PROTEIN

摘要

The present invention provides proteins and peptides derived from Streptococcus pneumoniae, type 3, which bind the complement factor H (fH). These proteins and peptides show a homology of at least 50 %, preferably at least 60 %, and most preferably at least 70 % with the subsequence from Thr38 to Lys 149 of the sequence disclosed herein as SEQ ID NO:1. The above subsequence, which is located in the amino-terminal of a surface protein isolated from Streptococcus Pneumoniae, type 3, is highly associated with binding of fH. In another aspect, the invention relates to proteins and peptides showing a homology of at least 85 %, preferably at least 95 %, and most preferably at least 99 % with the Hic protein, the amino acid sequence of which is disclosed is SEQ ID NO:1. The invention also provides vaccine compositions comprising the above proteins and peptides.