IE970002A1 - A protein - Google Patents

Abstract

A nucleic acid sequence encoding all or part of an 18-19 kDa Helicobacter pylori protein is described to which immunoreactivity is detected in H. pylori negative individuals. A process for the production of a recombinant form of this protein and its use, particularly as a vaccine to provide immunological protection against H. pylori infection are also described.

Description

This invention relates to a 18-19 kDa protein or derivative or fragment thereof obtained from Helicobacter pylori. a bacterioferritin defined by sequences in our previous patent applications PCT IE95/00036 and PCT IE95/00037, a recombinant form of this protein, methods to use this protein as a vaccine to provide immunological protection against H. pylori infection and methods to use this protein in diagnostic assays relating to H. pylori.

The contents of our previous applications are incorporated herein by reference.

Background Helicobacter pylori is a widely prevalent organism found on gastric biopsy in approximately 30% of the population less than 40 years old with increasing incidence thereafter. The organism is a causative agent of chronic gastritis in humans (e.g· Marshall & Warren, 1984*; Blaser, 1990*). Epidemiological studies have shown that H, pylori is most commonly found in association with gastritis. Serological investigations have demonstrated that evidence of a current or prior infection can be found in 30-50% of a randomly chosen population of blood donors. No direct causal relationship has been conclusively proven for duodenal ulcer disease. However, the organism is found in 95% of patients with duodenal ulcer. Further, eradication of the organism results in rapid ulcer healing (e.g. Rauws & Tytgat, 1990*). These data provide strong evidence that H. pylori is a dominant factor in the development of duodenal ulcer. Additional evidence for the pathogenic involvement of H, pylori in these - 2 conditions has been provided by studies with gnotobiotic piglets (Lambert et al., 1987*) and the fulfilment of Koch's postulates with human volunteers (Marshall et al., 1985*; Morris & Nicholson, 1987*/).

In addition, there is now strong circumstantial evidence implicating H. pylori in the pathogenesis of gastric carcinoma (e.g. Jiang et al., 1987*; Lambert et al, 1986*; Crabtree et al., 1992; 1993; Forman et al., 1990, 1991; Nomura et al, 1991; Parsonnet et al., 1991; Correa et al., 1990). Most recently, the Eurogast Study Group, led by Forman (1993), demonstrated a significant relationship between H. pylori seropositivity and gastric cancer mortality and incidence. Indeed, there is now a convincing body of literature implicating infection with H. pylori in a considerable proportion of upper gastrointestinal morbidity. A number of hypotheses have been suggested for the pathogenic mechanisms of H. pylori induced gastroduodenal disease, including the production of cytotoxins and mechanical disruption of the epithelium (e.g. Blaser, 1992*). Interestingly, however, many infected persons remain asymptomatic despite the persistent presence of the pathogen (Taylor & Blaser, 1991*) .

Diagnosis of infections with H. pylori is based mainly on histology and culture from gastric biopsy specimens or on indirect methods based on urease activity. Various serological assays have been developed for the detection of anti-#, pylori antibodies in epidemiological studies in addition to more molecular orientated approaches such as the cloning of H. pylori species-specific antigens for use in, for example, PCR-based serological investigations (e.g. Clayton et al., 1989). However, the use of recombinant species-specific antigens has not yet received widespread use and, consequently, the majority of - 3 immunosorbent-based assays currently in use employ various subcellular fractions of H. pylori as a source of antigen. The fractions of proteins used in these assays are frequently heterogenous in composition as are their methods of preparation. Interestingly, a number of groups have compared the inter-assay sensitivity and specificity of several commercially available ELISA kits manufactured specifically for serological studies. Not surprisingly, considerable inter-assay variation was observed. Caution, therefore, must be exercised before employing a particular preparation of protein for use in such immunosorbent assays, particularly in view of the significant genetic heterogeneity of different strains of H. pylori (e.g. Xia et al., 1994; Owen et al., 1991).

