Lactobacillus acidophilus nucleic acid sequences encoding cell surface protein homologues and uses therefore

Abstract

Cell wall, cell surface and secreted protein nucleic acid molecules and polypeptides and fragments and variants thereof are disclosed in the current invention. In addition, cell wall, cell surface and secreted fusion proteins, antigenic peptides, and anti-cell wall, cell surface and secreted antibodies are encompassed. The invention also provides recombinant expression vectors containing a nucleic acid molecule of the invention and host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced. Methods for producing the polypeptides of the invention and methods for their use are further disclosed.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 80% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 48 wherein said polypeptide retains biological activity. 
     
     
         3 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 2 , wherein said nucleic acid molecule comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 47. 
     
     
         4 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 2 , wherein said nucleic acid molecule comprises a nucleotide sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 47. 
     
     
         5 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 2 , wherein said nucleic acid molecule comprises a nucleotide sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 47. 
     
     
         6 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 2 , wherein said nucleic acid molecule encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 48. 
     
     
         7 . A vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         8 . The vector of  claim 7 , further comprising a nucleic acid molecule encoding a heterologous polypeptide. 
     
     
         9 . A host cell that contains the vector of  claim 7 . 
     
     
         10 . The host cell of  claim 9 , where said host cell is a bacterial host cell. 
     
     
         11 . A host cell comprising a heterologous nucleic acid molecule of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         12 . A method for producing a polypeptide comprising culturing a host cell comprising a heterologous nucleic acid molecule under conditions in which the nucleic acid molecule encoding the polypeptide is expressed, said polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 80% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 48, wherein said polypeptide retain biological activity. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said nucleic acid molecule comprises at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 47. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said nucleic acid molecule comprises at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 47. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said nucleic acid molecule comprises SEQ ID NO: 47. 
     
     
         16 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method for detecting the presence of a nucleic acid molecule of  claim 2  in a sample, comprising the steps of:
 a) contacting the sample with a nucleic acid probe or primer that selectively hybridizes to the nucleic acid molecule; and, 
 b) determining whether the nucleic acid probe or primer binds to a nucleic acid molecule in the sample. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the sample comprises mRNA molecules and is contacted with a nucleic acid probe.