Immunogenic compositions for the prevention and treatment of meningococcal disease

A composition comprising:

• at least one polynucleotide that (a) encodes at least one protein encoded by an open reading frame of Neisseria species (ORF2086) or at least one immunogenic portion or biological equivalent of said at least one protein, said open reading frame encoding a crossreactive immunogenic antigen, and said crossreactive immunogenic antigen providing immunogenicity against infection by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B in a subject;
• or (b) hybridizes under stringent conditions to any of the polynucleotides described in (a), wherein the protein comprises any of the even numbered amino acid sequences of 2-252.

A method of inducing an immune response against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B subfamily B in a mammal comprising administering to said mammal a composition comprising an immunologically effective amount of a composition comprising an isolated and purified protein having the amino acid sequence of any one of the even numbered amino acid sequences of 2-252.