We have studied the prevalence of immuno-reactivity to H. pylori in both infected and uninfected individuals and found that un-infected individuals have a high response to H. pylori both in their B-cell and T-cell systems. In this approach, we use Western blotting to investigate antigen specificity of systemic responses to H, pylori in both healthy and H. pylori-infeeted individuals and show that the incidence of seropositivity in H. pylori negative individuals is much greater than has previously been demonstrated. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that antibodies to a 25 kDa protein are detectable in the majority of H, pylori negative individuals. These were detected using a technique which we have modified called Enhanced Chemiluminescence. Enhanced Chemiluminescence on Western blot analysis reveals that the majority of uninfected individuals have antibodies which are specific for H. pylori and recognise antigens which are not present on other micro organisms. Of these antigens, the most common one recognised is a 18-19 kDa protein which appears to be specific to H. pylori. Hence, these data suggest that immunisation with the 18-19 kDa protein or sub-unit - 4 thereof could have the potential to confer protective immunity on individuals who are either uninfected with the organism or individuals in whom the organism has been cleared by anti-bacterial treatment. We have derived Nterminal and internal amino-acid sequences from this protein.

Statements of Invention According to the invention, there is provided a nucleic acid sequence encoding all or part of a Helicobacter pylori protein to which immunoreactivity is detected in H. Pylori negative individuals.

In one embodiment of the invention, the Helicobacter Pylori protein is an 18-19 kDa protein.

Preferably, the 18-19 kDa protein includes the following N-terminal amino acid sequence: Met-Lys-Thr-Phe-Glu-Ile-Leu-Lys-His-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp-Ala5 10 Ile-Val-Leu-Phe-Met-Lys-Val-His-Asn-Phe-His-Trp-Asn-Val15 20 25 Lys-Gly-Thr-Asp-Phe-Phe-Asn-Val-His-Lys-Ala-Thr-Glu-Glu30 35 40 Ile-Tyr-Glu-Glu Most preferably, the nucleic acid sequence comprises the following sequence of nucleotides:5'-GATCGTGTTATTTATGAAAGT GCATAACTTCCATTGGAATGTG AAAGGCACCGATTTTTTCA AT-3'.

The invention also provides a nucleic acid sequence which is complementary to any nucleic acid sequence of the invention.

In one embodiment of the invention, the nucleic acid sequence is genomic DNA, cDNA, synthetic DNA or recombinant DNA.

The invention also provides an oligonucleotide which has a specific binding affinity for a nucleic acid sequence of the invention.

Preferably, the oligonucleotide has one of the following sequences:5'-GAAGGACTTCATATGAAGACATTTG-3’; or 5'-CGTGAATGGATCCTCATGCTGACTTCT-3'.

The invention further provides a vector comprising a recombinant nucleic acid sequence of the invention. Preferably, the vector is an expression vector, most preferably the expression vector pET16b.

The invention also provides a host cell transformed with a vector according to the invention. Preferably, the host cell is one of the following:E. coli XLl-blue; or E. coli BL21 DE3; or E. coli Novablue DE3.

The invention further provides a process for the production of a recombinant nucleic acid sequence according to the invention comprising culturing a host - 6 cell according to the invention and isolating the nucleic acid sequence therefrom.

The invention further provides a recombinant H. Pylori protein or a fragment thereof whenever expressed from a vector according to the invention.

The invention also provides a process for the production of a recombinant H, Pylori protein or fragment thereof according to the invention comprising culturing a host cell according to the invention and isolating the protein or protein fragment produced therefrom.

The invention further provides a vaccine including a H. Pylori protein or a fragment thereof according to the invention.

The vaccine may include a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The vaccine may be combined with a suitable adjuvant such as interleukin 12 or a heat shock protein or both.

The vaccine may include at least one other pharmaceutical product such as an antibiotic and/or an anti-bacterial agent such as bismuth salts. Typically the antibiotic is selected from one or more of metronidazole, amoxycillin, tetracycline, erythromycin, clarithromycin or tinidazole.

The vaccine may be in a form for oral, intranasal, intravenous or intramuscular administration.

The vaccine may include a peptide delivery system. - 7 The vaccine is ideally for the treatment or prophylaxis of Helicobacter pylori infection or Helicobacter pylori associated disease(s).

The invention also provides a vaccine for the treatment or prophylaxis of Helicobacter pylori associated disease comprising an immunogenically effective amount of the Helicobacter pylori protein of the invention, an adjuvant such as Interleukin 12, and an antibiotic.

