abstract |
The present invention relates to the identification and use of a family of human complement C3 degradation polypeptides expressed by Streptococcus pneumoniae. The polypeptide has a molecular weight of, for example, about 15 kD to about 25 kD or about 75 kDa to about 95 kDa. Preferred polypeptides of the invention comprise the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO: 2 and SEQ ID NO: 5. |