Pharmaceutical compositions and methods to vaccinate against disseminated candidiasis and other infectious agents

Abstract

The invention provides a vaccine including an isolated Als protein family member having cell adhesion activity, or an immunogenic fragment thereof, with an adjuvant in a pharmaceutically acceptable medium. The invention also provides a method of treating or preventing hematogenously disseminated or mucocutaneous candidiasis. The method includes administering an immunogenic amount of a vaccine an isolated Als protein family member having cell adhesion activity, or an immunogenic fragment thereof, in a pharmaceutically acceptable medium. A method of treating or preventing disseminated candidiasis also is provided that includes administering an effective amount of an isolated Als protein family member having cell adhesion activity, or an functional fragment thereof, to inhibit the binding or invasion of Candida to a host cell or tissue. The Als protein family member can be derived from a Candida strain selected from the group consisting of Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Candida tropicalis, Candida glabrata and Candida parapsilosis and the Als protein family member includes Als1p, Als3p, Als5p, Als6p, Als7p or Als9p. Also provided is a method of treating or preventing Staphylococcus aureus infections. The method includes administering an immunogenic amount of a vaccine an isolated Als protein family member having cell adhesion activity, or an immunogenic fragment thereof, in a pharmaceutically acceptable medium.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method of vaccinating a mammal against candidiasis comprising administering to said mammal a pharmacologically effective amount of a vaccine comprising a polypeptide comprising the N-terminal domain of  Candida albicans  Als3p, or an immunogenic fragment thereof, in a pharmaceutically acceptable composition. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said polypeptide comprises said N-terminal domain of  Candida albicans  Als3p. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said polypeptide consists of said N-terminal domain of  Candida albicans  Als3p. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said polypeptide comprises said immunogenic fragment of said N-terminal domain of  Candida albicans  Als3p. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said polypeptide consists of said immunogenic fragment of said N-terminal domain of  Candida albicans  Als3p. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said mammal is a human. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said vaccine is administered subcutaneously. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said administration further comprises administering a booster dose. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said composition comprises an immunostimulating adjuvant. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said immunostimulating adjuvant is alum. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said candidiasis is mucosal candidiasis. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said candidiasis is disseminated candidiasis. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said disseminated candidiasis is hematogenously disseminated candidiasis. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said candidiasis is caused by  Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Candida guilliermondii, Candida krusei, Candida dubliniensis , or  Candida tropicalis.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said polypeptide is produced in  Saccharomyces cerevisiae.    
     
     
         27 . A vaccine consisting of a first component and a second component, wherein said first component consists of an agglutinin like sequence 3 protein (Als3p), or an immunogenic fragment thereof, and said second component comprises an adjuvant in a pharmaceutically acceptable composition. 
     
     
         28 . The vaccine of  claim 27 , wherein said Als3p is from a  Candida  strain selected from the group consisting of  Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Candida guilliermondii, Candida krusei, Candida dubliniensis , and  Candida tropicalis.    
     
     
         29 . The vaccine of  claim 27 , wherein said first component consists of the N-terminal domain of  Candida albicans  Als3p. 
     
     
         30 . The vaccine of  claim 27 , wherein said first component consists of an immunogenic fragment of the N-terminal domain of  Candida albicans  Als3p. 
     
     
         31 . The vaccine of  claim 27 , wherein said adjuvant is an immunostimulating adjuvant. 
     
     
         32 . The vaccine of  claim 31 , wherein said immunostimulating adjuvant is alum. 
     
     
         33 . The vaccine of  claim 27 , wherein said Als3p or immunogenic fragment thereof is produced in  Saccharomyces cerevisiae.