Methods of preparing P. gingivalis antibodies

A method of preparing an antibody, comprising immunizing a non-human animal with a chimeric or fusion protein, wherein the protein comprises a first peptide joined directly or through a linker to a second peptide or polypeptide, wherein:

• (A) said first peptide comprises a region of a P. gingivalis trypsin-like enzyme selected from the group consisting of the amino acid sequence that is the same as, or at least 90% homologous to, the sequence shown in any one of SEQ ID NOs:
• 1-34;
• and
• (B) said second peptide or polypeptide comprises a P. gingivalis adhesin domain sequence selected from the group consisting of:
• (i) the amino acid sequence that is the same as, or at least 90% homologous to, the P. gingivalis Lys-X-proteinase adhesin domain sequence shown in any one of SEQ ID NOs:
• 35-37 and 40-43 and;
• (ii) the amino acid sequence that is the same as, or at least 90% homologous to, the P. gingivalis Arg-X-proteinase adhesin domain sequence shown in any one of SEQ ID NOs:
• 38-39 and 44-46;
• and
• (iii) the amino acid sequence that is the same as, or at least 90% homologous to, the of P. gingivalis HagA adhesin domain sequence shown in any one of SEQ ID NOs:
• 80-82;
• and
• (iv) the amino acid sequence that is the same as, or at least 90% homologous to, the sequence shown in any one of SEQ ID NOs:
• 69-79 and 83-85.