The vaccine may include an antibacterial agent such as bismuth salts.

The invention also includes the use of interleukin 12 in combination with any other recombinant H. pylori subunit as an adjuvant therapy.

Therefore, in another aspect, the invention provides a vaccine against H. pylori comprising an immunogenically effective amount of a recombinant Helicobacter protein or a subunit, fragment, derivative, precursor or mutant thereof in combination with interleukin 12 as an adjuvant. Preferably, the Helicobacter is Helicobacter pylori.

In one embodiment of the invention, the vaccine includes an antibiotic and may alternatively or additionally include an antibacterial agent.

The invention also provides a process for the amplification of a nucleic acid sequence according to the invention by a polymerase chain reaction or an equivalent technique.

Preferably, the polymerase chain reaction is effected by using the oligonucleotide pair according to the invention. - 8 The invention also provides a nucleic acid probe comprising a nucleic acid sequence or a fragment thereof according to the invention, or an oligonucleotide according to the invention.

The invention also provides a method for the treatment or prophylaxis of Helicobacter pylori associated disease in a host, comprising administering to the host an immunologically effective amount of one or more of the recombinant Helicobacter proteins of the invention.

Preferably, the recombinant Helicobacter protein is administered in combination with at least one other pharmaceutical agent.

In a preferred embodiment, the pharmaceutical agent is an antibiotic .

Ideally, the antibiotic is selected from one or more of metronidazole, amoxycillin, tetracycline or erythromycin, clarithromycin or tinidazole.

Typically, the pharmaceutical agent includes an antibacterial agent such as bismuth salts.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an adjuvant is administered in combination with the recombinant Helicobacter protein. Preferably, the adjuvant is interleukin 12 or a heat shock protein or both.

The invention also provides the use of one or more Helicobacter proteins according to the invention for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment or prophylaxis of Helicobacter pylori associated disease(s). - 9 The invention further provides monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies or fragments thereof, to the recombinant proteinaceous material of the invention and purified antibodies or serum obtained by immunisation of an animal with the vaccine according to the invention.

The invention also provides the use of such serum and antibodies in the treatment or prophylaxis of Helicobacter associated disease(s) and in particular Helicobacter pylori associated disease(s).

Detailed Description of the Invention We have generated DNA sequence information identifying the 18-19 kDa protein as a bacterioferritin. We have also generated a recombinant 18 kDa protein and expressed this in E. Coli. This recombinant protein was found to be recognised immunologically by antisera from individuals positive for antibody to the 18 kDa helicobacter bacterioferritin. This recombinant protein will form the basis for a putative vaccine for H. pylori. Fig. 1 is a Western Blot analysis of the recombinant 18 kDa protein expressed in E. Coli.

Method Employed Cloning and expression of the Helicobacter pylori 18 kDa gene .

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted from Helicobacter pylori as described by Silhavy et al.* (1984).

