Biologically active bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein fragments

Abstract

A purified, isolated DNA sequence encoding human bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein and biologically-active fragments thereof is provided.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A purified, isolated DNA sequence comprising the sequence as set out in FIG. 5 or its complementary strand and DNA sequences which hybridize under stringent hybridization conditions with said DNA sequences.  
     
     
         2 . A purified, isolated DNA sequence consisting essentially of a DNA sequence encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence sufficiently duplicative of human bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein to allow possession of the biological property of increasing the permeability and killing of susceptible gram negative bacteria.  
     
     
         3 . A purified, isolated DNA sequence which hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions with DNA sequences that encode natural bactericidal/permeability increasing holoprotein.  
     
     
         4 . A purified, isolated DNA sequence having the sequence of from nucleotide 123 to about nucleotide 780 as set out in FIG. 5.  
     
     
         5 . The DNA sequence of  claim 4  comprising a biologically-active fragment of bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein.  
     
     
         6 . A purified, isolated protein having the properties of naturally occurring human bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein.  
     
     
         7 . The purified, isolated protein of  claim 7  comprising the amino acid sequence as set out in FIG. 5.  
     
     
         8 . The purified, isolated protein comprising the amino acid sequence from amino acid residue 1 to about amino acid residue 220 as set out in FIG. 5.  
     
     
         9 . A purified, isolated gene encoding human bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein.  
     
     
         10 . A DNA plasmid vector consisting essentially of the DNA sequence of  claim 1  in the proper reading frame.  
     
     
         11 . A prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell stably transformed or transfected with the DNA vector of  claim 10.