Immunogenic compositions for streptococcus agalactiae

Description of equivalent WO 2005028618 A2

EMMUNOGENIC COMPOSITIONS FOR STREPTOCOCCUS AGALACTIAE

0002This application claims the benefit and incorporates by reference in its entirety U.S. provisional application 60/548,789, filed February 26, 2004 and claims priority to International Patent Application No. PCT US03/29167, Attorney Reference No. PP19766.002, filed on September 15, 2003, incorporated herein in its entirety.

0003FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to an immunogenic antigen derived from Streptococcus galactiae ("GBS") and its use in combinations with other GBS antigens to provide for broader coverage among different GBS strains. In particular, the invention relates to a composition comprising a combination of two or more GBS antigens, wherein the combination includes GBS 80 or a fragmetxt thereof. The combination may include GBS 80 and at least one other GBS antigen. For example, the combination may include GBS 80 and up to thirteen GBS antigens. In a preferred embodiment, the combination may include GBS 80 and up to ten GBS antigens. In a more preferred embodiment, the combination may include GBS 80 and up to five GBS antigens. In one embodiment, the combination may consist of two to tmrteen GBS antigens selected from an antigen group consisting of GBS 80, GBS 91, GBS 104, GBS 184, GBS 276, GBS 305, GBS 322, GBS 330, GBS 338, GBS 361, GBS 404, GBS 690, and GBS 691. Preferably, the combination includes GBS 80 in combination with one or more of GBS 104 and GBS 322.

0004BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION GBS has emerged in the last 20 years as the major cause of neonatal sepsis and meningitis that affect 0.5 - 3 per 1000 live births, and an important cause of morbidity among the older age group affecting 5 - 8 per 100,000 of the population. Current disease management strategies rely on intrapartum antibiotics and neonatal monitoring which have reduced neonatal case mortality from >50% in the 1970's to less than 10% in the 1990's. Nevertheless, there is still considerable morbidity and mortality and the management is expensive. 15 — 35% of pregnant women are asymptomatic carriers and at high risk of transmitting the disease to their babies. Risk of neonatal infection is associated with low serotype specific maternal antibodies and high titers are believed to be protective.

0005In addition, invasive GBS disease is increasingly recognized in elderly adults with underlying disease such as diabetes and cancer. The "B" in "GBS" refers to the Lancefield classification, which is based on the antigenicity of a carbohydrate which is soluble in dilute acid and called the C carbohydrate. Lancefield identified 13 types of C carbohydrate, designated A to O, that could be serologically differentiated. The organisms that most commonly infect humans are found in groups A, B, D, and G. Within group B, strains can be divided into at least 9 serotypes (la, lb, Ia/c, IL IH, TV, V, VI, VII and VIII) based on the structure of their polysaccharide capsule, hi the past, serotypes la, lb, II, and III were equally prevalent in normal vaginal carriage and early onset sepsis in newborns. Type V GBS has emerged as an important cause of GBS infection in the USA, however, and strains of types VI and VHI have become prevalent among Japanese women. The genome sequence of a serotype V strain 2603 V/R has been published (Ref. 1) and various polypeptides for use a vaccine antigens have been identified (Ref. 2). The vaccines currently in clinical trials, however, are based on polysaccharide antigens. These suffer from serotype- specificity and poor immunogenicity, and so there is a need for effective vaccines against S.agalactiae infection. It is an object of the invention to provide further and improved compositions for providing immunity against GBS disease and/or infection. The compositions are based on a combination of two or more (e.g., three or more) GBS antigens.

0006SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Applicants have discovered that an immunogenic GBS antigen, GBS 80, is particularly suitable for immunization purposes, especially when used in combination with other GBS antigens.

0007The combination may include GBS 80 and at least one other GBS antigen or up to thirteen other GBS antigens. In a preferred embodiment, the combination may include GBS 80 and up to 10 GBS antigens. In a more preferred embodiment, the combination includes GBS 80 and up to five GBS antigens. In particular, the invention relates to a composition comprising a combination of two or more GBS antigens, wherein the combination includes GBS 80 or a fragment thereof. In one embodiment, the combination may consist of two to thirteen GBS antigens selected from the group consisting of GBS 80, GBS 91, GBS 104, GBS 184, GBS 276, GBS 305, GBS 322, GBS 330, GBS

0008338, GBS 361, GBS 404, GBS 690, and GBS 691. Preferably, the combination consists of GBS 80,

0009GBS 104 and GBS 322. Instead of the full length antigen, the combination may comprise an immunogenic fragment of the selected GBS antigen and/or a polypeptide sequence having sequence identity to the selected antigen. Preferably, the combination of GBS antigens consists of three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, or ten GBS antigens. Still more preferably, the combination of GBS antigens consists of three, four, or five GBS antigens. DETAΠJED DESCRD?TION OF THE INVENTION The practice of the present invention will employ, unless otherwise indicated, conventional methods of chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, immunology and pharmacology, within the skill of the art. Such techniques are explained fully in the literature. See, e.g., Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Company, Easton, Pa., 19th Edition (1995); Methods In Enzymology (S. Colowick and N. Kaplan, eds., Academic Press, Inc.); and Handbook of Experimental Immunology, Vols. I-IV (D.M. Weir and CC. Blackwell, eds., 1986, Blackwell Scientific Publications); Sambrook, et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (2nd Edition, 1989); Handbook of Surface and Colloidal Chemistry (Birdi, K.S. ed., CRC Press, 1997); Short Protocols in Molecular Biology, 4th ed. (Ausubel et al. eds., 1999, John Wiley & Sons); Molecular Biology Techniques: An Intensive Laboratory Course, (Ream et al., eds., 1998, Academic Press); PCR (Introduction to Biotechniques Series), 2nd ed. (Newton & Graham eds., 1997, Springer Verlag); Peters and Dalrymple, Fields Virology (2d ed), Fields et al. (eds.), B.N. Raven Press, New York, NY. All publications, patents and patent applications cited herein, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

0010GBS Antigens As discussed above, the invention provides an immunogenic composition comprising a combination of two or more GBS antigens, wherein said combination includes GBS 80 or a fragment thereof. The combinations of GBS antigens may include polypeptide fragments of the identified GBS antigens. The length of the fragment may vary depending on the amino acid sequence of the specific GBS antigen, but the fragment is preferably at least 7 consecutive amino acids, (e.g. 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, 200 or more). Preferably the fragment comprises one or more epitopes from the sequence. Other preferred fragments include (1) the N-terminal signal peptides of each identified GBS antigen, (2) the identified GBS antigens without their N-terminal signal peptides, and (3) each identified GBS antigen wherein up to 10 amino acid residues (e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25 or more) are deleted from the N-terminus and or the C-terminus e.g. the N-terminal amino acid residue may be deleted. Other fragments omit one or more domains of the protein (e.g. omission of a signal peptide, of a cytoplasmic domain, of a transmembrane domain, or of an extracellular domain). The combinations of GBS antigens may include polypeptide sequences having sequence identity to the identified GBS antigens. The degree of sequence identity may vary depending on the amino acid sequence (a) in question, but is preferably greater than 50% (e.g. 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% or more). Polypeptides having sequence identity include homologs, orthologs, allelic variants and functional mutants of the identified GBS antigens. Typically, 50% identity or more between two proteins is considered to be an indication of functional equivalence. Identity between proteins is preferably determined by the Smith- Waterman homology search algorithm as implemented in the MPSRCH program (Oxford

0011Molecular), using an affinity gap search with parameters gap openpenalty=12 and gap extension penalty=l. The polypeptides can, of course, be prepared by various means (e.g. recombinant expression, purification from GBS, chemical synthesis etc) and in various forms (e.g. native, fusions, glycosylated, non-glycosylated etc.). They are preferably prepared in substantially pure form (i. e. substantially free from other streptococcal or host cell proteins) or substantially isolated form.

0012GBS 80 As discussed above, the invention relates to the use of GBS 80 in synergistic combination with other GBS antigens. GBS 80 refers to a putative cell wall surface anchor family protein. Nucleotide and amino acid sequence of GBS 80 sequenced from serotype V isolated strain 2603 V R are set forth in Ref. 2 as SEQ ID 8779 and SEQ ID 8780. These sequences are also set forth below as

0013SEQ IDNOS land2:

0014SEQ DDNO.1 ATGAAATTATCGAAGAAGTTATTGTTTTCGGCTGCTGTTTTAACAATGGTGGCGGGGTCAACTGTTGA ACCAGTAGCTCAGTTTGCGACTGGAATGAGTATTGTAAGAGCTGCAGAAGTGTCACAAGAACGCCCAG CGAAAACAACAGTAAATATCTATAAATTACAAGCTGATAGTTATAAATCGGAAATTACTTCTAATGGT GGTATCGAGAATAAAGACGGCGAAGTAATATCTAACTATGCTAAACTTGGTGACAATGTAAAAGGTTT GCAAGGTGTACAGTTTAAACGTTATAAAGTCAAGACGGATATTTCTGTTGATGAATTGAAAAAATTGA CAACAGTTGAAGCAGCAGATGCAAAAGTTGGAACGATTCTTGAAGAAGGTGTCAGTCTACCTCAAAAA ACTAATGCTCAAGGTTTGGTCGTCGATGCTCTGGATTCAAAAAGTAATGTGAGATACTTGTATGTAGA AGATTTAAAGAATTCACCTTCAAACATTACCAAAGCTTATGCTGTACCGTTTGTGTTGGAATTACCAG TTGCTAACTCTACAGGTACAGGTTTCCTTTCTGAAATTAATATTTACCCTAAAAACGTTGTAACTGAT GAACCAAAAACAGATAAAGATGTTAAAAAATTAGGTCAGGACGATGCAGGTTATACGATTGGTGAAGA ATTCAAATGGTTCTTGAAATCTACAATCCCTGCCAATTTAGGTGACTATGAAAAATTTGAAATTACTG ATAAATTTGCAGATGGCTTGACTTATAAATCTGTTGGAAAAATCAAGATTGGTTCGAAAACACTGAAT AGAGATGAGCACTACACTATTGATGAACCAACAGTTGATAACCAAAATACATTAAAAATTACGTTTAA ACCAGAGAAATTTAAAGAAATTGCTGAGCTACTTAAAGGAATGACCCTTGTTAAAAATCAAGATGCTC TTGATAAAGCTACTGCAAATACAGATGATGCGGCATTTTTGGAAATTCCAGTTGCATCAACTATTAAT GAAAAAGCAGTTTTAGGAAAAGCAATTGAAAATACTTTTGAACTTCAATATGACCATACTCCTGATAA AGCTGACAATCCAAAACCATCTAATCCTCCAAGAAAACCAGAAGTTCATACTGGTGGGAAACGATTTG TAAAGAAAGACTCAACAGAAACACAAACACTAGGTGGTGCTGAGTTTGATTTGTTGGCTTCTGATGGG ACAGCAGTAAAATGGACAGATGCTCTTATTAAAGCGAATACTAATAAAAACTATATTGCTGGAGAAGC TGTTACTGGGCAACCAATCAAATTGAAATCACATACAGACGGTACGTTTGAGATTAAAGGTTTGGCTT ATGCAGTTGATGCGAATGCAGAGGGTACAGCAGTAACTTACAAATTAAAAGAAACAAAAGCACCAGAA GGTTATGTAATCCCTGATAAAGAAATCGAGTTTACAGTATCACAAACATCTTATAATACAAAACCAAC TGACATCACGGTTGATAGTGCTGATGCAACACCTGATACAATTAAAAACAACAAACGTCCTTCAATCC CTAATACTGGTGGTATTGGTACGGCTATCTTTGTCGCTATCGGTGCTGCGGTGATGGCTTTTGCTGTT AAGGGGATGAAGCGTCGTACAAAAGATAAC SEQIDNO: 2

0015MK SKKLLFSAAVLTMVAGSTVEPVAQFATGMSIVRAAEVSQERPAKTTVNIYKLQADSYKSEITSNG GIEN DGEVISNYAKLGDNVKGLQGVQFKRYKVKTDISVDE KKLTTVEAADAKVGTILEEGVSLPQK TNAQGLWDALDSKSNVRYLYVEDLKNSPSNITKAYAVPFVLE PVANSTGTGFLSEINIYPKNVVTD EPKTDKDVKKLGQDDAGYTIGEEFK FLKSTIPANLGDYEKFEITDKFADGLTYKSVGKIKIGSKTLN RDEHYTIDEPTVDNQNTLKITFKPEKFKEIAELLKGMT VKNQDALDKATANTDDAAFLEIPVASTIN EKAVLGKAIENTFELQYDHTPDKADNPKPSNPPRKPEVHTGGKRFVKKDSTETQTLGGAEFDLLASDG TAVK TDALIKANTNKNYIAGEAVTGQPI KSHTDGTFEIKG AYAVDANAEGTAVTYKLKETKAPE GYVIPDKEIEFTVSQTSYNTKPTDITVDSADATPDTIKNNKRPSJP ΓGGIGTAIFVAIGAAVMAFAV KGMKRRTKDN As described above, the combinations of the invention may include a fragment of a GBS antigen. In some instances, removal of one or more domains, such as a leader or signal sequence region, a transmembrane region, a cytoplasmic region or a cell wall anchoring motif, may facilitate cloning of the gene encoding the antigen and/or recombinant expression of the GBS protein. In addition, fragments comprising immunogenic epitopes of the cited GBS antigens may be used in the compositions of the invention. GBS 80 contains an N-terminal leader or signal sequence region which is indicated by the underlined sequence at the beginning of SEQ ID NO: 2 above. In one embodiment, one or more amino acids from the leader or signal sequence region of GBS 80 are removed. An example of such a GBS 80 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 3:

0016SEQπ>NO: 3 AEVSQERPAKTTVNIYKLQADSYKSEITSNGGIENKDGEVISNYAKLGDNVKGLQGVQFKRYKVKTDI SVDELKKLTTVEAADAKVGTILΞEGVSLPQKTNAQGLWDALDSKSNVRYLYVEDLKNSPSNITKAYA VPFVLELPVANSTGTGFLSEINIYPKNVVTDEPKTDKDVKKLGQDDAGYTIGEEFK FLKSTIPANLG DYEKFEITDKFADGLTYKSVGKIKIGSKTLNRDEHYTIDEPTVDNQNTLKITFKPEKFKEIAELLKGM TLVKNQDALDKATANTDDAAFLEIPVASTINEKAVLGKAIENTFELQYDHTPDKADNPKPSNPPRKPE VHTGGKRFVKKDSTETQTLGGAEFDLLASDGTAVK TDALIKANTNKNYIAGEAVTGQPIKLKSHTDG TFEIKGLAYAVDANAEGTAVTYKLKET APEGYVIPDKEIEFTVSQTSYNTKPTDITVDSADATPDTI KNNKRPSIPNTGGIGTAIFVAIGAAVMAFAVKGMKRRTKDN GBS 80 contains a C-terminal transmembrane region which is indicated by the underlined sequence near the end of SEQ ID NO: 2 above. In one embodiment, one or more amino acids from the transmembrane region and/or a cytoplasmic region are removed. An example of such a GBS 80 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 4:

0017SEQH)NO: 4 MKLSKKLLFSAAVLTMVAGSTVEPVAQFATGMSIVRAAEVSQERPAKTTVNIYKLQADSYKSEITSNG GIENKDGEVISNYAKLGDNVKGLQGVQFKRYKVKTDISVDELKKLTTVEAADAKVGTILEEGVSLPQK TNAQGLVVDALDSKSNVRYLYVEDLKNSPSNITKAYAVPFVLELPVANSTGTGFLSEINIYPKNVVTD EPKTDKDVKKLGQDDAGYTIGEEFK FLKSTIPANLGDYEKFEITDKFADGLTYKSVGKIKIGSKTLN RDEHYTIDEPTVDNQNT KITFKPEKFKEIAE LKGMTLVKNQDALDKATANTDDAAFLEIPVASTIN EKAVLGKAIENTFELQYDHTPDKADNPKPSNPPRKPEVHTGGKRFVKKDSTETQTLGGAEFDLLASDG TAVKWTDALIKANTNKNYIAGEAVTGQPIKLKSHTDGTFEIKGLAYAVDANAEGTAVTYKLKETKAPE GYVIPDKEIEFTVSQTSYNTKPTDITVDSADATPDTIKNNKRPSIPiVrG GBS 80 contains an amino acid motif indicative of a cell wall anchor: SEQ H) NO: 5 IPNTG (shown in italics in SEQ ID NO: 2 above). In some recombinant host cell systems, it may be preferable to remove this motif to facilitate secretion of a recombinant GBS 80 protein from the host cell. Accordingly, in one preferred fragment of GBS 80 for use in the invention, the transmembrane and or cytoplasmic regions and the cell wall anchor motif are removed from GBS 80. An example of such a GBS 80 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 6.

SEQ ID NO: 6

0019MKLSKKLLFSAAVLTMVAGSTVEPVAQFATGMSIVRAAEVSQERPAKTTVNIYKLQADSYKSEITSNG GIENKDGEVISNYAKLGDNVKGLQGVQFKRYKVKTDISVDELKKLTTVEAADAKVGTILEEGVSLPQK TNAQGLVVDALDSKSNVRYLYVEDLKNSPSNITKAYAVPFVLELPVANSTGTGFLSEINIYPKNWTD EPKTDKDVKKLGQDDAGYTIGEEFK FLKSTIPANLGDYEKFEITDKFADGLTYKSVGKIKIGSKTLN RDEHYTIDEPTVDNQNTLKITFKPEKFKEIAELLKGMTLVKNQDALDKATANTDDAAFLEIPVASTIN EKAVLGKAIENTFELQYDHTPDKADNPKPSNPPRKPEVHTGG RFVKKDSTETQTLGGAEFDLLASDG TAVKWTDALIKANTNKNYIAGEAVTGQPIKLKSHTDGTFEIKGLAYAVDANAEGTAVTYKLKETKAPE GYVIPDKEIEFTVSQTSYNTKPTDITVDSADATPDTIKNNKRPS Alternatively, in some recombinant host cell systems, it may be preferable to use the cell wall anchor motif to anchor the recombinantly expressed protein to the cell wall. The extracellular domain of the expressed protein may be cleaved during purification or the recombinant protein may be left attached to either inactivated host cells or cell membranes in the final composition. In one embodiment, the leader or signal sequence region, the transmembrane and cytoplasmic regions and the cell wall anchor motif are removed from the GBS 80 sequence. An example of such a

0020GBS 80 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 7.

