Novel surface exposed immunoglobulin d-binding protein from moraxella catarrhalis

Abstract

The present invention relates to a surface exposed protein, which can be detected in Moraxella catarrhalis, having an amino acid sequence as described in SEQ ID NO: 1, an apparent molecular weight of 200 kDa and a capacity of selectively binding membrane bound or soluble IgD, to an immunogenic or IgD-binding fragment of said surface exposed protein, and to an immunogenic and adhesive fragment of said surface exposed protein. DNA segments, vaccines, plasmids and phages, non human hosts, recombinant DNA molecules and plants, fusion proteins and polypeptides and fusion products are also described. A method of detecting IgD, a method of separating IgD, a method of isolation of a surface exposed protein of Moraxella catarrhalis and a method for treatment of an autoimmune disease are also disclosed.

1 . A vaccine comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, 
     
     
         2 . An isolated fusion product comprising an amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:8 bound to a protein, carbohydrate, or matrix. 
     
     
         3 . A method of detecting IgD using an amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:8, optionally labeled and/or bound to a matrix. 
     
     
         4 . A method of detecting IgD using an amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:1, optionally labeled and/or bound to a matrix. 
     
     
         5 . A method of detecting IgD using an isolated IgD-binding fragment of a surface exposed protein, optionally labeled and/or bound to a matrix, wherein:
 said surface exposed protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, or a naturally-occurring or artificially-modified varient thereof; and   said isolated IgD-binding fragment selectively binds membrane bound or soluble IgD.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said isolated IgD-binding fragment comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:10. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said isolated IgD-binding fragment further selectively binds erythrocytes and epithelial cells.