Streptococcus pneumoniae proteins and nucleic acid molecules

Abstract

Novel protein antigens from Streptococcus pneumoniae are disclosed, together with nucleic acid sequences encoding them. Their use in vaccines and in screening methods is also described.

1 . A  Streptococcus pneumoniae  protein or polypeptide having a sequence selected from those shown in table 2.  
     
     
         2 . A  Streptococcus pneumoniae  protein or polypeptide having a sequence selected from those shown in table 4.  
     
     
         3 . A protein or polypeptide as claimed in  claim 1  or  claim 2  provided in substantially pure form.  
     
     
         4 . A protein or polypeptide which is substantially identical to one defined in any one of  claims 1  to  3 .  
     
     
         5 . A homologue or derivative of a protein or polypeptide as defined in any one of  claims 1  to  4 .  
     
     
         6 . An antigenic and/or immunogenic fragment of a protein or polypeptide as defined in Tables 2-4.  
     
     
         7 . A nucleic acid molecule comprising or consisting of a sequence which is: 
 (i) any of the DNA sequences set out in Table 1 or their RNA equivalents;    (ii) a sequence which is complementary of any of the sequences of (i);    (iii) a sequence which codes for the same protein or polypeptide, as those sequences of (i) or (ii);    (iv) a sequence which is substantially identical with any of those of (i), (ii) and (iii);    (v) a sequence which codes for a homologue, derivative or fragment of a protein as defined in Table 1.    
     
     
         8 . A nucleic acid molecule comprising or consisting of a sequence which is: 
 (i) any of the DNA sequences set out in Table 4 or their RNA equivalents;    (ii) a sequence which is complementary to any of the sequences of (i);    (iii) a sequence which codes for the same protein or polypeptide, as those sequences of (i) or (ii);    (iv) a sequence which is substantially identical with any of those of (i), (ii) and (iii);    (v) a sequence which codes for a homologue, derivative or fragment of a protein as defined in Table 4.    
     
     
         9 . The use of a protein or polypeptide having a sequence selected from those shown in Tables 2-4, or homologues, derivatives and/or fragments thereof, as an immunogen and/or antigen.  
     
     
         10 . An immunogenic and/or antigenic composition comprising one or more proteins or polypeptides selected from those whose sequences are shown in Tables 2-4, or homologues or derivatives thereof, and/or fragments of any of these.  
     
     
         11 . An immunogenic and/or antigenic composition as claimed in  claim 10  which is a vaccine or is for use in a diagnostic assay.  
     
     
         12 . A vaccine as claimed in  claim 11  which comprises one or more additional components selected from excipients, diluents, adjuvants or the like.  
     
     
         13 . A vaccine composition comprising one or more nucleic acid sequences as defined in Tables 1, 3 or 4.  
     
     
         14 . A method for the detection/diagnosis of  S. pneumoniae  which comprises the step of bringing into contact a sample to be tested with at least one protein or polypeptide as defined in Tables 2-4, or homologues, derivative or fragment thereof.  
     
     
         15 . An antibody capable of binding to a protein or polypeptide as defined in Tables 2-4, or for a homologues, derivative or fragment thereof.  
     
     
         16 . An antibody as defined in  claim 15  which is a monocional antibody.  
     
     
         17 . A method of the detection/diagnosis of  S. pneumoniae  which comprises the step of bringing into contact a sample to be tested and at least one antibody as define din  claim 15  or  claim 16 .  
     
     
         18 . A method for the detection/diagnosis of  S. pneumoniae  which comprises the step of bringing into contact a sample to be tested with at least one nucleic acid sequence as defined in  claim 7  or  claim 8 .  
     
     
         19 . A method of determining whether a protein or polypeptide as defined in Tables 2-4 represents a potential anti-microbial target which comprises inactivating said protein or polypeptide and determining whether  S. pneumoniae  is still viable in vitro or in vivo.  
     
     
         20 . The use of an agent capable of antagonising, inhibiting or otherwise interfering with the function or expression of a protein or polypeptide as defined in Tables 2-4 in the manufacture of a medicament for use in the treatment of prophylaxis of  S. pneumoniae  infection.  
     
     
         21 . A method for prophylactic treatment of  S. pneumoniae  infection comprising delivering to a patient in need thereof an isolated polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 138.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the agent is a protein or polypeptide formulated as a vaccine which comprises one or more additional components selected from excipients, diluents, adjuvants or the like.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said polypeptide is encoded by a nucleic acid sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 138.