Moraxella (branhamella) catarrhalis antigens

Abstract

The present invention relates to polypeptides of Moraxella ( Branhamella ) catarrhalis which may be useful for prophylaxis, diagnostic and/or therapy purposes.

1 .- 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method for prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of  Moraxella catarrhalis  infection in a host susceptible to  Moraxella catarrhalis  infection, said method comprising administering to the host a prophylactic or therapeutic amount of a pharmaceutical composition that comprises (a) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent and (b) a polypeptide comprising a polypeptide fragment that comprises at least 15 contiguous amino acids of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 10, wherein the polypeptide fragment is capable of eliciting an immune response in the host against  Moraxella catarrhalis , and wherein the polypeptide fragment is capable of eliciting antibodies that specifically bind to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 10. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23  wherein the host is a neonate, an infant, a child, or an adult. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 23  wherein the host is an immunocompromised host. 
     
     
         26 .- 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 23  wherein the pharmaceutical composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the  Moraxella catarrhalis  infection comprises otitis media, sinusitis, persistent cough, acute laryngitis, suppurative keratitis, or conjunctivitis neonatorum. 
     
     
         34 . A method for prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of  Moraxella catarrhalis  infection in a host susceptible to  Moraxella catarrhalis  infection, said method comprising administering to the host a prophylactic or therapeutic amount of a pharmaceutical composition that comprises (a) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent and (b) (i) an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 10; or (ii) an isolated polypeptide that consists of an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 10 and from which the signal peptide amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:32 is deleted,
 wherein the isolated polypeptide is capable of eliciting an immune response in the host against  Moraxella catarrhalis , and wherein the isolated polypeptide is capable of eliciting antibodies that specifically bind to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 10.   
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 34  wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 10. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 34  wherein the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:10. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 34  wherein the pharmaceutical composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the host is a neonate, an infant, a child, or an adult. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the host is an immunocompromised host. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the  Moraxella catarrhalis  infection comprises otitis media, sinusitis, persistent cough, acute laryngitis, suppurative keratitis, or conjunctivitis neonatorum. 
     
     
         41 . A method for prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of  Moraxella catarrhalis  infection in a host susceptible to  Moraxella catarrhalis  infection, said method comprising administering to the host a prophylactic or therapeutic amount of a pharmaceutical composition that comprises (a) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent and (b) a chimeric polypeptide comprising two or more polypeptide fragments wherein each of the two or more polypeptide fragments comprises at least 15 contiguous amino acids of the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 10, wherein the two or more polypeptide fragments are linked to form the chimeric polypeptide, wherein the chimeric polypeptide is capable of eliciting an immune response in the host against  Moraxella catarrhalis , and wherein the chimeric polypeptide is capable of eliciting antibodies that specifically bind to a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 10. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the pharmaceutical composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the  Moraxella catarrhalis  infection comprises otitis media, sinusitis, persistent cough, acute laryngitis, suppurative keratitis, or conjunctivitis neonatorum. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the host is a neonate, an infant, a child, or an adult. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the host is an immunocompromised host.