Porphyromonas Gingivalis Polypeptides Useful in the Prevention of Periodontal Disease

Abstract

The invention is directed to vaccine compositions and methods based on P. gingivalis proteins identified to be regulated by haem availability that can be used in the prevention and treatment of periodontal disease. In particular, two specific internalin-like P. gingivalis proteins, namely PG0350 and PG1374 involved in the internalization of P. gingivalis by host cells, the hypothetical protein, PG1019 purported to be a cell surface lipoprotein and the alkyl hydroperoxide reductase protein, PG0618 have been identified as useful targets for the prevention and treatment of periodontal disease.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A composition according to  claim 4  in which the amino acid sequence is 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:4. 
     
     
         3 . A composition according to  claim 4  in which the amino acid sequence comprises a contiguous sequence of at least 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 or 100 amino acids which is identical to a contiguous amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:4. 
     
     
         4 . A composition for use in raising an immune response directed against  P. gingivalis  in a subject, the composition comprising an effective amount of at least one amino acid sequence comprising at least 10 amino acids identical to a contiguous amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:4 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         5 . A method of preventing or treating a subject for periodontal disease comprising administering to the subject the composition according to  claim 4 . 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 5  in which the subject is selected from the group consisting of humans, sheep, cattle, horses, bovine, pigs, poultry, dogs and cats. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7  in which the subject is a human. 
     
     
         9 . An antibody which binds specifically to a polypeptide according to  claim 4 . 
     
     
         10 . An antibody of  claim 9  which is a polyclonal antibody. 
     
     
         11 . An antibody of  claim 9  which is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         12 . A composition useful in the prevention or treatment of periodontal disease, the composition comprising an antibody according to  claim 9  and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         13 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the amino acid sequence is the PG0350 protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         22 . A composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the amino acid sequence is the PG1374 protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         23 . A composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the amino acid sequence is the PG1019 protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3. 
     
     
         24 . A composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the amino acid sequence is the PG0618 protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the composition comprises at least one amino acid sequence comprising at least 10 amino acids identical to a contiguous amino acid sequence of the PG0350 protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the composition comprises at least one amino acid sequence comprising at least 10 amino acids identical to a contiguous amino acid sequence of the PG1374 protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the composition comprises at least one amino acid sequence comprising at least 10 amino acids identical to a contiguous amino acid sequence of the PG1019 protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3. 
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the composition comprises at least one amino acid sequence comprising at least 10 amino acids identical to a contiguous amino acid sequence of the PG0618 protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4. 
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the composition comprises an amino acid sequence at least 85% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:4.