID NO:322, SEQ ID NO:323, SEQ ID NO:324, SEQ ID NO:325, SEQ ID NO:326, SEQ ID NO:327, SEQ ID NO:328, SEQ ID NO:329, SEQ ID NO:330, SEQ ID NO:331, SEQ ID NO:332, SEQ ID NO:333, SEQ ID NO:334, SEQ ID NO:335, SEQ ID NO:336, SEQ ID NO:337, SEQ ID NO:338, SEQ ID NO:339, SEQ ID NO:340, SEQ ID NO:341, SEQ ID NO:342, SEQ ID NO:343, SEQ ID NO:344, SEQ ID NO:345, SEQ ID NO:346, SEQ ID NO:347, SEQ ID NO:348, and SEQ ID NO:349.

8. The composition of claim 7 further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

9. The composition of claim 7 wherein the polypeptides are isolatable from Y. pestis strain KIM6+.

10. A method for treating an infection in a subject comprising:

administering an effective amount of the composition of claim 1 to a subject having or at risk of having an infection caused by a Yersinia spp.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the subject is a mammal.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the mammal is a human.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the Yersinia spp. is Y. enterocolitica or Y. pestis.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the antibodies comprise polyclonal antibodies.

15. A method for treating an infection in a subject comprising:

administering an effective amount of the composition of claim 4 to a subject having or at risk of having an infection caused by a Yersinia spp.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the subject is a mammal.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the mammal is a human.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the Yersinia spp. is Y. enterocolitica or Y. pestis.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the antibodies comprise polyclonal antibodies.

20. A method for treating an infection in a subject comprising:

administering an effective amount of the composition of claim 7 to a subject having or at risk of having an infection caused by a Yersinia spp.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the subject is a mammal.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the mammal is a human.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the Yersinia spp. is Y. enterocolitica or Y. pestis.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein the antibodies comprise polyclonal antibodies.

25. A method for treating a symptom in a subject comprising:

administering an effective amount of the composition of claim 1 to a subject having an infection caused by a Yersinia spp.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the subject is a mammal.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the mammal is a human.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the Yersinia spp. is Y. enterocolitica or Y. pestis.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein the symptom is diarrhea, enteritis, or plague, or a combination thereof.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein the antibodies comprise polyclonal antibodies.

31. A method for treating a symptom in a subject comprising:

administering an effective amount of the composition of claim 4 to a subject having an infection caused by a Yersinia spp.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the subject is a mammal.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the mammal is a human.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein the Yersinia spp. is Y. enterocolitica or Y. pestis.

35. The method of claim 31 wherein the symptom is diarrhea, enteritis, a symptom of plague, or a combination thereof.

36. The method of claim 31 wherein the antibodies comprise polyclonal antibodies.

37. A method for treating a symptom in a subject comprising:

administering an effective amount of the composition of claim 7 to a subject having an infection caused by a Yersinia spp.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the subject is a mammal.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the mammal is a human.

40. The method of claim 37 wherein the Yersinia spp. is Y. enterocolitica or Y. pestis.

41. The method of claim 37 wherein the symptom is diarrhea, enteritis, a symptom of plague, or a combination thereof.

42. The method of claim 37 wherein the antibodies comprise polyclonal antibodies.