Staphylococcus aureus genes and polypeptides

Abstract

The present invention relates to 11 novel genes from S. aureus and the polypeptides they encode. Also provided as are vectors, host cells, antibodies and recombinant methods for producing the same. The invention further relates to screening methods for identifying agonists and antagonists of S. aureus polypeptide activity. The invention additionally relates to diagnostic methods for detecting Staphylococcus nucleic acids, polypeptides and antibodies in a biological sample. The present invention further relates to novel vaccines for the prevention or attenuation of infection by Staphylococcus.

1 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) a nucleotide sequence encoding any one of the amino acid sequences of the polypeptides shown in Table 1;    (b) a nucleotide sequence complementary to any one of the nucleotide sequences in (a);    (c) a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to any one of the nucleotide sequences shown in Table 1; and    (d) a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to a nucleotide sequence complementary to any one of the nucleotide sequences shown in Table 1.    
     
     
         2 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide which hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions to a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence identical to a nucleotide sequence in (a) or (b) of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         3 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide which encodes an epitope-bearing portion of a polypeptide in (a) of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         4 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 3 , wherein said epitope-bearing portion of a polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence listed in Table 2.  
     
     
         5 . A method for making a recombinant vector comprising inserting an isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1  into a vector.  
     
     
         6 . A recombinant vector produced by the method of  claim 5 .  
     
     
         7 . A host cell comprising a vector of  claim 6 .  
     
     
         8 . A method of producing a polypeptide comprising: 
 (a) growing the host cell of  claim 7  such that the protein is expressed by the cell; and    (b) recovering the expressed polypeptide.    
     
     
         9 . A polypeptide produced according to the method of  claim 8 .  
     
     
         10 . An isolated polypeptide comprising a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) a polypeptide consisting of any one of the complete amino acids sequences of Table 1;    (b) a polypeptide consisting of any one of the complete amino acids sequences of Table 1 except the N-terminal residue;    (c) a fragment of the polypeptide of (a) having biological activity;    (d) a fragment of the polypeptide of (a) which binds to an antibody specific for the polypeptide of (a);    (e) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to a sequence selected from the group consisting of an amino acid sequence of any one of the polypeptides in Table 1; and    (f) a polypeptide antigen comprising an amino acid sequence of an  S. aureus  epitope shown in Table 2.    
     
     
         11 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide with a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide of  claim 10 .  
     
     
         12 . An isolated antibody which specifically binds to the polypeptide of  claim 10 .  
     
     
         13 . A hybridoma which produces the antibody of  claim 12 .  
     
     
         14 . A vaccine, comprising: 
 (a) at least one polypeptide of  claim 10;  and    (b) a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, carrier, or excipient;    wherein said polypeptide is present in an amount effective to elicit protective antibodies in an animal to a member of the  Staphylococcus  genus.    
     
     
         15 . A method of preventing or attenuating an infection caused by a member of the  Staphylococcus  genus in an animal, comprising administering to said animal a polypeptide of  claim 10 , wherein said polypeptide is administered in an amount effective to prevent or attenuate said infection.  
     
     
         16 . A method of detecting Staphylococcus nucleic acids in a biological sample obtained from an animal involving assaying for one or more nucleic acid sequences encoding  Staphylococcus  polypeptides in a sample comprising: 
 (a) contacting the sample with at least one polynucleotide of  claim 2  under conditions such that hybridization occurs, and    (b) detecting hybridization of said polynucleotide to the one or more  Staphylococcus  nucleic acid sequences present in the biological sample.    
     
     
         17 . A method of detecting  Staphylococcus  nucleic acids in a biological sample obtained from an animal, comprising: 
 (a) amplifying at least one polynucleotide of  claim 2  in a biological sample obtained from an animal using polymerase chain reaction, and    (b) detecting said amplified polynucleotide.    
     
     
         18 . A kit for detecting  Staphylococcus  antibodies in a biological sample obtained from an animal, comprising 
 (a) a polypeptide of  claim 10  attached to a solid support; and    (b) detecting means.    
     
     
         19 . A method of detecting  Staphylococcus  antibodies in a biological sample obtained from an animal, comprising 
 (a) contacting the sample with a polypeptide of  claim 10;  and    (b) detecting antibody-antigen complexes.