The Rockefeller University

Emil Claus Gotschlich

Milan S Blake

Gregory J Russell-Jones

Lee Mark Wetzler

John Michael Koomey

The present invention is directed to nucleic acids encoding glycosyltransferases, the proteins encoded thereby, and to methods for synthesizing oligosaccharides using the glycosyltransferases of the invention. In particular, the present application is directed to identification a glycosyltransferase locus ofcontaining five open reading frames for five different glycosyltransferases. The functionally active glycosyltransferases of the invention are characterized by catalyzing reactions such as adding Gal &#x3b2;1&#x2192;4 to GlcNAc or Glc; adding GalNAc or GlcNAc &#x3b2;1&#x2192;3 to Gal; and adding Gal &#x3b1;l&#x2192;4 to Gal. The glycosyltransferases of the invention are particularly suited to the synthesis of the oligosaccharides Gal&#x3b2;1&#x2192;4GlcNAc&#x3b2;1&#x2192;3Gal&#x3b2;1&#x2192;4Glc (a mimic of lacto-N-neotetraose), GalNAc&#x3b2;1&#x2192;3Gal&#x3b2;1&#x2192;4GlcNAc&#x3b2;1&#x2192;3Gal&#x3b2;1&#x2192;4Glc&#x3b2;1&#x2192;4 (a mimic ganglioside), and Gal&#x3b1;1&#x2192;4Gal&#x3b2;1&#x2192;4Glc&#x3b2;1&#x2192;4Hep&#x2192;R (a mimic of the saccharide portion of globo-glycolipids).

Glycosyltransferases for biosynthesis of oligosaccharides, and genes encoding them

The present invention is directed to nucleic acids encoding glycosyltransferases, the proteins encoded thereby, and to methods for synthesizing oligosaccharides using the glycosyltransferases of the invention. In particular, the present application is directed to identification a glycosyltransferase locus of containing five open reading frames for five different glycosyltransferases. The functionally active glycosyltransferases of the invention are characterized by catalyzing reactions such as adding Gal &bgr;1&rarr;4 to GlcNAc or Glc; adding GalNAc or GlcNAc &bgr;1&rarr;3 to Gal; and adding Gal &agr;1&rarr;4 to Gal. The glycosyltransferases of the invention are particularly suited to the synthesis of the oligosaccharides Gal&bgr;1&rarr;4GlcNAc&bgr;1&rarr;3Gal&bgr;1&rarr;4Glc (a mimic of lacto-N-neotetraose), GalNAc&bgr;1&rarr;3Gal&bgr;1&rarr;4GlcNAc&bgr;1&rarr;3Gal&bgr;1&rarr;4Glc&bgr;1&rarr;4 (a mimic ganglioside), and Gal&agr;1&rarr;4Gal&bgr;1&rarr;4Glc&bgr;1&rarr;4Hep&rarr;R (a mimic of the saccharide portion of globo-glycolipids).

This invention relates to mutants of Neisseria useful for vaccine preparation. Specifically this invention relates to mutants of Neisseria containing mutations in a major outer membrane protein gene such that no immunologically functional polypeptides encoded by said gene are produced. More specifically, the invention relates to a mutant strain of having a mutation of the PIII gene and to vaccines derived therefrom.

Neisserial vaccine free of immunologically functional PIII or class 4 proteins

The present invention is directed to nucleic acids encoding glycosyltransferases, the proteins encoded thereby, and to methods for synthesizing oligosaccharides using the glycosyltransferases of the invention. In particular, the present application is directed to identification a glycosyltransferase locus of containing five open reading frames for five different glycosyltransferases. The functionally active glycosyltransferases of the invention are characterized by catalyzing reactions such as adding Gal &bgr;1&rarr;4 to GlcNAc or Glc; adding GalNAc or GlcNAc &bgr;1&rarr;3 to Gal; and adding Gal &agr;1&rarr;4 to Gal. The glycosyltansferases of the invention are particularly suited to the synthesis of the oligosaccharides Gal&bgr;1&rarr;4GlcNAc&bgr;1&rarr;3Gal&bgr;1&rarr;4Glc (a mimic of lacto-N-neotetraose), GalNAc&bgr;1&rarr;3Gal&bgr;1&rarr;4GlcNAc&bgr;1&rarr;3Gal&bgr;1&rarr;4Glc&bgr;1&rarr;4 (a mimic ganglioside), and Gal&agr;1&rarr;4Gal&bgr;1&rarr;4Glc&bgr;1&rarr;4Hep&rarr;R (a mimic of the saccharide portion of globo-glycolipids).

