Glycosylated yghj polypeptides from enterotoxigenic escherichia coli (etec)

Abstract

The present invention relates to glycosylated YghJ poly-peptides from or derived from enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) that are immunogenic. In particular, the present invention relates to compositions or vaccines comprising the polypeptides and their application in immunization, vaccination, treatment and diagnosis of ETEC.

1 . A polypeptide comprising:
 a) a full length sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1,   b) at least 75% sequence identity to the full length sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or   c) a polypeptide fragment of SEQ ID NO: 1 comprising at least 5 amino acids and having at least 75% sequence identity to a segment of SEQ ID NO: 1, said segment of SEQ ID NO:1 having the same number of amino acids as said polypeptide fragment,   wherein the polypeptide is glycosylated in at least one position.   
     
     
         2 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The polypeptide as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide of b) has at least 90% sequence identity to the full length sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, and
 the polypeptide fragment of c) has at least 90% sequence identity to a segment of SEQ ID NO: 1, said segment of SEQ ID NO:1 having the same number of amino acids as said polypeptide fragment.   
     
     
         29 . The polypeptide as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide fragment of c) comprises at least 7 amino acids. 
     
     
         30 . The polypeptide as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide is glycosylated in at least two positions. 
     
     
         31 . The polypeptide as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide is glycosylated in at least three positions. 
     
     
         32 . The polypeptide according to  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide is hyperglycosylated. 
     
     
         33 . The polypeptide as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide originates from Enterotoxigenic  Escherichia coli  (ETEC). 
     
     
         34 . The polypeptide as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide comprises at least one asparagine within seven amino acids from each glycosylated amino acid. 
     
     
         35 . The polypeptide as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide is fused to a polypeptide originating from ETEC. 
     
     
         36 . The polypeptide as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide is selected from glycosylated polypeptides consisting of a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 2-50 and polypeptides having at least 75% sequence identity to the full length sequence of any one of SEQ ID Nos: 2-50. 
     
     
         37 . The polypeptide as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide has at least 90% sequence identity to the full length sequence of any one of SEQ ID Nos: 2-50. 
     
     
         38 . The polypeptide as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide is selected from glycosylated polypeptides consisting of a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 2-50. 
     
     
         39 . The polypeptide as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide is a fusion polypeptide, said fusion polypeptide comprising one or more glycosylated polypeptides selected from glycosylated polypeptides consisting of a sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 2-50. 
     
     
         40 . An immunogenic composition comprising a polypeptide comprising:
 a) a full length sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1,   b) a polypeptide having at least 75% sequence identity to the full length sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or   c) a polypeptide fragment of SEQ ID NO: 1 comprising at least 5 amino acids and having at least 75% sequence identity to a segment of SEQ ID NO: 1, said segment of SEQ ID NO:1 having the same number of amino acids as said polypeptide fragment,   wherein the polypeptide is glycosylated in at least one position.   
     
     
         41 . The immunogenic composition as defined in  claim 40 , which is a vaccine against ETEC. 
     
     
         42 . The immunogenic composition as defined in  claim 40 , which is formulated for intradermal, transdermal, subcutaneous, intramuscular or mucosal administration. 
     
     
         43 . A nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising:
 a) a full length sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1,   b) a polypeptide having at least 75% sequence identity to the full length sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or   c) a polypeptide fragment of SEQ ID NO: 1 comprising at least 5 amino acids and having at least 75% sequence identity to a segment of SEQ ID NO: 1, said segment of SEQ ID NO:1 having the same number of amino acids as said polypeptide fragment,   wherein the polypeptide is glycosylated in at least one position.   
     
     
         44 . A method for inhibiting ETEC in a mammal comprising:
 administering to the mammal the immunogenic composition as defined in  claim 40 .   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said mammal is infected with ETEC.