Chlamydia antigens and corresponding DNA fragments and uses thereof

Abstract

In summary of this disclosure, the present invention provides a method of nucleic acid, including DNA, immunization of a host, including humans, against disease caused by infection by a strain of Chlamydia, specifically C. pneumoniae , employing a vector, containing a nucleotide sequence encoding an 98 kDa outer membrane protein of a strain of Chlamydia pneumoniae and a promoter to effect expression of the 98 kDa outer membrane protein gene in the host. Modifications are possible within the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An isolated polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) a polynucleotide having a sequence comprising the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 1, and functional fragments thereof;    (c) a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having a sequence that is at least 75% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 2, and functional fragments thereof; and    (d) a polynucleotide capable of hybridizing under stringent conditions to a polynucleotide having a sequence comprising the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 1, and functional fragments thereof.    
     
     
         2 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1 , linked to a second nucleotide sequence encoding a fusion polypeptide.  
     
     
         3 . The nucleotide of  claim 2  wherein the fusion polypeptide is a heterologous signal peptide.  
     
     
         4 . The nucleotide of  claim 2  wherein the polynucleotide encodes a functional fragment of the polypeptide having the SEQ ID NO: 2.  
     
     
         5 . An isolated polypeptide having a sequence that is at least 75% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 2, and functional fragments thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The polypeptide of  claim 5 , wherein said polypeptide has the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or functional fragments thereof.  
     
     
         7 . A polypeptide comprising the polypeptide of  claim 5  linked to a fusion polypeptide.  
     
     
         8 . The polypeptide of  claim 7 , wherein the fusion polypeptide is a signal peptide.  
     
     
         9 . The polypeptide of  claim 7 , wherein the fusion polypeptide comprises a heterologous polypeptide having adjuvant activity.  
     
     
         10 . An expression cassette, comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 1  operably linked to a promoter.  
     
     
         11 . An expression vector, comprising the expression cassette of  claim 10 .  
     
     
         12 . A host cell, comprising the expression cassette of  claim 10 .  
     
     
         13 . The host cell of  claim 10 , wherein said host cell is a prokaryotic cell.  
     
     
         14 . The host cell of  claim 13 , wherein said host cell is a eukaryotic cell.  
     
     
         15 . A method for producing a recombinant polypeptide having SEQ ID NO: 2, comprising: 
 (a) culturing a host cell of  claim 12 , under conditions that the allow the expression of the polypeptide; and    (b) recovering the recombinant polypeptide.    
     
     
         16 . A vaccine vector, comprising the expression cassette of  claim 10 .  
     
     
         17 . The vaccine vector of  claim 16 , wherein said host mammal is human.  
     
     
         18 . The vaccine vector of  claim 16 , in a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.  
     
     
         19 . A pharmaceutical composition, comprising a immunologically effective amount of the vaccine vector of  claim 14 .  
     
     
         20 . A method for inducing an immune response in a mammal, comprising: 
 administering to said mammal an immunologically effective amount of the vaccine vector of  claim 16 , wherein said administration induces an immune response.    
     
     
         21 . A pharmaceutical composition, comprising an immunologically effective amount of the polypeptide of  claim 5  and pharmaceutically acceptable diluent.  
     
     
         22 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 21 , further comprising an adjuvant.  
     
     
         23 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 21 , further comprising one or more known Chlamydia antigens.  
     
     
         24 . A method for inducing an immune response in a mammal, comprising: 
 administering to said mammal an immunologically effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition of  claim 21 , wherein said administration induces an immune response.    
     
     
         25 . A polynucleotide probe reagent capable of detecting the presence of Chlamydia in biological material, comprising a polynucleotide that hybridizes to the polynucleotide of  claim 1  under stringent conditions.  
     
     
         26 . The polynucleotide probe reagent of  claim 25 , wherein said reagent is a DNA primer.  
     
     
         27 . A hybridization method for detecting the presence of Chlamydia in a sample, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) obtaining polynucleotide from the sample;    (b) hybridizing said obtained polynucleotide with a polynucleotide probe reagent of  claim 21  under conditions which allow for the hybridization of said probe and said sample; and    (c) detecting said hybridization of said detecting reagent with a polynucleotide in said sample.    
     
     
         28 . An amplification method for detecting the presence of Chlamydia in a sample, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) obtaining polynucleotide from the sample;    (c) amplifying said obtained polynucleotide using one or more polynucleotide probe reagents of claim  25 ; and    (d) detecting said amplified polypeptide.    
     
     
         29 . A method for detecting the presence of Chlamydia in a sample comprising the steps of: 
 (a) contacting said sample with a detecting reagent that binds to the polypeptide having SEQ ID NO: 2 to form a complex; and    (b) detecting said formed complex.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said detecting reagent is an antibody.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said antibody is a polyclonal antibody.  
     
     
         33 . An affinity chromatography method for substantially purifying a polypeptide having SEQ ID NO: 2, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) contacting a sample containing said polypeptide with a detecting reagent that binds to said polypeptide to form a complex;    (c) isolating said formed complex;    (c) dissociating said formed complex; and    (d) isolating the dissociated polypeptide.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said detecting reagent is an antibody.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said antibody is a polyclonal antibody.  
     
     
         37 . An antibody that immunospecifically binds a polypeptide of  claim 5 , or a fragment or derivative of said antibody containing the binding domain thereof.