NEISSERIA MENINGITIDIS SUBUNIT TBP2

摘要

A substantially purified protein, i.e. the lower molecular weight subunit (Tbp2) of the human transferrin receptor (HTR) of an N. meningitidis strain characterised in that it is not recognised in a dot blot assay by an antiserum to a polypeptide that corresponds to the Tbp2 of N. meningitidis strain M982 (Tbp2 M982) deleted from the hypervariable portions of the second domain. The Tbp2 subunit is characterised (i) in that it is encoded by a DNA fragment of around 2.1 kb, and (ii) in that it has an M982-type hinge region. Said Tbp2 subunit and the polypeptide fragments derived therefrom are particularly useful as vaccines, especially when combined with known N. meningitidis Tbp2 subunits. DNA fragments coding for the novel Tbp2 and derived polypeptides are also disclosed.