Staphylococcus antigen and vaccine
A negatively-charged Staphylococcus antigen contains amino acids and a N-acetylated hexosamine as a major carbohydrate component. The antigen is common to many coagulase-negative strains of Staphylococcus , including S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus , and S. hominis. Staphylococcus strains that carry the antigen include many clinically significant strains of Staphylococcus . The antigen and antibodies to the antigen are useful in kits and assays for diagnosing Staphylococcus infection. Vaccines of the antigen and of whole cells that carry the antigen also are disclosed.
1. An isolated Staphylococcus antigen that (a) comprises amino acids and a N-acetylated hexosamine in an α configuration, (b) contains no O-acetyl groups detectable by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, (c) specifically binds with antibodies that bind to a Staphylococcus strain deposited under ATCC 202176, and (d) contains no hexose; wherein said antigen is found in a Staphylococcal organism of a species selected from the group consisting of S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus and S. hominis.
2. An isolated Staphylococcal antigen that (a) comprises amino acids and a N-acetylated hexosamine in an α configuration, (b) contains no O-acetyl groups detectable by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and (c) specifically binds with antibodies that bind to a Staphylococcus strain deposited under ATCC 202176, wherein said N-acetylated hexosamine is 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-α-D-glucopyranoside and wherein said antigen is found in a Staphylococcal organism of a species selected from the group consisting of S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus and S. hominis.
3. The antigen according to claim 2 , wherein said amino acids comprise serine, alanine, aspartic acid/asparagine, valine, and threonine.
4. The antigen according to claim 3 , wherein said serine, alanine, aspartic acid/asparagine, valine, and threonine are in a molar ratio of approximately 39:25:16:10:7.
5. An antigen-carrier conjugate, comprising an antigen as claimed in claim 1 bonded to an immunocarrier.
6. An antigen-carrier conjugate as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said immunocarrier is a recombinantly-produced, non-toxic mutant strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A.
7. A composition consisting essentially of an antigen as claimed in claim 1 , and a sterile, pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier therefor.
8. A composition consisting essentially of an antigen-immunocarrier conjugate as claimed in claim 5 , and a sterile, pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier therefor.
9. A composition as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said immunocarrier is a recombinantly-produced, non-toxic mutant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A.
10. An immunotherapy method comprising a step of administering to a subject an immunostimulatory amount of a composition as claimed in claim 9 .
11. A method of preparing an immunotherapeutic agent against Staphylococcus infection, comprising steps of immunizing subjects with a composition according to claim 9 , collecting plasma from said immunized subjects, and harvesting a hyperimmune globulin that contains antibodies directed against Staphylococcus from said collected plasma.
12. A method for preventing adherence of Staphylococcus bacteria to a catheter, comprising treating said catheter with the antigen according to claim 1 .
13. A method of protecting a subject against Staphylococcus infection, comprising:
making an antigen-carrier conjugate, comprising an antigen as claimed in claim 1 bonded to an immunocarrier; and
administering said antigen-carrier conjugate to a subject.
14. A method of preparing an immunotherapeutic agent against Staphylococcus infection, comprising:
making an antigen-carrier conjugate, comprising an antigen as claimed in claim 1 bonded to an immunocarrier;
immunizing subjects with a composition comprising said conjugate;
collecting plasma from said immunized subjects; and
harvesting antibodies directed against Staphylococcus from said collected plasma.
15. An immunotherapy method, comprising:
making an antigen-carrier conjugate, comprising an antigen as claimed in claim 1 bonded to an immunocarrier;
immunizing subjects with a composition comprising said conjugate;
collecting plasma from said immunized subjects;
harvesting antibodies directed against Staphylococcus from said collected plasma, and
administering said antibodies to a subject with a Staphylococcus infection or at risk of Staphylococcus infection.
16. A method of preparing a vaccine, comprising:
making an antigen-carrier conjugate, comprising an antigen as claimed in claim 1 bonded to an immunocarrier; and
placing said conjugate into a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier.
17. A method for detecting the presence of anti- Staphylococcus antibody in a sample, comprising:
mixing a Staphylococcus antigen according to claim 1 with a sample suspected of containing Staphylococcus -specific antibody; and
monitoring said mixture for binding between said antigen and Staphylococcus -specific antibody in said sample.
18. A method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein said antigen is on a solid matrix.