Abstract: Provided herein are novel nucleic acids which encode exported proteins of Gram positive bacteria, and the proteins encoded by such nucleic acids. Also provided are methods of producing such exported proteins, and vaccines for protecting an animal from infection with a gram positive bacterium, wherein the vaccines utilize the novel nucleic acids and proteins of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification of Gram positive bacterial exported proteins, and the genes encoding such proteins. In particular, the invention relates to adhesion associated exported proteins, and to antigens common to many or all strains of a species of Gram positive bacterium. The invention also relates to acellular vaccines to provide protection from Gram positive bacterial infection using such genes or such proteins, and to antibodies against such proteins for use in diagnosis and passive immune therapy. In specific embodiments, fragments of ten genes encoding exported proteins of S. pneumoniae are disclosed, and the functional activity of some of these proteins in adherence is demonstrated.