Chlamydia protein, gene sequence and uses thereof

An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising,

• a nucleic acid sequence which hybridizes under conditions comprising 50% formamide and 37° C. to a DNA sequence which is complementary to SEQ ID No.:
• 1 and encodes a protein which is recognized by an antibody that specifically binds to a protein comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.:
• 2.

An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising nucleotide residues 466 to 3421 of SEQ ID NO.:

• 1, wherein said nucleic acid is obtainable from plasmid pAH342 contained in E.coli BL21 (pAH342) assigned ATCC accession number 985538.

A recombinant vector comprising plasmid pAH342 obtainable from E.coli BL21 (pAH342) having ATCC accession number 985538.

An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising at least 50 nucleotides of SEQ ID NO.:

• 1 and encoding a fragment of a Chlamydia high molecular weight (HMW) protein, wherein said fragment is recognized by an antibody that specifically binds to a protein comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.:
• 2.

An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising residues 466 to 1980 of SEQ ID NO.:

• 1, wherein said nucleic acid is obtainable from plasmid pJJ36-J contained in E. coli TOP10 having ATCC accession number PTA-3719.

A recombinant vector comprising plasmid pJJ 36-J obtainable from E.coli TOP10 pJJ 36-J having ATCC accession number PTA-3719.