S. pneumoniae antigens

Abstract

The present invention discloses isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding a hyperimmune serum reactive antigen or a fragment thereof as well as hyperimmune serum reactive antigens or fragments thereof from S. pneumoniae , methods for isolating such antigens and specific uses thereof.

1 . An isolated hyperimmune serum-reactive antigen consisting of a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 170, wherein said fragment comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of amino acids 7-40, 50-56, 81-89, 117-123, 202-209, 213-218, 223-229, 248-261, 264-276, 281-288, 303-308, 313-324, 326-332, 340-346, 353-372, 434-443, 465-474, 514-523, 556-564, 605-616, 620-626, 631-636, 667-683, 685-699, 710-719, 726-732, 751-756, 760-771, 779-788, 815-828, 855-867, 869-879, 897-902, 917-924, 926-931, 936-942, 981-1000, 1006-1015, 1017-1028, 1030-1039, 1046-1054, 1060-1066, 1083-1092, 1099-1112, 1122-1130, 1132-1140, 1148-1158, 1161-1171, 1174-1181, 1209-1230, 1236-1244, 1248-1254, 1256-1267, 1269-1276, 1294-1299, 1316-1328, 1332-1354, 1359-1372, 1374-1380, 1384-1390, 1395-1408, 1419-1425, 1434-1446, 1453-1460, 1465-1471, 1474-1493, 1505-1515, 1523-1537, 1547-1555, 1560-1567, 1577-1605, 1633-1651, 1226-1309, 1455-1536, 1538-1605, 1227-1247, 1539-1559, 1554-1574, 1569-1589, 1584-1604, 1242-1262, 1272-1292, 1287-1308, 1456-1477, 1472-1494, 1488-1510 and 1505-1526 of SEQ ID NO: 170 and wherein said fragment is less than 1659 amino acids in length. 
     
     
         2 . An immunogenic composition comprising the isolated hyperimmune serum-reactive antigen of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         3 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 2  further comprising at least one additional isolated hyperimmune serum-reactive antigen. 
     
     
         4 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one additional isolated hyperimmune serum-reactive antigen is directed against  S. pneumoniae.    
     
     
         5 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 2 , further comprising an immunostimulatory substance. 
     
     
         6 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 5 , wherein the immunostimulatory substance is a polycationic polymer, an immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN), a peptide containing at least two LysLeuLys motifs, a neuroactive compound, alum, or Freund's complete or incomplete adjuvant. 
     
     
         7 . A method of eliciting an immune response in a subject comprising administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of the hyperimmune serum-reactive antigen according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the immune response is directed against an  S. pneumoniae  infection in the subject. 
     
     
         9 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 2 , wherein the hyperimmune serum-reactive antigen comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of amino acids 1226-1309, 1455-1536, 1538-1605, 1227-1247, 1539-1559, 1554-1574, 1569-1589, 1584-1604, 1242-1262, 1272-1292, 1287-1308, 1456-1477, 1472-1494, 1488-1510 and 1505-1526 of SEQ ID NO: 170. 
     
     
         10 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 9  further comprising at least one additional isolated hyperimmune serum-reactive antigen. 
     
     
         11 . A fusion protein comprising one or more fragments of SEQ ID NO: 170 as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a heterologous amino acid sequence. 
     
     
         12 . An immunogenic composition comprising the fusion protein of  claim 11 . 
     
     
         13 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one additional isolated hyperimmune serum-reactive antigen. 
     
     
         14 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one additional isolated hyperimmune serum-reactive antigen is directed against  S. pneumoniae.    
     
     
         15 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 12 , further comprising an immunostimulatory substance. 
     
     
         16 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 15 , wherein the immunostimulatory substance is a polycationic polymer, an immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN), a peptide containing at least two LysLeuLys motifs, a neuroactive compound, alum, or Freund's complete or incomplete adjuvant. 
     
     
         17 . A method of eliciting an immune response in a subject comprising administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of the immunogenic composition of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         18 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 12 , wherein the fusion protein comprises one or more fragments of SEQ ID NO: 170 selected from the group consisting of amino acids 1226-1309, 1455-1536, 1538-1605, 1227-1247, 1539-1559, 1554-1574, 1569-1589, 1584-1604, 1242-1262, 1272-1292, 1287-1308, 1456-1477, 1472-1494, 1488-1510 and 1505-1526 of SEQ ID NO: 170. 
     
     
         19 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 18 , further comprising at least one additional isolated hyperimmune serum-reactive antigen. 
     
     
         20 . A method of eliciting an immune response in a subject comprising administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of the immunogenic composition of  claim 12 .