Vaccine for Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract

A C-terminal pilin peptide vaccine for immunizing or treating a patient for infection by a Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) infection is disclosed. The peptide comprises the peptide identified as SEQ ID NOS. 3-6; and a carrier protein conjugated to the peptide. Also disclosed is a pilin peptide C-terminal PA pilin peptide having the amino acid sequence identified as SEQ ID NO: 3, and analogs thereof having one of residues T, K, or A at position 130, D, T, or N at position 132, Q, A, or V at position 133, E, P, N, or A at position 135, Q, M, or K at position 136, and I, T, L, or R at position 138, excluding SEQ ID NOS: 1, 2, 9, 10, and 11, and the ability to cross-react with antibodies against the corresponding C-terminal peptides from PA strains PAK and PAO.

It is claimed:  
     
         1 . A peptide vaccine for immunizing or treating a patient for infection by a  Pseudomonas aeruginosa  (PA) infection, comprising 
 (i) the peptide identified as SEQ ID NOS. 3-6; and    (ii) a carrier protein conjugated to the peptide.    
     
     
         2 . The peptide vaccine of  claim 1 , wherein the peptide is that having SEQ ID NO: 3.  
     
     
         3 . The peptide vaccine of  claim 1 , wherein the peptide is that having SEQ ID NO: 4.  
     
     
         4 . The peptide vaccine of  claim 1 , wherein the peptide is that having SEQ ID NO: 5.  
     
     
         5 . The peptide vaccine of  claim 1 , wherein the peptide is that having SEQ ID NO: 6.  
     
     
         6 . The peptide vaccine of  claim 1 , wherein the peptide is that having SEQ ID NO: 4 or 5, but having a T to K substitution at position 130.  
     
     
         7 . A method of protecting a subject against Pseudomonas infection, by immunizing the subject with the vaccine of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the vaccine is according to one of claims  2 - 6 .  
     
     
         9 . For use in a vaccine, a C-terminal PA pilin peptide having 
 (i) the amino acid sequence identified as SEQ ID NO: 3, and analogs thereof having one of residues T, K, or A at position 130, D, T, or N at position 132, Q, A, or V at position 133, E, P, N, or A at position 135, Q, M, or K at position 136, and I, T, L, or R at position 138, excluding SEQ ID NOS: 1, 2, 9, 10, and 11, and    (ii) the ability to cross-react with antibodies against the corresponding C-terminal peptides from PA strains PAK and PAO.    
     
     
         10 . The pilin peptide of  claim 9 , which is further reactive with an antibody specific against a C-terminal peptide from PA strains CD4, K122, or KB7.  
     
     
         11 . The pilin peptide of  claim 9 , which is immunoreactive with antibodies specific against the C-terminal peptide from PA strains PAK, PAO, CD4, K122, and KB7 PA.  
     
     
         12 . A method of selecting a peptide for use in a vaccine against  Pseudomonas aeruginosa  , comprising 
 constructing a library of 1296 C-terminal peptides having the amino acid sequence identified as SEQ ID NO: 3, and analogs thereof having one of residues T, K, or A at position 130, D, T, or N at position 132, Q, A, or V at position 133, E, P, N, or A at position 135, Q, M, or K at position 136, and I, T, L, or R at position 138, and    (ii) selecting library members which are cross-reactive with cross-react with antibodies against the corresponding C-terminal peptides from PA strains PAK, PAO.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the selected library members are cross-reactive with an antibody specific against a C-terminal peptide from PA strains CD4, K122, or KB7.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , which is immunoreactive with antibodies specific against the C-terminal peptide from PA strains CD4, K122, and KB7 PA.