CA2957430A1 - Immunogenic composition against campylobacter jejuni - Google Patents

Abstract

The inventive subject matter relates to an immunogenic composition against Campylobacter jejuni comprising isolated capsule polysaccharide from selected pathogenic Campylobacter jejuni strains. The inventive subject matter also relates to methods of using the polysaccharide compositions in inducing and anti-C. jejuni immune response.

Description

2 IMMUNOGENIC COMPOSITION AGAINST CAMPYLOBACTER JEJUNI
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation.-in-Part to U.S. Nonprovisional application 11/524,057 filed 09/20/2006, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional application 60/722,086, filed 09/21/2005, which are hereby incorporated by reference. This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application 62/054,454, filed 09/24/2014; U.S. Provisional application 62/127,927, fi1ed03/04/2015; U.S.
Provisional application 62/034,436, filed 08/07/2014; and U.S. Provisional application 62/165,301, filed 05/22/2015, which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Field of the Invention [0001] The inventive subject matter relates to an immunogenic composition capable of conferring protection against diarrhea caused by Campylobacterjejuni and a method of inducing an immune response against C. jejuni using the immunogenic composition.
Description of Related Art [0002] Campylobacterjejuni is estimated to cause 2.5 million cases annually in the United States arid >400 million cases worldwide. In developing countries C.
jcluni is, like ETEC, primarily a pediatric disease. The symptoms of campylobacter enteritis include diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever and sometimes vomiting. Stools usually contain 1.

mucus, fecal leukocytes and blood, although watery diarrhea is also observed.
The disease is zoonotic, and wild and domesticated birds represent a major reservoir. C.
jejuni is a major foodbome infection, most alien being associated with contaminated poultry, but major outbreaks have been associated with water or raw milk contamination (44). C jejuni is also associated with Reiter's syndronie and inflammatory bowel syndrome, but the major complication of C. jejuni enteritis is Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), a post-infectious polyneuropathy that can result in paralysis (Allos, B.M., J.
Infect. [)is 176 (Suppl 2):S125-128 (1997)). The association is due to molecular mimicry between the sialic acid containing-outer core of the lipooligosaccharide (L)S) and human gangliosides (Moran, et al., J. Endotox. Res, 3: 521 (1996)). Thus, antibodies generated against WS cores result in an autoimmune response to human neural tissue.

[0003] C. jejuni capsular moieties are important in serodetermination.
However, despite over 47 Penner serotypes of C. jejuni having been identified, most Campylobacter diarrheal disease is caused by C. jejuni expressing only a limited number of serotypes.
Therefore, only selected strains of C. jejuni, predicated on epidemiological studies, provides suitable candidate strains for development of vaccine compositions.
However, despite the importance of this organism to human disease, there are no licensed vaccines against C jejuni.
[0002] LOS synthesis in Campylobacter is controlled by a number of genes, including genes encoding enzymes involved in biosynthesis of sialic acid for incorporation in.to LOS. Thus, C. jejuni is one of a limited number of bacteria that can endogenously synthesize sialic acid, a 9 carbon sugar that is found in many mammalian cells. This is 2.

consistent with the observed molecular mimicry of LOS and human gimgliosides important in GBS (Aspinall, et al., Eur. J. Biochem., 213: 1029 (1993);
Aspinall, et al., Infect. Immun. 62: 2122-2125 (1994); Aspinall, et al., Biochern., 33: 241 (1994);
Salloµvay et al., Infect. Immun., 64: 2945 (1996)).
[0003] An interesting recent revelation regarding the Campylobacter genome sequence was the presence of a complete set of capsule transport genes similar to those seen in type capsule loci in the Enterobactericeae (Parkhill et al., Niature, 403: 665 (2000);
Karlyshev et al., Mol. Microbiol., 35: 529 (2000)). Subsequent genetic studies in which site-specific mutations were made in several capsule transport genes indicated that the capsule was the serodeterminant of the Penner serotyping scheme (Karlyshev et al., Mot.
Microbia, 35: 529 (2000)). The Penner scheme (or HS for heat stable) is one of two major serotyping schemes of campylobacters and was originally thought to be based on lipopolysaccharide 0 side chains (Nloran and Penner, 5. Appl. Microbiol., 86:
361.
(1999)). Currently it is believed that the structures previously described as 0 side chains are, in fact, capsules.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The inventive composition relates to an immunogenic composition comprising polysaccharide antigens comprising isolated capsule polysaccharides from a Carnpylobacterjejuni strain, linked to form polysaccharide polymers. The polysaccharides are isolated from lipooligosaccharide structures and other structures associated with Guillain Barre Syndrome or autoimmune disorders. The embodied composition comprises one or more polysaccharide antigens each comprising isolated 3.

pol3Isaccharides from the C. jejuni strains selected from the group consisting of HS I, HS1/HS44õ HS44, HS2, HS3, HS4, HS5, HSI3, HS4/13164, and HS50.

[0005] Another embodiment is a method of inducing an immune response by.
administering an immunogenic composition comprising one or more polysaccharide antigens with each antigen comprising an isolated polysaccharides or polysaccharide polymer derived from a C. jejuni strain where the C. jejuni strains are selected from the group consisting of: HSI, EISI/HS44, HS44, HS, HS3, HS4, HS5, 14513õ
HS4/13/64, and HS5, The composition is devoid of lipooligosaccharide structures and other structures associated with GMHain Barre Syndrome or other autoimmune disorders.

[0006] Another ernbodiment is a method of immunizing against C. jejuni strains HS4, HS13, HS4/13/64 and HS5) by administering one or more antigens, wherein each antigen comprises an isolated polysaccharide or polysaccharide polyniers derived from a C. jejuni strain selected from the group consisting of HS4, 1-1513, HS4/13/64 and HS5.

[0007] Another embodiment is a method of immunizing against C. jejuni strains HS I, HSPHS44, HS44 by adrninisntering one or more antigensõ wherein each antigen comprises an isolated polysaccharide or polysaccharide polymer derived from a C. jejuni strain selected from the group consisting of C. jejuni strains 11S4, 1-1513,1154/13/64.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG: I. Alignment of variable CI'S loci from C. jejuni HSI and 11544 Penner type strains. Genes are as indicated in the figure and include: methyl phosphoramidate (MeOPN) biosynthesis and transferase; CPS transport and assembly; putative methyl transferase; Heptoseldeoxyheptose biosynthesis; putative glycosyl transferase;
sugar biosynthesis; and hypothetical.
FIG, 2, Structure of HSI teichoic acid-like capstile.
FIG, 3. 2D IF1-311) HMBC NMR spectrum of C. jejuni HS:1144 teichoic acid CPS.
This NR spectrum shows the connections between the MeOPN moieties and positions 3 of the Fru units, and between the diester-phosphate and position 4 of Gal and position 1 of Gro.
FIG. 4. GC-MS and NMR of C]. Muni HS44 CPS material. (A) GC-MS profile of the alditol acetate derivatives from the two CPSs of C jejuni HS44, showing (i) the backbone units of the teiehoic acid CPS, glycerol (Gro) and galactose (Gal), and (ii) those emanating from the second heptose-rich CPS, 6-deoxy-3-0-Methyl-altro-heptose (6d-3-0-Me-altro-Hep), 6-deoxy-aitro-heptose (6d-rritro-Hep) and 6-deoxy-gairreto-heptose (6d-gai-Hep). (B) 1H NR spectrum of HS44 CPS material showing the 0.-anorneric resonances emanating from 6d-altro-Fiepf, 6-deoxy-galacto-Hepf*and 6d-3-0-Me-altro-Hepfof the heptose-rich CPS and from Gal of the teichoic acid CPS.
FIG, 5, Characterization of mutants in the HSI CPS locus. A. Alcian blue stained 12.5% SDS PAGE of crude CPS preparations. Lane I, Precision Plus protein standards;
lane 2, HSI. wildtype; lane 3, HSI. 1,08 mutant; lane 4, HS1 1.08 mutant complemented;
lane 5, HSI 1.09 mutant; lane 6, HSI 1.09 mutant complemented; lane 7, HS1 wildtype.
n. 31P NMR of CPS from HS1,08 complement; C. 3IP NR of CPS 'from HS1.09 compiement; D. 3IP N. of CPS from :11S1 wildtype.
FIG. 6, The GC-MS profile of the alditol acetate derivatives of C, jejuni CG2995 CPS, FIG. 7. The IH NMR spectrum of C. jejuni CG2995 CPS.

