Abstract: The present invention relates to pneumococcal genes, portions thereof, expression products therefrom and uses of such genes, portions and products; especially to genes of Streptococcus pneumoniae, e.g., the gene encoding pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA), i.e., the pspA gene, the gene encoding pneumococcal surface protein A-like proteins, such as pspA-like genes, e.g., the gene encoding pneumococcal surface protein C (PspC), i.e., the pspC gene, portions of such genes, expression products therefrom, and the uses of such genes, portions thereof and expression products therefrom.

Abstract: Plasmid DNA encoding at least one pneumococcal antigen or epitope of interest and methods for making and using such a plasmid are disclosed and claimed. The epitope of interest can be PspA or a fragment thereof. Compositions containing the plasmid DNA are useful for administration to a host susceptible to pneumococcal infection for an in vivo response, such as a protective response, or for generating useful antibodies. The inventive plasmid can also be transfected into cells for generating antigens or epitopes of interest in vitro. And the inventive plasmid can be prepared by isolating DNA (coding for: promoter, leader sequence, epitope of interest and terminator), and performing a three-way ligation. More particularly, administration of DNA encoding pneumococcal antigens or epitopes of interest and compositions therefor for eliciting and immunological response against S. pneumoniae, such as a protective response preventive of pneumococcal infection, are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are: epitopic regions of Pneumococcal Surface Protein C or “PspC”, different clades of PspC, isolated and/or purified nucleic acid molecules such as DNA encoding a fragment or portion of PspC such as an epitopic region of PspC or at least one epitope of PspC, uses for such nucleic acid molecules, e.g., to detect the presence of PspC or of S. pneumoniae by detecting a nucleic acid molecule therefor in a sample such as by amplification and/or a polymerase chain reaction, vectors or plasmids which contain and/or express such nucleic acid molecles, e.g.

Abstract: Oral or peroral administration, including intragastrically, of killed whole pneumococci, lysate of pneumococci and isolated and purified PspA, as well as immunogenic fragments thereof, particularly when administered with an adjuvant such as cholera toxin provides protection in a host, animal or human, against pneumococcal infection, including colonization, and systemic infection, such as sepsis. The ability to elicit protection against pneumococcal colonization in a host prevents carriage among immunized individuals, which can lead to elimination of disease from the population as a whole.

Abstract: Oral or peroral administration, including intragastrically, of killed whole pneumococci, lysate of pneumococci and isolated and purified PspA, as well as immunogenic fragments thereof, particularly when administered with an adjuvant such as cholera toxin provides protection in a host, animal or human, against pneumococcal infection, including colonization, and systemic infection, such as sepsis. The ability to elicit protection against pneumococcal colonization in a host prevents carriage among immunized individuals, which can lead to elimination of disease from the population as a whole.

Abstract: Mucosal administration, particularly intranasally, of killed whole pneumococci, lysate of pneumococci and isolated and purified PspA, as well as immunogenic fragments thereof, particularly when administered with cholera toxin B subunit, provides protection in animals against pneumococcal colonization and systemic infection. The ability to elicit protection against pneumococcal colonization in a host prevents carriage among immunized individuals, which can lead to elimination of disease from the population as a whole.

Abstract: Mucosal administration, particularly intranasally, of killed whole pneumococci, lysate of pneumococci and isolated and purified PspA, as well as immunogenic fragments thereof, particularly when administered with cholera toxin B subunit, provides protection in animals against pneumococcal colonization and systemic infection. The ability to elicit protection against pneumococcal colonization in a host prevents carriage among immunized individuals, which can lead to elimination of disease from the population as a whole.

Abstract: Oral or peroral administration, including intragastrically, of killed whole pneumococci, lysate of pneumococci and isolated and purified PspA, as well as immunogenic fragments thereof, particularly when administered with an adjuvant such as cholera toxin provides protection in a host, animal or human, against pneumococcal infection, including colonization, and systemic infection, such as sepsis. The ability to elicit protection against pneumococcal colonization in a host prevents carriage among immunized individuals, which can lead to elimination of disease from the population as a whole.

Abstract: Regions of the PspA protein of the R.times.1 strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae have been identified as containing protection-eliciting epitopes which are cross-reactive with PspAs of other S. pneumoniae strains and which is cross-protective. One region comprises the 68-amino acid sequence extending from amino acid residues 192 to 260 of the R.times.1 PspA strain while another region comprises the C-terminal amino acid sequence extending from amino acid residues 293 to 588 of the R.times.1 PspA strain.