0021SEQIDNO: 7 AEVSQERPAKTTVNIYKLQADSYKSEITSNGGIENKDGEVISNYAKLGDNVKGLQGVQFKRYKVKTDI SVDELKKLTTVEAADAKVGTILEEGVS PQKTNAQGLVVDALDSKSNVRYLYVEDLKNSPSNITPAYA VPFVLELPVANSTGTGFLSEINIYPKNVVTDEPKTDKDVKKLGQDDAGYTIGEEFKWFLKSTIPANLG DYEKFEITDKFADGLTYKSVGKIKIGSKTLNRDEHYTIDEPTVDNQNTLKITFKPEKFKEIAELLKGM TLVKNQDALDKATANTDDAAFLEIPVASTINEKAVLGKAIENTFELQYDHTPDKADNPKPSNPPRKPE VHTGGKRFVKKDSTETQTLGGAEFDLLASDGTAVK TDALIKANTNKNYIAGEAVTGQPIKLKSHTDG TFEIKG AYAVDANAEGTAVTYKLKETKAPEGYVIPDKEIEFTVSQTSYNTKPTDITVDSADATPDTI KNNKRPS Applicants have identified a particularly immunogenic fragment of the GBS 80 protein. This immunogenic fragment is located towards the N-terminus of the protein and is underlined in the GBS 80 SEQ ID NO: 2 sequence below. The underlined fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 8. SEQDDNO: 2

0022MKLSKKLLFSAAVLTMVAGSTVEPVAQFATGMSIVRAAEVSQERPAKTTVNIYKLQADSYKSEITSNG GIENKDGEVISNYAKLGDNVKGLQGVQFKRYKVKTDISVDELKKLTTVEAADAKVGTILEEGVSLPQK TNAQGLVVDALDSKSNVRYLYVEDLKNSPSNITKAYAVPFVLELPVANSTGTGFLSEINIYPKNWTD EPKTDKDVKKLGQDDAGYTIGEEFKWFLKSTIPANLGDYEKFEITDKFADGLTYKSVGKIKIGSKTLN RDEHYTIDEPTVDNQNT KITFKPEKFKEIAE LKGMTLVKNQDALDKATANTDDAAFLEIPVASTIN EKAVLGKAIENTFELQYDHTPDKADNPKPSNPPRKPEVHTGGKRFVKKDSTETQTLGGAEFDLLASDG TAVKWTDALIKANTNKNYIAGEAVTGQPIKLKSHTDGTFEIKGLAYAVDANAEGTAVTYKLKETKAPE GYVIPDKEIEFTVSQTSYNTKPTDITVDSADATPDTIKNNKRPSIP ΓGGIGTAIFVAIGAAVMAFAV KGMKRRTKDN

SEQH)NO: 8

0024AEVSQERPAKTTVNIYKLQADSYKSEITSNGGIENKDGEVISNYAKLGDNVKGLQGVQFKRYKVKTDI SVDELKKLTTVEAADAKVGTI EEGVSLPQKTNAQGLVVDALDSKSNVRYLYVEDLKNSPSNITKAYA VPFVLELPVANSTGTGF SEINIYPKNWTDEPKTDKDVKKLGQDDAGYTIGEEFKWFLKSTIPANLG DYEKFEITDKFADGLTYKSVGKIKIGSKTLNRDEHYTIDEPTVDNQNTLKITFKPEKFKEIAELLKG The immunogenicity of the protein encoded by SEQ ID NO: 7 was compared against PBS, GBS whole cell, GBS 80 (full length) and another fragment of GBS 80, located closer to the C- terminus of the peptide (SEQ ID NO: 9, below).

SEQ ID NO: 9

0026MTLVKNQDALDKATANTDDAAFLEI PVASTINEKAVLGKAIENTFELQYDHTPDKADNPKPSNPPRKPEVHTGGK RFVKKDSTETQTLGGAEFDLLASDGTAVE WTDALIKANTNKNYIAGEAVTGQPIKL SHTDGTFEIKGLAYAVDA NAEGTAVTYKLKETKAPEGYVIPDKEIEFTVSQTSYNTKPTDITVDSADATPDTIKNNKRPS Both an Active Maternal Immunization Assay and a Passive Maternal Immunization Assay were conducted on this collection of proteins. As used herein, an Active Maternal Immunization assay refers to an in vivo protection assay where female mice are immunized with the test antigen composition. The female mice are then bred and their pups are challenged with a lethal dose of GBS. Serum titers of the female mice during the immunization schedule are measured as well as the survival time of the pups after challenge. Specifically, the Active Maternal Immunization assays referred to herein used groups of four CD-I female mice (Charles River Laboratories, Calco Italy). These mice were immunized intraperitoneally with the selected proteins in Freund's adjuvant at days 1, 21 and 35, prior to breeding. 6-8 weeks old mice received 20 μg protein/dose when immunized with a single antigen, 30-45 μg protein dose (15 μg each antigen) when immunized with combination of antigens. The immune response of the dams was monitored by using serum samples taken on day 0 and 49. The female mice were bred 2-7 days after the last immunization (at approximately t= 36 - 37), and typically had a gestation period of 21 days. Within 48 hours of birth, the pups were challenged via I.P. with GBS in a dose approximately equal to an amount which would be sufficient to kill 70 - 90 % of unimununized pups (as determined by empirical data gathered from PBS control groups). The GBS challenge dose is preferably administered in 50μl of THB medium. Preferably, the pup challenge takes place at 56 to 61 days after the first immunization. The challenge inocula were prepared starting from frozen cultures diluted to the appropriate concentration with THB prior to use. Survival of pups was monitored for 5 days after challenge. As used herein, the Passive Maternal Immunization Assay refers to an in vivo protection assay where pregnant mice are passively immunized by injecting rabbit immune sera (or control sera) approximately 2 days before delivery. The pups are then challenged with a lethal dose of GBS. Specifically, the Passive Maternal Immunization Assay referred to herein used groups of pregnant CD1 mice which were passively immunized by injecting 1 ml of rabbit immune sera or control sera via I.P., 2 days before delivery. Newborn mice (24-48 hrs after birth) are challenged via I.P. with a 70 - 90% lethal dose of GBS serotype III COHl. The challenge dose, obtained by diluting a frozen mid log phase culture, was administered in 50μl of THB medium. For both assays, the number of pups surviving GBS infection was assessed every 12 hrs for 4 days. Statistical significance was estimated by Fisher's exact test. The results of each assay for immunization with SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, PBS and GBS whole cell are set forth in Tables 1 and 2 below.

0027<img file="WO2005028618A2_D0001.tif" />

0028<img file="WO2005028618A2_D0002.tif" /> As shown in Tables 1 and 2, immunization with the SEQ ID NO: 7 GBS 80 fragment provided a substantially improved survival rate for the challenged pups than the comparison SEQ ID NO: 8 GBS 80 fragment. These results indicate that the SEQ ID NO: 7 GBS 80 fragment may comprise an important immunogenic epitope of GBS 80. Combinations including GBS 80 The invention includes combinations of two or more GBS antigens wherein the combination includes GBS 80 or a fragment thereof. Applicants have discovered that GBS 80 is particularly suitable for immunization in combination with other GBS antigens and that these antigen combinations provide for a broader coverage among different GBS strains. Preferably, the combination of GBS antigens consists of three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, or ten GBS antigens. Still more preferably, the combination of GBS antigens consists of three, four, or five GBS antigens. Preferably, the combinations of the invention provide for improved immunogenicity over the immunogenicity of the antigens when administered alone. Improved immunogenicity may be measured, for example, by the Active Maternal Immunization Assay. As discussed above, this assay may be used to measure serum titers of the female mice during the immunization schedule as well as the survival time of the pups after challenge. Preferably, immunization with the immunogenic compositions of the invention yield an increase of at least 2 percentage points (preferably at least 3, 4 or 5 percentage points) in the percent survival of the challenged pups as compared to the percent survival from maternal immunization with a single antigen of the composition when administered alone. Preferably, the increase is at least 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 or 30 percentage points. Preferably, the GBS combinations of the invention comprising GBS 80 demonstrate an increase in the percent survival as compared to the percent survival from immunization with a non-GBS 80 antigen alone. According to one embodiment of the invention, combinations of antigens or fusion proteins containing a portion or portions of the antigens will include GBS 80 or a pportion thereof in combination with from one to 10 antigens, preferably one to 10 or less antigens. Such other antigens include by way of example and not limitation, GBS 67, GBS 91, GBS 104, GBS 184, GBS 276, GBS 305, GBS 322, GBS 330, GBS 338, GBS 361, GBS 404, GBS 690, and GBS 691. Still other antigens are identified in U.S. Serial Number 10/415,182, filed April 28, 2003, hereby incorporated in its entirety. Combinations, for example, can include GBS 80, GBS 104, GBS 322, and GBS 276, ; GBS 80, GBS 338, GBS 330; GBS 80, GBS 330, GBS 104; GBS 80, GBS 104, GBS 404; GBS 80, GBS 338, GBS 104; GBS 80, GBS 338, GBS404; GBS 338, GBS 330, GBS 104; GBS 338, GBS 104,

0029GBS 404; GBS 80, GBS 330, GBS 404; GBS 80, GBS 322, GBS 104; GBS 80, GBS 322, GBS 276; GBS 80, GBS 322, GBS 91; GBS 80, GBS 104, GBS 276; GBS 80, GBS 104, GBS 91; GBS 80, GBS 276, GBS 91; GBS 80, GBS 322, GBS 104; GBS 80, GBS 322, GBS 276; GBS 80, GBS 322, GBS 91; GBS 80, GBS 104, GBS 276; GBS 80, GBS 104, GBS 91; GBS 80, GBS 276, GBS 91; GBS 80, GBS 690, GBS 691; GBS 80, GBS 690, GBS 338; GBS 80, GBS 690, GBS 305; GBS 80, GBS 691, GBS 305; GBS 80, GBS 338, GBS 305; GBS 80, GBS 338, GBS 361; GBS 80, GBS 305, GBS 361; GBS 80, GBS 184, GBS 691; GBS 80, GBS 691, GBS 338; GBS 80, GBS 104, GBS 276, GBS 322; GBS 80, GBS 104, GBS 67, and GBS 322. Examples of combinations of the invention which demonstrate improved immunogenicity are set forth below. A more detailed description of the GBS antigens referred to in these experiments is set forth following the examples.

0030EXAMPLE 1: Active Maternal Immunization Assay of GBS 80 alone vs. in combination In this example, the Active Maternal Immunization Assay was used to measure the percent survival of pups challenged with a Type m serotype of GBS (COHl isolate), at t=56 days. The maternal mice were immunized according to the Active Maternal Immunization Assay schedule discussed above with GBS 80 alone, combinations of GBS antigens (with and without GBS 80), placebo (PBS) or inactivated whole cell GBS isolate as indicated in Table 3 below. In these experiments, the challenge dose for GBS Type III, strain isolate COHl sufficient to kill 70 - 90 % of unimmunized pups is approximately equal to 10 x LD 50% (where LD 50% is the statistically derived Median Lethal Dose).

0031Table 3: Active Maternal Immunization Assay of GBS 80 alone vs. in combination

0032<img file="WO2005028618A2_D0003.tif" /> As shown in Table 3, combinations of GBS antigens which included GBS 80 demonstrated an improved immunogenicity over the use of the antigens alone. For example, immunization with GBS 80 alone yielded a 70% survival rate among the challenged pups. Immunization with combinations of GBS 80 with GBS 338, GBS 330, GBS 104, and GBS 404 yielded 95 to 100% survival rate among the challenged pups. This is an increase of 25 to 30 percentage points. By comparison, combinations of these antigens which did not include GBS 80 failed to achieve the % survival of GBS 80 alone. For example, immunization with GBS 338, GBS 104 and GBS 404 yielded a 65% survival rate. Replacement of any one of these antigens with GBS 80 dramatically increased the percent survival rate to between 97 and 100%. This is an increase of 32 to 35 percentage points. (See percent survival rates of GBS 80, 338, 101 (97%); GBS 80, 338, 404 (100%) and GBS 80, 104, 404 (100%)). Similarly, immunization with GBS 338, 330 and 104 yielded a 73% survival rate. Replacement of any one of these antigens with GBS 80 increased the percent survival rate to between 95 - 97%. These findings indicate that protection from COHl isolate is increased with use of GBS 80 in combination with other GBS antigens. EXAMPLE 2: Active Maternal Immunization Assay of GBS 80. GBS 322. GBS 276. GBS 104 alone vs. in combination In this example, the Active Maternal Immunization Assay was used to measure the percent survival of pups challenged with a Type III serotype of GBS (COHl isolate) at t=56 days. The maternal mice were immunized according to the Active Maternal Immunization Assay schedule discussed above with a single GBS antigen, combinations of GBS antigens with GBS 80, and placebo (PBS) as indicated in Table 4 below.

0033<img file="WO2005028618A2_D0004.tif" />

0034As shown in Table 4, the combinations of the antigens with GBS 80 yielded improved immunogenicity over the use of the antigens alone. For example, immunization with GBS 322 alone yielded a 17 % survival rate among the challenged pups. Immunization with combinations of GBS 322 with GBS 80 and another GBS antigen yielded survival rates of 92 - 100%. As another example, immunization with GBS 104 alone yielded a 74% survival rate. Immunization with combinations of GBS 104 with GBS 80 and another GBS antigen yielded survival rates of 90 - 100%. As another example, immunization with GBS 276 alone yielded a 35% survival rate. Immunization with combinations of GBS 276 with GBS 80 and another GBS antigen yielded survival rates of 82 - 97%. Having demonstrated the immunogenicity of the above-described combinations, the duration of the immune response in the mouse model was further analysed. The maternal mice used in the above described Active Maternal Immunization Assay were mated a second time and the resulting pups challenged with a different GBS serotype (Type V, CJB 111 isolate) at a dramatically higher dose (300x LD 50%) at t=91 days. The parameters of this second, much stronger challenge were outside those of the standard Active Maternal Immunization Assay and were meant to probe the limits of the immunological memory generated from the original maternal immunization in the mouse model. Indication of immunological memory in this model under these conditions is thought to be significant. As shown in Table 5, even under these extreme conditions, increased survival rates were generally achieved, particularly for the combination comprising GBS 80, GBS 322 and GBS 104. It was surprising to note that the percent survival rate for the combination of GBS 80, GBS 233 and GBS 104 was 100% for both the first and second challenges.

0035Table 5: Second eneration u s challen ed with hi her dose of different strain

0036<img file="WO2005028618A2_D0005.tif" />

0037EXAMPLE 3: Active Maternal Immunization Assay of combinations of GBS 80 with GBS 690. GBS 691. GBS 338. GBS 305. GBS 361 and GBS 184 In this example additional combinations of GBS antigens were used in the Active Maternal Immunization Assay, again with a GBS Type III COHl isolate challenge. The maternal mice were immunized according to the Active Maternal Immunization Assay schedule described above with the combinations of GBS antigens set forth in Table 6 below. Table 6: Active Maternal Immunization Assay using combinations of GBS 80 with GBS 690, GBS 691, GBS 338, GBS 305, GBS 361 and GBS 184

0038<img file="WO2005028618A2_D0006.tif" />

0039The maternal mice in this model were also mated a second time and the resulting pups challenged with the same GBS isolate at a dramatically higher dose (lOOx LD 50%) at t=84 days. As in the example above, the parameters of this second, much stronger challenge were outside those of the standard Active Maternal Immunization Assay and were meant to probe the limits of the immunological memory generated from the original maternal immunization in the mouse model. As shown in Table 7, even under these extreme conditions, some of the survival rates remained at or above 70%. Surprisingly, the percent survival rates for the combination of GBS 80, GBS 184 and GBS 691 actually increased.

0040Table 7: Second generation pups challenged with higher dose

0041<img file="WO2005028618A2_D0007.tif" /> EXAMPLE 4: Active Maternal Immunization Assay using combinations of GBS 80 with GBS 690. GBS 691. GBS 338. GBS 305. and GBS 361 In this example additional combinations of GBS antigens were used in the Active Maternal

0042Immunization Assay, this time with a GBS Type V, CJBl 11 isolate challenge. In these experiments, the challenge dose for the GBS Type V, CJBl 11 isolate sufficient to kill 70 - 90% of unimmunized pups is approximately equal to 60 x LD 50% (where LD 50% is the statistically derived Median

0043Lethal Dose). The maternal mice were immunized according to the Active Maternal Immunization

0044Assay schedule described above with the combinations of GBS antigens set forth in Table 8 below.

0045As shown in Table 8, in this particular challenge study with this specific Type V strain isolate, the survival rates for all of the combinations achieved at least 70%.

0046Table 8: Active Maternal Immunization Assay using combinations of GBS 80 with GBS 690, GBS 691, GBS 338, GBS 305 and GBS 361 I Challenge t= =56 days Type V CJB111 60x LD 50% α-GBS Alive/treated Survival % 80 + 690 + 691 24/30 80 80 + 690 + 338 11/17 70 80 + 691 + 338 7/10 70 80 + 691 + 305 21/30 70 80 + 338 + 305 26/30 87 80 + 338 + 361 26/30 87 80 + 305 +361 28/30 93 GBS 80 21/30 70 α-PBS 5/18 28

0047The maternal mice in this model were also mated a second time and the resulting pups challenged with the same GBS isolate at a dramatically higher dose (600x LD 50%) at t=84 days. As in the example above, the parameters of this second, much stronger challenge were outside those of the standard Active Maternal Immunization Assay and were meant to probe the limits of the immunological memory generated from the original maternal immunization in the mouse model. As shown in Table 9, even under these extreme conditions, some of the survival rates remained above 70%. Surprisingly, the percent survival for two of the antigen groups actually increased (GBS 80, GBS 690 and GBs 338) and (GBS 80, GBS 691 and GBS 338). Table 9: Second generation pups challenged with higher dose

0048<img file="WO2005028618A2_D0008.tif" />

0049EXAMPLE 5: Active Maternal Immunization Assay using combinations of GBS 80 with GBS 104. GBS 276. and GBS 322 In this example an additional combination of GBS antigens was used in the Active Maternal

0050Immunization Assay, this time with an isolate challenge of different GBS strains. In these experiments, the challenge dose for the different GBS strains was sufficient to kill 60 - 90% of unimmunized pups and is equal to 10 x LD 50% (where LD 50% is the statistically derived Median Lethal Dose). The maternal mice were immunized according to the Active Maternal Immunization Assay schedule described above with the combination of GBS 80 antigen with GBS 104, GBS 276, and GBS 322 antigens in the GBS strains set forth in Table 10 below. Survival % was observed with the GBS combination with two different adjuvants, Alum and Freunds. As shown in Tables 10 and 11, in this particular challenge study, the survival rates for the combination in all of the GBS strains achieved up to 96%.

