Bacterial Antigens and Uses Thereof

摘要

Novel enzymes, processes and antigenic structures useful in producing vaccines and compounds useful in combating gram-negative bacteria are described. Enzymes were isolated from the slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum and used to specifically degrade lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Enzymatic degradation permits residues of the LPS molecule, including immunogenic epitopes of the core oligosaccharide portion of the LPS, to remain unmodified during this enzymatic removal of fatty acids from the lipid A region of the LPS molecule.