Abstract: Immunogenic polysaccharide-protein conjugates having a polysaccharide antigen (or its oligosaccharide fragment representing one or more antigenic epitopes) derived from a nosocomial pathogen conjugated to a staphylococcal surface adhesin carrier protein are used in immunogenic compositions to elicit antibody responses to both the polysaccharide antigen and the staphylococcal surface adhesin carrier protein. Such immunogenic compositions are used to immunize against diseases caused by Staphylococcal aureus, Staphylococcal epidermidis or other nosocomial pathogens.

Abstract: Antibodies to the CNA protein and to other regions from the collagen binding domain, including domain CNA19, are provided, and antibodies produced in this manner have been shown to be cross reactive to both Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria and which can thus be used in the prevention and treatment of infections caused by both of these types of bacteria. In addition, medical instruments can be treated using the antibodies of the invention in order to reduce or eliminate the possibility of their becoming infected or further spreading the infection. In particular, the proteins are advantageous because they are cross-reactive and may thus be administered to patients so as to reduce or prevent severe infection by staphylococcal bacteria of more than one species.

Abstract: Disclosed are antibodies that block the binding of fibronectin protein to fibronectin. Also disclosed are site specifically-mutated and truncated peptide epitopes derived from the fnbA and fnbB genes of Staphylococcus aureus, the fnbA and fnbB genes of Streptococcus dysgalactiae, and the sfb gene of Streptococcus pyogenes, and nucleic acid segments encoding these peptides and epitopes. The anti-(fibronectin binding site) antibodies, peptides and epitopes that give rise to antibodies that block the binding of fibronectin binding proteins to fibronectin, and DNA segments encoding these proteins and are of use in various screening, diagnostic and therapeutic applications including active and passive immunization and methods for the prevention of streptococcal and staphylococcal colonization in animals or humans. These. DNA segments and the peptides derived therefrom are proposed to be of use directly in the preparation of vaccines and also for use as carrier proteins in vaccine formulations.

Abstract: Immunogenic polysaccharide-protein conjugates having a polysaccharide antigen (or its oligosaccharide fragment representing one or more antigenic epitopes) derived from a nosocomial pathogen conjugated to a staphylococcal surface adhesin carrier protein are used in immunogenic compositions to elicit antibody responses to both the polysaccharide antigen and the staphylococcal surface adhesion carrier protein. Such immunogenic compositions are used to immunize against diseases caused by Staphylococcal aureus, Staphylococcal epidermidis or other nosocomial pathogens.

Abstract: An isolated and/or purified Sdr surface protein from S. capitis and nucleic acids encoding them are provided which includes the SdrX protein which possesses collagen binding activites and the SdrZL protein which possesses SdrZ-like properties. The Sdr surface proteins from S. capitis can be used in pharmaceutical compositions to treat and prevent S. capitis infectionm and can also be used in vaccines and to raise antibodies which can treat or prevent such infections. Because the SdrX protein has been shown to have collagen binding abilities, antibodies to SdrX will have the ability to inhibit or prevent the ability of S. capitis to bind to collagen.

Abstract: A method and composition for the passive immunization of patients infected with or susceptible to infection from Staphylococcus bacteria such as S. aureus and S. epidermidis infection is provided that includes the selection or preparation of a donor plasma pool with high antibody titers to carefully selected Staphylococcus adhesins or MSCRAMMs, or fragments or components thereof, or sequences with substantial homology thereto. The donor plasma pool can be prepared by combining individual blood or blood component samples which have higher than normal titers of antibodies to one or more of the selected adhesins or other proteins that bind to extracellular matrix proteins, or by administering carefully selected proteins or peptides to a host to induce the expression of desired antibodies, and subsequently recovering the enhanced high titer serum or plasma pool from the treated host.

Abstract: A method for treating or preventing infections from yeast of the Candida species is provided wherein an immunoglobulin composition containing high titers of antibodies to staphylococcal adhesins ClfA and SdrG is administered in an amount effective to inhibit the growth and progression of Candidial infections. The compositions and methods of the present invention are advantageous in that they can be used to treat both staphylococcal and Candidial infections at the same time, and they are particularly effective in treating or preventing late-onset sepsis in neonates.

Abstract: Monoclonal antibodies which can bind to the ClfA protein and which are generated from binding subdomains or active fragments of the ClfA protein from Staphylococcus aureus, including the active fragments proteins from its fibrinogen binding domain such as Clf40 protein, the Clf33 protein, or ClfA N3, are provided which can be useful in the treatment and protection against infection from staphylococcal bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, medical instruments can be treated using the monoclonal antibodies of the invention in order to reduce or eliminate the possibility of their becoming infected or further spreading the infection. In particular, the antibodies of the present invention are advantageous because they can prevent adherence of the bacteria to host cells by impairing or inhibiting the ability of S. aureus ClfA to bind to fibrinogen or fibrin, and thus can be utilized in methods or treating or preventing staphylococcal inventions.

Abstract: Disclosed are antibodies that block the binding of fibronectin protein to fibronectin. Also disclosed are site specifically-mutated and truncated peptide epitopes derived from the fnbA and fnbB genes of Staphylococcus aureus, the fnbA and fnbB genes of Streptococcus dysgalactiae, and the sfb gene of Streptococcus pyogenes, and nucleic acid segments encoding these peptides and epitopes. The anti-(fibronectin binding site) antibodies, peptides and epitopes that give rise to antibodies that block the binding of fibronectin binding proteins to fibronectin, and DNA segments encoding these proteins and are of use in various screening, diagnostic and therapeutic applications including active and passive immunization and methods for the prevention of streptococcal and staphylococcal colonization in animals or humans. These DNA segments and the peptides derived therefrom are proposed to be of use directly in the preparation of vaccines and also for use as carrier proteins in vaccine formulations.

Abstract: Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies which are cross-reactive to both coagulase-positive staphylococcus bacteria, such as S. aureus and to coagulase-negative bacteria, such as S. epidermidis and S. hemolyticus, are provided which can recognize surface proteins from both coagulase-positive and coagulase negative staph bacteria. The antibodies may be generated from surface proteins that have been isolated on the basis of characteristics that may be common between S. aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci, and these recombinant surface proteins are used to generate the antibodies of the invention. There is also provided vaccines and methods which utilize these proteins and antibodies for the treatment or protection against a wide variety of staphylococcal infections.

Abstract: Isolated extracellular matrix-binding proteins, designated ClfB, SdrC, SdrD and SdrE, and their corresponding amino acid and nucleic acid sequences and motifs are described. The proteins, peptides, fragments thereof or antigenic portions thereof are useful for the prevention, inhibition, treatment and diagnosis of S. aureus infection and as scientific research tools. Further, antibodies or antibody fragments to the proteins, peptides, fragments thereof or antigenic portions thereof are also useful for the prevention, inhibition, treatment and diagnosis of S. aureus infection. In particular, the proteins or antibodies thereof may be administered to wounds or used to coat biomaterials to act as blocking agents to prevent or inhibit the binding of S. aureus to wounds or biomaterials. ClfB is a cell-wall associated protein having a predicted molecular weight of approximately 88 kDa and an apparent molecular weight of approximately 124 kDa, which binds both soluble and immobilized fibrinogen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new recombinant DNA-molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence from S. aureus coding for a protein, or polypeptide, having collagen binding properties.