0051<img file="WO2005028618A2_D0009.tif" /> Table 11: Active Maternal Immunization Assay usinj % combinations of GBS 80 with GBS 104, GBS 276, and GBS 322 -Freund adjuvant Freund Mix=322+80+104+276 PBS GBS strains i Type Alive/treated Survival % Alive/treated Survival % JM9130013 VHI nd nd nd nd CJBl 11 V 47/49 96 12/46 26 COHl m 47/50 94 12/50 24 M781 HI 33/50 66 6/50 12 2603 V 28/30 93 8/48 17 18RS21 II 31/78 40 10/46 22 DK21 H 37/68 54 15/60 25 H36B lb 8/38 21 5/60 8 7357b - lb 29/50 58 5/50 10 A909 la 18/49 37 6/49 12

0052Accordingly, the invention therefore includes compositions comprising combinations of two or more GBS antigens, wherein the combination includes GBS 80 or a fragment thereof or a polypeptide sequence having sequence identity thereto. In one embodiment, the combination may consist of two to thirteen GBS antigens, including GBS 80. As an example, the combination may contain GBS 80 and other GBS antigens selected from the group consisting of GBS 80, GBS 91, GBS 104, GBS 184, GBS 276, GBS 305, GBS 322, GBS 330, GBS 338, GBS 361, GBS 404, GBS 690, and GBS 691. Preferably, the combination includes GBS 80 in combination with one or more of GBS 104 and GBS 322. For example, the combination may include GBS 80, GBS 104, GBS 322 and GBS 67. Instead of the full length antigen, the combination may comprise an immunogenic fragment of the selected GBS antigen and/or a polypeptide sequence having sequence identity to the selected antigen. Preferably, the combination of GBS antigens consists of three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, or ten GBS antigens. Still more preferably, the combination of GBS antigens consists of three, four, or five GBS antigens. Details of examples of GBS antigens for use in combination with GBS 80 are set forth below. GBS 91 GBS 91 refers to a GBS C3 binding polypeptide. Nucleotide and amino acid sequences of GBS 91 sequenced from serotype V isolated strain 2603 V/R are set forth in Ref. 2 as SEQ ID 8937 and SEQ ID 8938. These sequences are set forth below as SEQ ID NOS 10 and 11:

SEQ IDNO.10

0054ATGAAAAAAGGACAAGTAAATGATACTAAGCAATCTTACTCTCTACGTAAATATAAATTTGGTTTAGC ATCAGTAATTTTAGGGTCATTCATAATGGTCACAAGTCCTGTTTTTGCGGATCAAACTACATCGGTTC AAGTTAATAATCAGACAGGCACTAGTGTGGATGCTAATAATTCTTCCAATGAGACAAGTGCGTCAAGT GTGATTACTTCCAATAATGATAGTGTTCAAGCGTCTGATAAAGTTGTAAATAGTCAAAATACGGCAAC AAAGGACATTACTACTCCTTTAGTAGAGACAAAGCCAATGGTGGAAAAAACATTACCTGAACAAGGGA ATTATGTTTATAGCAAAGAAACCGAGGTGAAAAATACACCTTCAAAATCAGCCCCAGTAGCTTTCTAT GCAAAGAAAGGTGATAAAGTTTTCTATGACCAAGTATTTAATAAAGATAATGTGAAATGGATTTCATA TAAGTCTTTTTGTGGCGTACGTCGATACGCAGCTATTGAGTCACTAGATCCATCAGGAGGTTCAGAGA CTAAAGCACCTACTCCTGTAACAAATTCAGGAAGCAATAATCAAGAGAAAATAGCAACGCAAGGAAAT TATACATTTTCACATAAAGTAGAAGTAAAAAATGAAGCTAAGGTAGCGAGTCCAACTCAATTTACATT GGACAAAGGAGACAGAATTTTTTACGACCAAATACTAACTATTGAAGGAAATCAGTGGTTATCTTATA AATCATTCAATGGTGTTCGTCGTTTTGTTTTGCTAGGTAAAGCATCTTCAGTAGAAAAAACTGAAGAT AAAGAAAAAGTGTCTCCTCAACCACAAGCCCGTATTACTAAAACTGGTAGACTGACTATTTCTAACGA AACAACTACAGGTTTTGATATTTTAATTACGAATATTAAAGATGATAACGGTATCGCTGCTGTTAAGG TACCGGTTTGGACTGAACAAGGAGGGCAAGATGATATTAAATGGTATACAGCTGTAACTACTGGGGAT GGCAACTACAAAGTAGCTGTATCATTTGCTGACCATAAGAATGAGAAGGGTCTTTATAATATTCATTT ATACTACCAAGAAGCTAGTGGGACACTTGTAGGTGTAACAGGAACTAAAGTGACAGTAGCTGGAACTA ATTCTTCTCAAGAACCTATTGAAAATGGTTTAGCAAAGACTGGTGTTTATAATATTATCGGAAGTACT GAAGTAAAAAATGAAGCTAAAATATCAAGTCAGACCCAATTTACTTTAGAAAAAGGTGACAAAATAAA TTATGATCAAGTATTGACAGCAGATGGTTACCAGTGGATTTCTTACAAATCTTATAGTGGTGTTCGTC GCTATATTCCTGTGAAAAAGCTAACTACAAGTAGTGAAAAAGCGAAAGATGAGGCGACTAAACCGACT AGTTATCCCAACTTACCTAAAACAGGTACCTATACATTTACTAAAACTGTAGATGTGAAAAGTCAACC TAAAGTATCAAGTCCAGTGGAATTTAATTTTCAAAAGGGTGAAAAAATACATTATGATCAAGTGTTAG TAGTAGATGGTCATCAGTGGATTTCATACAAGAGTTATTCCGGTATTCGTCGCTATATTGAAATT

SEQ ID NO.11

0056IMKKGQVNDTKQSYSLRKYKFGLASVILGSFIMVTSPVFADQTTSVQVNNQTGTSVDANNSSNETSASS VITSNNDSVQASDKVVNSQNTATKDITTPLVETKPMVEKTLPEQGNYVYSKETEVKNTPSKSAPVAFY AKKGDKVFYDQVFNKDNVKWISYKSFCGVRRYAAIESLDPSGGSETKAPTPVTNSGSNNQEKIATQGN YTFSHKVEVKNEAKVASPTQFTLDKGDRIFYDQI TIEGNQWLSYKSFNGVRRFVLLGKASSVEKTED KEKVSPQPQARITKTGRLTISNETTTGFDILITNIKDDNGIAAVKVPV TEQGGQDDIK YTAVTTGD GNYKVAVS FADHKNEKGLYNIHLYYQEASGTLVGVTGTKVTVAGTNSSQEPIENGLAKTGVYNIIGST EVKNEAKISSQTQFTLEKGDKINYDQVLTADGYQ ISYKSYSGVRRYI PVKKLTTSSEKAKDEATKPT SYPNJ.PffrGTYTFTKTVDVKSQPKVSSPVEFNFQKGEKIHYDQVLWDGHQWISYKSYSGIRRYIEI GBS 91 contains an N-terminal leader or signal sequence region which is indicated by the underlined sequence at the beginning of SEQ ID NO: 11 above. In one embodiment, one or more amino acids from this leader or signal sequence region of GBS 91 are removed. An example of such a GBS 91 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 12.

SEQ ID NO: 12

0058DQTTSVQVNNQTGTSVDANNSSNETSASSVITSNNDSVQASDKVVNSQNTATKDITTPLVETKPMVEK TLPEQGNYVYSKETEVKNTPSKSAPVAFYAKKGDKVFYDQVFNKDNVK ISYKSFCGVRRYAAIESLD PSGGSETKAPTPVTNSGSNNQEKIATQGNYTFSHKVEVKNEAKVASPTQFTLDKGDRIFYDQILTIEG NQW SYKSFNGVRRFVLLGKASSVEKTEDKEKVSPQPQARITKTGR TISNETTTGFDILITNIKDDN GIAAVKVPV TEQGGQDDIK YTAVTTGDGNYKVAVSFADHKNEKGLYNIHLYYQEASGTLVGVTGTK VTVAGTNSSQEPIENGLAKTGVYNIIGSTEVKNEAKISSQTQFTLEKGDKINYDQVLTADGYQWISYK SYSGVRRYIPVKKLTTSSEKAKDEATKPTSYPNLPKTGTYTFTKTVDVKSQPKVSSPVEFNFQKGEKI HYDQVLWDGHQWISYKSYSGIRRYIEI GBS 91 contains a C-terminal transmembrane region which may be located within the underlined region near the end of SEQ ID NO: 11 above, hi one embodiment, one or more amino acids from the transmembrane and cytoplasmic regions are removed. An example of such a GBS 91 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 13.

SEQ IDNO: 13

0060MKKGQVNDTKQSYSLRKYKFGLASVILGSFIMVTSPVFADQTTSVQVNNQTGTSVDAN1SISSNETSASS VITSNNDSVQASDKVVNSQNTATKDITTPLVETKPMVEKTLPEQGNYVYSKΞTEVKNTPSKSAPVAFY AKKGDKVFYDQVFNKDNVKWISYKSFCGVRRYAAIESLDPSGGSETKAPTPVTNSGSNNQEKIATQGN YTFSHKVEVKNEAKVASPTQFTLDKGDRIFYDQILTIEGNQ LSYKSFNGVRRFVL GKASSVEKTED KEKVSPQPQARITKTGRLTISNETTTGFDILITNIKDDNGIAAVKVPVWTEQGGQDDIKWYTAVTTGD GNYKVAVSFADHKNEKGLYNIHLYYQEASGTLVGVTGTKVTVAGTNSSQEPIENGLAKTGVYNIIGST EVKNEAKISSQTQFTLEKGDKINYDQVLTADGYQWISYKSYSGVRRYIPVKKLTTSSEKAKDEATKPT SYPNLPKTG GBS 91 contains an amino acid motif indicative of a cell wall anchor: SEQ H) NO: 14

0061LTKTG (shown in italics in SEQ ID NO: 11 above). In one embodiment, both the transmembrane domain and the cell wall anchor motif are removed from GBS 91. An example of such a GBS 91 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 15.

SEQ IDNO: 15

0063MKKGQVNDTKQSYSLRKYKFGLASVILGSFIMVTSPVFADQTTSVQVNNQTGTSVDANNSSNETSASS VITSNNDSVQASDKVVNSQNTATKDITTPLVETKPMVEKTLPEQGNYVYSKETEVKNTPSKSAPVAFY AKKGDKVFYDQVFNKDNVKWISYKSFCGVRRYAAIESLDPSGGSETKAPTPVTNSGSNNQEKIATQGN YTFSHKVEVKNEAKVASPTQFTLDKGDRIFYDQILTIEGNQWLSYKSFNGVRRFVLLGKASSVEKTED KEKVSPQPQARITKTGRLTISNETTTGFDILITNIKDDNGIAAVKVPV TEQGGQDDIK YTAVTTGD GNYKVAVSFADHKNEKGLYNIHLYYQEASGT VGVTGTKVTVAGTNSSQEPIENGLAKTGVYNIIGST EVKNEAKISSQTQFTLEKGDKINYDQVLTADGYQWISYKSYSGVRRYIPVKKLTTSSEKAKDEATKPT SYPN In one embodiment, one or more amino acids from the leader or signal sequence region and one or more amino acids from the transmembrane and cytoplasmic regions are removed from the GBS 91 sequence. An example of such a GBS 91 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 16.

SEQ TDNO: 16

0065DQTTSVQVNNQTGTSVDANNSSNETSASSVITSNNDSVQASD VVNSQNTATKDITTPLVETKPMVEK TLPEQGNYVYSKETEVKNTPSKSAPVAFYAKKGDKVFYDQVFNKDNVKWISYKSFCGVRRYAAIESLD PSGGSETKAPTPVTNSGSNNQEKIATQGNYTFSHKVEVKNEAKVASPTQFTLDKGDRIFYDQILTIEG NQWLSYKSFNGVRRFVLLGKASSVEKTEDKEKVSPQPQARITKTGRLTISNETTTGFDILITNIKDDN GIAAVKVPVWTEQGGQDDIK YTAVTTGDGNYKVAVSFADHKNEKGLYNIHLYYQEASGTLVGVTGTK VTVAGTNSSQEPIENGLAKTGVYNIIGSTEVKNEAKISSQTQFTLEKGDKINYDQVLTADGYQWISYK SYSGVRRYIPVKKLTTSSEKAKDEATKPTSYPNLPKTG In another embodiment, the leader or signal sequence region, the transmembrane and cytoplasmic regions, and the cell wall anchor motif are all removed from the GBS 91 sequence. An example of such a GBS 91 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 17.

SEQ ID NO: 17

0067DQTTSVQVNNQTGTSVDANNSSNETSASSVITSNNDSVQASDKVVNSQNTATKDITTPLVETKPMVEK TLPEQGNYVYSKETEVKNTPSKSAPVAFYAKKGDKVFYDQVFNKDNVKWISYKSFCGVRRYAAIESLD PSGGSETKAPTPVTNSGSNNQEKIATQGNYTFSHKVEVKNEAKVASPTQFTLDKGDRIFYDQILTIEG NQ LSYKSFNGVRRFVLLGKASSVEKTEDKEKVSPQPQARITKTGRLTISNETTTGFDILITNIKDDN GIAAVKVPV TEQGGQDDIKWYTAVTTGDGNYKVAVSFADHKNEKGLYNIHLYYQEASGTLVGVTGTK VT¥AGTNSSQEPIENGLAKTGVYNIIGSTEVKNEAKISSQTQFTLEKGDKINYDQVLTADGYQWISYK SYSGVRRYIPVKKLTTSSEKAKDEATKPTSYPN Further information regarding GBS 91 can be found in WO 01/25440 (C3 binding polypeptide), WO 01/32882 (ID-65), WO 02/31156 (BVH) and Reinscheid et al., Microbiology (2002) 148: 3245-3254 (bsp gene), each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

0068GBS 104 GBS 104 refers to a putative cell wall surface anchor family protein. It has been referred to as emaA protein. Nucleotide and amino acid sequences of GBS 104 sequenced from serotype V isolated strain 2603 V/R are set forth in Ref. 2 as SEQ ID 8777 and SEQ ID 8778. These sequences are set forth below as SEQ ID NOS 18 and 19: SEQIDNO.18

0069ATGAAAAAGAGACAAAAAATATGGAGAGGGTTATCAGTTACTTTACTAATCCTGTCCCAAATTCCATT TGGTATATTGGTACAAGGTGAAACCCAAGATACCAATCAAGCACTTGGAAAAGTAATTGTTAAAAAAA CGGGAGACAATGCTACACCATTAGGCAAAGCGACTTTTGTGTTAAAAAATGACAATGATAAGTCAGAA ACAAGTCACGAAACGGTAGAGGGTTCTGGAGAAGCAACCTTTGAAAACATAAAACCTGGAGACTACAC ATTAAGAGAAGAAACAGCACCAATTGGTTATAAAAAAACTGATAAAACCTGGAAAGTTAAAGTTGCAG ATAACGGAGCAACAATAATCGAGGGTATGGATGCAGATAAAGCAGAGAAACGAAAAGAAGTTTTGAAT GCCCAATATCCAAAATCAGCTATTTATGAGGATACAAAAGAAAATTACCCATTAGTTAATGTAGAGGG TTCCAAAGTTGGTGAACAATACAAAGCATTGAATCCAATAAATGGAAAAGATGGTCGAAGAGAGATTG CTGAAGGTTGGTTATCAAAAAAAATTACAGGGGTCAATGATCTCGATAAGAATAAATATAAAATTGAA TTAACTGTTGAGGGTAAΆACCACTGTTGAΆACGΆAΆGAACTTAATCAACCACTAGATGTCGTTGTGCT ATTAGATAATTCAAATAGTATGAATAATGAAAGAGCCAATAATTCTCAAAGAGCATTAAAAGCTGGGG AAGCAGTTGAAAAGCTGATTGATAAAATTACATCAAATAAAGACAATAGAGTAGCTCTTGTGACATAT GCCTCAACCATTTTTGATGGTACTGAAGCGACCGTATCAAΆGGGAGTTGCCGATCAAΆΆTGGTAAAGC GCTGAATGATAGTGTATCATGGGATTATCATAΆAACTACTTTTACAGCAACTACACATAATTACAGTT ATTTAAATTTAACAAATGATGCTAΆCGAAGTTAΆTATTCTAΆAGTCAAGAATTCCAAAGGAAGCGGAG CATATAAATGGGGATCGCACGCTCTATCAATTTGGTGCGACATTTACTCAAAAAGCTCTAATGAAAGC AAATGAAATTTTAGAGACACAΆAGTTCTAATGCTAGAAΆAAAACTTATTTTTCACGTAΆCTGATGGTG TCCCTACGATGTCTTATGCCATAAATTTTAATCCTTATΆTATCAACATCTTACCAAAACCAGTTTAAT CTTTTTTAAATAAAATACCAGATAGAAGTGGTATTCTCCAAGAGGATTTTATAATCAATGGTGATGA TTATCAAATAGTAAAAGGAGATGGAGAGAGTTTTAAACTGTTTTCGGATAGAAΆAGTTCCTGTTACTG GAGGAACGACACAAGCAGCTTATCGAGTACCGCAΆAATCAACTCTCTGTAΆTGAGTAATGAGGGATAT GCAΆTTAATAGTGGATATATTTATCTCTATTGGAGAGATTACAACTGGGTCTATCCATTTGATCCTAA GACAAAGAAAGTTTCTGCAACGAAACAAATCAAAACTCATGGTGAGCCAACAACATTATACTTTAATG GAAATATAAGACCTAAAGGTTATGACATTTTTACTGTTGGGATTGGTGTAAACGGAGATCCTGGTGCA ACTCCTCTTGAAGCTGAGAAATTTATGCAATCAATATCAAGTAAAACAGAAAATTATACTAATGTTGA TGATACAAATAAAATTTATGATGAGCTAAATAAATACTTTAAAACAATTGTTGAGGAAAAACATTCTA TTGTTGATGGAAATGTGACTGATCCTATGGGAGAGATGATTGAATTCCAATTAAAAAATGGTCAAAGT TTACACATGATGATTACGTTTTGGTTGGAAATGATGGCAGTCAATTAAAAAATGGTGTGGCTCTTGG TGGACCAAACAGTGATGGGGGAATTTTAAAAGATGTTACAGTGACTTATGATAAGACATCTCAAACCA TCAAAATCAATCATTTGAACTTAGGAAGTGGACAAAAAGTAGTTCTTACCTATGATGTACGTTTAAAA GATAACTATATAAGTAACAAATTTTACAATACAAATAATCGTACAACGCTAAGTCCGAAGAGTGAAAA AGAACCAAATACTATTCGTGATTTCCCAATTCCCAAAATTCGTGATGTTCGTGAGTTTCCGGTACTAA CCATCAGTAATCAGAAGAAAATGGGTGAGGTTGAATTTATTAAAGTTAATAAAGACAAACATTCAGAA TCGCTTTTGGGAGCTAAGTTTCAACTTCAGATAGAAAAAGATTTTTCTGGGTATAAGCAATTTGTTCC AGAGGGAAGTGATGTTACAACAAAGAATGATGGTAAAATTTATTTTAAAGCACTTCAAGATGGTAACT ATAAATTATATGAAATTTCAAGTCCAGATGGCTATATAGAGGTTAAAACGAAACCTGTTGTGACATTT ACAATTCAAAATGGAGAAGTTACGAACCTGAAAGCAGATCCAAATGCTAATAAAAATCAAATCGGGTA TCTTGAAGGAAATGGTAAACATCTTATTACCAACACTCCCAAACGCCCACCAGGTGTTTTTCCTAAAA CAGGGGGAATTGGTACAATTGTCTATATATTAGTTGGTTCTACTTTTATGATACTTACCATTTGTTCT TTCCGTCGTAAACAATTG

0070SEQ IDNO.19 MKKRQKIWRGLSVTLLILSQIPFGILVQGETQDTNQALGKVIVKKTGDNATPLGKATFVLKNDNDKSE TSHETVEGSGEATFENIKPGDYTLREETAPIGYKKTDKT KVKVADNGATIIEGMDADKAEKRKEVLN AQYPKSAIYEDTKENYPLVNVEGSKVGEQYϊALNPINGKDGRREIAEGWLSKKITGVNDLDKNKYKIE LTVEGKTTVETKELNQPLDVVVLLDNSNSMNNERANNSQRALKAGEAVEKLIDKITSNKDNRVALVTY ASTIFDGTEATVSKGVADQNGKALNDSVSWDYHKTTFTATTHNYSYLNLTNDANEVNILKSRIPKEAE HINGDRT YQFGATFTQKALMKANEILETQSSNARKKLIFHVTDGVPTMSYAINFNPYISTSYQNQFN SF NKIPDRSGILQEDFIINGDDYQIVKGDGESFKLFSDRKVPVTGGTTQAAYRVPQNQLSVMSNEGY AINSGYIYLYWRDYNWVYPFDPKTKKVSATKQIKTHGEPTTLYFNGNIRPKGYDIFTVGIGVNGDPGA TPLEAEKFMQSISSKTENYTNVDDTNKIYDELNKYFKTIVEEKHSIVDGNVTDPMGEMIEFQLKNGQS FTHDDYVLVGNDGSQLKNGVALGGPNSDGGILKDVTVTYDKTSQTIKINHLNLGSGQKVVLTYDVRLK DNYISNKFYNTNNRTTLSPKSEKEPNTIRDFPIPKIRDVREFPVLTISNQKKMGEVEFIKVNKDKHSE SLLGAKFQ QIEKDFSGYKQFVPEGSDVTTKNDGKIYFKALQDGNYKLYEISSPDGYIEVKTKPVVTF TIQNGEVTNLKADPNANKNQIGYLEGNGKHLITNTPKRPPGVFPKTGGIGTIVYI VGSTFMILTICS FRRKQ GBS 104 contains an N-terminal leader or signal sequence region which is indicated by the underlined sequence at the beginning of SEQ ID NO 19 above. In one embodiment, one or more amino acid sequences from the leader or signal sequence region of GBS 104 are removed. An example of such a GBS 104 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO 20.

