Enterococcus 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 E. faecalis , methods for isolating such antigens and specific uses thereof.

1 . A purified antibody, or at least an effective part thereof, which binds specifically to at least a selective part of the isolated hyperimmune serum-reactive antigen of SEQ ID NO: 459 or an antigenic fragment thereof, wherein the antigenic fragment consists of the amino acid sequence of amino acids 4-25, 50-55, 76-82, 117-123, 131-137, 139-148, 157-166, 239-245, 253-258, 266-275, 277-292, 300-306, 51-83 and 93-161 of SEQ ID NO: 459. 
     
     
         2 . The purified antibody or effective part thereof of  claim 1 , which binds specifically to at least a selective part of the isolated hyperimmune serum-reactive antigen of SEQ ID NO: 459. 
     
     
         3 . The purified antibody or effective part thereof of  claim 1 , which binds specifically to at least a selective part of an isolated antigenic fragment consisting of the amino acid sequence of amino acids 51-83 or 93-161 of SEQ ID NO: 459. 
     
     
         4 . A hybridoma cell line which produces the antibody according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         5 . A method of treating or preventing an infection with  Enterococcus faecalis  comprising administering to an individual in need thereof the antibody according to  claim 1  in an effective amount. 
     
     
         6 . The antibody according to  claim 1   a) wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody;   b) wherein the antibody is a humanized antibody;   c) wherein the antibody is a chimeric antibody; and/or   d) wherein said effective part comprises an Fab fragment.   
     
     
         7 . A composition comprising an antibody according to  claim 1 , optionally containing a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient. 
     
     
         8 . A method for producing an antibody as defined in  claim 1 , characterized by the following steps:
 a) initiating an immune response in a non-human animal by administering an isolated hyperimmune serum-reactive antigen fragment as defined in  claim 1 , to said animal;   b) removing an antibody-containing body fluid from said animal; and   c) producing the antibody by subjecting said antibody-containing body fluid to further purification steps.   
     
     
         9 . A method for producing an antibody as defined in  claim 1 , characterized by the following steps:
 a) initiating an immune response in a non-human animal by administering an isolated hyperimmune serum-reactive antigen fragment as defined in  claim 1 , to said animal;   b) removing the spleen or spleen cells from said animal;   c) producing hybridoma cells of said spleen or spleen cells;   d) selecting and cloning hybridoma cells specific for said antigen fragment;   e) producing the antibody by cultivation of said cloned hybridoma cells; and   f) optionally conducting further purification steps.