Vaccine

Abstract

Effective stimulation of immune responses is achieved through the use of a group A streptococcal antigen combined with proteosome adjuvant. The compositions are provided in particular for intranasal administration. The vaccine compositions are provided for use in inducing an immune response in an individual for the treatment or prophylaxis of group A streptococcal infection in an individual, preferably via prevention or reduction of colonisation of the throat following intranasal administration.

1 . A vaccine composition comprising at least one group A Streptococcal antigen and a proteosome adjuvant. 
     
     
         2 . A vaccine composition according to  claim 1  wherein the antigen comprises an  S. pyogenes  M protein peptide. 
     
     
         3 . A vaccine composition according to  claim 1  wherein the antigen comprises a fragment of the M protein from the C-terminal region of between 6 and 25 amino acids in length. 
     
     
         4 . A vaccine composition according to  claim 1  wherein the antigen has the sequence ASREAKKQVEQKALE. 
     
     
         5 . A vaccine composition according to  claim 2  wherein the antigen is flanked by amino acid sequences to maintain helical folding of the antigen. 
     
     
         6 . A vaccine composition according to  claim 5  wherein the peptide antigen has the sequence KQAEDKVKASREAKKQVEKALEQLEDKVK. 
     
     
         7 . A vaccine composition according to  claim 1  wherein the antigen is selected from an MtsA peptide or a protein H peptide. 
     
     
         8 . A vaccine composition according to  claim 1  wherein the antigenic peptide further comprises a C- or N-terminal hydrophobic moiety for insertion of the antigenic peptide into proteosome adjuvant vesicles. 
     
     
         9 . A vaccine composition according to  claim 1  for parenteral or oral administration. 
     
     
         10 . A vaccine composition according to  claim 9  for intranasal administration. 
     
     
         11 . A vaccine composition according to  claim 1  for use in the treatment or prophylaxis of a group A Streptococcal infection in an individual. 
     
     
         12 . A vaccine composition according to  claim 11  wherein the composition is administered intranasally to the individual. 
     
     
         13 . A vaccine composition according to  claim 11  wherein administration of the composition to the individual induces a mucosal immune response. 
     
     
         14 . A vaccine composition according to  claim 11 , wherein administration of the vaccine composition induces a serum immune response. 
     
     
         15 . A vaccine composition according to  claim 11  wherein the vaccine composition is administered intranasally to the individual and treatment or prophylaxis of group A Streptococcal infection is produced via reduction or prevention of bacterial colonisation of the throat. 
     
     
         16 . A method of treatment of prophylaxis of group A Streptococcal infection in an individual comprising administering a vaccine composition according to  claim 1  to the individual. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16  wherein said vaccine composition is administered intranasally to said individual. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein the treatment or prophylaxis group A Streptococcal infection is produced via prevention or reduction of bacterial colonisation of the throat.