Abstract: Regions of the PspA protein of the Rx1 strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae have been identified as containing protection-eliciting epitopes which are cross-reactive with PspAs of other S. pneumoniae strains and which is cross-protective. One region comprises the 68-amino acid sequence extending from amino acid residues 192 to 260 of the Rx1 PspA, another region comprises the C-terminal amino acid sequence extending from amino acid residues 293 to 588 of the Rx1 PspA, while a third region comprises the N-terminal amino acid sequence extending from amino acid residues 1 to 115 of the Rx1 PspA.

Abstract: A region of the PspA protein of the Rx1 strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae has been identified as containing protection-eliciting epitopes which are cross-reactive with PspAs of other S. pneumoniae strains and which is cross-protective. The region comprises the 68-amino acid sequence extending from amino acid residues 192 to 260 of the Rx1 PspA strain.

Abstract: A purified pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) comprises a truncated form of the PspA protein which is immunoprotective and contains the protective epitopes of PspA. The PspA protein is soluble in physiologic solution and lacks at least the cell membrane anchor region of the whole protein. The protein is formed by insertion-duplication of mutagenesis of S. pneumoniae with pspA gene and expression of the truncated protein into the growth medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to vaccine composition(s) comprising at least two PspAs from strains selected from at least one family, the family being defined by PspAs from strains belonging to the family having greater than or equal to 50% homology in aligned sequences of a C-terminal region of an alpha helical region of PspA. Additionally, the families are further comprised of clades, wherein PspAs from strains which belong to a clade exhibit at least 75% sequence homology in aligned sequences of the C-terminal region of the alpha helix of PspA. Vaccine compositions of the present invention preferably comprise a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 6 strains representing a single clade each, and the at least two PspAs are optionally serologically or broadly cross-reactive.

Abstract: A purified pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) comprises a truncated form of the PspA protein which is immunoprotective and contains the protective epitopes of PspA. The PspA protein is soluble in physiologic solution and lacks at least the cell membrane anchor region of the whole protein. The protein is formed by insertion-duplication of mutagenesis of S. pneumoniae with pspA gene and expression of the truncated protein into the growth medium.

Abstract: A purified pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) comprises a truncated form of the PspA protein which is immunoprotective and contains the protective epitopes of PspA. The PspA protein is soluble in physiologic solution and lacks at least the cell membrane anchor region of the whole protein. The protein is formed by insertion-duplication of mutagenesis of S. pneumoniae with pspA gene and expression of the truncated protein into the growth medium.

Abstract: A purified pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) comprises a truncated form of the PspA protein which is immunoprotective and contains the protective epitopes of PspA. The PspA protein is soluble in physiologic solution and lacks at least the cell membrane anchor region of the whole protein. The protein is formed by insertion-duplication of mutagenesis of S. pneumoniae with pspA gene and expression of the truncated protein into the growth medium.

Abstract: A purified pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) comprises a truncated form of the PspA protein which is immunoprotective and contains the protective epitopes of PspA. The PspA protein is soluble in physiologic solution and lacks at least the cell membrane anchor region of the whole protein. The protein is formed by insertion-duplication of mutagenesis of S. pneumoniae with pspA gene and expression of the truncated protein into the growth medium.

Abstract: A purified pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) comprises a truncated form of the PspA protein which is immunoprotective and contains the protective epitopes of PspA. The PspA protein is soluble in physiologic solution and lacks at least the cell membrane anchor region of the whole protein. The protein is formed by insertion-duplication of mutagenesis of S. pneumoniae with pspA gene and expression of the truncated protein into the growth medium.

Abstract: A region of the PspA protein of the Rx1 strain of Streptococus pneumoniae has been identified as containing protection-eliciting epitopes which are cross-reactive with PspAs of other S.pneumoniae strains. The region comprises the 68-amino acid sequence extending from amino acid residues 192 to 260 of the Rx1 PspA strain.

Abstract: A purified pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) comprises a truncated form of the PspA protein which is immunoprotective and contains the protective epitopes of PspA. The PspA protein is soluble in physiologic solution and lacks at least the cell membrane anchor region of the whole protein. The protein is formed by insertion-duplication of mutagenesis of S. pneumoniae with pspA gene and expression of the truncated protein into the growth medium.