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 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An attenuated strain of an auxotrophic bacterium harbouring a vector comprising a nucleic acid molecule encoding a major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of a strain of  Chlamydia  and a promoter operatively coupled to said nucleic acid molecule for expression of MOMP by cells of a host to which the strain is administered but not by said attenuated bacteria. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The attenuated strain of  claim 19  wherein said strain of  Chlamydia  is a strain of  Chlamydia pneumoniae.    
     
     
         22 . The attenuated strain of  claim 19  wherein said strain of  Chlamydia  is a strain of  Chlamydia trachomatis.    
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The attenuated strain of  claim 19  wherein said promoter is a cytomegalovirus promoter. 
     
     
         25 . The attenuated strain of  claim 19  wherein said vector is a plasmid vector. 
     
     
         26 . The attenuated strain of  claim 25  wherein said plasmid vector is 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 - 40 . (canceled)