SEQ ID NO 20

0072GETQDTNQALGKVIVKKTGDNATPLGKATFVLKNDNDKSETSHETVEGSGEATFENIKPGDYT REET APIGYKKTDKTWKVKVADNGATIIEGMDADKAEKRKEVLNAQYPKSAIYEDTKENYPLVNVEGSKVGE QYKALNPINGKDGRREIAEGWLSKKITGVNDLDKNKYKIELTVEGKTTVETKELNQPLDWV LDNSN SMNNERANNSQRALKAGEAVEKLIDKITSNKDNRVALVTYASTIFDGTEATVSKGVADQNGKALNDSV SWDYHKTTFTATTHNYSYLNLTNDANEVNILKSRIPKEAEHINGDRTLYQFGATFTQKALMKANEILE TQSSNARKKLIFHVTDGVPTMSYAINFNPYISTSYQNQFNSFLNKIPDRSGILQEDFIINGDDYQIVK GDGESFKLFSDRKVPVTGGTTQAAYRVPQNQLSVMSNEGYAINSGYIYLYWRDYNWVYPFDPKTKKVS ATKQIKTHGEPTTLYFNGNIRPKGYDIFTVGIGVNGDPGATPLEAEKFMQSISSKTENYTNVDDTNKI YDELN YFKTIVEEKHSIVDGNVTDPMGEMIEFQLKNGQSFTHDDYV VGNDGSQLKNGVALGGPNSD GGILKDVTVTYDKTSQTIKINHLNLGSGQKVVLTYDVRLKDNYISNKFYNTNNRTT SPKSEKEPNTI RDFPIPKIRDVREFPVLTISNQKKMGEVEFIKVNKDKHSESLLGAKFQLQIEKDFSGYKQFVPEGSDV TTKNDGKIYFKALQDGNYKLYEISSPDGYIEVKTKPVVTFTIQNGEVTNLKADPNANKNQIGYLEGNG KHLITNTPKRPPGVFPKTGGIGTIVYILVGSTFMILTICSFRRKQL GBS 104 contains a C-terminal transmembrane and/or cytoplasmic region which is indicated by the underlined region near the end of SEQ JO NO 19 above. In one embodiment, one or more amino acids from the transmembrane or cytomplasmic regions are removed. An example of such a GBS 104 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO 21.

SEQ ID NO: 21

0074MKKRQKIWRGLSVTLLILSQIPFGILVQGETQDTNQALGKVIVKKTGDNATPLGKATFVLKNDNDKSE TSHETVEGSGEATFENIKPGDYTLREETAPIGYKKTDKTWKVKVADNGATIIEGMDADKAEKRKEVLN AQYPKSAIYEDTKENYPLVNVEGSKVGEQYKALNPINGKDGRREIAEGWLSKKITGVNDLDKNKYKIE TVEGKTTVETKELNQPLDVVVLLDNSNSMNNERANNSQRALKAGEAVEKL1DKITSNKDNRVALVTY ASTIFDGTEATVSKGVADQNGKALNDSVSWDYHKTTFTATTHNYSYLN TNDANEVNILKSRIPKEAE HINGDRTLYQFGATFTQKALMKANEILETQSSNARKKLIFHVTDGVPTMSYAINFNPYISTSYQNQFN SFLNKIPDRSGILQEDFIINGDDYQIVKGDGESFKLFSDRKVPVTGGTTQAAYRVPQNQLSVMSNEGY AINSGYIY Y RDYNWVYPFDPKTKKVSATKQIKTHGEPTTLYFNGNIRPKGYDIFTVGIGVNGDPGA TPLEAEKFMQSISSKTENYTNVDDTNKIYDELNKYFKTIVEEKHSIVDGNVTDPMGEMIEFQLKNGQS FTHDDYVLVGNDGSQLKNGVA GGPNSDGGILKDVTVTYDKTSQTIKINHLNLGSGQKVVLTYDVRLK DNYISNKFYNTNNRTTLSPKSEKEPNTIRDFPIPKIRDVREFPVLTISNQKKMGEVEFIKVNKDKHSE SLLGAKFQLQIEKDFSGYKQFVPEGSDVTTKNDGKIYFKALQDGNYKLYEISSPDGYIEVKTKPWTF TIQNGEVTNLKADPNANKNQIGYLEGNGKHLITNT In one embodiment, one or more amino acids from the leader or signal sequence region and one or more amino acids from the transmembrane or cytoplasmic regions are removed. An example of such a GBS 104 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO 22.

SEQID NO: 22

0076GETQDTNQALGKVIVKKTGDNATPLGKATFVLKNDNDKSETSHETVEGSGEATFENIKPGDYTLREET APIGY KTDKTWKVKVADNGATIIEGMDADKAEKRKEVLNAQYPKSAIYEDTKENYPLVNVEGSKVGE QYKALNPINGKDGRREIAEG LSKKITGVNDLDKNKYKIELTVEGKTTVETKELNQPLDVVVLLDNSN SMNNERANNSQRALKAGEAVEKLIDKITSNKDNRVALVTYASTIFDGTEATVSKGVADQNGKALNDSV SWDYHKTTFTATTHNYSY NLTNDANEVNILKSRIPKEAEHINGDRT YQFGATFTQKALMKANEILE TQSSNARKKLIFHVTDGVPTMSYAINFNPYISTSYQNQFNSFLNKIPDRSGILQEDFIINGDDYQIVK GDGESFKLFSDRKVPVTGGTTQAAYRVPQNQLSVMSNEGYAINSGYIYLYWRDYNWVYPFDPKTKKVS ATKQIKTHGEPTTLYFNGNIRPKGYDIFTVGIGVNGDPGATPLEAEKFMQSISSKTENYTNVDDTNKI YDELNKYFKTIVEEKHSIVDGNVTDPMGEMIEFQLKNGQSFTHDDYVLVGNDGSQLKNGVALGGPNSD GGILKDVTVTYDKTSQTIKINHLNLGSGQKVVLTYDVRLKDNYISNKFYNTNNRTTLSPKSEKEPNTI RDFPIP IRDVREFPVLTISNQKKMGEVEFIKVNKDKHSESLLGAKFQ QIEKDFSGYKQFVPEGSDV TTKNDGKIYFKALQDGNYKLYEISSPDGYIEVKTKPVVTFTIQNGEVTNLKADPNANKNQIGYLEGNG KHLITNT In other embodiments, additional fragments of GBS 104 are provided including an 830 amino acid fragment of GBS 104 of amino acids 28-858, a 359 amino acid fragment of GBS 104 of amino acids 28-387, a 581 amino acid fragment of GBS 104 of amino acids 28-609, or a 740 amino acid fragment of GBS 104 of amino acids 28-768.

0077GBS 184 GBS 184 refers to a putative lipoprotein. Nucleotide and amino acid sequences of GBS 184 sequenced from serotype V isolated strain 2603 V/R are set forth in Ref. 2 as SEQ JD 1977 and SEQ ID 1978. These sequences are also set forth below as SEQ ID NOS 23 and 24.

SEQIDNO: 23

0079ATGAAAAAACAAAAACTATTACTGCTTATTGGAGGCTTATTAATAATGATAATGATGACAGCATGTAA GGATTCAAAAATCCCAGAAAACCGCACAAAGGAAGAGTACCAAGCTGAACAAAATTTTAAACCGTTTT TTGAGTTTTTAGCACAAAAAGATAAAGATTTGAGCAAAATACAAAAATACTTACTATTAGTATCGGAT TCAGGTGATGCATTAGATTTAGAATATTTCTATAGTATTCAAGATTTAAAAAAAAATAAGGATTTAGG GAAGTTTGAAACAAGAAAAAGTCAAATAGAAAAGCCGGGTGGCTATAATGAGTTAGAAAATAAAGAGG TCCCATTTGAATATTTTAAAAATAATATAGTTTATCCAAAAGGAAAACCGAATATTACATTTGATGAC TTTATTATCGGAGCAATGGATACTAAAGAATTAAAAGAATTAAAAAAATTAAAAGTAAAAAGTTATTT ATTAAAACATCCGGAAACTGAGTTGAAAGATATAACATATGAATTGCCGACACAGTCGAAGCTTATTA AAAAA

SEQ ID NO: 24

0081MKKQK ΣJLLIGGLLIMIMMTACKDSKI PENRTKEEYQAEQNFKPFFEFLAQKDKDLSKIQKYLLLVSD SGDALDLEYFYSIQDLKKNKDLGKFETRKSQIEKPGGYNELENKEVPFEYFKNNIVYPKGKPNITFDD FIIGAMDTKELKELKKLKVKSYLLKHPETELKDITYELPTQSKLIKK GBS 184 contains a N-teπninal leader or signal sequence region which is indicated by the underlined sequence at the beginning of SEQ ID NO 24, above. In one embodiment, one or more amino acids from the leader or signal sequence are removed from GBS 184. An example of such a GBS 184 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 25.

SEQ IDNO: 25

0083KDSKIPENRT EEYQAEQNFKPFFEFLAQKDKDLSKIQKYLLLVSDSGDALDLEYFYSIQDLKKNKD G FETRKSQIEKPGGYNELENKEVPFEYFKNNIVYPKGKPNITFDDFIIGAMDTKELKELKKLKVKSY LLKHPETELKDITYELPTQSKLIKK

0084GBS 276 GBS 276 refers to a C5a peptidase. Nucleotide and amino acid sequences of GBS 276 sequenced from serotype V isolated strain 2603 V/R are set forth in Ref. 2 as SEQ ID 8941 and SEQ ID 8942. These sequences are set forth below as SEQ ID NOS 26 and 27:

SEQ ID NO. 26

0086TTGCGTAAAAAACAAAAACTACCATTTGATAAACTTGCCATTGCGCTTATATCTACGAGCATCTTGCT CAATGCACAATCAGACATTAAAGCAAATACTGTGACAGAAGACACTCCTGCTACCGAACAAGCCGTAG AACCCCCACAACCAATAGCAGTTTCTGAGGAATCACGATCATCAAAGGAAACTAAAACCTCACAAACT CCTAGTGATGTAGGAGAAACAGTAGCAGATGACGCTAATGATCTAGCCCCTCAAGCTCCTGCTAAAAC TGCTGATACACCAGCAACCTCAAAAGCGACTATTAGGGATTTGAACGACCCTTCTCATGTCAAAACCC TGCAGGAAAAAGCAGGCAAGGGAGCTGGGACCGTTGTTGCAGTGATTGATGCTGGTTTTGATAAAAAT CATGAAGCGTGGCGCTTAACAGACAAAACTAAΆGCACGTTACCAATCAΆΆAGAAAATCTTGAAAAAGC TAAAAAAGAGCACGGTATTACCTATGGCGAGTGGGTCAATGATAAGGTTGCTTATTACCACGACTATA GTAAAGATGGTAAAAACGCTGTTGATCAAGAACACGGCACACACGTGTCAGGGATCTTGTCAGGAAAT GCTCCATCTGAAATGAAAGAACCTTACCGCCTAGAAGGTGCGATGCCTGAGGCTCAATTGCTTTTGAT GCGTGTCGAAATTGTAAATGGACTAGCAGACTATGCTCGTAACTACGCTCAAGCTATCAGAGATGCTG TCAACTTGGGAGCTAAGGTGATTAATATGAGCTTTGGTAATGCTGCACTAGCTTACGCCAACCTTCCA GACGAAACCAAAAAAGCCTTTGACTATGCCAAATCAAAAGGTGTTAGCATTGTGACCTCAGCTGGTAA TGATAGTAGCTTTGGGGGCAAGCCCCGTCTACCTCTAGCAGATCATCCTGATTATGGGGTGGTTGGGA CACCTGCAGCGGCAGATTCAACATTGACAGTTGCTTCTTACAGCCCAGATAAACAGCTCACTGAAACT GCTACGGTCAAAACAGACGATCATCAAGATAΆΆGAAATGCCTGTTATTTCAACAAACCGTTTTGAGCC AAΆCAAGGCTTACGACTATGCTTATGCTAATCGTGGTACGAAAGAGGATGATTTTAAGGATGTCGAAG GTAAGATTGCCCTTATTGAACGTGGCGATATTGATTTCAAAGATAAGATTGCAΆΆCGCTAAAAAAGCT GGTGCTGTAGGGGTCTTGATCTATGACAATCAAGACAAGGGCTTCCCGATTGAATTGCCAAATGTTGA CCAGΆTGCCTGCGGCCTTTATCAGTCGAAGAGACGGTCTCTTATTAAAAGACAATCCCCCAAAAACCA TTACCTTCAATGCGΆCACCTAAGGTATTGCCΆACAGCAAGTGGCACCAΆACTAΆGCCGCTTCTCAAGC TGGGGTCTGACAGCTGACGGCAATATTAΆACCGGATATTGCAGCACCCGGCCAΆGATATTTTGTCATC AGTGGCTAACAACAAGTATGCCAAACTTTCTGGAACTAGTATGTCTGCACCATTGGTΆGCGGGTATCA TGGGACTGTTGCAAAAGCAATATGAGACACAGTATCCTGATATGACACCATCAGAGCGTCTTGATTTA GCTAAGAAAGTATTGATGAGCTCAGCAACTGCCCTATATGATGAAGATGAAAAAGCTTATTTTTCTCC TCGCCAACAGGGAGCAGGAGCAGTCGATGCTAAAAAAGCTTCAGCAGCAACGATGTATGTAACAGATA AGGACAATACCTCAAGCAAGGTTCACCTGAACAATGTTTCTGATAAATTTGAAGTAACAGTAACAGTT CACAACAAATCTGATAAACCTCAAGAGTTGTATTACCAAGTAACTGTTCAAACAGATAAAGTAGATGG AAAACACTTTGCCTTGGCTCCTAAAGCATTGTATGAGACATCATGGCAAAAAATCACAATTCCAGCCA ATAGCAGCAAACAAGTCACCGTTCCAATCGATGCTAGTCGATTTAGCAAGGACTTGCTTGCCCAAATG AAAAATGGCTATTTCTTAGAAGGTTTTGTTCGTTTCAAACAAGATCCTACAAAAGAAGAGCTTATGAG CATTCCATATATTGGTTTCCGAGGTGATTTTGGCAATCTGTCAGCCTTAGAAAAACCAATCTATGATA GCAAAGACGGTAGCAGCTACTATCATGAAGCAAATAGTGATGCCAAAGACCAATTAGATGGTGATGGA TTACAGTTTTACGCTCTGAAAAATAACTTTACAGCACTTACCACAGAGTCTAACCCATGGACGATTAT TAAAGCTGTCAAAGAAGGGGTTGAAAACATAGAGGATATCGAATCTTCAGAGATCACAGAAACCATTT TTGCAGGTACTTTTGCAAAACAΆGACGATGATAGCCACTACTATATCCACCGTCACGCTAATGGCAAA CCATATGCTGCGATCTCTCCAAATGGGGACGGTAACAGAGATTATGTCCAATTCCAAGGTACTTTCTT GCGTAATGCTAAAAACCTTGTGGCTGAAGTCTTGGACAAAGAAGGAAATGTTGTTTGGACAAGTGAGG TAACCGAGCAAGTTGTTAAAΆACTACAACAATGACTTGGCAAGCACACTTGGTTCAACCCGTTTTGAΆ AAAΆCGCGTTGGGACGGTAAAGATAAAGACGGCAAAGTTGTTGCTAACGGAACCTACACCTATCGTGT TCGCTACACGCCGATTAGCTCAGGTGCAAAAGAACAACACACTGATTTTGATGTGATTGTAGACAATA CGACACCTGAAGTCGCAACATCGGCAACATTCTCAACAGAAGATAGTCGTTTGACACTTGCATCTAAA CCAAAAACCAGCCAACCGGTTTACCGTGAGCGTATTGCTTACACTTATATGGATGAGGATCTGCCAAC AACAGAGTATATTTCTCCAAATGAAGATGGTACCTTTACTCTTCCTGAAGAGGCTGAAACAATGGAAG GCGCTACTGTTCCATTGAAAATGTCΆGACTTTACTTATGTTGTTGAAGATATGGCTGGTAACATCACT TATACACCAGTGACTAAGCTATTGGAGGGCCACTCTAATAAGCCAGAACAAGACGGTTCAGATCAAGC ACCAGACAAGAAACCAGAAGCTAAACCAGAACAAGACGGTTCAGGTCAAACACCAGATAAAAAAAAAG AAACTAAACCAGAAAAAGATAGTTCAGGTCAAACACCAGGTAAAACTCCTCAAAAAGGTCAATCTTCT CGTACTCTAGAGAAACGATCTTCTAAGCGTGCTTTAGCTACAAAAGCATCAACAAGAGATCAGTTACC AACGACTAATGACAAGGATACAAATCGTTTACATCTCCTTAAGTTAGTTATGACCACTTTCTTCTTGG

GA

SEQ TDNO.27

0089MRKKQKJPFDKLAIALISTSILLNAQSDIKANTVTEDTPATEQAVEPPQPIAVSEESRSSKETKTSQT PSDVGETVADDANDLAPQAPAKTADTPATSKATIRD NDPSHVKTLQEKAGKGAGTVVAVIDAGFDKN HEAWRLTDKTKARYQSKENLEKAKKEHGITYGΞWVNDKVAYYHDYSKDGKNAVDQEHGTHVSGILSGN APSEMKEPYRLEGAMPEAQLL MRVEIVNGLADYARNYAQAIRDAVNLGAKVIN SFGNAALAYANLP DETKKAFDYAKSKGVSIVTSAGNDSSFGGKPRLPLADHPDYGVVGTPAAADSTLTVASYSPDKQLTET ATVKTDDHQDKEMPVISTNRFEPNKAYDYAYANRGTKEDDFKDVEGKIALIERGDIDFKDKIANAKKA GAVGVLIYDNQDKGFPIELPNVDQMPAAFISRRDGLLLKDNPPKTITFNATPKVLPTASGTKLSRFSS GLTADGNIKPDIAAPGQDILSSVANNKYAKLSGTSMSAPLVAGIMG LQKQYETQYPDMTPSERLDL AKKVLMSSATALYDEDEKAYFSPRQQGAGAVDAKKASAATMYVTDKDNTSSKVHLNNVSDKFEVTVTV HNKSDKPQELYYQVTVQTDKVDGKHFALAPKALYETSWQKITIPANSSKQVTVPIDASRFSKDLLAQM KNGYFLEGFVRFKQDPTKEELMSIPYIGFRGDFGNLSALEKPIYDSKDGSSYYHEANSDAKDQLDGDG LQFYALKNNFTALTTESNPWTIIKAVKEGVENIEDIESSEITETIFAGTFAKQDDDSHYYIHRHANGK PYAAISPNGDGNRDYVQFQGTFLRNAKNLVAEVLDKEGNVV TSEVTEQVVKNYNNDLASTLGSTRFE KTR DGKDKDGKVVANGTYTYRVRYTPISSGAKEQHTDFDVIVDNTTPEVATSATFSTEDSRLTLASK PKTSQPVYRERIAYTYMDEDLPTTEYISPNEDGTFTLPEEAETMEGATVPLKMSDFTYVVEDMAGNIT YTPVTKLLEGHSNKPEQDGSDQAPDKKPEAKPEQDGSGQTPDKKKETKPEKDSSGQTPGKTPQKGQSS RTLEKRSSKRALATKASTRDQLPTTNDKDTNRLHLLKLVMTTFFLG GBS 276 contains an N-terminal leader or signal sequence region which is indicated by the underlined sequence at the beginning of SEQ ID NO: 27 above, hi one embodiment, one or more amino acids from the leader or signal sequence region of GBS 276 are removed. An example of such a GBS 276 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 28. SEQID NO: 28

