Polypeptides for inducing a protective immune response against staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

The present invention features polypeptides comprising an amino acid sequence structurally related to SEQ ID NO: 1 or a fragment thereof, S. aureus AhpC-AhpF compositions, and uses of such polypeptides and compositions. SEQ ID NO: 1 has a full length S. aureus AhpC sequence. A derivative of SEQ ID NO: 1 containing an amino His-tag and three additional carboxylamino acids was found to produce a protective immune response against S. aureus.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . An isolated nucleic acid comprising a recombinant gene comprising a sequence of nucleotides that encodes a polypeptide immunogen, wherein the polypeptide immunogen comprises an amino acid sequence with up to 9 amino acid alterations from SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the amino acid sequence is not SEQ ID NO:1, and wherein the polypeptide immunogen provides protective immunity against  S. aureus.    
     
     
         11 . An expression vector comprising the nucleic acid of  claim 10 . 
     
     
         12 . A recombinant cell comprising the expression vector of  claim 11 . 
     
     
         13 . A method of making a  S. aureus  polypeptide that provides protective immunity comprising the steps of:
 (a) growing the recombinant cell of  claim 12  under conditions wherein said polypeptide is expressed; and   (b) purifying said polypeptide.   
     
     
         14 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 10 , wherein the polypeptide immunogen consists of amino acids 22-213 of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         22 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 10 , wherein the polypeptide immunogen comprises an amino acid sequence that differs from SEQ ID NO:1 by up to 5 amino acid alterations. 
     
     
         23 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 10 , wherein the polypeptide immunogen comprises an amino acid sequence that differs from SEQ ID NO:1 by up to 3 amino acid alterations.