FIG. 8. (A) The 2D /II-13C HSQC NR spectrum of C. jejuni CG2995 CPS; (B) The 1D selective /H NOEs of the C. jejuni CG 2995 CPS. Irradiated peaks are denoted with an "*". Mixing time of 0.250ps was used.
FIG. 9. The 3' P NMR spectrum of C. jejuni CG2995 CPS.
FIG. 10. The 2D 'H-31P HMBC NMR spectrum of C jejuni CG2995 CPS.
FIG. 11. Structure. of HS5 CPS showing four variations: i) The main PS
structure of C
jejuni CG2995, ii) variation I, iii) variation 2, and iv) variation 3.
FIG. 12. The GC-MS profile (top) of the alditol acetate derivatives of C
jejuni CG2995 CPS, following TEMPO oxidation that shows a reduction in abundance of the 3,6-dideoxy-ribo-heptose.
FIG. 13. TEMPO oxidation that shows a reduction in abundance of the 3,6-dideoxy-ribo-heptose, indicating that its C-7 primary hydroxyl (free of MeOPN) is the site of preferred oxidation in. this CPS, and that which will be mostly involved in the conjugation of C.
jejunt CG2995 CPS to carrier protein CRM197.
FIG. 14. Characterization of the HSI conjugate vaccine. A. 31P NR of IIS1cps-CRMI97 conjugate vaccine showing the presence of MeOPN in the conjugate CPS.
B.
Gel code blue stained 12% SDS-PAGE gel. Lane 1, C1M197; lane 2, 171S1-CRM197 conjugate. The mass of protein standards are shown on the left.
FIG. 15, NMR of HS:13 CPS. (A) ID 11-1NMR; and (B) 111) 31P NMR spectra of C, jejuni 3019 CPS (serotype HS:13).
FIG. 16. Linkage determination of MeOPN group by NMR. 2D /11-31P HMBC NMR
spectrum of C. jejuni BH-)1-0142 CPS (A : 1,2,3-linked 6d-ido-Heplm-ido-Hep with C
residue; C: MeOPN).

FIG. 17. NMR analysis showing that non-sugar moiety was 3-hydrox)propanoyl, (A) 2D IH-13C HMBC N. spectrum of C. jejuni BH-01-0142 CPS (B': 1,3,4-linked Gal with residue D; (B) D: 3-hydroxypropanoyl oup.
FIG. 18. Irnmunogenicity of IISI-CRM197 conjugate in mice. A. ELISA titers to BSA two weeks after three doses. B. Dot blot of C. jÃ.juni cells immunodetected with mouse sera at a final dilution of 1:1000.
FIG. 19. Immune response to HS5-CRM197conjugate. Mice were immunized with three (3) doses (10 ti.tg and 50 t_ig by weight of conjugate) given at 4 week intervals. The mice were bled two weeks after the last doses.
FIG. 20. .B1-10142 (HS3) conjugate vaccine is immunogenic in mice. Data represent the mean ( SEM) reciprocal IgG endpoint titer per treatment group.
FIG. 21. Dot blot demonstrating immunogenicity of an HS I-CRM197 vaccine.
Purified capsules (1 nag/m1) were dot blotted in triplicate (2 ul each) to nitrocellulose and immunodetected with rabbit polyclonal antiserum to an HS1-CRM197 vaccine. HS
1, wildtype HSI capsule; HS1.08, capsule from a fructose transferase mutant of HS/ that lacks the 'fructose branch and the MeOPN; HS23/36, capsule from 81-176 which expresses a heterologous capsule (HS23/36).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] The term "polysaccharide antigen" as used herein refers to a capsule polysaccharide derived from Campylobacterjejuni (C. Muni or Ccrinpylobacterjejuni) capsule. As used, herein, each polysaccharide antigen comprises a polysaccharide or polysaccharide polymer derived from one C jejuni strain. The inventive composition can be comprised of trillitiple polysaccharide antigens. As used herein, "polysaccharide"
refers to two or more monosaccharide units composing a carbohydrate polymer molecule.
A "polysaccharide polymer" refers to two or more polysaccharide molecules connected together, As used herein, "n" in the polysaccharide structure refers to the number of polysaccharide repeats in the polymer md is 1 or more and can be up to 100.

[0009] An embodiment of the current invention comprises polysaccharide antigens comprising a polysaccharide or polysaccharide polymer derived from the capsule of a C.
jejuni strain. The strains from which the capsule polysaccharides are isolated are selected from the group consisting of HSI, HS1/EIS44, HS44, 1-152, HS3, HS4, HS5, HS13, HS4/13/64, and 115.50. A capsule polysaccharide polymer comprises 1 to 100 copies of a polysaccharide structure, derived from an individual C jejuni strain, connected together to form a polysaccharide poly-mer. The inventive immunogenic composition one or more polysaccharide antigens with each polysaccharide antigen comprising an isolated C
jejuni polysaccharide structure or polysaccharide polymer from a C. jejuni strain. The polysaccharides are isolated or purified away from lipooligosaccharide, or other structures associated with GBS or other autoimmune disorders.
[00101 A large number of the C. jejuni strains are identified. An embodiment of the current invention includes only capsule polysaccharides derived from C. jejuni strains, which have been shown to result in disease in humans.

Example IISPHS44 and 11,544 ,polysaccharide structure [00111 Vaccine strategies against C. jejuni have been largely limited due to the molecular mimicry between lipooligosaccharide (LOS ) cores of many strains of C. jejuni and human gangliosides (Moran, et al., J. Endotox. Res., 3: 521 (1996). This mimicry is thought to be a major factor in the strong association of C. jejuni infection with Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS), a post-infectious polyneuropathy (Allos, J. Infect. is., 176(Suppl.): S125-128 (1997)). Thus, antibodies generated against LOS cores result in an autoimmune response to human neural tissue. It has been estimated that as many as 1/3000 cases of campylobacter enteritis results in GBS. Therefore, the possibility of developing GBS could be associated with any whole cell vaccine against C, jejuni that includes ganglioside mimicry.
[00121 Recent development of a molecular CPS typing system re-enforced the strong correlation between CPS and Penner types (Poly, et al., J. Clin. Microbiol.
49: 1750 (2011)), Both Penner serotyping and molecular CPS typing have revealed the predominance of a handful of CPS types worldwide. Among CPS types, the HS1 complex is one of the most common, accounting for 8,2% of C. jejuni induced diarrhea worldwide ((Poly, et al., J. Clin. Microbiol, 49: 1750 (2011); Pike, et al., plOs One 8:
e67375 (2013)). This complex is composed of HS1 and HS44 types, and strains can serotype as HSI, H544 or HS1/44. So far, only the CPS structure of the HS1 type strain has been described, which is composed of repeating units composed of 4-substituted a-D-galactose (Gal) and glycerol (Gm) linked by phosphate (P) in a teichoic acid-like structure [-4)-a-D-Ga1p-(1-2)-Gro-(1-P-1, (Aspinall, et al., 'Eur. J. Biochem.
216: 880 (1993 . The HS1 CPS backbone may be decorated by13-D-fnictofuranoses (Fru) branches, at C-2 and C-3 of the Gal unit, which in turn may be decorated at C-3 with MeOPN (Fig. 1; (McNally, et al., FEBS J. 272: 4407 (2005)). Both the fructofuranose branches and MeOPN are found in non-stoichiometric amounts, presumably due to phase variation at homopolymeric tracts of bases in the genes encoding their respective transferases (McNally, et al., F.EBS J. 272: 4407 (2005)). The ¨15 kb HSI CPS
locus encoding eleven genes for the synthesis of this polysaccharide (BX545859) is the smallest CPS locus identified to date in C. jejuni (Karlyshev, et al., Appl.
Environ.
Microbiol, 71: 4004 (2005))(Fig. 1), [0013] The HSI type strain used was 1VISC57360 and the HS44 strain (A.TCC
43463) was obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC)(Manassas. VA).
C.
jejuni strain CG98-U-77 was isolated from a diarrhea case from Thailand and was obtained from the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (AFRIMS). C.
jejuni strains were routinely cultured at 37 C under microaerobic conditions (5% 02, 10%
CO7, arid 85% N2) on Mueller Hinton (MB) agar plates, supplemented with the appropriate antibiotic, if required, E. coil strains were grown in LB .media supplemented with the appropriate antibiotics.
[0014] C. jejuni genomic DNA was extracted =from 16 hour cultures. Sequencing of the CPS loci was performed as previously described (Karlyshev, et al., Mol.
rvficrobiol. 55:
90 (2005); Poly, et al. J. Clin. Microbiol. 49: 175) (2011), Karlyshev, et al., Gene 522:
37 (2013)).
[0015] The CPS was extracted from cells by hot water¨phenol extraction for 2 hours at 70 'C. The aqueous layer was dialyzed (1000 Da) against water followed by ultracentrifugation to separate the CPS from the LOS. The supernatant material containing the CPS was subjected to size-exclusion chromatogaphy (Sephadex G50) for further purification to yield the intact CPSs.
[0016] Determination of monosac,charide composition was performed using a procedure amenable to the alditol acetate method (Chen, et al., Carbohydr. Res. 343:
1034 (2008)) with the alditol acetates being analyzed in a ThermoFinnigan POLARISTm-Q
(Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc, Waltham, MA) gas chromatographimass spectrometer (GC/MS) using a DB-17 capillary column. The sugar 'linkage types were characterized by characterization of the peimethylated alditol acetates by GC/MS as previously described (Chen, et al., Carbohydr. Res. 343: 1034 (2008)). The NMR experiments were performed on. a Bruker 400 MHz spectrometer (Bruker Corporation, Billeria, MA) equipped with a :Bruker cryo platfomi at 295 K with deuterated ttimethylsily1 propanoic acid and orthophosphoric acid as external standards.
[0017] The variable region containing the genes for synthesis of the polysaccharide are located between the conserved genes encoding the ABC transporter involved in capsule synthesis and assembly (FIG. 1), which also shows the variable region of the locus (McNally, et al., 'EBS J. 272: 4407 (2005)). The DNA sequence of the capsule locus of the HS44 type strain contained homologs of 10 of the 11 genes found in HS1, missing only HSI ,08, a gene of unknown function (FIG. 1). The gene content of capsule biosynthesis locus is summarized in Table 1 . All shared homologs were >96%
identical, except for the putative MeOPN transferase (11S44.07) which showed only 47%
identity to that of HS1.

