Use of saccharides cross-reactive with bacillus anthracis spore glycoprotein as a vaccine against anthrax

Abstract

Provided are immunogenic compositions and methods for eliciting an immune response against B. anthracis and other bacteria that contain 3-methyl-3-hydroxybutyrate- or 3-hydroxybutyrate-substituted saccharides. Conjugates of 3-methyl-3-hydroxybutyrate- or 3-hydroxybutyrate-substituted saccharides elicit an effective immune response against B. anthracis spores in mammalian hosts to which the conjugates are administered.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of inhibiting a  Bacillus  infection in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one immunogenic agent that is cross-reactive with  B. anthracis , wherein the immunogenic agent is selected from:
 (a) at least one compound comprising:   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         (b) an isolated  B. anthracis  antigenic component from  Shewanella  or  P. syringae;    
         (c) killed whole cells of  Shewanella  or  P. syringae ; or 
         (d) any combination or mixture of (a)-(c). 
       
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the  Bacillus  is  B. anthracis.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the immunogenic agent is killed whole cells of  Shewanella  or  P. syringae , and the killed whole cells are administered to a non-human animal that has been, or may have been, exposed to  B. anthracis.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject has been, or may have been, exposed to  B. anthracis.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compound is covalently linked to a polymeric carrier. 
     
     
         6 . A method of inhibiting a  Bacillus  infection in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an immunogenic conjugate, the conjugate comprising at least one moiety selected from 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       covalently linked to a carrier, wherein the conjugate elicits an immune response in a subject. 
     
     
         7 . A method for stimulating an immune response in a subject against  B. anthracis , comprising
 selecting a subject in need of stimulating an immune response against  B. anthracis ; and   administering to the subject at least one immunogenic agent selected from:   (a) at least one compound comprising:   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         (b) an isolated  B. anthracis  antigenic component from  Shewanella  or  P. syringae;    
         (c) killed whole cells of  Shewanella  or  P. syringae ; or 
         (d) any combination or mixture of (a)-(c). 
       
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the immunogenic agent is the compound of (a), and the compound of (a) is covalently linked to a polymeric carrier. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the polymeric carrier is a protein. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the immunogenic agent is an isolated  B. anthracis  antigenic component from  P. syringae , and the component is isolated fimbriae from  P. syringae.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the immunogenic agent is killed whole cells of  Shewanella  spp. MR-4 or killed whole cells of  P. syringae.