Nucleic acid molecules encoding proteins which impart the adhesion of Neisseria cells to human cells

Abstract

Described are nucleic acid molecules encoding proteins mediating the adhesion of bacteria of the genus Neisseria to human cells. Also described are the proteins encoded by these nucleic acid molecules and antibodies directed against them. Furthermore, pharmaceutical compositions, vaccines and diagnostic compositions containing the nucleic acid molecules, proteins and/or antibodies are described.

1 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a lipoprotein or a biologically active fragment of said lipoprotein that mediates adhesion of  Neisseria  cells to human cells from a bacteria of the genus  Neisseria , selected from the group consisting of 
 (a) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 4;    (b) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence having 95% sequence identity to a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein comprising SEQ ID NO:4 due to the degeneracy of the genetic code;    (c) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence that hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions of 0.2×SSC, 0.1% SDS and 68° C. to 
 (i) the complement of a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein comprising SEQ ID NO:4,  
 (ii) the complement of a nucleotide sequence which is 95% identical to a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein comprising SEQ ID NO:4.  
   
     
     
         2 . The nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule originates from a pathogenic  Neisseria  species.  
     
     
         3 . The nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 2 , wherein the  Neisseria  species is  Neisseria gonorrhoeae  or  Neisseria meningitidis.    
     
     
         4 . The nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1 , wherein the lipoprotein or biologically active fragment of said lipoprotein has the ability to adhere to human cells.  
     
     
         5 . A vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         6 . The vector according to  claim 5 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule is operatively linked to at least one regulatory DNA element allowing the expression of said nucleic acid molecule in a prokaryotic or an eukaryotic cell.  
     
     
         7 . A host cell comprising a vector according to  claim 5 .  
     
     
         8 . A host cell comprising the nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         9 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule having a length of at least 12 nucleotides specifically hybridizing under stringent hybridization conditions of 0.2×SSC, 0.1% SDS and 68° C. to a nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1.