Nucleic acids and proteins from Group B Streptococcus

Abstract

Protein antigens from Group B Streptococcus are described, together with nucleic acid sequences encoding them. Their use in vaccines and screening methods are described.

1 - 23 . (canceled)  
     
     
         24 . An isolated Group B  Streptococcus  polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 125, fragments, derivatives, and variants thereof, wherein said fragments, derivatives, and variants are able to protect against Group B  Streptococcus  challenge.  
     
     
         25 . The polypeptide of  claim 24 , wherein said polypeptide, fragments, and variants thereof have at least about 50% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 125, wherein said polypeptide, derivatives, and variants thereof are able to protect against Group B  Streptococcus  challenge.  
     
     
         26 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising: 
 (i) the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 124 or the full complement thereof, wherein said sequences are able to protect against Group B  Streptococcus  challenge;    (ii) the RNA equivalent of the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 124 or the full complement thereof, wherein said sequences are able to protect against Group B  Streptococcus  challenge;    (iii) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes for the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 125 or the full complement thereof, wherein said sequences are able to protect against Group B  Streptococcus  challenge;    (iv) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes for fragments and variants of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 125 or the full complement thereof, wherein said fragments and variants are able to protect against Group B  Streptococcus  challenge; or    (v) a sequence which has at least about 50% sequence identity with any of the sequences of (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv), or the full complement thereof, wherein said sequences are able to protect against Group B  Streptococcus  challenge.    
     
     
         27 . An isolated vector comprising the nucleic acid of  claim 26 .  
     
     
         28 . An isolated vector according to  claim 27 , further comprising nucleic acid sequences selected from the group consisting of promoters, enhancers, signal sequences, leader sequences, translation start and stop signals, DNA stability controlling regions, and a fusion partner.  
     
     
         29 . An isolated host cell comprising the vector of  claim 27 .  
     
     
         30 . The isolated host cell of  claim 29 , wherein said host cell is prokayrotic or eukaryotic.  
     
     
         31 . A method of transforming a host cell with the isolated vector of  claim 27 .  
     
     
         32 . An isolated antibody, an AFFIBODY, or a binding fragment of an antibody which binds to the polypeptide of  claim 24 .  
     
     
         33 . The antibody or binding fragment thereof of  claim 32 , wherein said antibody or a binding fragment of an antibody is monoclonal.  
     
     
         34 . The antibody or binding fragment thereof of  claim 32 , wherein said antibody or a binding fragment of an antibody is polyclonal.  
     
     
         35 . The antibody binding fragment of  claim 32 , wherein said binding fragment of an antibody is selected from the group consisting of Fab, F(ab′) 2 , Fv, and scFv fragments.  
     
     
         36 . An immunogenic composition comprising an agent which is able to protect a subject against Group B  Streptococcus  challenge.  
     
     
         37 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 36 , wherein said composition is a vaccine.  
     
     
         38 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 36 , wherein said agent is an isolated Group B  Streptococcus  polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 125, fragments, derivatives, and variants thereof, wherein said fragments, derivatives, and variants are able to protect against Group B  Streptococcus  challenge.  
     
     
         39 . The polypeptide of  claim 38 , wherein said polypeptide, fragments, and variants thereof have at least about 50% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 125, wherein said polypeptide, derivatives, and variants thereof are able to protect against Group B  Streptococcus  challenge.  
     
     
         40 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 36 , wherein said agent is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising: 
 (i) the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 124 or the full complement thereof, wherein said sequences are able to protect against Group B  Streptococcus  challenge;    (ii) the RNA equivalent of the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 124 or the full complement thereof, wherein said sequences are able to protect against Group B  Streptococcus  challenge;    (iii) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes for the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 125 or the full complement thereof, wherein said sequences are able to protect against Group B  Streptococcus  challenge;    (iv) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes for fragments and variants of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 125 or the full complement thereof, wherein said fragments and variants are able to protect against Group B  Streptococcus  challenge; or    (v) a sequence which has at least about 50% sequence identity with any of the sequences of (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv), or the full complement thereof, wherein said sequences are able to protect against Group B  Streptococcus  challenge.    
     
     
         41 . A method treatment or prophylaxis of Group B  Streptococcus  infection comprising administering the immunogenic composition of  claim 36 .  
     
     
         42 . A method of detecting Group B  Streptococcus  comprising contacting a sample to be tested with at least one polypeptide, fragment, or variant thereof of  claim 24 .  
     
     
         43 . A kit comprising at least one polypeptide, fragment, or variant thereof of  claim 24 .  
     
     
         44 . A method of detecting Group B  Streptococcus  comprising contacting a sample to be tested with at least one nucleic acid of  claim 26 .  
     
     
         45 . A kit comprising at least one nucleic acid of  claim 26 .  
     
     
         46 . A method of detecting Group B  Streptococcus  comprising contacting a sample to be tested with at least one antibody, AFFIBODY, or binding fragment of an antibody of  claim 32 .  
     
     
         47 . A kit comprising at least one antibody, AFFIBODY, or binding fragment of an antibody of  claim 32 .  
     
     
         48 . A method of screening for nucleic acid encoding bacterial cell envelope associated or surface antigens in gram positive bacteria comprising: 
 (a) preparing a reporter vector comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the mature form of the  Staphylococcus  nuclease gene and an upstream promoter region with DNA from a gram positive bacteria,    (b) transforming the resultant vector into  Lactococcus lactis  cells, and    (c) assaying for the secretion of  Staphylococcus  nuclease protein in the transformed cell.    
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the reporter vector is a pTREP1-nuc vector.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the gram positive bacteria is selected from the group consisting of Group B  Streptococcus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylcoccus aureus , and pathogenic Group A  Streptococci.    
     
     
         51 . A method of determining whether a polypeptide, fragment or variant thereof according to  claim 24  is a potential antimicrobial target comprising: 
 (a) step for inactivating said polypeptide to determine if it is essential for the survival of a Group B  Streptococcus  organism,    (b) determining if said Group B  Streptococcus  organism with said inactivated polypeptide per step (a) is still viable,    (c) if said Group B  Streptococcus  organism is still viable, then said polypeptide is not essential for said organism's survival, and thus is not a potential antimicrobial target, and    (d) if said Group B  Streptococcus  organism is no longer viable, then said polypeptide is essential for said organism's survival, and thus is a potential antimicrobial target.    
     
     
         52 . An isolated pTREP1-nuc vector as shown in  FIG. 3 .