Table 1 Size Locus Identity with (amino Tag Putative function' Relationship HS1b acid) HS44.01 MeOPN biosynthesis HS1.01 164/170 (96%) 170 HS44.02 MeOPN biosynthesis HS1.02 252/253 (99%) 253 HS44.03 MeOPN biosynthesis HS1.03 197/200 (98%) 200 HS44.04 MeOPN biosynthesis HS1.04 775/779 (99%) 779 HS44.05 Methyl transferase HS1.05 (100%) 253 HS44.06 Methyl transferase HS1.06 255/257 (99%) 257 HS44.07 MeOPN transferase HS1.07 308/642 (47%) 609 sugar-phosphate HS44.08 nucleotidyltransferase 224 sedoheptulose 7-phosphate HS44.09 isomerase 201 D-glycero-D-manno-heptose 7-H544.10 phosphate kinase 360 GDP-mannose 4.6-H544.11 dehydratase 343 HS44.12 GDP-fucose synthetase (fcl) 381 HS44.13 GDP-fucose synthetase (fcl) 385 HS44.14 Cj1429 like 310 Nucleotide-sugar HS44.15 epimerase/dehydratase 181 Nucleotidyl-sugar pyranose HS44.16 rnutase 416 HS44.17 Heptosyl transferase 1202 CDP glycerol 1067/1095 HS44.18 giycerophosphotransferase HS1.09 (97%) 1100 HS44.19 Unknown HS1.10 390/396 (98%) 397 Glycerol-3-phosphate HS44.20 cytidylyltransferase HS1.11 128/129(99%1 129 'Function attributed based on Blastp performed on non-redundant protein sequences database.
Numbers in parenthesis are the percentage of identity between the HSI and HS44 proteins.
[0018] The HS44 locus included an insertion of 10 additional genes between HS1.07 and HS1.09 encompassing 9,258 bp (Table 1, FIG. 1). These include 4 genes encoding enzymes predicted to be involved in deoxyheptose biosynthesis (HS44.08 to H544.11) and three genes (HS44.12, HS44.13 and HS44.15) encoding proteins that are homologous to epimerase reductases that have been recently demonstrated to be involved in 6-deoxy-altro-heptose biosynthesis. The CPS locus of HS44 also includes a gene (HS44.14) similar to CJ1429c coding for a protein of unknown function in NCTC 11168 (HS2), a nucleotidyl-sugar pyranose mutase (11S44.16) and a putative heptosyltansferase (HS44.17. Table 1 and FIG. 1). In contrast, the DNA sequence of the variable CPS locus of a clinical isolate that typed as HSI/44 was identical with that of the type strain of HSI.
The minimum protein homology predicted from the 11 genes in these two capsule loci was >99%.
[00191 Fine structural analysis revealed that the polysaccharide structure of HS1/44 is similar to that of the previously described teichoic acid capsule polysaccharide (CPS) of HSI strain (Aspinall, McDonald et al. 1993,1\4cNally, Jarrell et al. 2005): --->4)-[MeOPN-->3)-13-D-Fru-(1-41-a-Gal-(1-42)-Gro-(1-0--> (FIG. 2).
[00201 FIG. 3 shows the phosphorous-proton connections detected in HS1/44 CPS
that emanate from the linkages of the teichoic-acid diester-phosphate 0.5 and 1.5) to position 1 of Gro and position 4 of Gal, and from the attachment of the MeOPN
(op 14.3) to position 3 (6144.83) of Fru residues. The H-4 resonance of the 4-linked Gal carrying the Fru branches appeared at 6 4.68, whereas that of the defructosylated 4-linked Gal resonated at 6 4.49 (FIG. 3). A similar pattern was observed for the H-1 resonances of Gro. Simultaneous analysis of the HSI type strain and HS 1 /44 CPSs, suggested that the HS1/44 CPS contained a lower degree of fnictosylation, as judged by the lower intensities of the 2,3,4-trisubstituted Gal linkage (GC-MS) and MeOPN
resonance NMR), [0021] Analysis of HS44 CPS material identified two distinct polysaccharide capsule structures. One CPS was analogous to the aforementioned teichoic-acid CPS of HSI and HS1144 (FIG, 2.), but in which no MeOPN-containing Fru branches were observed.
The second CPS was rich in heptoses, being composed of repeating blocks of 6-deoxy-gaiacto-heptose (6d-goi-Hep), 6-deoxy-altro-heptose (6d-altro-flep) and, in lesser amounts, 6-deoxy-3-0-methyl-aitro-heptose (6d-altro-3-0-Me-Hepn, The heptose configurations were characterized by comparison with well defined synthetic standards by GC. The linkage-type analysis (GC-MS) (FIG. 4A) revealed that the deoxy-heptoses were present in part as terminal and 2-substituted units in the furanose form.
[0022] Accompanying NMR studies (FIG. 4B) confirmed the presence of deoxy-heptoses (6 H 1.5 ¨ 2,0) and revealed that these units were present in the a anomeric configuration (8 p 5.15 ¨ 5,42), A new MeOPN moiety (8p 14,0), different from that expressed by HSI
and HSI/44 was associated with HS44 CPS material. This is consistent with the divergence of the putative MeOPN transferase observed in this strain.
[0023] The product of the HS1.08 gene encodes a predicted protein of 849 amino acids, annotated as a putative sugar transferase (Karlysheev, et al., Mol. Microbiol.
55: 90 (2005)). Because the HS44 teichoic acid-like CPS lacked the non-stoichiometric fructose branch and the HS1.08 gene was missing from the capsule locus, we hypothesized that HS1.08 encoded a fructose transferase. A mutant in this gene expressed a lower MW
capsule as on an Alcian blue stained gel and the MW was restored to that of wildtype in the complement as shown by gel; NMR analysis also confirmed complementation, but 1.4 the lower intensity of the MeOPN resonance in the 31P NMR (FIG. 5) suggested that complementation in this case was partial, Thus, HS1.08 appears to encode a transferase that can transfer Fru to Gal.
[0024] Gene HS1.09 was annotated as a putative CDP glycerol transferase (Karlyshev et al., 2005). Mutation of this gene in HSI resulted in the loss of CPS as detected by Alcian blue staining of an SDS-PAGE gel (Fig. 5A). Gel analysis of the complement of the mutant showed a faint CPS band (Fig. 5A), but restoration of CPS expression was confimied by the 31P NR spectrum which indicated the presence of MeOPN (Fig, 5B).
[0025] In one embodiment an immunogenic composition, .useful for inclusion in a vaccine composition against HS I, EIS1/11S44 and H544 C jejuni strains, comprises polysaccharide antigen, comprising the structure:
?
1' 1"

[1VeOPNI---,3)-F.n.tf Frui:(3,----[MeOPN], or a polymer comprising a repeating of the polysaccharide structure, wherein "n" is 1 to 100. The polysaccharide structure of HS44 comprises the above structure without "[MeOPM---4.3)-Fruf " unit connected at the 2 or 3 position of Gal. Therefore, in another embodiment, an immunogenic composition would comprise a polysaccharide antigen with a repeating polysaccharide structure, derived from 11S44 that comprises the structure:
[----4)-a-D-Galp-(1-42)-Gro-(1¨+P-41,1, wherein "n" is 1 to 100.
07.

C'ampylobacterjejuni strain PG 3588 (HS:1):
[0026] Upon treatakent ofCampylobacter jejani strain PG 3588 (HS:1) capsule polysaccharide (CPS) with mild acetic acid (5%), the fructose (Fruj) side branches and their accompanying MeOPN units were removed. The 1H NMR of the defructosylated CPS showed the anomeric resonance at 5 5,21that corresponds to the a-D-Gal residue (without the Fruf substitutions). H5 5 4.18 was assigned from the H6 6 3.75 proton resorkance. Gro resonances were found to be at H1116 4.05/4.12, H2 5 3.98, and H3/3' 3.78/3,82.
[0027] All carbon resonances of Campylobacterjejuni strain PG 3588 (1-JS:1) capsule polysaccharide were assigned using a 2D q'.1-13C .HSQC are summarized in Table 2. A
2D IH-311) HC (Figure 4) showed a strong cross peak at (61_14.54/ 6p1.14), and On 4.05, 4,11/ öp 1 . 1 4) which confirmed the presence of the phosphodiester and its attachment to the Gro and to the C4 of Gal through a phosphodiester. Another resonance was detected in the 2D I H-31P HIVIBC at 6 14.04 for al\,4e0PN moiety, and it showed a cross peak at SH 3.75/8p 14.04, identifying the attachement of MeOPN at the C-6 of Gal.
Table 2: 13C chemical shifts of Cjejuni CPS PG 3588 Sugar H1/1 H2 H3/3 H4 H5 H6/6' residue Cl C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 a-D-Gal 5.21 3,88 3.90 4.54 4.18 I 3.75 100,84 71M5 71,10 77.31 73.45 ___ 63.42 Gro 4,05/4.12 3.98 3.78/3,82 67.23 _______________ 79,81 63,95 a-Gal HO ..

