C3 binding protein of (streptococcus pneumoniae)

摘要

This invention relates to the identification of a human complement C3 binding protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae and to its sequence and to methods for its purification and use. The protein binds but does not degrade or cleave C3 and is implicated in S. pneumoniae virulence. The protein is recognized by antibodies produced by humans recovering from pneumococcal infection.