US Government as Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Duquesne University of the Holy Ghost

Peter A Castric

Jerald C Sadoff

Alan S Cross

Compositions for eliciting an immune response against Gram-negative bacterial infections and methods of making such compositions are provided. The composition comprises glycosylated pilin, the pilin being glycosylated with the O-antigen of a target Gram-negative bacteria of interest. Methods of eliciting an immune response by administration of such compositions are also provided.

Compositions and methods for eliciting an immune response to gram-negative bacterial infections

The present invention relates to a broadly reactive vaccine against Gram-negative bacteria which is composed of a biological glycan-pilus conjugate. The conjugate core is a common pilus type to which is attached the glycan of choice in vivo. Pooling of these bioconjugates produces a multivalent vaccine. These pili give high bronchial titers when delivered by the intranasal route. Mice vaccinated with pure glycosylatedstrain 1244 pili in this manner are protected against respiratory challenge withstrain 1244. The present invention further relates to a DNA and amino acid sequence of a new gene, pilO, which is capable of glycosylating pilin of Gram-negative bacteria and uses thereof.

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Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

Peter A Castric