0 ..

OR
......... P __ 0 13-Fr4f OH un.

OR, OH
OH
R: MeOPN, or H [3-Fruf Example 2: 1-115.1 derived polysaccharide structure [00281 One embodiment is an immunogenic composition against C. jejuni that contains an isolated capsule polysaccharide structure or polymers of the structure derived from FIS5. The polysaccharide structure comprises four variants, :with the structures as follows:

iMeOPNr- NeOPNr-a-Dideoxy-Hep a-Dideoxy-Hep å6 v A6 7)a-DD-Hep(1 3)Glacitol(6 P --0 7)a-DD-Hep(1 2)G1ueito1(6 --413 --a-Dideoxy-Hep a-Dideoxy-Hep a-Dideoxy-Hep 7 N 7 L 7 s pvleOPNr- [MeOPNr- NeOPI,ir it -4- 7)a-DD-Hep(1 2)Glacito1(6 P iv 7)ct-DD-Hep(1 3)Glacito1(6 --+P

a-Dideoxy-Hep a-Dideoxy-Hep a-Dideoxy-Hep 7 7 yi 7 L
f.MeOPNr DeleOPNr [SI eOPNY.--[0029] Results from monosaccharide composition analysis revealed that the capsule polysaccharide (CPS) of strain CG2995 (HS:5) contained 3,6-dideoxy-ribo-heptose, glucitol, and D-glycero-D-manno-heptose (FIG. 6), Multiple linkages of each residue were observed; feminal 3,6-dideoxy-ribo-heptose, 2,6-disubstituted Glucitol, 2,3,6-trisubstituted Glucitol, 2-monosubstituted D-glycero-D-manno-heptose, 2,6-disubstituted D-glycero-D-manno-heptose, 2,7-disubstituted D-glycero-D-manno-heptose, and 2,6,7-trisubstituted D-glycero-D-manno-heptose.
[0030] The 1I NMR of the CPS revealed six anomeric peaks, three of which are associated with D-gi ycero -D-manno- heptose residues at 5.20 ppm, 5.18 ppm, and 5,16 ppm (A,B,C respectively), and 3 of which are associated with 3,6-dideoxy-ribo-heptose residues at 5.21 ppm, 4.96 ppm, and 4.87 ppm (K,L,N respectively) (FIG. 7), Linkages and ring resonances were then confirmed via 2) /11-11-1 COSY, TOCSY, and NOESY

experiments. Linkages found through NI R experiments coincided with the linkages assigned by GC-S.
[00311 With the aid of 2D 111-13C EISQC and IIMBC the Glucitol residues (X,Y,Z) could are assigned, along with the ring region resonances from the six heptose residues. As expected carbons involved in the glycosidic linkages, C2 (6 78.1) of the D-glyeero-D-manno-heptose A, B and C, C6 (6 76.8) of D-glycero-D-rnanno-heptose A, C2 (6 81,6) of Glucitol. Y and Z, C2 (6 82,5) of Glucitol X, and C3 (6 78.8) of Glucitol Y
and Z, were found to be down-field resonances (FIG. 8 (A)). The deoxy resonances associated with the 3,6-dideoxy-ribo-heptose were easily obser-cved at 6 37.1 (C3) and 8 36.1 (C6).
Selective ID nOe experiments (FIG. 8(B)) also showed the presence of the linkages aforementioned.
[0032] The ID 31P and 21) H)1-IMBC NMR revealed resonances at 0,96 and 1,30 ppm, indicating that the capsular polysaccharide repeats were linked with a phosphate bridge (FIG. 9). This bridge links through the 6-position of the Glueitol and the 7-position of the D-glycero-n-rnanno-heptose (Fig, 9). The 11)31P spectra also gave rise to a peak. 6 14,5 indicating MeOPN, and through the 21) 1I-I-31P EIMBC the MeOPN
could be linked to being a 7-subsituted 3,6-dideoxy-ribo-heptose (FIG. 10).
[00331 One main capsular polysaccharide was observed with a backbone of [-7)-a-D-glycero-D-rnanno-heptose-(1-3)-Glucitol-(6-)-P-1 with 2,6-disubstitution of the D-glyeero-n-rnanno-heptose, and 2-monosubstitation of the Glucitol with a-3,6-dideoxy-ribo-heptose (FIG, Ili). Three other variations of the capsular polysaccharide repeat were also noted; variation I with 2-monosubstituted n-glycero-D-manno-heptose and G-lucitol linked through the 2-position instead of 3 to n-glycero-D-monno-heptose (FIG.
I iii, variation 2 with 2,6-disubstitution of the D-glycero-D-rnanno-heptose arid Glucitol linked through the 2-position instead of 3 to D-glycero-D-rnanno-heptose (FIG.
lliii), and variation 3 with 2-monosubstituted D-glycero-D-rnanno-heptose and 2-monosubstituted Glucitol (FIG. lliv).
.E1,cannpie 3: C'onjugation of CPS polysaccharide to protein carrier [0034] One or more polysaccharides or polysaccharide polymers can be conjugated to a carrier molecule to improve immunity. The carrier, in one embodiment, is a protein carrier molecule. As an example protein carrier, CRM197 can be conjugated to the polysaccharide or polysaccharide polymer. The GC-'1S profile of the alditol acetate derivatives of C. jejuni CG2995 CPS, following TEMPO oxidation is shown in FIG. 12, Conjugation is illustrated in FIG. 13.
Conjugation of HS5 polysaccharide [00351 Isolated C. jejuni HS5 polysaccacharide was conjugated to a protein structure arid is described here as an illustration of conjugation of the polysaccharide or polysaccharide polymers. The overall scheme for conjugation is illustrated in FIG. 13. Any protein carrier is envisioned to be conjugated. Furthermore, conjugation to a protein carrier can be by any number of -means.
[0036] As an illustrative example, in FIG. 13 the polysaccharide was conjugated to CRN1197by TEMPO-mediated oxidation. In this method, as shown in FIG. 13, the first step is oxidation of approximately 10% of the plrimary hydroxyls of the intat CPs to carboxylic acids via TEMPO-mediated oxidation. The scheme in FIG. 13 illustrates conjugation using the primary hydroxyl of the DD-Hep as one of the sites of oxidation.
Non-stoichiometric oxidation may also occur at C-6 of Crlc and at the CH2-0H
of the side-chain substituent. Following activation of the CPS, conjugation to the carrier protein (e.g., C1 is accomplished, in the TEMPO-mediated method shown in FIG. 13, through carbodiimide coupling. Visualization of conjuation is by any means, such as gel electrophoresis.
Conjugation of HS I polysaccharide [0037] A glycoconjugate composed of HSI teichoic acid CPS and the protein carrier CRMi97 was created through a conjugation scheme, similar to that used for HS5, based on stoichiometrie oxidation of 10% of the available primary hydroxyls in the CPS. After oxidation of primary hydroxyls, the activated HS1 CPS was then conjugated to by carbodiirnide-type coupling of the newly created carboxylic acid functionalities in the CPS and exposed CRM197 lysine units. Importantly, analysis of the HSI CPS-CR_Mi 97 conjugate vaccine by N. confirmed that the MeOPN and phosphate moieties remained intact during the conjugation manipulations. These results are shown in FIG.
14. A
comparison of the intensities of the anomeric resonances in the partially oxidized HSI
CPS indicated that half of the backbone Gal residues were branched by the Fru-cntaining MeOPN units, Example 4: Polysaccharides in HS complexes [0038] Polysaccharide structures were identified in C. jejuni Penner serotype complexes. For example, anti-HS4 serum results in cross-reaction to other strains strains of the EIS4 complex, including HS1.3,11S4113i64 and HS50 capsules. Isolation and analysis of the polysaccharides from these strains resulted in identification of clissacharides containing a common ido-heptose unit. The strains and isolated polysaccharide derived 'from the strains are listed in Table 3.
Table 3: HS4 complex capsule polysaccharide structures Serotype Structure /Strain õ
IIS4 type ----33)4,-13-D-ido-llep-(1-4)-11-D-GieNAe-(1-4 strain (non-stoichiornetrie MeO.PN at C-4 of in-itio-flep) (non-stojelnornetric MeO.PN at C-2 and/or C-7 of 6d-ido-1-lep); andior (50%) EIS4,13,64 (e.g., strain (non-stoiet6otnetric MeOPN at C-2 and/or C-7 of 6d-ido-Hep);
andlor CG8486) (20%) ......... (non-stoichimnetric MeOPN at C-2 of L[)-ido-fiep) ----11S50 (85%) (non-stoichiometric MeOPN at C-4 of Lo-ido-fh.p); and/or (l5%) (non-stoichiometrie MeOPN at C-7 of 6d-iclo-Hep) [0039] Illustrated in Table 3, the common, surprising feature of these isolated capsule polysaccharides is the ido-heptose unit. As such, an embodiment is an immunogenic composition comprising one or more polysaccharide antigens, each comprising polysaccharide structures derived from these strains of C. jejuni.
[00401 The previously described CPS structure of C jejuni strain CG 8486 (HS:
4:13:64) consisted mainly of a disaccharide repeating unit [--->3)-6d-P-D-ido-Hep-(1-44)-0-G1cNAc-(1-41, with non-stoichiometric 0-methy1 phosphoramidate substituent attached to C-2 and C-7 positions of ido-heptose. A minor component of L-giyeero-D-ido-heptose (Lt-ido-Hep) was detected by GLC-MS, using alditol acetate derivatives for compositional analysis and permethylated alditol acetate derivates for lingage analysis of, and was newly found in this strain. The sugar ring configuration of 6-deoxy-heptose and L-glycero-D-heptose were assigned as idose. The traces of 1,7-anhydro-L-giyeero-D-ido-heptose (1,7-anhydro-LD-ido-Hep) and 1,6-aiihydro-L-g/ycero-D-ido-heptose (1,6-anhydro-L)-ido-Hep) originated from LL-ido-Hep during acid hydrolysis.
[00411 In addition to previously reported linkage types in C. jejuni CG8486 CPS (3-substistuted 6d-ido-heptose [--43)-6d-ido-Hep-(1-4] and 2,3-di-substistuted 6d-ido-heptose [-42,3)-6d-ido-Hep-(1-41, 3,7-di-substistuted 6d-ido-heptose I-Lep-0-4i, 4-substituted N-acetyl-glucosamine [-44)-GIcNAc-(1 -4j), the GLC
profile of GLC-MS of permethylated alditol acetate derivatives of C jejuni HS:4:13:64 CPS