The present invention is directed to nucleic acids encoding glycosyltransferases, the proteins encoded thereby, and to methods for synthesizing oligosaccharides using the glycosyltransferases of the invention. In particular, the present application is directed to identification a glycosyltransferase locus of Neisseria gonorrhoeae containing five open reading frames for five different glycosyltransferases. The functionally active glycosyltransferases of the invention are characterized by catalyzing reactions such as adding Gal .beta.1.fwdarw.4 to GlcNAc or Glc; adding GalNAc or GlcNAc .beta.1.fwdarw.3 to Gal; and adding Gal .alpha.1.fwdarw.4 to Gal. The glycosyltransferases of the invention are particularly suited to the synthesis of the oligosaccharides Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.4GlcNAc.beta.1.fwdarw.3Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.4Glc (a mimic of lacto-N-neotetraose), GalNAc.beta.1.fwdarw.3Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.4GlcNAc.beta.1.fwdarw.3Gal.beta.l. fwdarw.4Glc.beta.1.fwdarw.4 (a mimic ganglioside), and Gal.alpha.1.fwdarw.4Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.4Glc.beta.1.fwdarw.4Hep.fwdarw.R (a mimic of the saccharide portion of globo-glycolipids).

Glycosyltransferases for biosynthesis of oligosaccharides, and genes

The present invention is directed to nucleic acids encoding glycosyltransferases, the proteins encoded thereby, and to methods for synthesizing oligosaccharides using the glycosyltransferases of the invention. In particular, the present application is directed to identification a glycosyltransferase locus of Neisseria gonorrhoeae containing five open reading frames for five different glycosyltransferases. The functionally active glycosyltransferases of the invention are characterized by catalyzing reactions such as adding Gal .beta.1.fwdarw.4 to GlcNAc or Glc; adding GalNAc or GlcNAc .beta.1.fwdarw.3 to Gal; and adding Gal .alpha.1.fwdarw.4 to Gal. The glycosyltransferases of the invention are particularly suited to the synthesis of the oligosaccharides Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.4GlcNAc .beta.1.fwdarw.3Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.4Glc (a mimic of lacto-N-neotetraose), GalNAc.beta.1.fwdarw.3Gal.beta.l.fwdarw.4GlcNAc.beta.1.fwdarw.3Gal.beta.1. fwdarw.4Glc.beta.1.fwdarw.4 (a mimic ganglioside), and Gal.alpha.1.fwdarw.4Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.4Glc.beta.1.fwdarw.4Hep.fwdarw.R (a mimic of the saccharide portion of globo-glycolipids).

The present invention is directed to nucleic acids encoding glycosyltransferases, the proteins encoded thereby, and to methods for synthesizing oligosaccharides using the glycosyltransferases of the invention. In particular, the present application is directed to identification a glycosyltransferase locus of Neisseria gonorrhoeae containing five open reading frames for five different glycosyltransferases. The functionally active glycosyltransferases of the invention are characterized by catalyzing reactions such as adding Gal .beta..fwdarw.4 to GlcNAc or Glc; adding GalNAc or GlcNAc .beta.1.fwdarw.3 to Gal; and adding Gal .alpha.1.fwdarw.4 to Gal. The glycosyltransferases of the invention are particularly suited to the synthesis of the oligosaccharides Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.4GlcNAc.beta.1.fwdarw.3Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.4Glc (a mimic of lacto-N-neotetraose), GalNAc.beta.1.fwdarw.3Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.4GlcNAc.beta.1.fwdarw.3Gal.beta.1. fwdarw.4Glc.beta.1.fwdarw.4 (a mimic ganglioside), and Gal.alpha.1.fwdarw.4Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.4Glc.beta.1.fwdarw.4Hep.fwdarw.R (a mimic of the saccharide portion of globo-glycolipids).

The present invention is directed to nucleic acids encoding glycosyltransferases, the proteins encoded thereby, and to methods for synthesizing oligosaccharides using the glycosyltransferases of the invention. In particular, the present application is directed to identification a glycosyltransferase locus of Neisseria gonorrhoeae containing five open reading frames for five different glycosyltransferases. The functionally active glycosyltransferases of the invention are characterized by catalyzing reactions such as adding Gal .beta.1.fwdarw.4 to GlcNAc or Glc; adding GalNAc or GlcNAc .beta.1.fwdarw.3 to Gal; and adding Gal .alpha.1.fwdarw.4 to Gal. The glycosyltransferases of the invention are particularly suited to the synthesis of the oligosaccharides Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.4GlcNAc.beta.1.fwdarw.3Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.4Glc (a mimic of lacto-N-neotetraose), GalNac.beta.1.fwdarw.3Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.4GlcNAc.beta.1.fwdarw.3Gal.beta.1. fwdarw.4Glc.beta.1.fwdarw.4 (a mimic ganglioside), and Gal.alpha.1.fwdarw.4Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.4Glc.beta.1.fwdarw.4Hep.fwdarw.R (a mimic of the saccharide portion of globo-glycolipids).

Describes IgA binding protein isolatable from Group B streptococci, methods of isolation and use in immunological testing procedures.

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New York, NY, United States of America

Emil Claus Gotschlich