The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.

The General Hospital Corporation

Lawrence C Madoff

Dennis L Kasper

James L Michel

Frederick M Ausubel

Gerald B Pier

Ying Wang

Johannes Huebner

The present invention is directed to a method for purifying polysaccharides capable of inducing the production of high titers of opsonic antibodies that kill strains of enterococcal bacteria. In addition, the invention is directed to the antigens produced by this purification method and to vaccines which utilize such antigens.

Capsular polysaccharides from enterococci

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.

Growing community of inventors

Boston, MA, United States of America

Lawrence C Madoff