Immunogenic composition comprising alpha-hemolysin oligopeptides

Abstract

The present invention provides immunogenic compositions useful in prevention and treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infection. In particular, the present invention provides methods of inducing an immune response against an alpha-hemolysin-expressing S. aureus , methods of preventing or treating S. aureus infections, and composition for preventing or treating S. aureus infections.

1 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A method of inducing a host immune response against a Staphylococcal strain, comprising administering to a subject in need of the immune response an effective amount of a composition comprising a carrier and an isolated fusion oligopeptide at least 70 amino acids in length but no more than 100 amino acids in length, the isolated fusion oligopeptide comprising a first amino acid sequence fused to a second amino acid sequence, wherein the first amino acid sequence is at least 95% identical to amino acids 27-88 of SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the immune response is an antibody response. 
     
     
         43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . A method of preventing or treating a Staphylococcal, Streptococcal, or Enterococcal disease or infection in a subject comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a composition comprising a carrier and an isolated fusion oligopeptide at least 70 amino acids in length but no more than 100 amino acids in length, the isolated fusion oligopeptide comprising a first amino acid sequence fused to a second amino acid sequence, wherein the first amino acid sequence is at least 95% identical to amino acids 27-88 of SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the infection is a localized or systemic infection of skin, soft tissue, blood, or an organ, or is auto-immune in nature. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the disease is a respiratory disease. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the respiratory disease is pneumonia. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the disease is sepsis. 
     
     
         49 - 50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the subject is a mammal. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the mammal is a human. 
     
     
         53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the composition is administered via intramuscular injection, intradermal injection, intraperitoneal injection, subcutaneous injection, intravenous injection, oral administration, mucosal administration, intranasal administration, or pulmonary administration. 
     
     
         55 - 63 . (canceled) 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the composition further comprises an adjuvant. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the composition further comprises an additional immunogen. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the additional immunogen is a bacterial antigen. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the bacterial antigen is selected from the group consisting of a pore forming toxin, a superantigen, a cell surface protein, a fragment of any of said bacterial antigens, and a combination of two or more of said bacterial antigens. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the first amino acid sequence of the oligopeptide comprises amino acids 27-88 of SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the second amino acid sequence of the oligopeptide is identical to amino acids 249-262 of SEQ ID NO: 2, or identical except for up to three single amino acid substitutions, insertions, or deletions. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the second amino acid sequence of the oligopeptide is identical to amino acids 279-262 of SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the oligopeptide further comprises a linker between the first amino acid sequence and the second amino acid sequence. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the linker comprises at least one, but no more than 15 amino acids, selected from the group consisting of glycine, serine, alanine, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein the linker consists of three glycines.