0090QSDIKANTVTEDTPATEQAVEPPQPIAVSEESRSSKETKTSQTPSDVGETVADDANDLAPQAPAKTAD TPATSKATIRDLNDPSHVKTLQEKAGKGAGTVVAVIDAGFDKNHEAWR TDKTKARYQSKENLEKAKK EHGITYGE VNDKVAYYHDYSKDGKNAVDQEHGTHVSGILSGNAPSEMKEPYRLEGAMPEAQLLLMRV EIVNGLADYARNYAQAIRDAVNLGAKVINMSFGNAALAYANLPDETKKAFDYAKSKGVSIVTSAGNDS SFGGKPRLPLADHPDYGVVGTPAAADSTLTVASYSPDKQLTETATVKTDDHQDKE PVISTNRFEPNK AYDYAYANRGTKEDDFKDVEGKIAL1ERGDIDFKDKIANAKKAGAVGVLIYDNQDKGFPIELPNVDQM PAAFISRRDGLLLKDNPPKTITFNATPKVLPTASGTKLSRFSSWGLTADGNIKPDIAAPGQDILSSVA NNKYAKLSGTSMSAPLVAGIMGLLQKQYETQYPDMTPSERLDLAKKVLMSSATALYDEDEKAYFSPRQ QGAGAVDAKKASAATMYVTDKDNTSSKVHLNNVSDKFEVTVTVHNKSDKPQELYYQVTVQTDKVDGKH FALAPKALYETSWQKITIPANSSKQVTVPIDASRFSKDLLAQMKNGYFLEGFVRFKQDPTKEE MSIP YIGFRGDFGNLSALEKPIYDSKDGSSYYHEANSDAKDQ DGDGLQFYALKNNFTALTTESNPWTIIKA VKEGVENIEDIESSEITETIFAGTFAKQDDDSHYYIHRHANGKPYAAISPNGDGNRDYVQFQGTFLRN AKNLVAEVLDKEGNW TSEVTEQVVKNYNNDLASTLGSTRFEKTRWDGKDKDGKVVANGTYTYRVRY TPISSGAKEQHTDFDVIVDNTTPEVATSATFSTEDSRLTLASKPKTSQPVYRERIAYTYMDEDLPTTE YISPNEDGTFTLPEEAETMEGATVPLKMSDFTYVVEDMAGNITYTPVTKLLEGHSNKPEQDGSDQAPD KKPEAKPEQDGSGQTPDKKKETKPEKDSSGQTPGKTPQKGQSSRTLEKRSSKRALATKASTRDQ PTT NDKDTNRLH LKLVMTTFFLG GBS 276 contains a C-terminal transmembrane and/or cytoplasmic region which is indicated by the underlined sequence near the end of SEQ ID NO: 27 above. In one embodiment, one or more amino acids from the transmembrane or cytoplasmic regions of GBS 276 are removed. An example of such a GBS 276 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 29.

0091SEQ H> NO: 29

0092MRKKQKLPFDKLAIALISTSILLNAQSDIKANTVTEDTPATEQAVEPPQPIAVSEESRSSKETKTSQT PSDVGETVADDANDLAPQAPAKTADTPATSKATIRDLNDPSHVKTLQEKAGKGAGTWAVIDAGFDKN HEAWRLTDKTKARYQSKENLEKAKKEHGITYGEWVNDKVAYYHDYSKDGKNAVDQEHGTHVSGILSGN APSEMKEPYRLEGAMPEAQLLLMRVEIVNGLADYARNYAQAIRDAVN GAKVINMSFGNAALAYANLP DETKKΆFDYAKSKGVSIVTSAGNDSSFGGKPRLPLADHPDYGWGTPAAADSTLTVASYSPDKQLTET

ATVKTDDHQDKEMPVISTNRFEPNKAYDYAYANRGTKEDDFKDVEGKIALIERGDIDFKDKIANAKFA

0094GAVGVLIYDNQDKGFPIELPNVDQMPAAFISRRDGLLLKDNPPKTITFNATPKVLPTASGTKLSRFSS WGLTADGNIKPDIAAPGQDILSSVANNKYAKLSGTSMSAPLVAGIMGLLQKQYETQYPDMTPSERLDL AKKVLMSSATALYDEDEKAYFSPRQQGAGAVDAKKASAATMYVTDKDNTSSKVHLNNVSDKFEVTVTV HNKSDKPQELYYQVTVQTDKVDGKHFALAPKALYETSWQKITIPANSSKQVTVPIDASRFSKDLLAQM KNGYF EGFVRFKQDPTKEELMSIPYIGFRGDFGNLSALEKPIYDSKDGSSYYHEANSDAKDQLDGDG LQFYALKNNFTALTTESNPWTIIKAVKEGVENIEDIESSEITETIFAGTFAKQDDDSHYYIHRHANGK PYAAISPNGDGNRDYVQFQGTFLRNAKNLVAEVLDKEGNVVWTSEVTEQVVKNYNNDLASTLGSTRFE KTR DGKDKDGKVVANGTYTYRVRYTPISSGAKEQHTDFDVIVDNTTPEVATSATFSTEDSRLTLASK PKTSQPVYRERIAYTYMDEDLPTTEYISPNEDGTFTLPEEAETMEGATVPLKMSDFTYVVEDMAGNIT YTPVTK LEGHSNKPEQDGSDQAPDKKPEAKPEQDGSGQTPDKKKETKPEKDSSGQTPGKTPQKGQSS RTLEKRSSKRALATK In one embodiment, one or more amino acids from the leader or signal sequence region and one or more amino acids from the transmembrane or cytoplasmic regions of GBS 276 are removed. An example of such a GBS 276 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 30. SEQ TD NO: 30 QSDIKANTVTEDTPATEQAVEPPQPIAVSEESRSSKETKTSQTPSDVGETVADDANDLAPQAPAKTAD TPATSKATIRD NDPSHVKTLQEKAGKGAGTVVAVIDAGFDKNHEAWRLTDKTKARYQSKENLEKAKK EHGITYGEWVNDKVAYYHDYSKDGKNAVDQEHGTHVSGILSGNAPSEMKEPYRLEGAMPEAQLLLMRV EIVNGLADYARNYAQAIRDAVNLGAKVINMSFGNAALAYANLPDETKKAFDYAKSKGVSIVTSAGNDS SFGGKPRLP ADHPDYGVVGTPAAADSTLTVASYSPDKQLTETATVKTDDHQDKEMPVISTNRFEPNK AYDYAYANRGTKEDDFKDVEGKIALIERGDIDFKDKIANAKKAGAVGVLIYDNQDKGFPIE PNVDQM PAAFISRRDG LLKDNPPKTITFNATPKVLPTASGTKLSRFSS G TADGNIKPDIAAPGQDILSSVA NKYAKLSGTSMSAPLVAGIMGLLQKQYETQYPDMTPSER DLAKKVLMSSATALYDEDEKΑYFSPRQ QGAGAVDAKKASAATMYVTDKDNTSSKVHLNNVSDKFEVTVTVHNKSDKPQE YYQVTVQTDKVDGKH FALAPKALYETSWQKITIPANSSKQVTVPIDASRFSKDLLAQ KNGYFLEGFVRFKQDPTKEELMSIP YIGFRGDFGN SALEKPIYDSKDGSSYYHEANSDAKDQLDGDGLQFYALKNNFTALTTESNPWTIIKA VKEGVENIEDIESSEITETIFAGTFAKQDDDSHYYIHRHANGKPYAAISPNGDGNRDYVQFQGTFLRN AKN VAEVLDKEGNVVWTSEVTEQVVKNYNNDLAST GSTRFEKTR DGKDKDGKWANGTYTYRVRY TPISSGAKEQHTDFDVIVDNTTPEVATSATFSTEDSRLTLASKPKTSQPVYRERIAYTYMDED PTTE YISPNEDGTFTLPEEAET EGATVPLKMSDFTYVVEDMAGNITYTPVTKLLEGHSNKPEQDGSDQAPD KKPEAKPEQDGSGQTPDKKKETKPEKDSSGQTPGKTPQKGQSSRTLEKRSSKRALATK Further description of GBS 276 can be found in the following references: Qi Chen et al., "Immunization with C5a Peptidase or Peptidase-Type III Polysaccharide conjugate Vaccines Enhances Clearance of Group B Streptococci from Lungs of Infected Mice", Infection and Immunity (2002) 70 (11):6409 - 6415; Beckmann et al., "Identification of Novel Adhesions from Group B Streptococci by Use of Phage Display Reveals that C5a Peptidase Mediates Fibronectin Binding" Infection and Immunity (2002) 70(6):2869 - 2876; Cheng et al, "The Group B Streptococcal C5a Peptidase Is Both a Specific Protease and an Invasin" Infection and Immunity (2002) 70(5) 2408 - 2413; and Cheng et al., "Antibody against Surface-Bound C5a Peptidase Is Opsonic and Initiates Macrophage Killing of Group B Streptococci" Infection and Immunity (2001) 69(4):2302 - 2308.

0095GBS 305 GBS 305 refers to a UDP-N-acetylmuramoylalanine-D-glutamate ligase, also referred to as Mur D. Nucleotide and amino acid sequences of GBS 305 sequenced from serotype V isolated strain 2603 V/R are set forth in Ref. 2 as SEQ ID 207 and SEQ ID 208. These sequences are set forth below as SEQ ID NOS 31 and 32:

0096SEQ ID NO.31 ATGGGACGAGTAATGAAAACAATAACAACATTTGAAAATAAAAAAGTTTTAGTCCTTGGTTTAGCACG ATCTGGAGAAGCTGCTGCACGTTTGTTAGCTAAGTTAGGAGCAATAGTGACAGTTAATGATGGCAAAC CATTTGATGAAAATCCAACAGCACAGTCTTTGTTGGAAGAGGGTATTAAAGTGGTTTGTGGTAGTCAT CCTTTAGAATTGTTAGATGAGGATTTTTGTTACATGATTAAAAATCCAGGAATACCTTATAACAATCC TATGGTCAAAAAAGCATTAGAAAAACAAATCCCTGTTTTGACTGAAGTGGAATTAGCATACTTAGTTT CAGAATCTCAGCTAATAGGTATTACAGGCTCTAACGGGAAAACGACAACGACAACGATGATTGCAGAA GTCTTAAATGCTGGAGGTCAGAGAGGTTTGTTAGCTGGGAATATCGGCTTTCCTGCTAGTGAAGTTGT TCAGGCTGCGAATGATAAAGATACTCTAGTTATGGAATTATCAAGTTTTCAGCTAATGGGAGTTAAGG AATTTCGTCCTCATATTGCAGTAATTACTAATTTAATGCCAACTCATTTAGATTATCATGGGTCTTTT GAAGATTATGTTGCTGCAAAATGGAATATCCAAAATCAAATGTCTTCATCTGATTTTTTGGTACTTAA TTTTAATCAAGGTATTTCTAAAGAGTTAGCTAAAACTACTAAAGCAACAATCGTTCCTTTCTCTACTA CGGAAAAAGTTGATGGTGCTTACGTACAAGACAAGCAACTTTTCTATAAAGGGGAGAATATTATGTCA GTAGATGACATTGGTGTCCCAGGAAGCCATAACGTAGAGAATGCTCTAGCAACTATTGCGGTTGCTAA ACTGGCTGGTATCAGTAATCAAGTTATTAGAGAAACTTTAAGCAATTTTGGAGGTGTTAAACACCGCT TGCAATCACTCGGTAAGGTTCATGGTATTAGTTTCTATAACGACAGCAAGTCAACTAATATATTGGCA ACTCAAAAAGCATTATCTGGCTTTGATAATACTAAAGTTATCCTAATTGCAGGAGGTCTTGATCGCGG TAATGAGTTTGATGAATTGATACCAGATATCACTGGACTTAAACATATGGTTGTTTTAGGGGAATCGG CATCTCGAGTAAAACGTGCTGCACAAAAAGCAGGAGTAACTTATAGCGATGCTTTAGATGTTAGAGAT GCGGTACATAAAGCTTATGAGGTGGCACAACAGGGCGATGTTATCTTGCTAAGTCCTGCAAATGCATC ATGGGACATGTATAAGAATTTCGAAGTCCGTGGTGATGAATTCATTGATACTTTCGAAAGTCTTAGAG GAGAG

SEQ H)NO.32

0098MGRVMKTITTFENKKVLVLGLARSGEAAARLLAKLGAIVTVNDGKPFDENPTAQSLLEEGIKVVCGSH PLELLDEDFCYMIKNPGIPYNNPMVKKALEKQIPVLTEVELAYLVSESQLIGITGSNGKTTTTTMIAE VLNAGGQRGLLAGNIGFPASEVVQAANDKDTLVME SSFQLMGVKEFRPHIAVITNLMPTHLDYHGSF EDYVAAKWNIQNQMSSSDFLVLNFNQGISKELAKTTKATIVPFSTTEKVDGAYVQDKQLFYKGENIMS VDDIGVPGSHNVENALATIAVAK AGISNQVIRETLSNFGGVKHRLQSLGKVHGISFYNDSKSTNILA TQKALSGFDNTKVILIAGGLDRGNEFDELIPDITGLKHMVVLGESASRVKRAAQKAGVTYSDALDVRD AVHKAYEVAQQGDVILLSPANASWDMYKNFEVRGDEFIDTFESLRGE GBS 305 contains an N-terminal leader or signal sequence region which is indicated by the underlined sequence at the beginning of SEQ ID NO: 32 above, hi one embodiment, one or more amino acids from the leader or signal sequence region are removed from GBS 305. An example of such a GBS 305 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 33.

SEQ H NO: 33

0100ITTFENKKVLVLGLARSGEAAARLLAKLGAIVTVNDGKPFDENPTAQSLLEEGIKVVCGSHPLEL DE DFCYMIKNPGIPYNNPMVKKALEKQIPVLTEVELAYLVSESQLIGITGSNGKTTTTTMIAEVLNAGGQ RGLLAGNIGFPASEVVQAANDKDT VMELSSFQLMGVKEFRPHIAVITNLMPTHLDYHGSFEDYVAAK NIQNQMSSSDF VLNFNQGISKELAKTTKATIVPFSTTEKVDGAYVQDKQLFYKGENIMSVDDIGVP GSHNVENALATIAVAKLAGISNQVIRET SNFGGVKHRLQSLGKVHGISFYNDSKSTNILATQKALSG FDNTKVILIAGGLDRGNEFDELIPDITGLKHMVVLGESASRVKRAAQKAGVTYSDALDVRDAVHKAYE VAQQGDVILLSPANASWDMYKNFEVRGDEFIDTFESLRGE GBS 305 contains a C-terminal transmembrane or cytoplasmic region indicated by the underlined sequence near the end of SEQ ID NO: 32 above, hi one embodiment, one or more amino acids from the transmembrane or cytomplasmic regions are removed from GBS 305. An example of such a GBS 305 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 34.

0101SEQ ID NO: 34 MGRλTMKTITT FENKKVLVLGLARSGEAAARLLAKLGAIVTVNDGKPFDENPTAQSLLEEGIKVVCGSH PLELLDEDFCYMIKNPGI PYNNPMVKKALEKQI PVLTEVELAYLVSESQLIGITGSNGKTTTTTMIAE VLNAGGQRG AGNIGFPASEWQAANDKDTLVMELSS FQLMGVKEFRPHIAVITNLMPTHLDYHGS F EDYVAAK NI QNQMSSSDFLVLNFNQGISKELAKTTKATIVPFSTTEKVDGAYVQDKQLFYKGENIMS VDDIGVPGSHNVENALATIAVAKLAGISNQVIRETLSNFGGVKHRLQSLGKVHGI SFYNDSK In one embodiment one or more amino acids from the leader or signal sequence region and one or more amino acids from the transmembrane or cytoplasmic regions are removed from GBS 305. An example of such a GBS 305 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 35.

SEQ ID NO: 35

0103ITTFENKKVLVLGLARSGEAAARLLAKLGAIVTVNDGKPFDENPTAQSLLEEGIKWCGSHPLELLDE DFCYMIKNPGIPYNNPMVKKALEKQIPVLTEVELAYLVSESQLIGITGSNGKTTTTTMIAEVLNAGGQ RGLLAGNIGFPASEVVQAANDKDTLVMELSSFQLMGVKEFRPHIAVITN MPTHLDYHGSFEDYVAAK WNIQNQMSSSDFLVLNFNQGISKELAKTTKATIVPFSTTEKVDGAYVQDKQLFYKGENIMSVDDIGVP GSHMVENALATIAVAKLAGISNQVIRETLSNFGGVKHRLQSLGKVHGISFYNDSK

0104GBS 322 GBS 322 refers to a surface immunogenic protein, also referred to as "sip". Nucleotide and amino acid sequences of GBS 322 sequenced from serotype V isolated strain 2603 V/R are set forth in Ref. 2 as SEQ ID 8539 and SEQ ID 8540. These sequences are set forth below as SEQ ID NOS 36 and 37:

0105SEQ ΣD NO.36

0106ATGAATAAAAAGGTACTATTGACATCGACAATGGCAGCTTCGCTATTATCAGTCGCAAGTGTTCAAGC ACAAGAAACAGATACGACGTGGACAGCACGTACTGTTTCAGAGGTAAAGGCTGATTTGGTAAAGCAAG ACAATAAATCATCATATACTGTGAAATATGGTGATACACTAAGCGTTATTTCAGAAGCAATGTCAATT GATATGAATGTCTTAGCAAAAATAAATAACATTGCAGATATCAATCTTATTTATCCTGAGACAACACT GACAGTAACTTACGATCAGAAGAGTCATACTGCCACTTCAATGAAAATAGAAACACCAGCAACAAATG CTGCTGGTCAAACAACAGCTACTGTGGATTTGAAAACCAATCAAGTTTCTGTTGCAGACCAAAAAGTT TCTCTCAATACAATTTCGGAAGGTATGACACCAGAAGCAGCAACAACGATTGTTTCGCCAATGAAGAC ATATTCTTCTGCGCCAGCTTTGAAATCAAAAGAAGTATTAGCACAAGAGCAAGCTGTTAGTCAAGCAG CAGCTAATGAACAGGTATCACCAGCTCCTGTGAAGTCGATTACTTCAGAAGTTCCAGCAGCTAAAGAG GAAGTTAAACCAACTCAGACGTCAGTCAGTCAGTCAACAACAGTATCACCAGCTTCTGTTGCCGCTGA AACACCAGCTCCAGTAGCTAAAGTAGCACCGGTAAGAACTGTAGCAGCCCCTAGAGTGGCAAGTGTTA AAGTAGTCACTCCTAAAGTAGAAACTGGTGCATCACCAGAGCATGTATCAGCTCCAGCAGTTCCTGTG ACTACGACTTCACCAGCTACAGACAGTAAGTTACAAGCGACTGAAGTTAAGAGCGTTCCGGTAGCACA AAAAGCTCCAACAGCAACACCGGTAGCACAACCAGCTTCAACAACAAATGCAGTAGCTGCACATCCTG AAAATGCAGGGCTCCAACCTCATGTTGCAGCTTATAAAGAAAAAGTAGCGTCAACTTATGGAGTTAAT GAATTCAGTACATACCGTGCGGGAGATCCAGGTGATCATGGTAAAGGTTTAGCAGTTGACTTTATTGT AGGTACTAATCAAGCACTTGGTAATAAAGTTGCACAGTACTCTACACAAAATATGGCAGCAAATAACA TTTCATATGTTATCTGGCAACAAAAGTTTTACTCAAATACAAACAGTATTTATGGACCTGCTAATACT TGGAATGCAATGCCAGATCGTGGTGGCGTTACTGCCAACCACTATGACCACGTTCACGTATCATTTAA CAAATAATATAAAAAAGGAAGCTATTTGGCTTCTTTTTTATATGCCTTGAATAGACTTTCAAGGTTCT TATATAATTTTTATTA

SEQID NO.37

0108MNKKVLLTSTMAASLLSVASVQAQETDTTWTARTVSEVKADLVKQDNKSSYTVKYGDTLSVISEAMSI DMNV1AKINNIADINLIYPETTLTVTYDQKSHTATSMKIETPATNAAGQTTATVDLKTNQVSVADQKV SLNTISEGMTPEAATTIVSPMKTYSSAPALKSKEVLAQEQAVSQAAANEQVSPAPVKSITSEVPAAKE EVKPTQTSVSQSTTVSPASVAAETPAPVAKVAPVRTVAAPRVASVKVVTPKVETGASPEHVSAPAVPV TTTSPATDSKLQATEVKSVPVAQKAPTATPVAQPASTTNAVAAHPENAGLQPHVAAYKEKVASTYGVN EFSTYRAGDPGDHGKGLAVDFIVGTNQA GNKVAQYSTQNMAANNISYVIWQQKFYSNTNSIYGPANT NAMPDRGGVTANHYDHVHVSFNK GBS 322 contains an N-terrninal leader or signal sequence region which is indicated by the underlined sequence near the beginning of SEQ ID NO: 37. In one embodiment, one or more amino acids from the leader or signal sequence region of GBS 322 are removed. An example of such a GBS 322 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 38.

