| abstract |
Peptides and proteins related to an epitope comprising an outer membrane protein of Haemophilus influenzae are described. The peptides and proteins can be prepared by methods including novel and improved methods of purification from H. influenzae cultures, and by recombinant DNA and chemical synthetic techniques. Additionally, recombinant vectors containing nucleotide sequences encoding PBOMP-1 and PBOMP-2 related peptides, proteins and fusion proteins are also described. Recombinant vectors include plasmid DNA and viral DNA such as human viruses, animal viruses, insect viruses and bacteriophages that direct the expression of the PBOMP-1 and PBOMP-2 related peptides, proteins, and fusion proteins in appropriate host cells. The peptides, proteins, fusion proteins and viruses both "live" and "inactivated" are used as immunogens in vaccine formulations to protect against H. influenzae infections. The peptides, proteins and fusion proteins are also used as reagents in immunoassays as well as to prepare immunoglobulins for passive immunization. Use of the nucleotide sequences encoding the PBOMP related peptides, proteins and fusion proteins in hybridization assays is also described. |