Neisseria meningitidis antigen

Abstract

The invention provides BASB053 polypeptides and polynucleotides encoding BASB053 polypeptides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques. Also provided are diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic uses.

1 . An isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence which has at least 85% identity to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:2 and SEQ ID NO:4.  
     
     
         2 . An isolated polypeptide as claimed in  claim 1  in which the amino acid sequence has at least 95% identity to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:2 and SEQ ID NO:4.  
     
     
         3 . The polypeptide as claimed in  claim 1  comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 2 and SEQ ID NO:4.  
     
     
         4 . An isolated polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 and SEQ ID NO:4.  
     
     
         5 . An immunogenic fragment of the polypeptide as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  4  in which the immunogenic activity of said immunogenic fragment is substantially the same as the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4.  
     
     
         6 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide that has at least 85% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2,4 over the entire length of SEQ ID NO:2,4; or a nucleotide sequence complementary to said isolated polynucleotide.  
     
     
         7 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence that has at least 85% identity to a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2,4 over the entire coding region; or a nucleotide sequence complementary to said isolated polynucleotide.  
     
     
         8 . An isolated polynucleotide which comprises a nucleotide sequence which has at least 85% identity to that of SEQ ID NO:1,3 over the entire length of SEQ ID NO:1,3 respectively; or a nucleotide sequence complementary to said isolated polynucleotide.  
     
     
         9 . The isolated polynucleotide as claimed in any one of  claims 6  to  8  in which the identity is at least 95% to SEQ ID NO:1,3.  
     
     
         10 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 and SEQ ID NO:4.  
     
     
         11 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising the polynucleotide of SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:3.  
     
     
         12 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 and SEQ ID NO:4, obtainable by screening an appropriate library under stringent hybridization conditions with a labeled probe having the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:3 or a fragment thereof.  
     
     
         13 . An expression vector or a recombinant live microorganism comprising an isolated polynucleotide according to any one of claims  6 - 12 .  
     
     
         14 . A host cell comprising the expression vector of  claim 13  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 selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO:2 and SEQ ID NO:4.  
     
     
         15 . A process for producing a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence that has at least 85% identity to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:2 and SEQ ID NO:4 comprising culturing a host cell of  claim 14  under conditions sufficient for the production of said polypeptide and recovering the polypeptide from the culture medium.  
     
     
         16 . A process for expressing a polynucleotide of any one of claims  6 - 12  comprising transforming a host cell with the expression vector comprising at least one of said polynucleotides and culturing said host cell under conditions sufficient for expression of any one of said polynucleotides.  
     
     
         17 . A vaccine composition comprising an effective amount of the polypeptide of any one of  claims 1  to  5  and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         18 . A vaccine composition comprising an effective amount of the polynucleotide of any one of  claims 6  to  12  and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         19 . The vaccine composition according to either one of claims  17  or  18  wherein said composition comprises at least one other  Neisseria meningitidis  antigen.  
     
     
         20 . An antibody immunospecific for the polypeptide or immunological fragment as claimed in any one of claims  1  to S.  
     
     
         21 . A method of diagnosing a  Neisseria meningitidis  infection, comprising identifying a polypeptide as claimed in any one of claims  1 - 5 , or an antibody that is immunospecific for said polypeptide, present within a biological sample from an animal suspected of having such an infection.  
     
     
         22 . Use of a composition comprising an immunologically effective amount of a polypeptide as claimed in any one of claims  1 - 5  in the preparation of a medicament for se in generating an immune response in an animal.  
     
     
         23 . Use of a composition comprising an immunologically effective amount of a polynucleotide as claimed in any one of claims  6 - 12  in the preparation of a medicament for use in generating an immune response in an animal.  
     
     
         24 . A therapeutic composition useful in treating humans with  Neisseria meningitidis  disease comprising at least one antibody directed against the polypeptide of claims  1 - 5  and a suitable pharmaceutical carrier.