Strings of epitopes useful in diagnosing and eliciting immune responses to sexually transmitted infections

A polypeptide including a series of epitopes (SOE) which includes at least a plurality of epitopes selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:

• 166, SEQ ID NO:
• 167, SEQ ID NO:
• 168, SEQ ID NO:
• 169, SEQ ID NO:
• 170, SEQ ID NO:
• 171, SEQ ID NO:
• 172, SEQ ID NO:
• 173, and SEQ ID NO:
• 174 wherein each of said epitopes is connected by an amino acid linker.

A method of eliciting an immune response to a Trichomonas vaginalis microorganism in a subject, comprising the steps of

• preparing a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one SOE, which includes at least a plurality of epitopes selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:
• 166, SEQ ID NO:
• 167, SEQ ID NO:
• 168, SEQ ID NO:
• 169, SEQ ID NO:
• 170, SEQ ID NO:
• 171, SEQ ID NO:
• 172, SEQ ID NO:
• 173, and SEQ ID NO:
• 174, wherein each of said epitopes is connected by an amino acid linker, and a suitable carrier and adjuvant, and
• administering said pharmaceutical composition to said subject in an amount sufficient to stimulate formation of antibodies to said SOE by the immune system of said subject.

A method of making a polypeptide including a series of epitopes (SOE) to detect the presence of a Trichomonas vaginalis microorganism in a biological sample, comprising the steps of

• identifying at least one protein that is expressed by said Trichomonas vaginalis microorganism,
• determining regions of said at least one protein that are highly immunogenic,
• designing amino acid sequences encoding said regions of said at least one protein, and
• synthesizing a polypeptide comprising of said regions, which includes at least a plurality of epitopes selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:
• 166, SEQ ID NO:
• 167, SEQ ID NO:
• 168, SEQ ID NO:
• 169, SEQ ID NO:
• 170, SEQ ID NO:
• 171, SEQ ID NO:
• 172, SEQ ID NO:
• 173, and SEQ ID NO:
• 174, said epitopes being arranged as a linear array with each of said epitopes being connected by an amino acid linker.