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. 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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating or preventing  Staphylococcus aureus  infections, comprising 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. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said Als protein family member comprises an Als protein derived from a  Candida  strain selected from the group consisting of  Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Candida tropicalis, Candida glabrata  and  Candida, parapsilosis    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said Als protein family member is selected from Als1p or Als3p. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said immunogenic fragment comprises an N-terminal region fragment of an Als protein family member. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said administering comprising active immunization, passive immunization or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . A method of treating or preventing  Staphylococcus aureus  infection, comprising 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. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said Als protein family member comprises an Als protein derived from a  Candida  strain selected from the group consisting of  Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Candida tropicalis, Candida glabrata  and  Candida, parapsilosis.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said Als protein family member is selected from Als1p or Als3p. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said cell adhesion activity comprises binding to gelatin, fibronectin, laminin, epithelial cells or endothelial cells. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said functional fragment comprises an N-terminal region fragment of an Als protein family member. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said host cell comprises a cell of endothelial or epithelial cell origin.