Eniricerche S.p.a.

Sclavo Spa

Eniricerhce S.p.a.

Paola Pedroni

Guido Grandi

Barbara Riboli

Francesca De Ferra

Anna Cuzzoni

Rino Rappuoli

Salvatore Toma

Beatrice Arico

The cloning and sequencing of the gene which codes for a new pilinic subunit of Bordetella pertussis are described. The aminoacid sequence of the mature subunit, deduced from its necleotide sequence, is similar but not identical to that of the known pilins 2, 3 and 6. Polypeptides having the aminoacid sequence of the mature pilinic subunit or of regions thereof are particularly useful for the development of synthetic acellular vaccines against pertussis.

Cloning and sequencing of the gene which codes for a new pilinic subunit

A cloned DNA fragment of Bordetella pertussis including the gene which codes for the pilinic subunit fim3, vectors which contain it and microorganisms transformed by the vectors. The protein and peptides corresponding to at least one epitope of the gene which codes for the pilinic subunit fim3 are particularly useful for the development of acellular anti-pertussis vaccines. In addition, a strain of Bordetella modified by a recombinant replication or genome-integration vector containing the cloned DNA fragment or the gene or a fraction thereof is particularly suitable for the development of a cellular anti-pertussis vaccine.

Cloning of the gene which codes for the pilinic subunit fim3 of

The isolation and characterization of the promoter regions of the genes which code for the pilinic subunits fim2, fim3 and fimx of Bordetella pertussis, are described, as well as the construction of vectors containing the regions, and microorganisms transformed by the vectors. The promoter regions, or nucleotide fragments thereof, are particularly useful for the regulable or non-regulable expression of genes which code for a protein of interest in a strain of Bordetella. The transformed Bordetella strains are particularly suitable for the development of an effective anti-pertussis vaccine.

Promoter of the gene which codes for the pilinic subunit fim3 of

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Milan, Italy

Paola Pedroni