The present invention provides S. suis strains that elicit an immune response in animal S. suis , compositions comprising said strains, methods of vaccination against S. suis , and kits for use with such methods and compositions. The invention further provides a comprehensive, unambiguous method of capsular typing based on whole genome sequencing and bioinformatics. This capsular typing approach can accurately identify serotypes even when strains possess novel capsular loci and can be used to determine which strains to include when formulating vaccines, including herd specific vaccines.
1. An immunogenic composition that elicits an immunogenic response in an animal against Streptococcus suis ( S. suis ) infection comprising:
a) a S. suis polynucleotide comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 31; or
b) a S. suis polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 32;
and wherein the immunogenic composition further comprises a pharmaceutically or veterinary acceptable vehicle, diluent, excipient or adjuvant.
2. The immunogenic composition of claim 1 further comprising at least one additional polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting SEQ ID NOs: 4, 8, 12, or combinations thereof.
3. A kit for prime-boost administration comprising at least two vials: a first vial containing the immunogenic composition of claim 1 for the prime-administration, and a second vial containing a composition of claim 2 .
4. The kit of claim 3 further comprising additional first or second vials for addition prime-administrations or additional boost-administrations.
5. A method comprising administering at least once to a porcine animal an immunogenic composition of claim 2 .
6. A kit for prime-boost vaccination comprising at least two vials: a first vial containing the immunogenic composition of claim 2 for the prime-vaccination, and a second vial containing a different vaccine or immunogenic composition of claim 3 for the boost-vaccination.
7. A method comprising administering at least once to a porcine animal the immunogenic composition of claim 1 .
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the porcine is a sow that is about 3 weeks to about 6 weeks prefarrowing.
9. A kit for eliciting or inducing an immunological response against S. suis in an animal comprising:
an S. suis immunological composition comprising
a) a S. suis polynucleotide comprising the sequence of SEQ ID 31; or
b) a S. suis polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide comprising the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:32;
and wherein the immunological composition further comprising a pharmaceutically or veterinary acceptable vehicle, diluent, excipient or adjuvant;
and instructions for performing the method of delivery an effective amount for eliciting an immune response in the animal.
10. The kit of claim 9 wherein the immunological composition further comprises at least one additional polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 8, 12, or combinations thereof.