LAWSONIA DERIVED GENE AND RELATED FLGE POLYPEPTIDES, PEPTIDES AND PROTEINS AND THEIR USES

摘要

The present invention relates generally to therapeutic compositions for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of intestinal disease conditions in animals and birds caused or exacerbated by Lawsonia intracellularis or similar or otherwise related microorganism. In particular, the present invention provid es a novel gene derived from Lawsonia intracellularis which encodes an immunogenic FlgE peptide, polypeptide or protein that is particularly useful as an antigen in vaccine preparation for conferring humoral immunity against Lawsonia intracellularis and related pathogens in animal hosts. The present invention is also directed to methods for the treatment and/or prophylaxis o f such intestinal disease conditions and to diagnostic agents and procedures f or detecting Lawsonia intracellularis or similar or otherwise related microorganisms.