Bacterial vaccine components and uses thereof

Abstract

Agents, compositions, methods and kits useful for the treatment and diagnosis of Staphylococcal intramammary infection are disclosed. The agents, compositions, methods and kits are derived from genes expressed during Staphylococcal intramammary infection, and more particularly genes SACOL0029, based on the gene nomenclature from the Staphylococcus aureus COL (SACOL) genome.

1 . A method for immunizing a mammal against a Staphylococcal intramammary infection (IMI), said method comprising administering to said mammal an effective amount of a composition comprising an oil and at least one polypeptide, wherein said polypeptide is:
 (a) a polypeptide encoded by SACOL0029, wherein the polypeptide comprises SEQ ID NO: 78;   (b) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid at least 95% identical to the full-length of the polypeptide of (a);   (c) a polypeptide comprising an immunogenic fragment of (a);   (d) any combination of (a) to (c).   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide is a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 78. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide (b) is a polypeptide comprising an amino sequence at least 98% identical overall to the full-length of SEQ ID NO: 78. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising administering to said mammal an effective amount of a combination of polypeptides. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said combination of polypeptides further comprises:
 (i) (a) a polypeptide encoded by SACOL0442 comprising residues 36-203 of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 37 or SEQ ID NO: 48;   (b) polypeptide comprising an amino acid at least 95% identical to the full-length of the polypeptide of (a);   (c) a polypeptide comprising an immunogenic fragment of (a); or   (d) any combination of (a) to (c), wherein said polypeptide has the ability to elicit an immune response in a mammal; and/or; (ii) (a) a polypeptide encoded by SACOL0720 comprising residues 310 to 508 of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 62 or SEQ ID NO: 74;   (b) polypeptide comprising an amino acid at least 95% identical to the full-length of the polypeptide of (a);   (c) a polypeptide comprising an immunogenic fragment of (a); or   (d) any combination of (a) to (c), wherein said polypeptide has the ability to elicit an immune response in a mammal.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said polypeptide (i) is a polypeptide comprising residues 36 to 203 of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 37 or SEQ ID NO: 48; and/or polypeptide of (ii) a polypeptide comprising residues 309 to 508 of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 62 or SEQ ID NO: 74. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said immunogenic fragment of (i)(c) and/or (ii)(c) comprises one or more of the following amino acid sequences: TFGIYPKADASTQN (SEQ ID NO: 17), KDTINGKSNKSRNW (SEQ ID NO: 18) or KDGGKYTLESHKELQ (SEQ ID NO: 19); and/or said immunogenic fragment of (ii) (c) comprises one or more of the following amino acid sequences: QFGFDLKHKKDALA (SEQ ID NO: 20), TIKDQQKANQLAS (SEQ ID NO: 21), KDINKIYFMTDVDL (SEQ ID NO: 22) or DVDLGGPTFVLND (SEQ ID NO: 23). 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said Staphylococcal intramammary infection is caused by one or more  Staphylococcus aureus  strains. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising administering to said mammal an effective amount of an adjuvant. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said adjuvant comprises alum, oil, cyclic-diguanosine-5′-monophosphate (c-di-GMP), polyphosphasine or pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPS). 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said PAMPS is unmethylated dinucleotides (CpG) or microbial polysaccharides. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said (i) polypeptide, (ii) adjuvant, or both (i) and (ii) are comprised in a pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition further comprises one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said mammal is a cow. 
     
     
         15 . method of  claim 14 , wherein said IMI is associated with bovine mastitis.