Oligonucleotides (or 'primers') specific for the 5' and 3' termini of the 18 kDa gene were generated. The forward or 5' oligonucleotide (designated HP18CF) was modified to - 10 incorporate an Nde 1 restriction endonuclease site. Additional modifications were made to increase the stability of the binding of the oligonucleotide to its target sequence, and to prevent intramolecular secondary structure. The sequence of the HP18CF oligonucleotide is ( from 5' to 3') : GAAGGACTTCATATGAAGACATTTG (Sequence Id No. 1) The reverse or 3' oligonucleotide (designated HP18CR) was extensively modified to incorporate a BamHl restriction endonuclease site and a 5' tail. The 15 3' nucleotides of this oligonucleotide correspond to the Helicobacter pylori 18 kDa gene sequence. The sequence of the HP18CR oligonucleotide is (from 5' to 3'): CGTGAATGGATCCTCATGCTGACTTCT (Sequence Id No. 2) These oligonucleotides were used in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify the Helicobacter pylori 18 kDA gene sequence. The reaction conditions were as follows: Between 50 and 100 ng of Helicobacter pylori DNA was added to 75 pmol of deoxyribonucleotide concentration of 4 each primer, 0.4 mM of each triphosphate (dNTP), a final mM MgSO4, 1 fold 'ThermoPol' (New England Biolabs) reaction buffer (composition: 10 mM KC1, 10 mM (NH4)2SO4, 20 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.8 at 25 degrees C], 2mM MgSO4, 0.1% Triton X-100), and deionised water was added to bring the reaction volume to 50 ul. The reaction mixture was overlaid with 50 ul paraffin oil and placed in a Perkin-Elmer thermocycle at 90 degrees C. 1 unit VentR DNA polymerase (New England Biolabs) was then added. A 'touchdown' PCR procedure was utilised (Don et al. 1989)*. The cycling conditions were as follows: the DNA was denatured at 94 degrees C for 2.5 minutes. This was followed by 2 cycles of 94 degrees for 30 seconds - 11 (denaturation step), 65 degrees for 50 seconds (annealing step), and 72 degrees C for 20 seconds (extension step). This was followed by 2 cycles of the same conditions, with the exception that the annealing temperature was dropped to 64 degrees C. After 2 cycles at 64 degrees C, the annealing temperature was reduced to 63 degrees C for a further 2 cycles, and this pattern was followed until the annealing temperature was reduced to 60 degrees C for 28 cycles .

The reaction products were purified on a 4% low melting point agarose gel (NuSieve GTG; FMC BioProducts). The DNA fragment was excised from the gel and the agarose was digested using β-Agarase 1 (New England Biolabs) and the DNA recovered following precipitation with isopropanol, according to the manufacturers supplied protocol.

The purified DNA fragment corresponding to the 18 kDa protein coding gene was then digested with the restriction enzymes Nde 1 and BamHl, (Boehringer Mannheim), each of which occurs only once on the amplified fragment. 10 units of each enzyme was added to approximately 3 ug of DNA in a final concentration of lx the manufacturers supplied restriction buffer B in a 40 ul reaction volume. The reaction mix was incubated at 37 degrees C for 3.5 hours .

The expression vector used was pET16b (Novagen). The 1.6 ug of the vector was digested using Ndel and BamHl under the same conditions as described for the amplified fragment. The resulting 5' phosphate groups were removed using calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase (CIAP: New England Biolabs) according to the manufacturers instructions. The enzyme was inactivated by incubating the reaction mixture in the presence of 5mM EDTA at 65 degrees C for 1 hour followed by a phenol/chloroforra/ - 12 isoamyl alcohol (25:24:1) extraction, followed by a chloroform/isoamyl alcohol (24:1) extraction.

Both the digested fragment and the digested vector were gel purified on a 3% low melting point agarose gel (NuSieve GTG; FMC BioProducts), and the agarose was digested using β-Agarase 1 (New England Biolabs), according to the manufacturers instructions. The DNA fragments were allowed to remain in the resultant reaction mixture without further purification.

The amplified fragment was then ligated to the vector DNA as follows. Approximately 200 ng of vector was ligated to approximately 100 ng of the insert DNA in lx ligation reaction buffer and 3 units of T4 DNA ligase (Boehringer Mannheim) in a reaction volume of 30 ul at 20 degrees C for 16 hours.

The products of this reaction were used to transform competent E. coli XL 1-blue cells (Bullock et al. 1987) using a standard CaCl2 transformation procedure (Sambrook, et al., 1989). Transformed XLl-blue cells were selected on LB medium (Sambrook et al., 1989) supplemented with 50 ug per ml ampicillin and grown at 37 degrees C. Suitable colonies were picked and used to inoculate 10 ml LB broth supplemented with 50 ug per ml ampicillin and grown with shaking at 37 degrees C. The plasmids were purified from these cultures using a standard alkaline lysis plasmid preparation procedure (Sambrook, et al., 1989), and an aliquot digested with Nde 1 and HinDIII according to the manufacturers instructions (Boehringer Mannheim) to verify the presence of the insert as compared to a size standard and pET16b without an insert.