showed two additional linkage types from LD-ido-Hep which were not detected in previously reported structure, including 3-substistuted L-glycero-D-ido-heptose [----->3)-LD-ido-flep-(1--->i and 2,3-di-substistuted L-eycero-D-ido-heptose P- 2,3)-LD-ido-Hep-[0042] The 1D IH NR. of C. jejuni CG8486 CPS showed two resonances of two 13-[0043] glycosides at 6 4.94 and 8 4.66 which were 6d-ido-Hep/LD-ido-Hep and GleNAc, respectively. The presence of two anomeric proton resonances for three monosaccharide residues (6d-ido-Hep, LD-ielo-Hep, and GicNAc) suggested that both 6d-ido-Hep and LD-ido-Hep may contain the same chemical shifts through the sugar ring system except the H-6 position since the only difference between them was at the C-6 position with or without a hydroxyl group. The 1H NR spectrum also revealed one methyl singlet at 5 2.07 which was characteristic of the N-acetyl moiety from CilcNAc and methylene signals at 8 1.77 and 6 2.03 which were 6-deoxy-moiety from 6d-ido-Hep. In addition, NR detected a characteristic MeOPN signal at 6p 14.7. It was determined that the CPS of C. jejimi serotype HS4:13:64 (see Table 3) contained both 6-d-ido-Hep and LD-ido-Hep within its CPS:
[---3)-6d-13-itlo-Hep-(1-44)-0-GIcNAc-(1-4] (with non-stoichiometric Me)PN at and/or C-7 of 6d-ido-Hep) as a major repeat; and [.-->3)-I_D-0-ido-Hep-(1-44)-P-Ci1cNAc-(1--41 (with non-stoichiometric MeOPN
at C-2 ofl.D-ido-Hep) as a minor repeat.
CPS determination of C. jejuni HS:4 Type Strain (Strain MK7) [00441 The CPS isolated from C.jejuni strain MK7 (11S4) was composed of L-glycero-D-ido-heptose (LD-ido-Hep) and N-acetyl-glucosamine (GIGNAc) by GC-MS profile determination of alditol acetate derivatives. The above CPS composition of C
jejune HS:4 type strain was similar to previously reported CPS of serot5pe HS:4 complex (HS:4,13,64; strain CG8486), which contains mostly 6-deoxy-ido-heptose (6d-ido-Hcp) instead of LI-ido-Hep. GC-MS of pennethylated alditol acetate derivatives showed the following linkage types of each monosaccharide: 3-substituted L-glycero-D-ido-heptose [-43)-L[-ido-Hep-(1-4] and 4-substituted N-acetyl glucosamine [00451 The 1H NMR spectrum of the C jejuni strain MK7 (type strain HS:4) CPS

showed two p-anomerie proton resonances at 5 4.70 and 6 4,94 for GleNAc and LD-ido-Hep, respectively, The 114 NMR spectrum also revealed one methyl singlet at 8 2,07 which was characteristic of the N-acetyl moiety from GIcNAc and a broad range of overlapping sugar ring proton resonances between 8 3.50 and 6 4.55. In addition, 11) 3iP
NMR detected a weak trace of MeOPN signals at 6p 14.3. The substituted sites of MeOPN could not be detected due to the small amount of MeOPN substitution in this HS:4 type strain.
CPS determination of C. iejuni C. iejuni Serotype 14S:13 (Strain MK161 [46 CjejuniHS4 type-strain (MK7) contains a CPS composed of the following disaccharide repeat: [-->3)-L-13-D-ido-Hep-(1-44)-13-GICNAc-(1--->]. The monosaccharide composition analysis, using GC-MS of alditol acetate derivatives of C. jejuni strain MK16 (serotype 14S:13) revealed the presence of glucose (Glc), 6-deoxy-ido-heptose (6d-ido-Hep), and L-glycero-D-ido-heptose (ID-leio-Hep) by GS-MS deteiminationof alditol acetate derivative profiles. Linkage analysis of profiles of permethylated alditol acetate derivatives showed that these units were present as 4-substituted glucose [.-44)-G1c-(1-41, 3-substituted 6-deoxy-ido-heptose [--3)-6d-ido-Hep-(1.--4.1, 2,3-di-substituted 6-deoxy-ido-heptose [--->2,3)-6d-ido-Hep-(1-4], 3-substituted I.-glycero-D-ido-heptose [-43)-w-ido-Hep-(1-->i, and 3,7-di-substituted 6-deoxy-ido-heptose [---)3,7)-6d-ido-liep-(1-H. In addition, a small amount of terininal glucose [Gic-(1--->] was detected as the non-reducing end of the CPS. C.
jejuni serotype HS:13 contains 4-substituted Cric as backbone instead of 4-substituted GicNAc (seen in serotypes IS: 4:13:64 and HS:4), [0047] The 1H NMR spectrum of C. jejuni serotype HS:13 CPS showed two p-anomeric proton resonances at 8 4.63 and 6 4,92 which assigned as Gic and 6d-ido-Hepf LD-id0-1-lep, respectively (Fig. 15A). The /H NMR spectrum also revealed the methylene sigials (multiplet) at 8 1.86 and 6 2,00 which were characteristic of the 6-deoxy moiety from 6d-ido-Hep and a broad range of overlapping sugar ring proton resonances between 8 3.30 and 8 4.55. 11 31P NMR detected two resonances at 8p 14.1 and 8p 14.4 which were typical of MeOPN signals (Fig. 15B).
[0048] It was determined that C. jejuni strain MK16 (serotype HS:13) CPS
consists of the following disaccharide repeats in quasi equal concentrations (with MeOPN
non-stoichiometrically attached to C-2 and C-7 of 6d-ii-ido-Hep):
[-43)-6d-P-D-ido-Hep-(1-->4)-11-01c-(1.-4]; and serotype HS3/13/50 [0049] HS: 3:13:50 complex has been identified predicated on a quantitatively low level irnmune-crossreactivity. C. jejuni strain BH-01-0142 (serotype HS: 3:13:50) was composed of galactose (Gal), 6-deoxy-ido-heptose (6d-ido-Hep), and L-glycero-D-ido-heptose (L1-ido-Hep) using GS-MS using alditol acetate derivative profile determination for compositional analysis of C. jejuni BH-01-0142 CPS (serotype FES:3:13:50)).
[0050] The sugar linkage types: 4-substituted galactose [--->4)-Gal-(1,--*]2 3-substituted 6-deox3,r-heptose [--->31-6d-Hep-(1-4] and 3-substituted L-glycero-D-ido-heptose [-43)-LD-ido-1-iep-(1.-->] were found to make up the CPS of serotype HS:3:13:50, using GC-MS

