The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.

The General Hospital Corporation

James L Michel

Dennis L Kasper

Lawrence C Madoff

Frederick M Ausubel

The invention concerns a vaccine capable of protecting a recipient from infection caused group B Streptococcus. The vaccine comprises polysaccharide-protein moieties or protein moieties without a polysaccharide. The vaccine can contain, inter alia, (a) a group B Streptoccus polysaccharide conjugated to (b) either the N-terminal region of the epsilon antigen, a fragment thereof or their functional derivatives such that the vaccine retains the ability to elicit protective antibodies against group B Streptoccus. The vaccine may contain only one type of such polysaccharide-protein unit or may contain a mixture of more than one type of unit. Alternatively, the vaccine may contain antigens from different species of Group B Streptococcus. Additionally, the invention concerns a passive vaccine obtained following immunization with either the capsular polysaccharide-protein conjugate or the non-conjugated protein.

Group B Streptococcus vaccine

A vaccine capable of protecting a recipient from infection caused by group B . The vaccine provides polysaccharide-protein moieties and contain (a) a group B polysaccharide conjugated to (b) a functional derivative of a group B C protein alpha antigen that retains the ability to elicit protective antibodies against group B . The vaccine may contain only one type of such polysaccharide-protein unit or may contain a mixture of more than one type of unit.

Immunogenic composition for group B Streptococcus

A vaccine capable of protecting a recipient from infection caused by group B Streptococcus. The vaccine provides polysaccharide-protein moieties and contain (a) a group B Streptococcus polysaccharide conjugated to (b) a functional derivative of a group B Streptococcus C protein alpha antigen that retains the ability to elicit protective antibodies against group B Streptococcus. The vaccine may contain only one type of such polysaccharide-protein unit or may contain a mixture of more than one type of unit.

Conjugate vaccine for group B Streptococcus

Conjugate vaccine for group B streptococcus

A vaccine capable of protecting a recipient from infection caused by group B Streptococcus. The vaccine provides polysaccharide-protein moieties and contain (a) a group B Streptococcus polysaccharide conjugated to (b)) a functional derivative of a group B Streptococcus C protein alpha antigen that retains the ability to elicit protective antibodies against group B Streptococcus. The vaccine may contain only one type of such polysaccharide-protein unit or may contain a mixture of more than one type of unit.

A purified DNA molecule is disclosed that comprises a DNA sequence encoding a Group B Streptococcus alpha antigen or antibody eliciting fragment. The alpha antigen sequence encodes several distinct domains including an N-terminal sequence that precedes the start of the alpha antigen repeating sequence, a C-terminal anchor sequence and a repeating unit motif. The ability to protect mice against a Streptococcus infection with antisera against cellular extracts containing the alpha antigen encoded by the DNA molecule was determined.

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Waban, MA, United States of America

James L Michel