Two plasmids shown to have the appropriate insert (designated pET16b-18.1 and pETl6b-18.2) were then used to - 13 transform the E. coli expression hosts BL21 DE3 (Studier and Moffat, 1986) and Novablue DE3 (Novagen) using a standard CaCl2 transformation procedure (Sambrook, et al., 1989*) supplemented with 50 ug per ml ampicillin (Novablue DE3) or 50 ug per ml ampicillin and 34 ug per ml chloramphenicol (BL21 DE3) and grown at 37 degrees C. Transformed cells were selected by plating on solid LB medium. A colony of each host representing each plasmid isolate was picked after 16 hours incubation and used to inoculate 50 ml LB broth supplemented with antibiotics as described above and grown until the optical density at 600 nM was approximately 0.6. The expression of the 18 kDa protein from the expression vector was then induced by the addition of isopropyl b-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) to a final concentration of 1 mM and incubation was continued for a further 2.5 hours at 37 degrees C with shaking. The cells were then harvested by centrifugation at 4000 x g for 10 minutes and resuspended in 12 ml of 50 mM Tris-HCl (ph 8.0 at 25 degrees C) followed by a further centrifugation at 4000 x g for 10 minutes.

Sequencing the purified DNA sequence The purified DNA fragment corresponding to the 18 kDa protein was sequenced using forward and reverse universal sequencing primers. The DNA was sequenced in the forward and reverse orientations. Sequencing was performed using an ABI automated sequencer and a Genpak PCR based fluorescent dideoxy chain terminator termini sequencing kit.

The sequence of bases between the termini of the internal PCR primers is: GATCGTGTTATTTATGAAAGTGCAT AACTTCCATTGGAATGTGAAAG - 14 GCACCGATTTTTTCAAT This sequence of bases is listed in Sequence Id No. 3.

Western blot analysis of the cloned product (18 kDa protein) Two transformed E. coli expression hosts (BL21 DE3 and Novablue DE3) were subjected to SDS-PAGE (12.5% T) followed by Western blotting analysis. The Western blots were probed with serum obtained from children uninfected with H._pyl ori and developed by enhanced chemiluminescence. As illustrated in Figure 1, two of the three sera recognised the recombinant 18 kDa protein after induction of expression of the protein with IPTG. In addition, the three sera recognised a number of E. coli proteins .

It is understood that the recombinant proteinaceous material of the invention is used as a vaccine against H. Pylori infection, and in particular as a therapeutic immunogen for eradication of H. Pylori infection.

The vaccine may include the proteinaceous material according to the invention in combination with other components such as a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, a suitable adjuvant such as interleukin 12 or a heat shock protein, an antibiotic and/or an antibacterial agent such as bismuth salts. The vaccine may be administered in a number of different ways, namely, orally, intranasally, intravenously or intramuscularly.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in detail. - 15 REFERENCES Marshall, B.J. and Warren, J.R. (1984). Unidentified curved bacilli in the stomach of patients with gastritis and peptic ulceration. Lancet 1, 1311-1314.

Blaser M.J. (1990). Helicobacter pylori and the pathogenesis of gastroduodenal inflammation. J. Infect. Dis. 161, 626-633.

Rauws, E.A.J. and Tytgat, G.N.J. (1990). Eradication of Helicobacter pylori cures duodenal ulcer : Lancet 1, 12331235.

Lambert, J.R., Borromeo, M. , Pinkard, K.J., Turner, H. , Chapman, C.B., and Smith, M.L. (1987). Colonisation of gnotobiotic pigs with Campylobacter pylori - an animal model ? J. Infect. Dis. 155, 1344.

Marshall, B.J. Armstrong, J.A., McGechie, D.B., and Glancy, R.J. (1985). Attempt to fulfil Koch's postulates for pyloric Campylobacter. Med. J. Aust. 142, 436-439.

Morris, A. and Nicholson, G. (1987). Ingestion of Campylobacter pylori causes gastritis and raises fasting gastric pH. Am. J. Gastroenterol. 82, 192-199.

Jiang, S.J., Liu, W.Z. Zhang, D.Z., Shi, Y., Xiao, S.D., Zhang, Z.N., and Liu, D.Y. (1987). Campylobacter-like organisms in chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer and gastric carcinoma. Scand. J. Gastroenterol. 22, 553-558.

