Attenuated fhaC mutants of
View Patent ↗Gram negative bacterial virulence genes are identified, thereby allowing the identification of novel anti-bacterial agents that target these virulence genes and their products, and the provision of novel gram negative bacterial mutants useful in vaccines.
1. An isolated and attenuated Pasteurella multocida bacterium comprising a mutation in a polynucleotide sequence that encodes the fhaC polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:20, wherein said mutation results in a mutated fhaC polypeptide, and wherein the mutation results in attenuation of the bacterium.
2. The bacterium of claim 1 , wherein the mutation results in deletion of all or part of the polynucleotide sequence that encodes the fhaC polypeptide.
3. The bacterium of claim 1 , wherein the mutation results in an insertion in the polynucleotide sequence that encodes the fhaC polypeptide.
4. An immunogenic composition comprising the bacterium according to claim 1 .
5. A vaccine composition comprising the immunogenic composition according to claim 4 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
6. The vaccine composition of claim 5 further comprising an adjuvant.
7. A method of protecting an animal from disease caused by Pasteurella multocida comprising the step of administering to the animal the vaccine composition of claim 5 .