SEQ TD NO: 38

0110DLVKQDNKSSYTVKYGDTLSVISEAMSIDMNVLAKINNIADINLIYPETTLTVTYDQKSHTATSMKIE TPATNAAGQTTATVDLKTNQVSVADQKVSLNTISEGMTPEAATTIVSPMKTYSSAPALKSKEVLAQEQ AVSQAAANEQVS PAPVKSITSEVPAAKEEVKPTQTSVSQSTTVS PASVAAETPAPVAKVAPVRTVAAP RVASVKWTPKVETGASPEHVSAPAVPVTTTS PATDSKLQATEVKSVPVAQKAPTATPVAQPASTTNA VAAHPENAGLQPHVAAYKEKVASTYGVNEFSTYRAGDPGDHGKGLAVDFIVGTNQALGNKVAQYSTQN MAANNISYVIWQQKFYSNTNSIYGPANTWNAMPDRGGVTANHYDHVHVSFNK GBS 330 GBS 330 refers to a pyruvate kinase, also referred to as "pyk". Nucleotide and amino acid sequences of GBS 330 sequenced from serotype V isolated strain 2603 V/R are set forth in Ref. 2 as SEQ ID 8791 and SEQ ID 8792. These sequences are set forth below as SEQ ID NOS 39 and 40:

SEQ TD NO. 39

0112ATGAATAAACGCGTAAAAATCGTTGCAACACTTGGTCCTGCGGTTGAATTCCGTGGTGGTAAGAAGTT TGGTGAGTCTGGATACTGGGGTGAAAGCCTTGACGTAGAAGCTTCAGCAGAAAAAATTGCTCAATTGA TTAAAGAAGGTGCTAACGTTTTCCGTTTCAACTTCTCACATGGAGATCATGCTGAGCAAGGAGCTCGT ATGGCTACTGTTCGTAAAGCAGAAGΆGATTGCAGGACAΆAAAGTTGGCTTCCTCCTTGATACTAAAGG ACCTGAAATTCGTΆCAGAACTTTTTGAAGATGGTGCAGΆTTTCCATTCATATACAACΆGGTACAAAΆT TACGTGTTGCTACTAAGCAAGGTATCAAATCAACTCCAGAAGTGATTGCATTGAATGTTGCTGGTGGA CTTGACATCTTTGATGACGTTGAAGTTGGTAAGCAAATCCTTGTTGATGATGGTAAACTAGGTCTTAC TGTGTTTGCAAAAGATAΆAGACACTCGTGAATTTGAAGTAGTTGTTGAGAATGATGGCCTTATTGGTA AACAAAAAGGTGTAAACATCCCTTATACTAAAATTCCTTTCCCAGCACTTGCAGAACGCGATAATGCT GATATCCGTTTTGGACTTGAGCAAGGACTTAACTTTATTGCTATCTCATTTGTACGTACTGCTAAAGA TGTTAATGAΆGTTCGTGCTΆTTTGTGAAGΆAΆCTGGSMATGGACACGTTAAGTTGTTTGCTAAAATTG AAAATCAACAAGGTATCGATAATATTGATGAGATTATCGAAGCAGCAGATGGTATTATGATTGCTCGT GGTGATATGGGTATCGAAGTTCCΆTTTGAAATGGTTCCAGTTTACCAAAAΆATGATCATTACTAAAGT TAATGCAGCTGGTAAAGCAGTTATTACΆGCAACAAATATGCTTGAAACAATGACTGATAAACCACGTG CGACTCGTTCAGAAGTATCTGATGTCTTCAATGCTGTTATTGATGGTACTGATGCTACAATGCTTTCA GGTGAGTCAGCTAATGGTAAATACCCAGTTGAGTCAGTTCGTACAATGGCTACTATTGATAAAAATGC TCAAACATTACTCAATGAGTATGGTCGCTTAGACTCATCTGCATTCCCACGTAATAACAAAACTGATG TTATTGCATCTGCGGTTAAAGATGCAACACACTCAATGGATATCAAACTTGTTGTAACAATTACTGAA ACAGGTAATACAGCTCGTGCCATTTCTAAATTCCGTCCAGATGCAGACATTTTGGCTGTTACATTTGA TGAAAAAGTACAACGTTCATTGATGATTAACTGGGGTGTTATCCCTGTCCTTGCAGACAAACCAGCAT CTACAGATGATATGTTTGAGGTTGCAGAACGTGTAGCACTTGAAGCAGGATTTGTTGAATCAGGCGAT AATATCGTTATCGTTGCAGGTGTTCCTGTAGGTACAGGTGGAACTAACACAATGCGTGTTCGTACTGT

TAAA SEQ TD NO.40

0114MN RVKIVATLGPAVEFRGG KFGESGY GESLDVEASAEKIAQLIKEGANVFRFNFSHGDHAEQGAR MATVRKAEEIAGQKVGFLLDTKGPEIRTELFEDGADFHSYTTGTKLRVATKQGIKSTPEVIA NVAGG LDIFDDVEVGKQILVDDGKLGLTVFAKDKDTREFEVVVENDGLIGKQKGVNIPYTKIPFPALAERDNA DIRFGLEQGLNFIAISFVRTAKDVNEVRAICEETGXGHVKLFAKIENQQGIDNIDEIIEAADGIMIAR GDMGIEVPFEMVPVYQKMIITKVNAAGKAVITATNMLETMTDKPRATRSEVSDVFNAVIDGTDATMLS GESANGKYPVESVRTMATIDKNAQTL NEYGRLDSSAFPRNNKTDVIASAVKDATHSMDIKLVVTITE TGNTARAISKFRPDADILAVTFDEKVQRSLMINWGVIPVLADKPASTDDMFEVAERVALEAGFVESGD NIVIVAGVPVGTGGTNT RVRTVK

0115GBS 338 GBS 338 refers to a Sat D protein. Nucleotide and amino acid sequences of GBS 338 sequenced from serotype V isolated strain 2603 V/R are set forth in Ref. 2 as SEQ ID 8637 and SEQ ID 8638. These sequences are set forth below as SEQ ID NOS 41 and 42:

SEQ H NO.41

0117TTGTCTGCTATAATAGACAAAAAGGTGGTGATATTTATGTATTTAGCATTAATCGGTGATATCATTAA TTCAAAACAGATACTTGAACGTGAAACTTTCCAACAGTCTTTTCAGCAACTAATGACCGAACTATCTG ATGTATATGGTGAAGAGCTGATTTCTCCATTCACTATTACAGCTGGTGATGAATTTCAAGCTTTATTG AAACCATCAAAAAAGGTATTTCAAATTATTGACCATATTCAACTAGCTCTAAAACCTGTTAATGTAAG GTTCGGCCTCGGTACAGGAAACATTATAACATCCATCAATTCAAATGAAAGTATCGGTGCTGATGGTC CTGCCTACTGGCATGCTCGCTCAGCTATTAATCATATACATGATAAAAATGATTATGGAACAGTTCAA GTAGCTATTTGCCTTGATGATGAAGACCAAAACCTTGAATTAACACTAAATAGTCTCATTTCAGCTGG TGATTTTATCAAGTCAAAATGGACTACAAACCATTTTCAAATGCTTGAGCACTTAATACTTCAAGATA ATTATCAAGAACAATTTCAACATCAAAAGTTAGCCCAACTGGAAAATATTGAACCTAGTGCGCTGACT AAACGCCTTAAAGCAAGCGGTCTGAAGATTTACTTAAGAACGAGAACACAGGCAGCCGATCTATTAGT TAAAAGTTGCACTCAAACTAAAGGGGGAAGCTATGATTTC SEQ H> NO.42 SAIIDKKVVIFMYALIGDIINSKQILERETFQQSFQQLMTELSDVYGEELISPFTITAGDEFQALL KPSKKVFQIIDHIQLALKPVNVRFGLGTGNIITSINSNESIGADGPAY HARSAINHIHDKNDYGTVQ VAICLDDEDQNLELTLNSLISAGDFIKSKWTTNHFQMLEHLILQDNYQEQFQHQKLAQLENIEPSALT KRLKASGLKIYLRTRTQAADLLVKSCTQTKGGSYDF GBS 338 may contain an N-terminal leader or signal sequence region which is indicated by the underlined sequence at the beginning of SEQ ID NO: 42 above. In one embodiment, one or more amino acids from the leader or signal sequence region are removed from GBS 338. An example of such a GBS 338 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 43.

SEQ ID NO: 43

0119MYLALIGDIINSKQILERETFQQSFQQLMTELSDVYGEELISPFTITAGDEFQALLKPSKKVFQIIDH IQLALKPVNVRFGLGTGNIITSINSNESIGADGPAYWHARSAINHIHDKNDYGTVQVAIC DDEDQNL ELTLNSLISAGDFIKSK TTNHFQMLEHLILQDNYQEQFQHQK AQLENIEPSALTKRLKASGLKIYL RTRTQAADLLVKSCTQTKGGSYDF GBS 361 GBS 361 refers to a cyll protein. Nucleotide and amino acid sequences of GBS 361 sequenced from serotype V isolated strain 2603 V/R are set forth in Ref. 2 as SEQ ID 8769 and SEQ ID 8770. These sequences are set forth below as SEQ ID NOS 44 and 45:

SEQIDNO.44

0121ATGAGCGTATATGTTAGTGGAATAGGAATTATTTCTTCTTTGGGAAAGAATTATAGCGAGCATAAACA GCATCTCTTCGACTTAAAΆGAAGGΆΆTTTCTAΆACATTTATATAΆAAΆTCACGACTCTATTTTAGAAT CTTATACAGGAAGCATAACTAGTGACCCAGAGGTTCCTGAGCAATACAAAGATGAGACACGTAATTTT AAATTTGCTTTTACCGCTTTTGAAGAGGCTCTTGCTTCTTCAGGTGTTAATTTAAAAGCTTATCATAA TATTGCTGTGTGTTTAGGGACCTCACTTGGGGGAΆAGAGTGCTGGTCAAΆATGCCTTGTΆTCAATTTG AAGAAGGAGAGCGTCAAGTAGATGCTAGTTTATTΆGAΆAAAGCATCTGTTTACCATΆTTGCTGATGAA TTGATGGCTTATCATGATATTGTGGGAGCTTCGTATGTTATTTCAACCGCCTGTTCTGCΆAGTAATAA TGCCGTAATATTAGGAACACAATTACTTCAAGATGGCGΆTTGTGATTTAGCTATTTGTGGTGGCTGTG ATGAGTTAAGTGATATTTCTTTAGCAGGCTTCACATCACTAGGAGCTATTAATACAGAΆATGGCATGT CAGCCCTATTCTTCTGGAAAAGGAATCAATTTGGGTGAGGGCGCTGGTTTTGTTGTTCTTGTCAAAGA TCAGTCCTTAGCTAAATATGGAAAAATTATCGGTGGTCTTATTACTTCAGATGGTTATCATATAACAG CACCTAAGCCAACAGGTGAΆGGGGCGGCACAGATTGCAΆΆGCAGCTAGTGACTCAΆGCAGGTATTGAC TACAGTGAGATTGACTATATTAACGGTCACGGTACAGGTACTCAAGCTAATGATAAΆΆTGGAAAAAAA TATGTATGGTAAGTTTTTCCCGACAACGACATTGATCAGCAGTACCAAGGGGCAAACGGGTCATACTC TAGGGGCTGCAGGTATTATCGAATTGATTAATTGTTTAGCGGCAATAGAGGAACAGACTGTACCAGCA CTAAAAATGAGATTGGGATAGAAGGTTTTCCAGAAAATTTTGTCTATCATCAAAAGAGAGAATACCC AATAAGAAATGCTTTAAATTTTTCGTTTGCTTTTGGTGGAAATAATAGTGGTGTCTTATTGTCATCTT TAGATTCACCTCTAGAAACATTACCTGCTAGAGAAAATCTTAAAATGGCTATCTTATCATCTGTTGCT TCCATTTCTAAGAATGAATCACTTTCTATAACCTATGAΆΆΆAGTTGCTAGTAΆTTTCAACGACTTTGA AGCATTACGCTTTAAAGGGGCTAGACCACCCAAAACTGTCAACCCAGCACAATTTAGGAAAATGGATG ATTTTTCCAAAATGGTTGCCGTAΆCAACAGCTCAAGCACTAATAGAAAGCAΆTATTAATCTAAAAAAA CAAGATACTTCAAAAGTAGGAATTGTATTTACAACACTTTCTGGACCAGTTGAGGTTGTTGAAGGTAT TGAAAAGCAAATCACAACAGAAGGATATGCACATGTTTCTGCTTCACGATTCCCGTTTACAGTAATGA ATGCAGCAGCTGGTATGCTTTCTATCATTTTTAAAATAACAGGTCCTTTATCTGTCATTTCGACAAAT AGTGGAGCGCTTGATGGTATACAATATGCCAAGGAAATGATGCGTAACGATAATCTAGACTATGTGAT TCTTGTTTCTGCTAATCAGTGGACAGACATGAGTTTTATGTGGTGGCAACAATTAAACTATGATAGTC AAATGTTTGTCGGTTCTGATTATTGTTCAGCACAAGTCCTCTCTCGTCAAGCATTGGATAATTCTCCT ATAATATTAGGTAGTAAACAATTAAAATATAGCCATAAAACATTCACAGATGTGATGACTATTTTTGA TGCTGCGCTTCAAAATTTATTATCAGACTTAGGACTAACCATAAAAGATATCAAAGGTTTCGTTTGGA ATGAGCGGAAGAAGGCAGTTAGTTCAGATTATGATTTCTTAGCGAACTTGTCTGAGTATTATAATATG CCAAACCTTGCTTCTGGTCAGTTTGGATTTTCATCTAATGGTGCTGGTGAAGAACTGGACTATACTGT TAATGAAAGTATAGAAAAGGGCTATTATTTAGTCCTATCTTATTCGATCTTCGGTGGTATCTCTTTTG CTATTATTGAAAAAAGG

SEQID NO.45

0123MSVYVSGIGIISS GKNYSEHKQHLFDLKEGISKHLYKNHDSILESYTGSITSDPEVPEQYKDETRNF KFAFTAFEEALASSGVNLKAYHNIAVCLGTSLGGKSAGQNALYQFEEGERQVDASLLEKASVYHIADE MAYHDIVGASYVISTACSASNNAVILGTQLLQDGDCDLAICGGCDELSDISLAGFTSLGAINTEMAC QPYSSGKGINLGEGAGFVVLVKDQSLAKYGKIIGGLITSDGYHITAPKPTGEGAAQIAKQLVTQAGID YSEIDYINGHGTGTQAND MEKNMYGKFFPTTTLISSTKGQTGHTLGAAGIIELINCLAAIEEQTVPA TKNEIGIEGFPENFVYHQKREYPIRNALNFSFAFGGNNSGVLLSSLDSPLETLPARENLKMAILSSVA SISKNESLSITYEKVASNFNDFEALRFKGARPPKTVNPA FRKMDDFSKMVAVTTAQALIESNINLKK QDTSKVGIVFTTLSGPVEVVEGIEKQITTEGYAHVSASRFPFTVMNAAAGMLSIIFKITGP SVISTN SGALDGIQYAKEMMRNDNLDYVILVSANQWTDMSFM QQLNYDSQMFVGSDYCSAQVLSRQALDNSP IILGSKQLKYSHKTFTDVMTIFDAALQNLLSDLGLTIKDI GFVWNERKAVSSDYDFANLSEYYNM PNLASGQFGFSSNGAGEELDYTVNESIEKGYYLVLSYSIFGGISFAIIEKR GBS 361 may contain an N-terminal leader or signal sequence region which is indicated by the underlined sequence at the beginning of SEQ ID NO: 45 above, hi one embodiment, one or more amino acids from the leader or signal sequence region are removed from GBS 361. An example of such a GBS 361 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 46.