Lambert, J.R., Dunn, K.A, Eaves, E.R., Korman, M.G., and Hansky, J. (1986). Campylobacter pyloridis in diseases of the human upper gastrointestinal tract. Gastroenterology 90, 1509. - 16 Crabtree, J.E., Figura, N., Taylor, J.D., Bugnoli, M. , Armellini, D., and Tompkins, D.S. (1992). Expression of 120 kDa protein and cytotoxicity in Helicobacter pylori J. Clin. Pathol. 45, 733-734.

Crabtree, J.E., Wyatt, J.I., Sobala, G.M., Miller, G. , Tompkins, D.S., Primrose, J.N., and Morgan, A.G. (1993). Systemic and mucosal humoral responses to Helicobacter pylori in gastric cancer. Gut 34, 1339-1243.

Forman, D., Sitas, F.,. and Newell, D.G. (1990). Geographic association of Helicobacter pylori antibody prevalence and gastric cancer mortality in rural China. Int. J. Cancer 46, 608-611.

Forman, D., Newell, D.G., Fullerton, F., Yarnell, J.W.G., Stacey, A.R., Wald, N., and Sitas, F. (1991). Association between infection with Helicobacter pylori and risk of gastric cancer : evidence from a prospective investigation. BMJ 302, 1302-1305.

Nomura, A., Stemmermann, G.N., Chyou, P-H., Kato, I., Perez-Perez, G.I., and Blaser, M.J. (1991). Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric carcinoma amongst Japanese Americans in Hawaii, N. Engl. J. Med. 325, 1132-1136.

Parsonnet, J., Friedman, G.D., Vendersteen, D.P., Chang, Y., Vogelman, J.H., Orentreich, N., and Sibley, R.K. (1991). Helicobacter pylori infection and the risk of gastric carcinoma. N. Engl. J. Med. 325, 1127-1131.

Forman, D. (1993). An international association between Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric cancer. The EUROGAST Study Group. Lancet 341, 1359-1362. - 17 Blaser, M.J. (1992). Hypothesis on the pathogenesis and natural history of Helicobacter pylori-induced inflammation. Gastroenterology 102, 720-727.

Taylor, D.N. and Blaser, M.J. Helicobacter pylori infection. (1991). Epidemiology of Epidemiol. Rev. 13, 42-59.

Bullock, W.O., Fernandez, J.M. and Short, J.M. 1987. A high efficiency plasmid transforming recA Escherichia coli strain with beta-galactosidase selection. Bio Techniques 5:376.

Don, R.H., Cox, P.T., Wainwright, B.J., Baker, K. and Mattick, J.S: 1989. 'Touchdown' PCR to circumvent spurious priming during gene amplification. Nucleic Acids Res. 19:4 0 0 8 .

Sambrook, J., Fritsch, E.F., and Maniatis, T. 1989. Molecular cloning: a laboratory manual. Second edition. Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory Press.

Silhavy, T.J., Berman, M.L. and Experiments with gene fusions. Laboratory Press .

