Moraxella catarrhalis outer membrane protein-106 polypeptide, gene sequence and uses thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses the Moraxella catarrhalis outer membrane protein-106 (OMP106) polypeptide, polypeptides derived therefrom (OMP106-derived polypeptides), nucleotide sequences encoding said polypeptides, and antibodies that specifically bind the OMP106 polypeptide and/or OMP106-derived polypeptides. Also disclosed are immunogenic, prophylactic or therapeutic compositions, including vaccines, comprising OMP106 polypeptide and/or OMP106-derived polypeptides. The invention additionally discloses methods of inducing immune responses to M. catarrhalis and M. catarrhalis OMP106 polypeptides and OMP106-derived polypeptides in animals.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . An isolated antibody that specifically binds OMP106 polypeptide, which is an outer membrane polypeptide of  Moraxella catarrhalis  having a molecular weight of about 180 kD as determined in SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis using rabbit skeletal muscle myosin and  E. coli  β-galactosidase as the 200 kD and 116.25 kD molecular weight standards, respectively. 
     
     
         14 . An isolated antibody that specifically binds OMP106 polypeptide or fragment thereof comprising a sequence substantially homologous to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         15 . An isolated antibody according to  claim 14  that specifically binds the OMP106 polypeptide or a fragment thereof comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         16 . The isolated antibody of  claim 13 , which is a cytotoxic antibody that mediates complement killing of  Moraxella catarrhalis.    
     
     
         17 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method of producing a non-hemagglutinating cultivar of  M. catarrhalis  from a HA  M. catarrhalis  strain or cultivar, which comprises serially passaging a HA  M. catarrhalis  strain or cultivar in static liquid cultures. 
     
     
         30 . The isolated antibody of  claim 14 , which is a cytotoxic antibody that mediates complement killing of  Moraxella catarrhalis.