Streptococcal ABC transporter protein

Abstract

A polypeptide suitable for use in vaccination against Streptococcal infections comprises: a) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 1; b) a variant of (a) which is capable of binding an anti-MtsA antibody; or (c) a fragment of (a) or (b) of at least 6 amino acids in length which is capable of binding an anti-MtsA antibody. A vaccine composition comprises: a) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 1; b) a variant of (a) which is capable of generating an immune response to a Streptococcus; or (c) a fragment of (a) or (b) of at least 6 amino acids in length which is capable of generating an immune response against a Streptococcus.

1 - 3 . (canceled)  
     
     
         4 . A polynucleotide having a sequence which is 
 (i) the nucleotide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO 1 or the sequence complementary thereto,    (ii) a nucleotide sequence which selectively hybridises to a said sequence (i) or a fragment thereof, or    (iii) a nucleotide sequence which codes for a polypeptide having the same amino acid sequence as that encoded by a said sequence (i) or (ii).    
     
     
         5 . A polynucleotide according to  claim 4  wherein the sequence (i), (ii) or (iii) encodes a polypeptide capable of generating an immune response to a  Streptococcus.    
     
     
         6 . An expression vector comprising a polynucleotide according to  claim 4  operably linked to a regulatory sequence.  
     
     
         7 . A host cell transformed with a polynucleotide of  claim 4 .  
     
     
         8 . A process of producing a polypeptide suitable for use in vaccination against a  Streptococcus  comprising maintaining the host cell as defined in  claim 7  under conditions to provide expression of the polypeptide and recovering the expressed polypeptide.  
     
     
         9 . An antibody specific for a polypeptide which comprises: 
 (a) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 2,    (b) a variant of (a) which is capable of binding an anti-MtsA antibody or    (c) a fragment of (a) or (b) of at least 6 amino acids in length which is capable of binding an anti-MtsA antibody.    
     
     
         10 - 12 . (canceled)