Abstract: An antigenic preparation is provided containing an outer membrane protein associated with pathogenic strains of Leptospira. The protein has been designated “LipL32” for “lipoprotein from Leptospira” and because the isolated polypeptide migrates to a position corresponding to a molecular weight of 32 kD in a denaturing polyacrylamide gel. The invention provides polynucleotides encoding LipL32 and antibodies that bind the protein which are useful in the diagnosis of leptospirosis. In addition, LipL32 can be used immunologically as a vaccine for spirochete-associated pathologies.

Abstract: An antigenic preparation is provided containing an outer membrane protein associated with pathogenic strains of Leptospira. The protein has been designated “LipL46” for “lipoprotein from Leptospira” and because the isolated polypeptide migrates to a position corresponding to a molecular weight of 46 kD in a denaturing polyacrylamide gel. The invention provides polynucleotides encoding LipL46 and antibodies that bind the protein which are useful in the diagnosis of leptospirosis. In addition, LipL46 can be used immunologically as a vaccine for spirochete-associated pathologies.

Abstract: An antigenic preparation is provided containing an outer membrane protein associated with pathogenic strains of Leptospira. The protein has been designated "LipL46" for "lipoprotein from Leptospira" and because the isolated polypeptide migrates to a position corresponding to a molecular weight of 46 kD in a denaturing polyacrylamide gel. The invention provides polynucleotides encoding LipL46 and antibodies that bind the protein which are useful in the diagnosis of leptospirosis. In addition, LipL46 can be used immunologically as a vaccine for spirochete-associated pathologies.

Abstract: This invention presents antigenic preparations of Leptospira species outer membrane proteins and their immunogenic fragments which are useful for inducing immune response in animals, e.g., for use as vaccines against diseases caused by leptospirosis. Also presented are methods and kits for diagnosing leptospirosis by detecting the presence of these proteins, their immunogenic fragments, antibodies to these proteins or their fragments, or polynucleotides which encode or are translatable into these proteins or their fragments. Further disclosed are methods for isolating these proteins.

Abstract: The present invention provides EppA polypeptide, a Borrelia burgdorferi virulence protein. This 17-kD outer membrane protein has been designated EppA for exported plasmid protein A.

Abstract: The present invention presents novel leptospiral membrane lipoproteins, LipL1 and LipL2, associated with pathogenic strains of Leptospira. LipL1 is of about 35 kDa, and LipL2 is of about 41 kDa. Also disclosed are the method for purifying these proteins from Leptospira, their nucleotide and amino acid sequences, the cloning of the genes encoding the proteins and their recombinant proteins, methods for producing antibodies to these proteins, the resulting antibodies. These proteins, their immunogenim. fragments, and antibodies against them, are useful for inducing an immune response to pathogenic Leptospira as well as providing a diagnostic target for leptospirosis.

Abstract: An antigenic preparation is provided which contains a 63 Kd outer membrane protein from Leptospira which can be used immunologically as a vaccine for leptospirosis caused by this organism. Also provided in the invention are polynucleotides encoding the protein and antibodies which bind the protein which are useful in the diagnosis of leptospirosis.

Abstract: An antigenic preparation is provided which contains a 31 Kd outer membrane protein from Leptospira which can be used immunologically as a vaccine for leptospirosis caused by this organism.

Abstract: An antigenic preparation is provided which contains a 63 Kd outer membrane protein from Leptospira which can be used immunologically as a vaccine for leptospirosis caused by this organism. Also provided in the invention are polynucleotides encoding the protein and antibodies which bind the protein which are useful in the diagnosis of leptospirosis.

Abstract: A polynucleotide encoding a 17-kD virulence protein, called EppA, from Borrelia burgdorferi is provided. The protein encoded by the polynucleotide of the invention is useful immunologically as a vaccine for Lyme borreliosis caused by B. burgdorferi. Methods and kits for detection of EppA polynucleotide are also provided.