profile analysis of perrnethylated alditol acetate derivatives of C jejuni BH-(serotype (HS: 3:13:5(3)), In addition, minor components, 3,4-di-substituted galactose [¨ 3,4)-Gal-(1-4], 2,3-di-substituted 6-deoxy-heptose [--42,3)-6d-Hep-(1--->], and 2,3-di-substituted L-giyeero-D-ido-heptose [--).2,3)-LD-ido-Hep-(1--->] were also characterized.
The above results suggested that the backbone units of C. jejuni serotype HS:
3,13,50 CPS were [--->4)-Gal-(1-4], [--4.3)-6d-Hep-(1-4], and [-43)-L!-ido-Hep-(1-41, with three other non-sugar components were non-stoichiometrically attached to the C-3 of Gal, and C-2 of 6d-ido-Hep and LD-ido-Hepõkiso, a terminal Gal [Gal-(1-4] was also determined and was suggested as a non-reducing end, [00511 The 1H NR spectrum of the C. jejuni serotype HS:3:13:50 CPS showed broad overlapping peaks between 8 5.00 ppm and 6 5.30 ppm representing the anomeric proton signals. These overlapping peaks suggested the presence of a-anorneric sugars. In addition, the 1H NMR spectrum also revealed a methylene signal at 6 1.80 and 8 2.02 which are characteristic of 6-deoxy moiety from bd-ido-Hep. Another proton resonance at 6 2.72 was later confirmed as a methylene signal which also revealed in the spectrum.
[0052] In order to obtain the information for the non-sugar component, 31P MAR
of the C. jejuni BH-01-0142 CPS was performed to determine any phosphorus substituents. 'I'he phosphorus resonances at 6p 15.3 revealed the presence of an 0-methy1 phosphoramidate groups (eOPN) or CH3OP(0)NI/2(OR), which was involved in the structural moiety in the serotype HS:3,I3,50 of C- jejuni CPS. The appearance of one MeOPN signal suggested this unique component was partially attached to one of the monosaccharide residues in the CPS of C. jejuni strain BH-01-0142, since the results of sugar linkage type analysis revealed the presence of minor component of 1,3,4-1in1ced Gal, 1,2,3-linked 6d-ido-Hep and 1,2,3-linked Lt-ido-Hep.
[00531 2D 11-1-31P IIMBC NR of C.jejuni BH-01-0142 CPS was carried out to elucidate the linkage site of the MeOPN group (FIG. 16). The cross-peak at 5p 15.3/5H
3.78 represented the correlation between the phosphorus and the methyl group of the MeOPN. A strong proton-phosphorus correlation between 8p 15.3 and 8H 4.56 suggested the linkage site of the MeOPN group, with also a weak proton-phosphorus correlation between 8p 15.3 and the anomeric proton at 5H 5.10. Thus, the combination of the results from monosaccharide linkage type analysis and 2D IFI-3P HC NR showed that the 0-methy1-phosphorarnidate group (residue C) was attached to the C-2 position of 6d-icio-Hep and LD-ido-Hep (residue A').
[0054] A 21 1-13C HMBC NR experiment (FIG. 17) showed that a second non-sugar moiety was that of 3-hydroxypropanoyl. The cross-peaks at 8H 3.89/5c 173.0 and 8H 2.72/Oc 173.0 showed three-bond and two-bond connectivities of the carbonyl ester C-I with I-1-3 and II-2 of 3-hydroxypropanoyl group (residue D), respectively.
The 3-hydroxypropanoyl group was observed to be connected to the C-3 of Gal, by interpreting the cross-peak at 5H 5.20/5c 1'73.0, and also by taking into account the results from linkage type analysis that showed a minor peak of 1,3,4-1inked Gal.
[0055j 'We detemined that C. jejuni serotype 1IS:3 has a CPS with the disaccharide repeat (with non-stoichiometric substitutions of 0-rnethy1 phosphoramidate at C-2 of 6d-a-ido-Hep/L-a-D-ido-Hep and 3-hydroxypropanoyl ester at C-3 of-Gal):
[--53)L-a-D-ido-Hep-(1-44)-a-Ga1-(1---)1; and [-->3)-Example 5: Immunogenic composition [0056] An immunogenic composition against C jejuni is can comprise one or more isolated c. jejune polysaccharides or polysaccharide polyrners. The composition contains the polysaccharides or polysaccharide polymers free of LOS, which is associated with Guillain-Barre Syndrome. An embodiment is a composition comprising one or more isolated C jejuni derived polysaccharides or polysaccharide polymers, with the polysaccharide polymer comprising 1 to 100 polysaccharides linked together (i.e., "ri"
greater than or equal to 1). The structures of the isolated C jejuni polysaccharide are derived from one or more of the strains HS5, HS l, HS2, HS3, HS4, HS4/13/64, and HS13.
(0057] In one embodiment, the composition comprises one or more polysaccharide structures selected from the group consisting of:
[Me0P

a-Didloxy-Hep 7)a-DD-Hep(1 3)G1ucito1(6 a-Dideoxy-Hep a-Dideoxy-Hep [MeOPNr. (MeOPNr-[7.v.1e0PNI' dry-flep 7)o-DD-Hep( --$2)Gluoitol(6--$ P

a-Didooxy-Hep [MeOPNr---47)a-DD-Hep(1--+2)Glueitol(6--, P

a-Dideoxy-Hep (MeOPNI-----,7)a-DD-Hep(1 --4,3)Ghteitol(6--+P

a-Dideoxy-Hep a-Dideoxy-Rep [MeOPMJ-- [MeOPNr-derived from C jejuni strain HS44; and T

[MeOPM.----,3)-Fraf Frul-(3 --[MeOPN.1, derived from C jejuni strain HS 1 ardor HSI /44;
->4)-13-D-GleNAc-(1-H,õ derived from C. jejuni strain HS4/HS1341S64, with non-stoichiornetrie substitution of 0-methyl-phosphoramidate at position 2 of L-D-ido-heptose;
[---,3)-6d-P-D-ido-Hep-(1.---*4)-0-D-G1eNAc-(1-Hõ, derived from C. jejuni strain HS4/13164, with non-stoichiometric MeOPN at C-2 and/or C-7 of 6d-ido-Hep;
)4)-P-D-GleNAe-(1-Hõ, derived from C, jejuni strain HS4, with non-stoichiornetrie MeOPN at C-4 of LD-ido-Hep;
derived from C. jcffurn strain HS13, without MeOPN or with non-stoiehiometric MeOPN at C-2 and/or C-7 of 6d-ido-Hep;
[MeOPN]

(3,6,-O-Me)-D-glyeero-a-L-gle-Hepp MeOPN] [NGrolEtni, whererin Nap =
arninoglycerol; Etn = ethanolarnine, derived frail HS2;
[--+3)-L-alpha-D-ido-Hep-(1->4)-a1plia-Gal-0-H0, derived from C. jc_juni strain FIS3, with non-stoiehiornoetric substitution 0-methy1-phosphoramidate at position 2 of 6-deoxy-alpha-D-ido-heptose with or without a 3-hdroxypropanoyi ester at C-3 of-Gal;

[---3)-L-P-D-ido-Hep-(1-4)-1-1-D-Glc-(1----->jõ, derived from HS50, with non-stoichiometric MeOPN at C-4 of L1-ido-Hep;
and [---43-6d-P-D-ido-Hep-(1-44)-(3-D-Glc-(1-41õ, derived from C. fejuni strain HS50, with non-stoichiometric MeOPN at C-7 of 6d-ido-Hep, wherein the sarne polysaccharide is linked to fomi a polysaccharide polymer comprising I to 100 polysaccharides linked together (i.e., "n" greater than or equal to I).
[005811 The polysaccharides or polysaccharide polymers of the decomposition can be linked to a carrier, wherein said carrier can be a protein. In one embodiment, the protein canrier is CRM197.
Exampk 6: Induction of immune responst--; by CPS conjugates.
Induction of immune response against HS I, HS1IHS44 and HS44 [00591 In one embodiment an immunogenic composition, useful for inclusion in a vaccine composition against HSI, HS1/11S44 and ITIS44 C..fejuni strains, comprises a polysaccharide, comprising the structure:

T

[MeOPN1---.3)-Fruf Frut:(3.---[MeOPNi, or a polymer comprising a repeating of the polysaccharide structure, where "n". In an alternative embodiment, the immunogenic composition can comprise the HS44 cornposition, as in Example I, which does not contain the "[MeOP1i1--->3)-Fruf " unit.
[00601 Surprisingly, the above structure found in HSI and HS1/HS44 strains induces an immune response against 1-154-4 strains, In the study, mice were immunized with escalating amounts of vaccine administered with Alhydrogel (Clifton, NJ). Two weeks following the final inununization, all immunized animals exhibited significant levels of serum IgG antibodies specific against HS1 CPS (P<0.05) compared to pre-immune sera.
Furthermore, this effect was dose dependent as mice immunized with 50 lig of vaccine (by weight) per dose had a significantly higher endpoint titer (P<0.05) than mice receiving 101.ig per dose. These results illustrate that ElS1 is capable of generating high levels of anti-CPS antibodies in mice. The results of these studies is illustrated in FIG.
IS. Also, shown in FIG. 19, a dot blot demonstrating immunogenicity of an HS1-CRIV119'7 vaccine. Purified capsules (I mg/m1) were dot blotted in triplicate (2 ul each) to nitrocellulose and irnmunodetected with rabbit polyclonal antiserum to an 1-1S1-CRiM197 vaccine. HS1, wildtype HS1 capsule; HS1.08, capsule from a fructose transferase mutant of HS1 that lacks the fructose branch and the 'MeOPN; HS23/36, capsule from 81-which expresses a heterologous capsule (14523/36).
Induction of an immune response using an EIS-5 o ly sacchari d e composition [00611 The ability of isolated HS5 polysacccharide to induce an immune response was evaluated. It is contemplated that isolated HS5 polysaccharide could be used conjugated to any of a number of protein carriers. However, as an illustration, CRIVI197-conjugated HS5 polysaccharide was evaluated.
[0062] In this study, HS5 was conjugated to CRM197 predicated on the method in Example 3. BM-Bic mice were given three doses each of 10 1.1.g or 50 ug of HS5 polysaccharide-conjugate at 4 week intervals, with 200 i.tg of ALHYDROGEL6 (Brenntag AG, Germany). The mice received a total of three injections. Two weeks after the last dose, the mice were bled and the sera evaluated by ELISA. The results of this study are shown in FIG. 19 showing CPS-specific IgG responses.
[0063] The immune response of HS3 conjugated to CRM197 was also examined.
Female BALM mice were immunized via subcutaneous injection with conjugate vaccine (H53 from BH0142 conjugated to CRM197) in aluminum hydroxide 3 times at 4-week intervals.
Vaccine was given by weight. A dose of 5 fig corresponded to approximately 0.5 mg of conjugated polysaccharide and a dose of 25 ug corresponded to approximatel:,,,, 2.5 pg of conjugated polysaccharide. Serum was collected 2-weeks following each immunization.
Capsule-specific IgG responses were determined by ELISA. The results are shown in FIG. 20.
[0064] Additionally, the immune cross-reactions among members of the HS4 complex were evaluated. In these studies, whole cell proteinase K digested samples of various members of the HS4 complex were electrophoresed on 12.5% SIDS-PAGE gels and immunoblotted with rabbit polyclonal antisera made against fommlin killed whole cells of members of the HS4 complex. HS4 anti-serum was found to cross react to HS13 and HS4. Anti-HS4/13/64 serum was found to crossreact with HS4 and HS4 and to a small extent to HS50.

