Two-step immunization procedure against chlamydia infection

Abstract

A host is immunized against infection by a strain of Chlamydia by initial administration of an attenuated bacteria harbouring a nucleic acid encoding a Chlamydia protein followed by administration of a Chlamydia protein in ISCOMs. This procedure enables a high level of protection to be achieved.

1 . A method of immunizing a host against infection caused by a strain of  Chlamydia , which comprises: 
 initially administering to the host an immunoeffective amount of an attenuated bacteria harbouring a nucleic acid molecule encoding at least one immunoprotection-inducing  Chlamydia  protein or a fragment thereof which generates a  Chlamydia  protein specific immune response, and    subsequently administering to the host an immunoeffective amount of at least one purified  Chlamydia  protein or a fragment thereof which generates a  Chlamydia  protein specific immune response, of the same at least one  Chlamydia  protein as the initial administration to achieve a  Chlamydia  specific protective immune response in the host.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said immunoprotection inducing  Chlamydia  protein or fragment thereof is a major outer membrane protein (OMP) of a strain of  Chlamydia.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said strain of  Chlamydia  is a strain of  Chlamydia pneumoniae.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said strain of  Chlamydia  is a strain of  Chlamydia trachomatis.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said nucleic acid molecule is provided in a vector comprising the same and a promoter sequence operatively coupled to said nucleic acid molecule for expression of said  Chlamydia  protein or fragment thereof in said host.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said nucleic acid molecule encodes a full-length major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of a strain of  Chlamydia.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said strain of  Chlamydia  is a strain of  Chlamydia pneumoniae.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said strain of  Chlamydia  is a strain of  Chlamydia trachomatis.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said attenuated bacteria is an attenuated strain of  Salmonella.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said promoter is a cytomegalovirus promoter.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said vector is a plasmid vector.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said plasmid vector has the identifying characteristics of pcDNA3/MOMP as seen in  FIG. 5 .  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said immunoprotection-inducing chlamydial protein used in said subsequent administration step is administered incorporated into an immunostimulating complex (ISCOM).  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said chlamydial protein or fragment thereof is a major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of a strain of  Chlamydia.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said strain of Chlamydia is a strain of  Chlamydia pneumoniae.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said strain of  Chlamydia  is a strain of  Chlamydia trachomatis.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first administration step is effected to mucosal surfaces.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said first administration step is effected by intranasal administration and said second administration step is effected by intramuscular administration.  
     
     
         19 . An attenuated strain of a bacterium harbouring a nucleic acid molecule encoding at least one immunoprotection-inducing  Chlamydia  protein or a fragment thereof which generates a  Chlamydia  protein specific immune response.  
     
     
         20 . The attenuated strain of  claim 19  wherein said immunoprotection inducing  Chlamydia  protein or fragment thereof is a major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of a strain of  Chlamydia.    
     
     
         21 . The attenuated strain of  claim 20  wherein said strain of Chlamydia is a strain of  Chlamydia pneumoniae.    
     
     
         22 . The attenuated strain of  claim 20  wherein said strain of  Chlamydia  is a strain of  Chlamydia trachomatis.    
     
     
         23 . The attenuated strain of  claim 19  wherein said nucleic acid molecule is provided in a vector comprising the same and a promoter sequence operatively coupled to said nucleic acid molecule for expression of said  Chlamydia  protein or fragment thereof in said host.  
     
     
         24 . The attenuated strain of  claim 23  wherein said promoter is a cytomegalovirus promoter.  
     
     
         25 . The attenuated strain of  claim 23  wherein said vector is a plasmid vector.  
     
     
         26 . The attenuated strain of  claim 25  wherein said plasmid vector has the identifying characteristics of pcDNA3/MOMP as seen in  FIG. 5 .  
     
     
         27 . The attenuated strain of  claim 19  wherein said attenuated bacteria is an attenuated strain of  Salmonella.    
     
     
         28 . The attenuated strain of  claim 27  wherein said attenuated strain of  Salmonella  is an attenuated strain of  Salmonella typhimurium.    
     
     
         29 . A method of immunizing a host against infection caused by a strain of  Chlamydia , which comprises: 
 administering to the host an immunoeffective amount of an attenuated bacteria harbouring a nucleic acid molecule encoding at least one immunoprotection-inducing  Chlamydia  protein or a fragment thereof which generates a  Chlamydia  protein specific immune response.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein said immunoprotection inducing  Chlamydia  protein or fragment thereof is a major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of a strain of  Chlamydia.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein said strain of  Chlamydia  is a strain of  Chlamydia pneumoniae.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30  wherein said strain of  Chlamydia  is a strain of  Chlamydia trachomatis.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29  wherein said nucleic acid molecule is provided in a vector comprising the same and a promoter sequence operatively coupled to said nucleic acid molecule for expression of said  Chlamydia  protein or fragment thereof in said host.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein said promoter is a cytomegalovirus promoter.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33  wherein said vector is a plasmid vector.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein said plasmid vector has the identifying characteristics of pcDNA3/MOMP as seen in  FIG. 5 .  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 29  wherein said attenuated bacteria is an attenuated strain of  Salmonella.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein said attenuated strain of  Salmonella  is an attenuated strain of  Salmonella typhimurium.    
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 29  wherein said administration is effected to mucosal surfaces.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39  wherein said administration is effected by intranasal administration.