Methods and Compositions for Treating Bacterial Infection

A method of treating or preventing a bacterial infection in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a molecule that targets an Escherichia coli (E. coli)-derived island (RDI) or fragment thereof, thereby treating or preventing a bacterial infection in a subject.

A method for diagnosing a bacterial infection, the method comprising determining the level of expression of an RDI nucleic acid molecule, polypeptide or fragment thereof in a subject sample, wherein an increased level of expression relative to a reference, indicates that the subject has or has a propensity to develop extraintestinal E. coli infection.

A method for identifying microbial determinants involved in a bacterial infection, the method comprising (1) systematic genome comparison or (2) in silico gene comparison.

14-18. (canceled)

A vector comprising an E. coli RDI nucleic acid molecule, or fragment thereof, encoding a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of:

• RDIs 1, 4, 7, 12, 13, 16, 20, 21, and 22.

20-22. (canceled)

24-28. (canceled)

An antibody reactive with an E. coli-derived (RDI) polypeptide or protein or portion thereof.

30-32. (canceled)

A pharmaceutical composition comprising a molecule that binds or interacts with an E. coli RDI or fragment thereof, in a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, wherein the E. coli RDI or fragment thereof is capable of modulating an immune response in a subject.

35-36. (canceled)

An immunogenic composition comprising an E. coli RDI or fragments thereof in a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

39-45. (canceled)

A method of modulating an immune response in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject an E. coli RDI or fragment thereof capable of modulating an immune response or a polynucleotide encoding the fragment.

48-52. (canceled)