Immunoglobulin al proteases (iga1 proteases), method of gene-technologically producing this type of enzyme and vaccines containing the enzymes and fragments thereof for immunizingagainst bacterial meningitis and other diseases caused by iga1 protease-producing bacteria

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Secretion of IgA1 proteases is a characteristic of Haemophilus influenzae and several other bacterial pathogens causing infectious diseases, including meningitis. Indirect evidence suggests that the proteases are important virulence factors. The iga gene encoding IgA1 protease, especially that from H. influenzae serotype b has been cloned into Escherichia coli in which the recombinant iga gene was expressed and the resulting protease secreted. Sequencing a part of a 7.5 kb DNA fragment containing the iga gene revealed a large open reading frame (ORF) with a strongly biased codon usage and having the potential of encoding a protein of 1541 amino acids and a molecular mass of 169 kd. …