SEQIDNO: 46

0125VSGIGIISSLGKNYSEHKQHLFDLKEGISKHLYKNHDS1LESYTGSITSDPEVPEQYKDETRNFKFAF TAFEEALASSGVNLKAYHNIAVCLGTSLGGKSAGQNALYQFEEGERQVDASLLEKASVYHIADELMAY HDIVGASYVISTACSASNNAVILGTQLLQDGDCDLAICGGCDELSDISLAGFTSLGAINTEMACQPYS SGKGINLGEGAGFVVLVKDQSLAKYGKIIGGLITSDGYHITAP PTGEGAAQIA QLVTQAGIDYSEI DYINGHGTGTQANDKMEKNMYGKFFPTTT ISSTKGQTGHTLGAAGIIELINCLAAIEEQTVPATKNE IGIEGFPENFVYHQKREYPIRNALNFSFAFGGNNSGVLLSSLDSPLETLPARENLKMAILSSVASISK NESLSITYEKVASNFNDFEALRFKGARPPKTVNPAQFRΪOiDDFSKMVAVTTAQALIESNINLKKQDTS KVGIVFTTLSGPVEVVEGIEKQITTEGYAHVSASRFPFTVMNAAAGMLSIIFKITGPLSVISTNSGAL DGIQYAKEMMRNDNLDYVI VSANQWTDMSFMWWQQLNYDSQMFVGSDYCSAQVLSRQALDNSPIILG SKQLKYSHKTFTDVMTIFDAALQNLLSDLGLTIKDIKGFVWNERKKAVSSDYDFLANLSEYYNMPNLA SGQFGFSSNGAGEE DYTVNESIEKGYYLVLSYSIFGGISFAIIE R

0126GBS 404 Nucleotide and amino acid sequences of GBS 404 sequenced from serotype V isolated strain 2603 V/R are set forth in Ref. 2 as SEQ ID 8799 and SEQ ID 8800. These sequences are set forth below as SEQ JD NOS 47 and 48:

SEQ TD NO. 47

0128AΓGAAAATAGATGACCTAAGΆAAAAGCGACAATGTTGAAGΆTCGTCGCTCCAGTAGCGGAGGTTCATT CTCTAGCGGAGGAAGTGGATTACCGATTCTTCAACTTTTATTGCTGCGAGGGAGTTGGAAAACCAAGC TTGTGGTTTTAATCATCTTACTGCTACTTGGCGGAGGGGGACTAACCAGCATTTTTAATGACTCATCC TCACCTTCTAGTTACCAATCTCAGAATGTCTCACGTTCTGTTGATAATAGCGCAACGAGAGAACAAAT CGATTTCGTTAATAAAGTCCTTGGCTCAACTGAGGATTTCTGGTCACAAGAATTCCAAACCCAAGGTT TTGGAAATTATAAGGAACCAAAACTTGTTCTTTACACCAATTCAATTCAAACAGGTTGTGGTATAGGT GAATCTGCTTCAGGACCATTTTATTGTTCAGCAGATAAAAAAATCTATCTTGATATTTCTTTTTACAA TGAATTATCACATAAATATGGTGCTACTGGTGATTTTGCTATGGCCTACGTCATCGCCCACGAAGTTG GTCACCACATTCAAACAGAGTTAGGCATTATGGATAAGTATAATAGAATGCGACACGGACTTACTAAG AAAGAAGCAAATGCTTTAAATGTTCGGCTAGAACTTCAAGCAGATTATTATGCAGGGGTATGGGCTCA CTACATCAGGGGAAAAAATCTCTTAGAACAAGGAGACTTTGAAGAGGCCATGAATGCTGCCCACGCCG TCGGAGACGATACCCTTCAGAAAGAAACCTACGGAAAATTAGTGCCTGATAGCTTTACCCATGGAACA GCTGAACAACGCCAACGTTGGTTTAACAAAGGCTTTCAATATGGTGACATCCAACACGGTGATACTTT CTCCGTAGAACATCTA

SEQ IDNO.48

0130MKIDDLRKSDNVEDRRSSSGGSFSSGGSGLPILQLLLLRGS KTKLWLIILLLLGGGG TSIFNDSS SPSSYQSQNVSRSVDNSATREQIDFVNKVLGSTEDFWSQEFQTQGFGNYKEPK V YTNSIQTGCGIG ESASGPFYCSADKKIYLDISFYNELSHKYGATGDFAMAYVIAHEVGHHIQTELGIMDKYNR RHGLTK KEANALNVRLELQADYYAGVWAHYIRGKNLLEQGDFEEAMNAAHAVGDDTLQKETYGKLVPDSFTHGT AEQRQR FNKGFQYGDIQHGDTFSVEHL GBS 690 Nucleotide and amino acid sequences of GBS 690 sequenced from serotype V isolated strain 2603 V/R are set forth in Ref. 2 as SEQ JD 9965 and SEQ ID 9966. These sequences are set forth as SEQ ID NOS 49 and 50 below:

SEQ TD NO. 49

0132ATGAGTAAACGACAAAATTTAGGAATTAGTAAAAAAGGAGCAATTATATCAGGGCTCTCAGTGGCACT AATTGTAGTAATAGGTGGCTTTTTATGGGTACAATCTCAACCTAATAAGAGTGCAGTAAAAACTAACT ACAAAGTTTTTAATGTTAGAGAAGGAAGTGTTTCGTCCTCAACTCTTTTGACAGGAAAAGCTAAGGCT AATCAΆGAACAGTATGTGTATTTTGATGCTAATΆAAGGTAΆTCGAGCAΆCTGTCACAGTTAAΆGTGGG TGATAAAATCACAGCTGGTCAGCAGTTAGTTCAATATGATACAACAACTGCACAAGCAGCCTACGACA CTGCTAATCGTCAATTAAATAAAGTAGCGCGTCAGATTAATAATCTAAAGACAACAGGAAGTCTTCCA GCTATGGAATCAΆGTGATCAATCTTCTTCATCATCΆCAΆGGACAΆGGGACTCAΆTCGACTAGTGGTGC GACGAATCGTCTACAGCAAAATTATCAAAGTCAAGCTAATGCTTCATACAACCAACAΆCTTCAAGATT TGAATGATGCTTATGCAGATGCACAGGCAGAAGTAAATAAAGCACAAAAAGCATTGAATGATACTGTT ATTACAAGTGACGTATCAGGGACAGTTGTTGAAGTTAATAGTGATATTGATCCAGCTTCAAΆAACTAG TCAAGTACTTGTCCATGTAGCAΆCTGAAGGTAAACTCCAAGTACAAGGAACGATGAGTGAGTATGATT TGGCTAATGTTAAAAAAGACCAGGCTGTTAAAΆTAAΆATCTAAGGTCTATCCTGACAΆGGAATGGGAA GGTAAAATTTCATATATCTCAAATTATCCAGAΆGCAGAAGCAAACAACAATGACTCTAATAACGGCTC TAGTGCTGTAAATTATAAATATAAAGTAGATATTACTAGCCCTCTCGATGCATTAAAACAAGGTTTTA CCGTATCAGTTGAAGTAGTTAATGGAGATAAGCACCTTATTGTCCCTACAAGTTCTGTGATAAACAAA GATAATAAACACTTTGTTTGGGTATACAATGATTCTAATCGTAAAATTTCCAΆΆGTTGAAGTCAΆAAT TGGTAAAGCTGATGCTAAGACΆCAAGAAATTTTATCAGGTTTGΆAAGCAGGACAΆATCGTGGTTACTΆ ATCCAAGTAAAACCTTCAAGGATGGGCAAAAAΆTTGATAATATTGAATCAΆTCGATCTTAACTCTAAT AAGAAATCAGAGGTGAAA

0133SEQ ID NO. 50 SKRQNLGISKKGAI I SGLSVALIVVIGGFLWVQSQPNKSAVKTNYKVFNVREGSVSSSTLLTGKAKA TSJQEQYVYFDANKGNRATVTVKVGDKITAGQQLVQYDTTTAQAAYDTANRQLNKVARQINNLKTTGSLP AME SSDQSSSSS QGQGTQS T S GATNRLQQN YQS QANAS YNQQLQDLNDAYADAQAE VNKAQKALNDT V ITSDVSGTVVEVNSDI DPASKTSQVLVHVATEGKLQVQGT SEYDLANVKKDQAVKIKSKVYPDKEWE GKISYISNYPEAEANNNDSNNGSSAVNYKYKVDITSPLDALKQGFTVSVEVVNGDKHLIVPTSSVINK DNKHFV VYNDSNRKISKVEVKIGKADAKTQEILSGLKAGQIWTNPSKTFKDGQKIDNIESIDLNSN KKSEVK GBS 690 contains an N-terminal leader or signal sequence region which is indicated by the underlined sequence at the beginning of SEQ ID NO: 50 above. In one embodiment, one or more amino acids from the leader or signal sequence region of GBS 690 are removed. An example of such a GBS 690 fragment is set forth below as SEQ TD NO: 51.

SEQ TDNO: 51

0135FLWVQSQPNKSAVKTNYKVFNVREGSVSSSTLLTGKAKANQEQYVYFDANKGNRATVTVKVGDKITAG QQLVQYDTTTAQAAYDTANRQLNKVARQINNLKTTGSLPAMESSDQSSSSSQGQGTQSTSGATNRLQQ NYQSQANASYNQQLQDLNDAYADAQAEVNKAQKALNDTVITSDVSGTWEVNSDIDPASKTSQVLVHV ATEGKLQVQGTMSEYDLANVKKDQAVKIKSKVYPDKEWEGKISYISNYPEAEANNNDSNNGSSAVNYK YKVDITSPLDALKQGFTVSVEVVNGDKHLIVPTSSVINKDNKHFVWVYNDSNRKISKVEVKIGKADAK TQEILSGLKAGQIVVTNPSKTFKDGQKIDNIESIDLNSNKKSEVK GBS 691 GBS 691 refers to an iron compound ABC transporter, or a substrate binding protein. Nucleotide and amino acid sequences of GBS 691 sequenced from serotype V isolated strain 2603 V/R are set forth in Ref. 2 as SEQ ID 3691 and SEQ ID 3692. These sequences are set forth as SEQ ID NOS 52 and 53 below:

0136SEQH> NO.52

0137ATGAAZAAAATTGGAATTATTGTCCTCACACTACTGACCTTCTTTTTGGTATCTTGCGGACAACAAAC TAAACAAGAAAGCACTAAAACAACTATTTCTAAAATGCCTAAAATTGAAGGCTTCACCTATTATGGAA AAΆTTCCTGΆAAATCCGAAAAAAGTAΆTTAATTTTACATATTCTTACACTGGGTATTTATTAAΆACTA GGTGTTAATGTTTCAAGTTACAGTTTAGACTTAGAAAAAGATAGCCCCGTTTTTGGTAAACAACTGAA AGAAGCTAAAAAATTAACTGCTGATGATACAGAAGCTATTGCCGCACAAAAACCTGATTTAATCATGG TTTTCGATCAAGATCCAAACATCAATACTCTGAAAAAAATTGCACCAACTTTAGTTATTAAATATGGT GCACAZAATTATTTAGATATGATGCCAGCCTTGGGGAAAGTATTCGGTAAAGAAAAAGAAGCTAATCA GTGGGTTAGCCAATGGAAAACTAAAACTCTCGCTGTCAAAAAAGATTTACACCATATCTTAAAGCCTA ACACTACTTTTACTATTATGGATTTTTATGATAAAAATATCTATTTATATGGTAATAATTTTGGACGC GGTGGΆGAACTAATCTATGATTCACTAGGTTATGCTGCCCCAGAAAAAGTCAAAΆAAGATGTCTTTAA AAAΆGGGTGGTTTACCGTTTCGCAAGAAGCAATCGGTGATTACGTTGGAGATTATGCCCTTGTTAATA TAAΆCAAAACGACTAAAAAAGCAGCTTCATCACTTAAAGAAAGTGATGTCTGGAAGAATTTACCAGCT GTCAAΆAAAGGGCACATCATAGAAAGTAACTACGACGTGTTTTATTTCTCTGACCCTCTATCTTTAGA AGCTCAATTAAAATCATTTACAAAGGCTATCAAΆGAAAATACAΆAT

SEQH NO.53

0139MKKIGIIVLTLLTFFLVSCGQQTKQESTKTTISKMPKIEGFTYYGKIPENPKKVINFTYSYTGYLLKL GVNVSSYSLDLEKDSPVFGKQLKEAKKLTADDTEAIAAQKPDLIMVFDQDPNINTLKKIAPTLVIKYG AQNYLDMMPALGKVFGKEKEANQWVSQWKTKTLAVKKDLHHILKPNTTFTIMDFYDKNIYLYGNNFGR GGELIYDSLGYAAPEKVKKDVFKKGWFTVSQEAIGDYVGDYALVNINKTTKKAASSLKESDVWKNLPA VKKGHIIESNYDVFYFSDPLSLEAQLKSFTKAIKENTN GBS 691 contains an N-terminal leader or signal sequence region which is indicated by the underlined sequence at the beginning of SEQ ID NO: 53 above. In one embodiment, one or more amino acids are removed from the leader or signal sequence region of GBS 691. An example of such a GBS 691 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 54.

0140SEQH> NO: 54

0141EGFTYYGKIPENPKKVINFTYSYTGYLLKLGVNVSSYSLDLEKDSPVFGKQLKEAKKLTADDTEAIAA QKPDLXMVFDQDPNINTLKKIAPTLVIKYGAQNYLDMMPALGKVFGKEKEANQWVSQWKTKTLAVKKD LHHILKPNTTFTIMDFYDKNIYLYGNNFGRGGELIYDSLGYAAPEKVKKDVFKKGWFTVSQEAIGDYV GDYALVNINKTTKKAASSLKESDWKNLPAVKKGHIIESNYDVFYFSDPLSLEAQLKSFTKAIKENTN GBS 691 contains a C-terminal transmembrane or cytosplasmic region which is indicated by the underlined sequence at the end of SEQ ID NO: 53 above. In one embodiment, one or more amino acids are removed from the transmembrane or cytoplasmic region of GBS 691. An example of such a GBS 691 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 55. SEQ ID NO: 55

0142MKKIGIIVLTLLTFFLVSCGQQTKQESTKTTISKMPKIEGFTYYGKIPENPKKVINFTYSYTGYLLKL GVNVSSYSLDLEKDSPVFGKQLKEAKKLTADDTEAIAAQKPDLIMVFDQDPNINTLKKIAPTLVIKYG AQNY1DMMPALGKVFGKEKEANQWVSQWKTKTLAVKKDLHHILKPNTTFTIMDFYDKNIYLYGNNFGR GGELIYDSLGYAAPEKVKKDVFKKGWFTVSQEAIGDYVGDYALVNINKTTKKAASSLKESDVWKNLPA VKKGHIIESNYDVFYFSDPLSLEAQLKSFT hi one embodiment, one or more amino acids from the leader or signal sequence region and one or more amino acids from the transmembrane or cytosplasmic region are removed from GBS 691. One example of such a GBS 691 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 56

SEQ ID NO: 56

0144EGFTYYGKI PENPKKVINFTYSYTGYLLKLGVNVSSYSLDLEKDSPVFGKQLKEAKKLTADDTEAIAA QKPDIIMVFDQDPNINTLKKIAPTLVIKYGAQNYLDMMPALGKVFGKEKEANQWVSQWKTKTLAVKKD LHHILKPNTTFTIMDFYDKNIYLYGNNFGRGGELIYDSLGYAAPEKVKKDVFKKGWFTVSQEAIGDYV GDYAI VNINKTTKKAASSLKESDVWKNLPAVKKGHI IESNYDVFYFSDPLSLEAQLKSFT Additional examples of GBS antigens which may be used in combination with GBS 80 are set forth below. GBS 4 GBS 4 refers to another putative cell wall surface anchor family protein. Nucleotide and amino acid sequences of GBS 4 sequenced from serotype V isolated strain 2603 V/R are set forth in Ref. 2 as SEQ ID 1 and SEQ ID 2. These sequences are also set forth below as SEQ ID NOS 57 and 58:

SEQ ID NO. 57

0146ATGAAAGTGAAAAATAAGATTTTAACGATGGTAGCACTTACTGTCTTAACATGTGCTACTTATTCATC AATCGGTTATGCTGATACAAGTGATAAGAATACTGACACGAGTGTCGTGACTACGACCTTATCTGAGG AGAAAAGATCAGATGAACTAGACCAGTCTAGTACTGGTTCTTCTTCTGAAAATGAATCGAGTTCATCA AGTGAACCAGAAACAAATCCGTCAACTAATCCACCTACAACAGAACCATCGCAACCCTCACCTAGTGA AGAGAACAAGCCTGATGGTAGAACGAAGACAGAAATTGGCAATAATAAGGATATTTCTAGTGGAACAA AAGTATTAATTTCAGAAGATAGTATTAAGAATTTTAGTAAAGCAAGTAGTGATCAAGAAGAAGTGGAT CGCGATGAATCATCATCTTCAAAAGCAAATGATGGGAAAAAAGGCCACAGTAAGCCTAAAAAGGAACT TCCTAAAACAGGAGATAGCCACTCAGATACTGTAATAGCATCTACGGGAGGGATTATTCTGTTATCAT TAAGTTTTTACAATAAGAAAATGAAACTTTAT

SEQ LDNO.58

0148MKVKNKILTMVALTVLTCATYSSIGYADTSDKNTDTSVVTTTLSEEKRSDELDQSSTGSSSENESSSS SEPETNPSTNPPTTEPSQPSPSEENKPDGRTKTEIGNNKDISSGTKVLISEDSIKNFSKASSDQEEVD RDESSSSKANDGKKGHSKPKKELPKTGDSHSDTVIASTGGIILLSLSFYNKKMKLY GBS 4 contains an N-terminal leader or signal sequence which is underlined at the beginning of SEQ JD NO: 58 above. In one embodiment, one or more amino acids from the N-terminal leader or signal peptide domain of GBS 4 are removed. An example of such a GBS 4 fragment is set forth below as SEQ JD NO 59. SEQ TDNO 59

0149DTSDKNTDTSVVTTTLSEEKRSDELDQSSTGSSSENESSSSSEPETNPSTNPPTTEPSQPSPSEENKP DGRTKTEIGNNKDISSGTKVLISEDSIKNFSKASSDQEEVDRDESSSSKANDGKKGHSKPKKELPKTG DSHSDTVIASTGGIILLSLSFYNKKMKLY A further N-terminal section of GBS 4 may be removed to facilitate recombinant expression.

0150An example of such a GBS 4 fragment is set forth below as SEQ JD NO: 60.

0151SEQ TDNO: 60 DQSSTGSSSENESSSSSEPETNPSTNPPTTEPSQPSPSEENKPDGRTKTEIGNNKDISSGTKVLISED SIKNFSKASSDQEEVDRDESSSSKANDGKKGHSKPKKELPKTGDSHSDTVIASTGGIILLSLSFYNKK MKLY GBS 4 contains an C-te iinal transmembrane region which is underlined at the end of SEQ ID NO: 58 above. In one embodiment, one or more amino acids from the C-terminal transmembrane region is removed. An example of such a GBS 4 fragment is set forth below as SEQ JD NO: 61.

0152SEQ TD NO: 61 VKNKILTMVALTVLTCATYSSIGYADTSDKNTDTSWTTTLSEEKRSDELDQSSTGSSSENESSSS S EPETNPSTNPPTTEPSQPSPSEENKPDGRTKTEIGNNKDISSGTKVLISEDS IKNFSKASSDQEEVD RDESSSSKANDGKKGHSKPKKE In one embodiment, both the N-terminal leader or signal domain and the C-terminal transmembrane domain are removed from the GBS 4 sequence. An example of such a GBS 4 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 62.

SEQ TDNO: 62

0154DTSDKNTDTSVVTTTLSEEKRSDELDQSSTGSSSENESSSSSEPETNPSTNPPTTEPSQPSPSEENKP DGRTKTEIGNNKDISSGTKVLISEDSIKNFSKASSDQEEVDRDESSSSKANDGKKGHSKPKKE In yet another embodiment, the N-terminal leader or signal domain, a further N-terminal region and the C-terminal transmembrane domain are removed from the GBS 4 sequence. An example of such a GBS 4 fragment is set forth below as SEQ JD NO: 63.

