VACCINE BASED ON STAPHYLOCOCCAL SUPERANTIGEN-LIKE 3 PROTEIN (SSL3)
The present invention relates to the field of vaccinology, especially of vaccines against Staphylococcus aureus , for both human and veterinary application. In particular the invention relates to a Staphylococcal superantigen-like 3 (SSL3) protein or its homolog, an immunogenic fragment of either protein, for use in a vaccine against S. aureus . In addition the invention relates to vaccines, methods, and medical uses of these proteins.
1 - 13 . (canceled)
14 . A vaccine against Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ) comprising a Staphylococcal superantigen-like 3 (SSL3) protein, or a homolog of said SSL3 protein, or an immunogenic fragment of either protein, and an adjuvant.
15 . The vaccine of claim 14 , wherein the SSL3 protein is a protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 90% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1.
16 . The vaccine of claim 14 , wherein the homolog is a protein that is capable of direct binding to TLR2 and thereby inhibit the activation of the TIR domain of said TLR2 by a TLR2 ligand, and wherein said protein comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 56% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1.
17 . The vaccine of claim 14 , further comprising an antibody that can bind specifically to an SSL3 protein, or to a homolog of said SSL3 protein.
18 . A vaccine against S. aureus comprising a nucleic acid encoding an SSL3 protein, or a homolog of said SSL3 protein, or an immunogenic fragment of either protein, and an adjuvant.
19 . A vaccine against S. aureus comprising a live recombinant carrier micro-organism (LRCM), wherein said LRCM comprises a nucleic acid encoding an SSL3 protein, or a homolog of said SSL3 protein, or an immunogenic fragment of either protein, and an adjuvant.
20 . The vaccine of claim 16 , further comprising an antibody that can bind specifically to an SSL3 protein, or to a homolog of said SSL3 protein.
21 . The vaccine of claim 15 , further comprising an antibody that can bind specifically to an SSL3 protein, or to a homolog of said SSL3 protein.
22 . A method for making the vaccine of claim 14 , comprising the admixing of an SSL3 protein, or a homolog of said SSL3 protein, or an immunogenic fragment of either protein, and an adjuvant.
23 . A method of vaccinating a human or animal subject, comprising the inoculating said human or animal subject with the vaccine of claim 14 .
24 . A method of vaccinating a human or animal subject, comprising the inoculating said human or animal subject with the vaccine of claim 18 .
25 . A method of vaccinating a human or animal subject, comprising the inoculating said human or animal subject with the vaccine of claim 17 .
26 . A method of vaccinating a human or animal subject, comprising the inoculating said human or animal subject with the vaccine of claim 16 .
27 . A method of vaccinating a human or animal subject, comprising the inoculating said human or animal subject with the vaccine of claim 15 .