Decorin binding proteins dbp a and b and genes encoding them

摘要

The present invention provides bacterial immunogenic agents for administration to humans and non-human animals to stimulate an immune response. It particularly relates to the vaccination of mammalian species with polypeptides derived from bacterial species that cause lyme disease as a mechanism for stimulating production of antibodies that protect the vaccine recipient against infection by such pathogenic bacterial species, or make the recipient more resistant to such infection. In another aspect the invention provides antibodies against such proteins and protein complexes that may be used as diagnostics and/or as protective/treatment agents for pathogenic bacterial species.