Chlamydia antigens

Abstract

The invention provides Chlamydia antigens for use in the treatment, prevention and/or diagnosis of Chlamydia infection. In particular, the invention provides antigens CT733, CT153, CT601, CT279, CT443, CT372, CT456, CT381, CT255, CT341, CT716, CT745, CT387, CT812, CT869, CT166, CT175, CT163, CT214, CT721, CT127, CT043, CT823 and/or CT600 from C. trachomatis for the treatment, prevention or diagnosis of Chlamydia infection.

1 . A protein comprising the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO:40, SEQ ID NO:42, SEQ ID NO:44, SEQ ID NO:46, SEQ ID NO: 48, SEQ ID NO:50, SEQ ID NO:52, SEQ ID NO:54, SEQ ID NO:136 or SEQ ID NO:140 for use in therapy or diagnosis. 
     
     
         2 . A protein having 50% or greater sequence identity to a protein according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         3 . A protein comprising a fragment of the amino acid sequence of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         4 . A protein according to  claim 3 , wherein the fragment comprises at least 8 consecutive amino acids of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO:40, SEQ ID NO:42, SEQ ID NO:44, SEQ ID NO:46, SEQ ID NO: 48, SEQ ID NO:50, SEQ ID NO:52, SEQ ID NO:54, SEQ ID NO:136 or SEQ ID NO:140. 
     
     
         5 . An antibody which binds to a protein according to  claim 2  for use in therapy or diagnosis. 
     
     
         6 . A nucleic acid molecule which encodes a protein or antibody according to  claim 2  for use in therapy or diagnosis. 
     
     
         7 . A nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 6 , comprising the nucleotide sequence of any one of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:39, SEQ ID NO:41, SEQ ID NO:43, SEQ ID NO:45, SEQ ID NO:47, SEQ ID NO:49, SEQ ID NO:51, SEQ ID NO:53, SEQ ID NO:135 or SEQ ID NO:139. 
     
     
         8 . A nucleic acid molecule comprising of a fragment of the nucleotide sequence of any one of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:39, SEQ ID NO:41, SEQ ID NO:43 or SEQ ID NO:45, SEQ ID NO:47, SEQ ID NO:49, SEQ ID NO:51, SEQ ID NO:53, SEQ ID NO:135 or SEQ ID NO:139. 
     
     
         9 . A nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence complementary to a nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 6 . 
     
     
         10 . A nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence having 50% or greater sequence identity to a nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 6 . 
     
     
         11 . A nucleic acid molecule which can hybridise to a nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 6  under high stringency conditions. 
     
     
         12 . A vector comprising a nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 6  for use in therapy or diagnosis. 
     
     
         13 . A host cell comprising a nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 6  for use in therapy or diagnosis. 
     
     
         14 . A composition comprising the protein of  claim 2  for use in therapy or diagnosis. 
     
     
         15 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method of raising an immune response in a mammal, comprising administering to the mammal the protein according to  claim 2 . 
     
     
         20 . A method of eliciting antibodies in a mammal that are capable of neutralising  Chlamydia  infection, comprising administering to the mammal a protein according to  claim 2 . 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the immune response is a CD4+ Th1 cell-mediated response. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method of treating, preventing or diagnosing  Chlamydia  infection in a mammal, comprising administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a protein according to  claim 2 . 
     
     
         24 . A composition comprising a combination of  Chlamydia  antigens or their encoding nucleic acids. 
     
     
         25 . The composition according to  claim 24 , wherein the combination comprises CT279+CT601, CT372+CT443, CT733+CT153, CT456+CT381, CT279+CT153+CT733+CT601, CT279+CT601+CT372+CT443, CT823+CT733+CT043+CT456, CT387+CT812+CT869, CT387+CT812C+CT869 (or variants thereof). 
     
     
         26 . The composition according to  claim 24 , wherein the  Chlamydia  antigens or their encoding nucleic acids are a combined preparation for simultaneous, separate or sequential administration. 
     
     
         27 . A method for diagnosing  Chlamydia  infection, comprising:
 (a) raising an antibody against a protein according to  claim 2 ;   (b) contacting the antibody of step (a) with a biological sample suspected of being infected with  Chlamydia  under conditions suitable for the formation of antibody-antigen complexes; and   (c) detecting said complexes, wherein detection of said complex is indicative of  Chlamydia  infection.   
     
     
         28 . A method of treating, preventing or diagnosing  Chlamydia  infection in a mammal, comprising administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of the composition according to  claim 24 .