Enquist, L.W. 1984. Cold Spring Harbour Studier, F.W. and Moffat, B.A. 1986. Use of bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase to direct selective high-level expression of cloned genes, J. Mol. Biol. 189:113. - 18 APPENDIX SEQUENCE LISTING (1) GENERAL INFORMATION (I) APPLICANT (A) NAME : RICAN LIMITED (B) STREET : 1 STOKES PLACE, (C) CITY : DUBLIN 2 (D) COUNTRY : IRELAND (E) POSTAL CODE : (F) TELEPHONE : 353-1-2881230 (G) TELEFAX : 353-1-2883439 (II) TITLE OF INVENTION : A Protein (III) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES : 3 (IV) (A) MEDIUM TYPE : DISKETTE (B) COMPUTER : IBM PC COMPATIBLE (C) OPERATING SYSTEM : PC-DOS/MS-DOS (D) SOFTWARE : ASCII FILE (V) CURRENT APPLICATION DATA : APPLICATION NO.: (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQUENCE ID. NO. : 1 (I) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS (A) LENGTH : 25 NUCLEIC ACIDS (B) TYPE : NUCLEIC ACID (C) TOPOLOGY : LINEAR 25 (D) STRANDEDNESS : SINGLE - 19 (II) MOLECULE TYPE : OLIGONUCLEOTIDE (XI) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION : SEP, ID, NO. 1 GAAGGACTTC ATATGAAGAC ATTTG (3) INFORMATION FOR SEQUENCE ID. NO. 2.: (I) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS (A) LENGTH : 27 NUCLEIC ACIDS (B) TYPE : NUCLEIC ACID (C) TOPOLOGY : LINEAR (D) STRANDEDNESS : SINGLE (II) MOLECULE TYPE : OLIGONUCLEOTIDE (XI) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION : SEQ. ID. NO, 2 CGTGAATGGA TCCTCATGCT GACTTCT (4) INFORMATION FOR SEQUENCE ID. NO. 3 : (I) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS (A) LENGTH : 64 NUCLEIC ACIDS (B) TYPE : NUCLEIC ACID (C) TOPOLOGY : LINEAR (D) STRANDEDNESS : SINGLE (II) MOLECULE TYPE : GENOMIC DNA (IV) ORIGINAL SOURCE : (A) ORGANISM : HELICOBACTER PYLORI (XI) - 20 SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION : SEP. ID. NO, 3 GATCGTGTTA TTTATGAAAG TGCATAACTT CCATTGGAAT GTGAAGGCA CCGATTTTTT CAAT

Claims (45)

1. A nucleic acid sequence encoding all or part of a Helicobacter pylori protein to which immunoreactivity is detected in H. Pylori negative individuals.

2. A nucleic acid sequence as claimed in claim 1 in which the Helicobacter Pylori protein is an 18-19 kDa protein.

3. A nucleic acid sequence as claimed in claim 2 in which the 18-19 kDa protein includes the following Nterminal amino acid sequence: Met-Lys-Thr-Phe-Glu-Ile-Leu-Lys-His-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asp5 10 Ala-Ile-Val-Leu-Phe-Met-Lys-Val-His-Asn-Phe-His-Trp15 20 25 Asn-Val-Lys-Gly-Thr-Asp-Phe-Phe-Asn-Val-His-Lys-Al a30 35 Thr-Glu-Glu-Ile-Tyr-Glu-Glu 40 45

4. A nucleic acid sequence as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 comprising the following sequence of nucleotides :5'-GATCGTGTTATTTATGAAAGT GCATAACTTCCATTGGAATGTG AAAGGCACCGATTTTTTCA AT-3'.

5. A nucleic acid sequence which is complementary to a nucleic acid sequence of any of claims 1 to 4. - 22

6. A nucleic acid sequence as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 which is genomic DNA, cDNA, synthetic DNA or recombinant DNA.

7. An oligonucleotide which has a specific binding affinity for a nucleic acid sequence as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6.

8. An oligonucleotide as claimed in claim 7 having one of the following sequences:5'-GAAGGACTTCATATGAAGACATTTG-3'; or 5'-CGTGAATGGATCCTCATGCTGACTTCT-3'.

9. A vector comprising a recombinant nucleic acid sequence as claimed in claim 6.

10. A vector as claimed in claim 9 which is an expression vector.

11. A vector as claimed in claim 10 which is the expression vector pET16b.

12. A host cell transformed with a vector as claimed in any of claims 9 to 11.

13. A host cell as claimed in claim 12 which is one of the following:E. coli XLl-blue; or E. coli BL21 DE3; or E. coli Novablue DE3.

14. A process for the production of a recombinant nucleic acid sequence as claimed in claim 6 comprising culturing a host cell as claimed in either of claims - 23 12 or 13 and isolating the nucleic acid sequence therefrom.

15. A recombinant H. Pylori protein or a fragment thereof whenever expressed from a vector as claimed in any of claims 9 to 11.

16. A process for the production of a recombinant H. Pylori protein or fragment thereof as claimed in claim 15 comprising culturing a host cell as claimed in claims 12 or 13 and isolating the protein or protein fragment produced therefrom.

