Moraxella catarrhalis antigen, corresponding gene and uses thereof

Abstract

The invention provides BASB109 polypeptides and polynucleotides encoding BASB109 polypeptides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques. Also provided are diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic uses.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide which has at least 85% identity to the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:2 over the entire length of SEQ ID NO:2, or a nucleotide sequence complementary to said isolated polynucleotide.  
     
     
         2 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding an immunogenic fragment of  claim 1  in which the immunogenic activity of said immunogenic fragment is substantially the same as the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2, or a nucleotide sequence complementary to said isolated polynucleotide.  
     
     
         3 . The isolated polynucleotide of  claim 1 , comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         4 . An expression vector or a recombinant live microorganism comprising the isolated polynucleotide of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         5 . A host cell comprising the expression vector of  claim 4  or a subcellular fraction or a membrane of said host cell expressing an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence that has at least 85% identity to the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         6 . A process for producing a polypeptide which has at least 85% identity to the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:2, comprising culturing a host cell of  claim 5  under conditions sufficient for the production of said polypeptide and recovering the polypeptide from the culture medium.  
     
     
         7 . A process for expressing a polynucleotide of  claim 1  comprising transforming a host cell with an expression vector comprising the polynucleotide and culturing said host cell under conditions sufficient for expression of the polynucleotide.  
     
     
         8 . An immunogenic composition comprising an effective amount of the polynucleotide of  claim 1  and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         9 . An isolated polynucleotide which comprises a nucleotide sequence which has at least 85% identity to that of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3 over the entire length of SEQ ID NO:1 or 3 respectively; or a nucleotide sequence complementary to said isolated polynucleotide.  
     
     
         10 . The isolated polynucleotide of  claim 9  in which the identity is at least 95% to SEQ ID NO:1 or 3.  
     
     
         11 . The isolated polynucleotide of  claim 9 , comprising the polynucleotide of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3.  
     
     
         12 . An immunogenic composition comprising an effective amount of the polynucleotide of  claim 9  and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         13 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 obtainable by screening an appropriate library under stringent hybridization conditions with a labeled probe having the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3 or a fragment thereof.