US 6,268,171 B1 · Recombinant PilC proteins, methods for producing them and their use

Abstract

The invention relates to recombinant gene sequences for synthesizing a protein having the biological activity of the PilC protein. Furthermore, the invention relates to DNA recombinant methods for the production of proteins having the biological activity of the PilC protein as well as the tools of molecular biology needed therein. Besides, the invention relates to proteins having the biological activity of the PilC protein and its antibodies. Further embodiments of the invention are pharmaceutical compositions with a content of the mentioned proteins or antibodies. Preferably, these pharmaceutical compositions serve as vaccines for the immunization against pathogenic bacteria bearing type 4 pili. The invention also relates to kits for the detection of bacteria bearing type 4 pili or antibodies directed against them containing the mentioned proteins or antibodies. Finally, the invention relates to cellular receptors for bacteria bearing type 4 pili and analogues thereof.

Claims32

Dependent claims

An isolated DNA molecule comprising

i) a first DNA fragment that is a heteropolymeric nucleotide sequence that encodes a homopolymeric amino acid sequence or that encodes a signal peptide and lacks a homopolymeric nucleotide sequence;
and
ii) a second DNA fragment that is a nucleotide sequence that encodes a mature PilC protein having at least one biological activity selected from the group consisting of supporting assembly of a type 4 pilus, mediating attachment of type 4 pili to a cellular receptor for type 4 pili and being immunogenic for induction of antibodies that block the attachment of type 4 pili to a cellular receptor for type 4 pili;
wherein said first DNA fragment is operatively-linked to the 5′ end of said second DNA fragment to prevent phase variation in the expression by a host cell of the protein encoded by said second DNA fragment.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Recombinant PilC proteins, methods for producing them and their use

Life of this patent

Recombinant PilC proteins, methods for producing them and their use

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32