CLOSTRIDIUM PERFRINGENS VACCINES

摘要

The present invention provides novel peptides and vaccines containing them capable of inducing production of antibodies directed against Clostridium perfringens alpha-toxin (CPa) in animals to whi ch they are administered and thereby providing prophylaxis against infection by Clostridium perfringens and/or the alpha-toxin itself. Particularly the present invention provides such a vaccine that is relatively safe and simple to produce, e.g. by geneti c engineering means. Preferred peptides comprise theo amino acid sequence of Clostridium perfringens alpha-toxin from amino acid 2 47 to 370 but lack the epitopes necessary for phospholipase C and/or sphingomyelin hydrolysing activity found between amino acids 1 to 2 40 of that sequence. Further provided are antisera and antibodies raised to the peptides and vaccines of the prese nt invention, and particularly monoclonal antibodies and hybridoma cell lines for their production.