Vaccine

Abstract

Compositions and methods for the treatment or prevention of Gram-negative bacterial strain infection are provided herein. Methods for the manufacture of said compositions are also provided herein.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An immunogenic composition comprising an antigen which is capable of raising an immune response, if necessary when coupled to a carrier protein, which recognises an outer membrane protein of at least a first Gram-negative bacterial strain, wherein said protein is involved in uptake of extracellular zinc and wherein said antigen comprises:
 (a) a polypeptide having at least 80% identity to an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or   (b) an immunogenic fragment of the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein said immunogenic fragment consists of an amino acid sequence having 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50 or more contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 1,   
       wherein said first Gram-negative bacterial strain is a  Neisseria  strain, wherein the immunogenic composition comprises a bacterial outer membrane vesicle preparation comprising said antigen, and optionally wherein expression of said antigen is up-regulated in said outer membrane vesicle preparation. 
     
     
         2 . The immunogenic composition of  claim 1 , wherein said antigen comprises a polypeptide having at least 85% identity to SEQ ID NO: 1, preferably at least 90% identity to SEQ ID NO: 1, preferably at least 95% identity to SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         3 . The immunogenic composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said first Gram-negative bacterial strain is  Neisseria gonorrhoeae.    
     
     
         4 . The immunogenic composition according to  claim 1 , comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. 
     
     
         5 . The immunogenic composition according to  claim 1 , comprising an adjuvant. 
     
     
         6 . The immunogenic composition according to  claim 1 , comprising a zinc salt. 
     
     
         7 . A method for the treatment or prevention of Gram-negative bacterial infection or disease comprising administering an effective amount of an immunogenic composition according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein said infection or disease is caused by  Neisseria gonorrhoeae.