17. A vaccine including a H. Pylori protein or a fragment thereof as claimed in claim 15.

18. A vaccine as claimed in claim 17 including a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

19. A vaccine as claimed in any of claims 17 or 18 in combination with a pharmacologically suitable adjuvant.

20. A vaccine as claimed in claim 19 wherein the adjuvant is interleukin 12.

21. A vaccine as claimed in claim 19 or 20 wherein the adjuvant is a heat shock protein.

22. A vaccine as claimed in claims 17 to 21 including at least one other pharmaceutical product.

23. A vaccine as claimed in claim 22 wherein the pharmaceutical product is an antibiotic. -

24. 24 A vaccine antibiotic metronidazole, as claimed in claim 23 wherein is selected from one or more amoxycillin, tetracycline the of or erythromycin, clarithromycin or tinidazole.

25. A vaccine as claimed in any of claims 22 to 24 wherein the pharmaceutical product includes an antibacterial agent such as bismuth salts. A vaccine as claimed in any of claims form for oral administration. 17 to 25 in a A vaccine as claimed in any of claims form for intranasal administration. 17 to 25 in a A vaccine as claimed in any of claims form for intravenous adminstration. 17 to 25 in a A vaccine as claimed in any of claims form for intramuscular administration. 17 to 25 in a

26. 30. A vaccine as claimed in any of claims 17 to 25 including a peptide delivery system.

27. 31. A vaccine as claimed in any of claims 17 to 30 for the treatment or prophylaxis of Helicobacter pylori infection or Helicobacter pylori associated disease.

28. 32. A vaccine for the treatment or prophylaxis of Helicobacter pylori associated disease comprising an immunogenically effective amount of a Helicobacter pylori protein of claim 15, an adjuvant such as Interleukin 12, and an antibiotic.

29. 33. A vaccine against H. pylori comprising an immunogenically effective amount of a recombinant - 25 Helicobacter protein in combination with interleukin 12 as an adjuvant.

30. 34. A vaccine as claimed in claim 33 wherein the recombinant Helicobacter protein is a recombinant Helicobacter pylori protein.

31. 35. A vaccine as claimed in claims 33 or 34 including an antibiotic .

32. 36. A vaccine as claimed in any of claims 33 to 35 including an antibacterial agent.

33. 37. A process for the amplification of a nucleic acid sequence as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 by polymerase chain reaction or an equivalent technique.

34. 38. A process as claimed in claim 37 in which the polymerase chain reaction is effected by using the oligonucleotide pair claimed in claim 8.

35. 39. A nucleic acid probe comprising a nucleic acid sequence or a fragment thereof as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, or an oligonucleotide as claimed in claims 7 or 8.

36. 40. A method for the treatment or prophylaxis of Helicobacter pylori associated disease in a host, comprising administering to the host an immunologically effective amount of one or more of the Helicobacter proteins as claimed in claim 15.

37. 41. A method as claimed in claim 40 wherein the Helicobacter protein is administered in combination with at least one other pharmaceutical agent. 42. A method as claimed in claim 41 wherein the pharmaceutical agent is an antibiotic . 43. A method as claimed in claim 42 wherein the antibiotic is selected from ι □ne or more of metronidazole , amoxyc i11in, tetracyc1ine erythromycin, clarithromycin or tinidazole.

38. 44. A method as claimed in any of claims 41 to 43 wherein the pharmaceutical agent includes an antibacterial agent such as bismuth salts.

39. 45. A method as claimed in any of claims 41 to 44 wherein an adjuvant is administered in combination with the Helicobacter protein.

40. 46. A method as claimed in claim 45 wherein the adjuvant is interleukin 12.

41. 47. A method as claimed in claim 45 or 46 wherein the adjuvant includes a heat shock protein.

42. 48. Use of one or more helicobacter proteins as claimed in claim 15 for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment or prophylaxis of Helicobacter pylori associated disease(s).

43. 49. Monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies or fragments thereof, to the proteinaceous material of claim 15.

44. 50. Purified antibodies or serum obtained by immunisation of an animal with the vaccine according to claim 17.

45. 51. Use of the antibodies of claim 49 in the treatment or prophylaxis of Helicobacter associated disease(s), especially Helicobacter pylori associated disease(s) . - 27 52. Use of the antibodies or serum of claim 50 in the treatment or prophylaxis of Helicobacter associated disease(s) , especially Helicobacter pylori associated disease(s).