Staphylococcus epidermidis nucleic acids and proteins

Abstract

S epidermidis polypeptides and DNA (RNA) encoding such polypeptides and a procedure for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for utilizing such polypeptides and DNA (RNA) for the treatment of infection, particularly infections arising from S epidermidis . Antagonists against the function of such polypeptides and their use as therapeutics to treat infection are also disclosed. Also disclosed are diagnostic assays for detecting diseases related to the presence of S epidermidis nucleic acid sequences and the polypeptides in a host. Also disclosed are diagnostic assays for detecting polynucleotides and polypeptides related to S epidermidis

1 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising a member selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having at least a 70% identity to a polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID No. 4;    (b) a polynucleotide which is complementary to the polynucleotide of (a); and    (c) a polynucleotide comprising at least 15 sequential bases of the polynucleotide of (a) or (b).    
     
     
         2 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1  wherein the polypeptide has at least 80% identity to the polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID No. 4.  
     
     
         3 . The polypeptide of  claim 2  wherein the polypeptide has at least 90% identity to the polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID No. 4.  
     
     
         4 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1  wherein the polynucleotide is DNA.  
     
     
         5 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1  wherein the polynucleotide is RNA.  
     
     
         6 . The polynucleotide of  claim 4  wherein the polynucleotide has at least 80% identity to a polynucleotide set forth in SEQ ID No. 4.  
     
     
         7 . The polynucleotide of  claim 6  wherein the polynucleotide has at least 90% identity to a polynucleotide set forth in SEQ ID No. 4.  
     
     
         8 . The polynucleotide of  claim 4  comprising a polynucleotide set forth in SEQ ID No. 4.  
     
     
         9 . (canceled)  
     
     
         10 . (canceled)  
     
     
         11 . A vector comprising the DNA of  claim 4 .  
     
     
         12 . A host cell comprising the vector of  claim 11 .  
     
     
         13 .- 29 . (canceled)