Novel surface antigen

Abstract

The invention provides a novel surface polypeptide from Neisseria meningitidis as well as nucleic acid and nucleic acid sequence homologues encoding this protein. Pharmaceutical compositions containing the polypeptide and nucleic acids of the invention are also disclosed as well as methods useful in the treatment, prevention and diagnosis of N. meningitidis infection.

1 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . An isolated or recombinant protein comprising an immunogenic fragment having 80% or greater sequence identity to the contiguous amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         36 . A composition comprising a protein of  claim 35 . 
     
     
         37 . A diagnostic composition comprising a protein of  claim 35 . 
     
     
         38 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a composition according to  claim 36 . 
     
     
         39 . An isolated or recombinant protein of  claim 35 , wherein the protein has 90% or greater sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         40 . An isolated or recombinant protein of  claim 35 , wherein the protein has 85% or greater sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         41 . A pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 37 . 
     
     
         42 . An isolated or recombinant protein of  claim 35 , wherein the isolated or recombinant protein is encoded by residues 405-854 of SEQ ID NO. 1. 
     
     
         43 . An isolated or recombinant protein of  claim 42 , wherein the residues encode amino acids 44-193 of SEQ ID NO. 2. 
     
     
         44 . A composition comprising a protein of  claim 42 . 
     
     
         45 . A diagnostic composition comprising a protein of  claim 43 . 
     
     
         46 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a composition according to  claim 44 . 
     
     
         47 . An isolated or recombinant polypeptide that can elicit an immune response, and comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 80% sequence identity to the contiguous amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         48 . The isolated or recombinant polypeptide according to  claim 47 , wherein the sequence identity is at least 85%. 
     
     
         49 . The isolated or recombinant polypeptide according to  claim 47 , wherein the sequence identity is at least 90%. 
     
     
         50 . The isolated or recombinant polypeptide according to  claim 47 , wherein the polypeptide comprises a fragment having an amino acid sequence with at least 80% sequence identity to the contiguous amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2.