Escherichia coli O157:H7 epithelial adhesin

Abstract

Polypeptides encoded by a continuous segment of chromosomal DNA from E. coli O157:H7, isolated on plasmid pSC(overlap)(ATCC No. 69648), that encodes an adhesin (SEQ ID NO:5) that mediates bacterial colonization of bovine intestines, vaccines derived therefrom, and antibodies directed against the adhesin are disclosed.

1 - 6 . (canceled)  
     
     
         7 . A vaccine formulation for preventing and/or treating infection by a pathogenic member of the family  Enterobacteriaceae  in a mammalian subject comprising a peptide encoded by a nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes under stringent conditions to a nucleic acid molecule selected from the group of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:4 and the nucleotide sequence complementary to SEQ ID NO:4, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         8 . The vaccine formulation of  claim 7  wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is suitable for administration by a route selected from the group consisting of an oral route, an intranasal route and a parenteral route.  
     
     
         9 . The vaccine formulation of  claim 7  wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is selected from the group consisting of sesame oil, peanut oil, sterile aqueous solution, and isotonic solutions suitable for injection.  
     
     
         10 . The vaccine formulation of  claim 7  wherein said pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises liposomes.  
     
     
         11 . The vaccine formulation of  claim 8  wherein said vaccine formulation is packaged in enteric coated capsules.  
     
     
         12 . The vaccine formulation of  claim 7  which further comprises a stabilizer.  
     
     
         13 . The vaccine formulation of  claim 12  wherein the stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of sorbitol and gelatin.  
     
     
         14 . The vaccine formulation of  claim 7  which further comprises an immunoadjuvant.  
     
     
         15 . The vaccine formulation of  claim 14  wherein the immunoadjuvant is selected from the group consisting of: the water-in-oil emulsion of Freund, light mineral oil, Arlacel A, Arlacel C, liposome-antigen combinations, cholera toxin B subunit conjugates and monophosphoryl lipid A.  
     
     
         16 . The vaccine formulation of  claim 7  which comprises a peptide that is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes under stringent conditions to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:4 or its complement.  
     
     
         17 . The vaccine formulation of  claim 16  wherein said peptide is derived from a recombinant organism.  
     
     
         18 . The vaccine formulation of  claim 16  wherein said peptide is produced in a transgenic plant.  
     
     
         19 . The vaccine formulation of  claim 16  which comprises an amount of the peptide effective to promote the clearance of the pathogenic  enterobacteriaceae  from the gastrointestinal tract of a mammalian subject infected by a pathogenic member of the family  Enterobacteriaceae  when administered thereto.