[0065] In similar studies, rabbit anti-HS13 senun was found to cross react with HS4 and HS13 and anti-HS4 serum was found to cross react with HS4, 1-1S13, HS4/13/64 and HS50. Similarly, rabbit polyclonal antiserum made to conjugate vaccine composed of the capsule of HS4/13/64 strain conjugated to CRN1 97 was used in an immunoblot to determine the cross reactivity of the vaccine to proteinase K digested whole cell preparations of other members of the HS4 complex. Antibodies to the vaccine cross-reacted to HS4 and HS4, but not to HS13 or IIS5(/
Example 7: Method for inducing an anti-C. jejuni immune response in nunnmals [0066] An embodiment of the invention is the induction of an immune response against capsule polysaccharide. The embodied method comprising administering an immunogenic composition comprising one or more polysaccharide antigens, wherein each polysaccharide antigen comprises a C. jejuni capsule polysaccharide polymer. The Campylobacterjejuni capsule polysaccharide polymers comprise of C. jejuni strains, as in Examples 1-4. As such, a capsule polysaccharide polymer comprises 1 to 100 copies of a polysaccharide structure, derived from an individual C. jefuni strain, connected together to form a polysaccharide polymer. Induction of immunity can be against one or more strains of C. jejuni.
[0067] The capsule polysaccharide are derived from one or more C. jejuni strains selected from the goup consisting of HS1 and HS1 complex (HSI, HS111-1S44 or HS44), I-1S2, HS3, IS4, I1S5, H513,1-1S4/13164, and 1-1S50. The inventive immunogenic compositions would comprise isolated C jejune polysaccharide structures or polysaccharide polymers of the structures, without lipooligosacchafide, or other structures associated with OBS. The polysaccharide polymers can be conjugated or unconjugated to a carrier molecule and the composition administered at a dose range of 0.1 lig to 10 mg per dose with or without an adjuvant.
[0068] Another embodiment is a method of to induce an immune response against C.
jejuni by administering isolated C. jejuni capsule polysaccharide derived from HSI, HSI/M.44 or HS44, In the inventive method, the composition is used to induce an iMMUT.le response against HSI, HS I /HS44 or H544. As an example, a composition comprising isolated C jejuni capsule polysaccharide, isolated away from or purified from LOS components and other components that can cause autoimmune responses such as Guillain-Barre syndrome, such as derived from HSI, are used to induce an immune response against HSI. HS1/HS44 and H544 C jejuni strains, [0069] In another embodiment, a composition comprising one or more of the polysaccharide comprising one or more of polysaccharides derived from HS4, HS13, FIS411513:1H564 or HS50 can be used in a method to induce immunity against any of the C jejuni strains of the HS4 complex, comprising HS4, HS13, HS4THS13/1-{64 or 1-15,50.
[0070] in the above described compositions, the polysaccharides or polysaccharide polymers can be linked to a carrier, wherein said carrier can be a protein. In one embodiment, the protein carrier is CRIVIi97 [0071] As an example, the embodiment method, comprises the steps:
a. administering an immunogenic composition comprising one or more C jejuni isolated capsule polysaccharide polymers derived from capsules of C. jqp.ini strains selected from the group consisting of: HSI arid HSI complex (HSI, HS I/HS44 or HS44), H52,1153, HS4, 1IS5, HSI3, 1154/13164, and HS50, wherein capsule polysaccharides of a strain can he linked to form a polysaccharide polymer comprises 1 to 100 copies of a polysaccharide structure, derived from an individual C.
jejuni strain, connected together to form a polymer and wherein said composition 'would comprise isolated C. jejuni polysaccharide structures or polymers of the structures, without lipooligosaccharide, or other structures associated with GBS and wherein the polysaccharide or polysaccharide polymers can be conjugated or unconjugated to a carrier molecule and the composition adrninistered at a dose range of 0.1 p.g to 10 mg per dose with or without an adjuvant, and wherein the polysaccharide structures include one or more of the following structures selected from the group consisting of:
[MeOPN]=

a-Dictioxy-Hep --47)a-DD-Hep(1 ¨+ 3)01=11101(6 ---*P -4 a-Dideoxy-Hep a-Dideoxy-Hep [MeOPN]-i- [MeOPNr-=
[MeOPNr-a-Didioxy-H.ep -4 7)a-DD-Hep(1--,2)Glucitol(6--> P

a-Dideoxy-Hep [MeOPNr-37.

--,47)a-DD-F14,(1---6,2)Gincitol(6-1.P

a-Dideoxy-Hep [MeOPNr-3)GitleitC46 '""4' P

cb-Dideoxy-klep a-Dideoxy-flep [MeOPNr [MeOPNr-,2)-Gro-(1--->P---b, derived from the derived from the C
jejuni strain HS44;

'T

{eOPNI---43)-Frtlf Frty--(3 --{MeOPN1, derived from the C.:, jejuni strain iiS1 andlor HS1/44;
H3)-L-P-D-ido-Hep-(1->4)-13-D-G1eNike-(1-H,, derived. from HS4/HS13/HS64, with non-stoiehiometrie substitution of 0-methyl-phosphorarnidate at position 2 of L-D-ido-heptose;
derived from HS4/13/64, 'with non-stoiehiometric MeOPN at C-2 and/or C-7 of 6d-ido-Hep;

derived from HS4, with non-stoichiometric MeOPN at C-4 of LD-ido-Hep;
[---,3-6d-P-D-ido-Hep-(1--44)-13-D-Gic-(1--.1.1,, derived from HS 3, without MeOPN
or with non-stoichiornetric MeOPN at C-2 and/or C-7 of 6d-ido-Hep;
[MeOPN]

(3,6,-0-Me)-D-glycero-a-L-gic-Hepp [MeOPN] {NGroNEtn], derived from HS2, .whererin NGro = aminoglycerol; Etn = ethanolamine;
[¨>3)-L-a1pha-D-ido-Hep-(1.->4)-alpha-Gal-(1-4}õ, derived from HS3, with non-stoiehiomoetrie substitution 0-methyl-phosphoramidate at position 2 of 6-deoxy-alpha-D-ido-heptose with or without a 3-hdroxypropanoyl ester at C-3 of ct-Gal;
derived from EIS50, with non-stoiehiometrie Me)PN at C-4 of LD-ido-Hep;
an.d D-Olc-(1----q,, derived from HS50, with non-stoichiometric MeOPN at C-7 of 6d-ido-Hep, wherein the same polysaccharide is linked to form a polysaccharide polymer comprising 1 to 100 polysaccharides linked together (i.e., "n" greater than or equal to 1);
b. administering a boosting dose of the composition as described in step (a), with or without adjuvant at a dose range of 0,/ tig to 10 mg per dose.
[0072] Another embodiment comprises a method of immunizing against Campylobacter .16juni strains HSI; HS IIHS44 andior HS44 by the administration of a composition comprising one or more isolated C. jqiuni capsule polysaccharides. The method comprises the steps:
a. administering an immunogenic composition comprising one or more C. jejuni capsule polysaccharide polymers, The C. jejuni capsule polysaccharide polymers comprise polysaccharide structures derived from capsules of C. jejuni strains selected from the group consisting of HSI, HS1i'HS44, HS44, wherein a capsule polysaccharide polymer comprises 1 to 100 copies of a polysaccharide structure, derived from an individual C jejuni strain, connected together to form a polymer, without lipooligosaccharide, or other structures associated with GBS administered at a dose range of 0.1 ug to 10 mg per dose with or without an adjuvant. The polysaccharide structures include one or more of the following structures selected from the structures:

derived .from the derived from the C.
jejuni strain HS44; or T

[MeOPIN111---,3)-Fruf Fruf-(34----[MeOPM, derived from the C. fejuni strain HS1 and/or HSI /44;
wherein the same polysaccharide is linked to form a polysaccharide polymer comprising 1 to 100 polysaccharides linked together (i.e., "n" greater than or equal to 1);
b. administering a boosting dose of the composition as described in step (a), with or without adjuvant at a dose range of 0.1 pg to 10 mg per dose.
[0073] Another embodiment comprises a method of immunizing against Campylobacter jejuni strains HS4, HS13, HS4/HS13/H64 or HS50 by the administration of a composition comprising one or more isolated C..fejuni capsule polysaccharides derived from HS4, H513, HS4/HS13/H64 or HS50. The method comprises the steps:
a. administering an immunogenic composition comprising one or more C. jejuni capsule polysaccharides derived from HS4, HS13, HS4/HS13/H64 or HS50, wherein a capsule polysaccharide polymer cornpriseing 1 to 100 copies of a polysaccharide structure, connected together to form a polymer, without lipooligosaccharide, or other structures associated with GBS, administered at a dose range of 0.1. lag to 10 mg per dose 41.

