Virulence Factors of Streptoccus Pnuemoniae

Abstract

The present invention provides proteins/genes, which are essential for survival, and consequently, for virulence of Streptococcus pneumoniae in vivo, and thus are ideal vaccine candidates for a vaccine preparation against pneumococcal infection. Further, also antibodies against said protein(s) are included in the invention.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . A vaccine formulation providing protection against pneumococcal infection in a subject, said formulation comprising an effective amount of a protein encoded by a gene listed in Table 1 (1A, 1B and 1C), Table 2 (2A, 2B and 2C), Table 3 (3A, 3B and 3C), and/or Table 4 (4A, 4B and 4C) or a functional homologue or an immunogenic part thereof together with at least one of a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, carrier, excipient or adjuvant therefore. 
   
   
       16 . A formulation according to  claim 15 , wherein said immunogenic part is an antigenic determinant of said pathogen. 
   
   
       17 . A formulation according to  claim 15 , wherein said protein is encoded by a gene listed in Table 5. 
   
   
       18 . A formulation according to  claim 16 , wherein said protein is encoded by a genelisted in Table 5 
   
   
       19 . A formulation according to  claim 15 , wherein said protein is encoded by a gene listed in Table 1A, Table 1B, Table 2A, Table 2B, Table 3A, Table 3B, Table 4A, and/or Table 4B. 
   
   
       20 . A formulation according to  claim 16 , wherein said protein is encoded by a gene listed in Table 1A, Table 1B, Table 2A, Table 2B, Table 3A, Table 3B, Table 4A, and/or Table 4B. 
   
   
       21 . A formulation according to  claim 19 , wherein said protein is encoded by a gene listed in two or more of Table 1A or Table 1B, Table 2A or Table 2B, Table 3A or Table 3B, and Table 4A or Table 4B. 
   
   
       22 . A formulation according to  claim 20 , wherein said protein is encoded by a gene listed in two or more of Table 1A or Table 1B, Table 2A or Table 2B, Table 3A or Table 3B, and Table 4A or Table 4B. 
   
   
       23 . A formulation according to  claim 15 , wherein said formulation provides protections against pneumonia, meningitis, otitis media and/or sepsis caused by  Streptococcus pneumoniae.    
   
   
       24 . A formulation according to  claim 16 , wherein said formulation provides protections against pneumonia, meningitis, otitis media and/or sepsis caused by  Streptococcus pneumoniae.    
   
   
       25 . A formulation according to  claim 17 , wherein said formulation provides protections against pneumonia, meningitis, otitis media and/or sepsis caused by  Streptococcus pneumoniae.    
   
   
       26 . A formulation according to  claim 18 , wherein said formulation provides protections against pneumonia, meningitis, otitis media and/or sepsis caused by  Streptococcus pneumoniae.    
   
   
       27 . A formulation according to  claim 19 , wherein said formulation provides protections against pneumonia, meningitis, otitis media and/or sepsis caused by  Streptococcus pneumoniae.    
   
   
       28 . A formulation according to  claim 20 , wherein said formulation provides protections against pneumonia, meningitis, otitis media and/or sepsis caused by  Streptococcus pneumoniae.    
   
   
       29 . A formulation according to  claim 21 , wherein said formulation provides protections against pneumonia, meningitis, otitis media and/or sepsis caused by  Streptococcus pneumoniae.    
   
   
       30 . A formulation according to  claim 22 , wherein said formulation provides protections against pneumonia, meningitis, otitis media and/or sepsis caused by  Streptococcus pneumoniae.    
   
   
       31 . A protein encoded by a gene listed in Table 1, 2, 3, and/or 4 or an immunogenic part thereof, for use as a vaccine. 
   
   
       32 . An antibody against a protein encoded by a gene listed in Table 1, 2, 3, and/or 4 or fragment thereof, preferably a humanized antibody or fragment thereof. 
   
   
       33 . An antibody or fragment thereof, preferably a humanized antibody or fragment thereof according to  claim 32 , for use as a medicament for the prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of a pneumococcal infection in a subject. 
   
   
       34 . Use of an antibody or fragment thereof, preferably a humanized antibody or fragment thereof according to  claim 32 , for the manufacture of a medicament for the prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of a pneumococcal infection in a subject. 
   
   
       35 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising an antibody or fragment thereof, preferably a humanized antibody or fragment thereof according to  claim 32 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
   
   
       36 . A method for prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of a pneumococcal infection in a subject comprising administering to a subject in need of such treatment an effective amount of a vaccine formulation as defined in any one of  claims 15 - 30  and/or an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition as defined in  claim 35 . 
   
   
       37 . A method for preparing an pneumococcal vaccine formulation, the said method comprising bringing into association, an effective amount of a protein encoded by a gene listed in Table 1, 2, 3, and/or Table 4 or an immunogenic part thereof and at least one of a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, carrier, excipient or adjuvant therefore. 
   
   
       38 . A method for preparing a pharmaceutical composition as defined in  claim 35 , the said method comprising bringing into association, an effective amount of an antibody, preferably a humanized antibody, or fragment thereof, according to  claim 32  and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.