with or without an adjuvant and wherein the polysaccharide structures include one or more of the following structures selected from the structures:
derived from HS411S13./HS64, with non-stoichiometric substitution of 0-methyl-phosphoramidate at position 2 of L-D-ido-heptose;
1---44)-0-1-G1eNAc-(1-Hn, derived from HS4113/64, with non-stoichiometric MeOPN at C-2 and/or C-7 of 6d-ido-Hep;
derived from HS4, with non-stoichiometric MeOPN at C-4 of LD-ido-Hep;
---+],õ derived from HS13, without MeOPN
or with non-stoichiometric MeOPN at C-2 and/or C-7 of 6d-ido-Hep;
[--->3)-L-P-D-ido-Hep-(1.---44)-0-1-Glc-(1---)]õ, derived fi-cbm HS50, with non-stoichiometric MeOPN at C-4 of I-D-ido-fiep; and derived from HS50, with non-stoiehiometric MeOPN at C-7 of 6d-ido-Hep, wherein the same polysaccharide is linked to form a polysaccharide polymer comprising 1 to 100 polysaccharides linked together (i.e., "n" greater than or equal to 1);
h. administering a boosting dose of the composition as described in step (a), with or without adjuvant at a dose range of 0.1 1.ig to 10 mg per dose.
[0074] The polysaccharide polymers can be conjugated or unconjugated to a carrier molecule and the composition. In the above method, immunogenic composition can be administered orally, nasally, subcutaneously, intradermally, transdemially, transcutaneously, intramuscularly or rectally. Also, he carrier molecule can be a protein, for example CRM 97, or a non-protein molecule. Adjuvants can be any of a number of adjuvants. Examples of adjuvants include: LTR 192G, Aluminum hydroxide, C529E, QS2 I, E294, olgodeoxynucleotides (ODN), CpG-containing oligodeoxynucleotides, and aluminum phosphage.
[0075] Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible, in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described, 4:3

Claims (14)

What is claimed is:

1. An immunogenic composition against campylobacter jejuni, comprising one or more polysaccharide antigens, wherein each polysaccharide antigen comprises an isolated Campylobacter jejuni capsule polysaccharide, derived from a C. Muni strain, linked to form a repeating polysaccharide polymer comprising 1 to 100 polysaccharides, wherein said campylabacter jejuni strains are selected tiom the group consisting of:
HS1, HS1/HS44, HS44, HS2, HS3, IHS4, HSS, HS13, HS4/13/64, and HS50, and wherein said composition does not contain lipooligosaccharide structures and other structures associated with Guillain Bane Syndrome.

2. The immunogenic composition of claim 1, wherein said isolated campylobacter jejuni capsule polysaccharide comprises the structure selected from the group consisting of:
;
[.fwdarw.4)-.alpha.-D-Galp-(1.fwdarw.2)-Gro-(1.fwdarw.P.fwdarw.]n, , derived from the C. jejuni strain HS1 and/or HS1/44;

[.fwdarw.3)-L-.beta.-D-ido-Hep-(1.fwdarw.4)-.beta.-D-GlcNAc-(1-.fwdarw.]n, derived from HS4/HS13/HS64, with non-stoichiometric substitution of O-methyl-phosphoramidate at position 2 of L-D-ido-heptose;
[3.fwdarw.)-6d-.beta.-D-ido-Hep-(1.fwdarw.-GlcNAc-(1-.fwdarw.]n, derived from HS4/13/64, with non-stoiehiometrie MeOPN at C-2 and/or C-7 of 6d-ido-Hep;
[.fwdarw.3)-L-.beta.-D-ido-Hep-(1.fwdarw.4)-.beta.-D-GlcNAc-(1-.fwdarw.]n derived from HS4, with non-stoichiometric MeOPN at C-4 of LD-ido-Hep;
[.fwdarw.3-6d-.beta.-D-ido-Hep-(1.fwdarw. 4)-.beta.-D-Glc-(1.fwdarw.derived from HS13, without MeOPN or with non-stoichiometric MeOPN at C-2 and/or C-7 of 6d-ido-Hep;
derived from HS50, with non-stoichiometrie MeOPN at C-4 of LD-ido-Hep;
derived from HS2, whererin NGro = aminoglycerol; Etn ethanoliamine;

[.fwdarw.3)-L-alpha-D-ido-Hep-(1.fwdarw.4)-alpha-Gal-(1.fwdarw.1]n, derived from HS3, with non-stoichiometric substitution O-methyl-phosphoramidate at position 2 of 6-deoxy-alpha-D-ido-heptose with or without a 3-hdroxypropanoyl ester at C-3 of a-Gal;
[.fwdarw.3)-1,-0-D-ido-Hep-(1.fwdarw.4)13-D-Glc-(1.fwdarw.]n, derived from HS50, with non-stoichiometric MeOPN at C-4 of LD-ido-Hep; and [.fwdarw.3-6d-.beta.-D-ido-Hep-(1.fwdarw.4)-.beta.-D-Glc-(1.fwdarw.]n, derived from HS50, with non-stoichiometric MeOPN at C-7 of 6d-ido-Hep, wherein the number of repeats of a polysaccharide "n" is I to 100 to form a polysaccharide polymer.

3. The composition of claim 1 or 2, wherein said capsule polysaccharide is conjugated to a protein carrier.

4. The composition of claim 3, wherein said protein carrier is CRM197,

5, The composition of claim I or 2, wherein said composition also comprises an adjuvant,

6. The composition of claim 5, wherein said adjuvant is selected from the group consisting of LTR192G, aluminum hydroxide, RC529E, QS21, E294, oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN), CpG-containing oligodeoxynucleotides, and aluminum phosphate.

7. A method of inducing an immune response against C. jejuni strains, wherein said method induces an immune response against one or more of the C. fejuni strains selected from the consisting of HS1, HS1/HS44, HS44, HS2, HS3, HS4, HS5, HS13, HS4/13/64, and HS50, comprising the steps:
a. administering the capsule polysaccharide of claim 1 or 2 at a dose range of 0.1 µg to 10 mg per dose;
b. administering a boosting dose of a capsule polysaccharide of claim 1 or 2 at a dose range of 0.1 µg to 10 mg per dose.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said capsule polysaccharide is conjugated to a protein carrier.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said protein carrier is CRM197.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said composition also comprises an adjuvant.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said adjuvant is selected from the group consisting of LTR192G, aluminum hydroxide, RC529E, QS2I, E294, oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN), CpG-containing oligodeoxynucleotides, and aluminum phosphate.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein said composition is administered by a route selected -from the group consisting of: orally, nasally, subcutaneously, intradermally, transdermally, transcutaneously, intramuscularly and rectally.

13. A method of inducing an immune response against campylobacter jejuni strains HS1; HS1/HS44 and/or HS44 of claim 1 by the administration of a composition comprising one or more isolated C. jejuni capsule polysaccharides. The method comprises the steps:
a, administering an immunogenic composition comprising one or more isolated campylobacter jejuni capsule polysaccharides derived from capsules of C.
jejuni strains selected from the group consisting of HS1, HS1/HS44, or HS44 of claim 1, wherein said capsule polysaccharides can be linked to form repeating polysaccharide polymers.
b. administering a boosting dose of an immunogenic composition comprising one or more isolated Campylobacter jejuni capsule polysaccharides derived from capsules of C. jejuni strains selected from the group consisting of HS1, HS1/HS44, or HS44 of claim 1, wherein said capsule polysaccharides can be linked to form repeating polysaccharide polymers with or without adjuvant at a dose range of 0.1 µg to 10 mg per dose.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the polysaccharide structures include one or more of the following structures selected from the structures:
[.fwdarw.4)-.alpha.-D-Galp-(1.fwdarw.2)-Gro-(1.fwdarw.P.fwdarw.]n, derived from the derived from the C.
jejuni strain HS44; or [MeOPNi.fwdarw.3)-Fruf Fruf-(3.rarw.{MeOPM, derived from the C. jejuni strain HS1 and/or HS1/44; wherein the same polysaccharide is linked to form a polysaccharide polymer comprising 1 to 100 polysaccharides linked together (i.e., "n" greater than or equal to 1);