SEQ IDNO: 63

0156DQSSTGSSSENESSSSSEPETNPSTNPPTTEPSQPSPSEENKPDGRTKTEIGNNKDISSGTKVLISED SZKNFSKASSDQEEVDRDESSSSKANDGKKGHSKPKKE

0157GBS 22 GBS 22 refers to a putative adhesion lipoprotein. Nucleotide and amino acid sequences of

0158GBS 22 sequenced from serotype V isolated strain 2603 V/R are set forth in Ref. 2 as SEQ 8583 and SEQ ID 8584. These sequences are set forth below as SEQ ID NOS 64 and 65: SEQ ID NO. 64

0159ATGAAAAGGATACGGAAAAGCCTTATTTTTGTTCTCGGAGTAGTTACCCTAATTTGCTTATGTGCTTG TACTAAACAAAGCCAGCAAAAAAATGGCTTGTCAGTAGTGACTAGCTTTTATCCAGTATATTCCATTA CAAAAGCAGTTTCTGGTGATTTGAATGATATTAAAATGATTCGATCACAGTCAGGTATTCATGGTTTT GAACCCTCATCAAGTGATGTTGCTGCCATTTATGATGCTGATCTATTTCTTTATCATTCGCACACACT AGAAGCTTGGGCGAGACGTTTGGAACCTAGTTTGCATCACTCTAAAGTATCTGTAATTGAAGCTTCAA AAGGTATGACTTTGGATAAAGTTCATGGCTTAGAAGATGTAGAGGCAGAAAAAGGAGTAGATGAGTCA ACCTTGTATGACCCTCACACTTGGAATGACCCTGTAAAAGTATCTGAGGAAGCACAACTCATCGCTAC ACAATTAGCTAAAAAGGATCCTAAAAACGCTAAGGTTTATCAAAAAAATGCTGATCAATTTAGTGACA AGGCAATGGCTATTGCAGAGAAGTATAAGCCAAAATTTAAAGCTGCAAAGTCTAAATACTTTGTGACT TCACATACAGCATTCTCATACTTAGCTAAGCGATACGGATTGACTCAGTTAGGTATTGCAGGTGTCTC AACCGAGCAAGAACCTAGTGCTAAAAAATTAGCCGAAATTCAGGAGTTTGTGAAAACATATAAGGTTA AGACTATTTTTGTTGAAGAAGGAGTCTCACCTAAATTAGCTCAAGCAGTAGCTTCAGCTACTCGAGTT AAAATTGCΆAGTTTAAGTCCTTTARAAGCAGTTCCCAAΆΆACAATAAAGATTACTTAGAAΆΆTTTGGA AACTAATCTTAAGGTACTTGTCAAATCGTTAΆATCAATAG

SEQIDNO.65

0161MKRIRKSLIFVLGVVTLICLCACTKQSQQKNGLSVVTSFYPVYSITKAVSGDLNDIKMIRSQSGIHGF EPSSSDVAAIYDADLFLYHSHTLEAARRLEPSLHHSKVSVIEASKGMTLDKVHGLEDVEAEKGVDES TLYDPHTWNDPVKVSEEAQLIATQLAKKDPKNAKVYQKNADQFSDKAMAIAEKYKPKFKAAKSKYFVT SHTAFSYLAKRYGLTQLGIAGVSTEQEPSAKKLAEIQEFVKTYKVKTIFVEEGVSPKLAQAVASATRV KIASLSPLXAVPKNNKDYLENLETNLKVLVKSLNQ

0162GBS 85 GBS 85 refers to a putative cell division protein (DivTB). Nucleotide and amino acid sequences of GBS 85 sequenced from serotype V isolated strain 2603 V/R are set forth in Ref. 2 as SEQ ID 215 and SEQ ID 216. These sequences are set forth below as SEQ ID NOS 66 and 67:

0163SEQ ED NO.66 ATGCCTAAGAAGAAATCAGATACCCCAGAAAAAGAAGAAGTTGTCTTAACGGAATGGCAAAAGCGTAA CCTTGAATTTTTAAAAAAACGCAAAGAAGATGAAGAAGAACAAAAACGTATTAACGAAAAATTACGCT TAGATAAAAGAAGTAAATTAAATATTTCTTCTCCTGAAGAACCTCAAAATACTACTAAAATTAAGAAG CTTCATTTTCCAAAGATTTCAAGACCTAAGATTGAAAAGAAACAGAAAAAAGAAAAAATAGTCAACAG CTTAGCCAAAACTAATCGCATTAGAACTGCACCTATATTTGTAGTAGCATTCCTAGTCATTTTAGTTT CCGTTTTCCTACTAACTCCTTTTAGTAAGCAAAAAACAATAACAGTTAGTGGAAATCAGCATACACCT GATGATATTTTGATAGAGAAAACGAATATTCAAAAAAACGATTATTTCTTTTCTTTAATTTTTAAACA TAAAGCTATTGAACAACGTTTAGCTGCAGAAGATGTATGGGTAAAAACAGCTCAGATGACTTATCAAT TTCCCAATAAGTTTCATATTCAAGTTCAAGAAAATAAGATTATTGCATATGCACATACAAAGCAAGGA TATCAACCTGTCTTGGAAACTGGAAAAAAGGCTGATCCTGTAAATAGTTCAGAGCTACCAAAGCACTT CTTAACAATTAACCTTGATAAGGAAGATAGTATTAAGCTATTAATTAAAGATTTAAAGGCTTTAGACC CTGATTTAATAAGTGAGATTCAGGTGATAAGTTTAGCTGATTCTAAAACGACACCTGACCTCCTGCTG TTAGATATGCACGATGGAAATAGTATTAGAATACCATTATCTAAATTTAAAGAAAGACTTCCTTTTTA CAAACAAATTAAGAAGAACCTTAAGGAACCTTCTATTGTTGATATGGAAGTGGGAGTTTACACAACAA CAAATACCATTGAATCAACCCCTGTTAAAGCAGAAGATACAAAAAATAAATCAACTGATAAAACACAA ACACAAAATGGTCAGGTTGCGGAAAATAGTCAAGGACAAACAAATAACTCAAATACTAATCAACAAGG ACAACAGATAGCAACAGAGCAGGCACCTAACCCTCAAAATGTTAAT

0164SEQLD NO.67 PKKKSDTPEKEEVVLTEWQKRNLEFLKKRKEDEEEQKRINEKLRLDKRSKLNISSPEEPQNTTKIKK LHFPKISRPKIEKKQKKEKIVNSLAKTNRIRTAPIFVVAFLVILVSVFLLTPFSKQKTITVSGNQHTP

0165DDILΣEKTNIQKNDYFFSLIFKHKAIEQRLAAEDVWVKTAQMTYQFPNKFHIQVQENKIIAYAHTKQG YQPVLETGKKADPVNSSELPKHFLTINLDKEDSIKLLIKDLKALDPDLISEIQVISLADSKTTPDLLL LDMHDGNSIRIPLSKFKERLPFYKQIKKNLKEPSIVDMEVGVYTTTNTIESTPVKAEDTKNKSTDKTQ TQNGQVAENSQGQTNNSNTNQQGQQIATEQAPNPQNVN

0166GBS 147 GBS 147 refers to a putative protease. Nucleotide and amino acid sequences of GBS 147 sequenced from serotype V isolated strain 2603 V/R are set forth in Ref. 2 as SEQ ID 8525 and SEQ ID 8526. These sequences are set forth below as SEQ ID NOS 68 and 69.

SEQ DD NO. 68

0168GTGGATAAACATCACTCAAAAAAGGCTATTTTAAAGTTAACACTTATAACAACTAGTATTTTATTAAT GCATAGCAATCAAGTGAATGCAGAGGAGCAAGAATTAAAAAACCAAGAGCAATCACCTGTAATTGCTA ATGTTGCTCAACAGCCATCGCCATCGGTAACTACTAATACTGTTGAAAAAACATCTGTAACAGCTGCT TCTGCTAGTAATACAGCGAAAGAAATGGGTGATACATCTGTAAAAAATGACAAAACAGAAGATGAATT ATTAGAAGAGTTATCTAAAAACCTTGATACGTCTAATTTGGGGGCTGATCTTGAAGAAGAATATCCCT CTAAACCAGAGACAACCAACAATAAAGAAAGCAATGTAGTAACAAATGCTTCAACTGCAATAGCACAG AAAGTTCCCTCAGCATATGAAGAGGTGAAGCCAGAAAGCAAGTCATCGCTTGCTGTTCTTGATACATC TAAAATAACAAAATTACAAGCCATAACCCAAAGAGGAAAGGGAAATGTAGTAGCTATTATTGATACTG GCTTTGATATTAACCATGATATTTTTCGTTTAGATAGCCCAAAAGATGATAAGCACAGCTTTAAAACT AAGACAGAATTTGAGGAATTAAAAGCAAAACATAATATCACTTATGGGAAATGGGTTAACGATAAGAT TGTTTTTGCACATAACTACGCCAACAATACAGAAACGGTGGCTGATATTGCAGCAGCTATGAAAGATG GTTATGGTTCAGAAGCAAAGAATATTTCGCATGGTACACACGTTGCTGGTATTTTTGTAGGTAATAGT AAACGTCCAGCAATCAATGGTCTTCTTTTAGAAGGTGCAGCGCCAAATGCTCAAGTCTTATTAATGCG TATTCCAGATAAAATTGATTCGGACAAATTTGGTGAAGCATATGCTAAAGCAATCACAGACGCTGTTA ATCTAGGAGCAAAAACGATTAATATGAGTATTGGAAAAACAGCTGATTCTTTAATTGCTCTCAATGAT AAAGTTAAATTAGCACTTAAATTAGCTTCTGAGAAGGGCGTTGCAGTTGTTGTGGCTGCCGGAAATGA AGGCGCATTTGGTATGGATTATAGCAAACCATTATCAACTAATCCTGACTACGGTACGGTTAATAGTC CAGCTATTTCTGAAGATACTTTGAGTGTTGCTAGCTATGAATCACTTAAAACTATCAGTGAGGTCGTT GAAACAACTATTGAAGGTAAGTTAGTTAAGTTGCCGATTGTGACTTCTAAACCTTTTGACAAAGGTAA GGCCTACGATGTGGTTTATGCCAATTATGGTGCAAAAAAAGACTTTGAAGGTAAGGACTTTAAAGGTA AGATTGCATTAATTGAGCGTGGTGGTGGACTTGATTTTATGACTAAAATCACTCATGCTACAAATGCA GGTGTTGTTGGTATCGTTATTTTTAACGATCAAGAAAAACGTGGAAATTTTCTAATTCCTTACCGTGA ATTACCTGTGGGGATTATTAGTAAAGTAGATGGCGAGCGTATAAAAAATACTTCAAGTCAGTTAACAT TTAACCAGAGTTTTGAAGTAGTTGATAGCCAAGGTGGTAATCGTATGCTGGAACAATCAAGTTGGGGC GTGACAGCTGAAGGAGCAATCAAGCCTGATGTAACAGCTTCTGGCTTTGAAATTTATTCTTCAACCTA TAATAATCAATACCAAACAATGTCTGGTACAAGTATGGCTTCACCACATGTTGCAGGATTAATGACAA TGCTTCAAAGTCATTTGGCTGAGAAATATAAAGGGATGAATTTAGATTCTAAAAAATTGCTAGAATTG TCTAAAAACATCCTCATGAGCTCAGCAACAGCATTATATAGTGAAGAGGATAAGGCGTTTTATTCACC ACGTCAGCAAGGTGCAGGTGTAGTTGATGCTGAAAAAGCTATCCAAGCTCAATATTATATTACTGGAA ACGATGGCAAAGCTAAAATTAATCTCAAACGAATGGGAGATAAATTTGATATCACAGTTACAATTCAT AAACTTGTAGAAGGTGTCAAAGAATTGTATTATCAAGCTAATGTAGCAACAGAACAAGTAAATAAAGG TAAATTTGCCCTTAAACCACAAGCCTTGCTAGATACTAATTGGCAGAAAGTAATTCTTCGTGATAAAG AAACACAAGTTCGATTTACTATTGATGCTAGTCAATTTAGTCAGAAATTAAAAGAACAGATGGCAAAT GGTTATTTCTTAGAAGGTTTTGTACGTTTTAAAGAAGCCAAGGATAGTAATCAGGAGTTAATGAGTAT TCCTTTTGTAGGATTTAATGGTGATTTTGCGAACTTACAAGCACTTGAAACACCGATTTATAAGACGC TTTCTAAAGGTAGTTTCTACTATAAACCAAATGATACAACTCATAAAGACCAATTGGAGTACAATGAA TCAGCTCCTTTTGAAAGCAACAACTATACTGCCTTGTTAACACAATCAGCGTCTTGGGGCTATGTTGA TTATGTCAAAAATGGTGGGGAGTTAGAATTAGCACCGGAGAGTCCAAAAAGAATTATTTTAGGAACTT TTGAGAATAAGGTTGAGGATAAAACAATTCATCTTTTGGAAAGAGATGCAGCGAATAATCCATATTTT GCCATTTCTCCAAATAAAGATGGAAATAGGGACGAAATCACTCCCCAGGCAACTTTCTTAAGAAATGT TAAGGATATTTCTGCTCAAGTTCTAGATCAAAATGGAAATGTTATTTGGCAAAGTAAGGTTTTACCAT CTTATCGTAAAAATTTCCATAATAATCCAAAGCAAAGTGATGGTCATTATCGTATGGATGCTCTTCAG TGGAGTGGTTTAGATAAGGATGGCAAAGTTGTAGCAGATGGTTTTTATACTTATCGCTTACGTTACAC ACCAGTAGCAGAAGGAGCAAATAGTCAGGAGTCAGACTTTAAAGTACAAGTAAGTACTAAGTCACCAA ATCTTCCTTCACGAGCTCAGTTTGATGAAACTAATCGAACATTAAGCTTAGCCATGCCTAAGGAAAGT AGTTATGTTCCTACATATCGTTTACAATTAGTTTTATCTCATGTTGTAAAAGATGAAGAATATGGGGA TGAGACTTCTTACCATTATTTCCATATAGATCAAGAAGGTAAAGTGACACTTCCTAAAACGGTTAAGA TAGGAGAGAGTGAGGTTGCGGTAGACCCTAAGGCCTTGACACTTGTTGTGGAAGATAAAGCTGGTAAT TTCGCAACGGTAAAATTGTCTGATCTCTTGAATAAGGCAGTAGTATCAGAGAAAGAAAACGCTATAGT AATTTCTAACAGTTTCAAATATTTTGATAACTTGAAAAAAGAACCTATGTTTATTTCTAAAAAAGAAA AAGTAGTAAxACAAGAATCTAGAAGAAATAATATTAGTTAAGCCGCAAACTACAGTTACTACTCAATCA TTGTCTAAAGAAATAACTAAATCAGGAAATGAGAAAGTCCTCACTTCTACAAACAATAATAGTAGCAG AGTAGCTAAGATCATATCACCTAAACATAACGGGGATTCTGTTAACCATACCTTACCTAGTACATCAG ATAGAGCAACGAATGGTCTATTTGTTGGTACTTTGGCATTGTTATCTAGTTTACTTCTTTATTTGAAA CCCAAAAAGACTAAAAATAATAGTAAA

SEQ TD NO.69

0170VDKHHSKKAILKLTLITTSILLMHSNQVNAEEQELKNQEQSPVIANVAQQPSPSVTTNTVEKTSVTAA SASNTAKEMGDTSVKNDKTEDELLEELSKNLDTSNLGADLEEEYPSKPETTNNKESNWTNASTAIAQ KVPSAYEEVKPESKSSLAVLDTSKITKLQAITQRGKGNVVAIIDTGFDINHDIFRLDSPKDDKHSFKT KTEFEELKAKHNITYGK VNDKIVFAHNYANNTETVADIAAAMKDGYGSEAKNISHGTHVAGIFVGNS KRPAINGLLLEGAAPNAQVLLMRIPDKIDSDKFGEAYAKAITDAVNLGAKTINMSIGKTADSLIALND KVKLALKLASEKGVAWVAAGNEGAFGMDYSKPLSTNPDYGTVNSPAISEDTLSVASYESLKTISEW ETTIEGKLVKLPIVTSKPFDKGKAYDWYANYGAKKDFEGKDFKGKIALIERGGGLDFMTKITHATNA GVVGIVIFNDQEKRGNFLIPYRELPVGIISKVDGERIKNTSSQLTFNQSFEVVDSQGGNRMLEQSS G VTAEGAIKPDVTASGFEIYSSTYNNQYQTMSGTSMASPHVAGLMTMLQSHLAEKYKGMNLDSKKLLEL SKNILMSSATALYSEEDKAFYSPRQQGAGVVDAEKAIQAQYYITGNDGKAKINLKRMGDKFDITVTIH KLVEGVKELYYQANVATEQVNKGKFALKPQALLDTNWQKVILRDKETQVRFTIDASQFSQKLKEQMAN GYFLEGFVRFKEAKDSNQELMSIPFVGFNGDFANLQALETPIYKTLSKGSFYYKPNDTTHKDQLEYNE SAPFESNNYTALLTQSASWGYVDYVKNGGELELAPESPKRIILGTFENKVEDKTIHLLERDAANNPYF AISPNKDGNRDEITPQATFLRNVKDISAQVLDQNGNVIWQSKVLPSYRKNFHNNPKQSDGHYRMDALQ WSGLDKDG VVADGFYTYRLRYTPVAEGANSQESDFKVQVSTKSPNLPSRAQFDETNRTLSLAMPKES SYVPTYRLQ VLSHVVKDEEYGDETSYHYFHIDQEGKVTLPKTVKIGESEVAVDPKALTLVVEDKAGN FATVKLSDLLNKAVVSEKENAIVISNSFKYFDNLKKEPMFISKKEKVVNKNLEEIILVKPQTTVTTQS LSKEITKSGNEKVLTSTNNNSSRVAKIISPKHNGDSVNHTLPSTSDRATNGLFVGTLALLSSLLLYLK PKKTKNNS GBS 147 contains an N-terminal leader or signal sequence region which is indicated by the underlined sequence at the beginning of SEQ ID NO 69 above. In one embodiment, one or more amino acids f om the leader or signal sequence region of GBS 147 are removed. An example of such a GBS 147 fragment is set forth below as SEQ JD NO: 70.

SEQ TD NO: 70

0172EEQELKNQEQSPVIANVAQQPSPSVTTNTVΞKTSVTAASASNTAKEMGDTSVKNDKTEDELLEELSKN LDTSNLGADLEEEYPSKPETTNNKESNVVTNASTAIAQKVPSAYEEVKPESKSSLAVLDTSKITKLQA ITQRGKGNV AIIDTGFDINHDIFRLDSPKDDKHSFKTKTEFEELKAKHNITYGKWVNDKIVFAHNYA NNTETVADIAAAMKDGYGSEAKNISHGTHVAGIFVGNSKRPAINGLLLEGAAPNAQVLLMRIPDKIDS DKFGEAYA AITDAVNLGAKTINMSIGKTADSLIALNDKVKLALKLASEKGVAWVAAGNEGAFGMDY SKPLSTNPDYGTVNSPAISEDTLSVASYESLKTISEVVETTIEGKLVKLPIVTSKPFDKGKAYDWYA NYGAKKDFEGKDFKGKIALIERGGGLDFMTKITHATNAGWGIVIFNDQEKRGNF IPYRELPVGIIS KVDGERIKMTSSQLTFNQSFEVVDSQGGNRMLEQSSWGVTAEGAIKPDVTASGFEIYSSTYNNQYQTM SGTSMASPHVAGLMTMLQSHLAEKYKGMNLDSKKLLELSKNILMSSATALYSEEDKAFYSPRQQGAGV VDAEKAIQAQYYITGNDGKAKINLKRMGDKFDITVTIHKLVEGVKELYYQANVATEQVNKGKFALKPQ ALLDTNWQKVILRDKETQVRFTIDASQFSQKLKEQMANGYFLEGFVRFKEAKDSNQELMSIPFVGFNG DFANLQALETPIYKTLSKGSFYYKPNDTTHKDQLEYNESAPFESNNYTALLTQSASWGYVDYVKNGGE LELAPESPKRIILGTFENKVEDKTIHLLERDAANNPYFAISPNKDGNRDEITPQATFLRNVKDISAQV LDQNGNVIWQSKVLPSYRKNFHNNPKQSDGHYRMDALQWSGLDKDGKVVADGFYTYRLRYTPVAEGAN SQESDFKVQVSTKSPNLPSRAQFDETNRTLSLAMPKESSYVPTYRLQLVLSHVVKDEEYGDETSYHYF HIDQEGKVTLPKTVKIGESEVAVDPKALTLWEDKAGNFATVKLSDLLNKAVVSEKENAIVISNSFKY FDNLKKEPMFISKKEKVVNKNLEEIILVKPQTTVTTQSLSKEITKSGNEKVLTSTNNNSSRVAKIISP KHNGDSVNHTLPSTSDRATNGLFVGTLALLSSLLLYLKPKKTKNNSK GBS 147 also contains a C-terminal transmembrane and/or cytoplasmic region which may be located within the underlined sequence near the end of SEQ ID NO: 69 above. In one embodiment, one or more amino acids from the transmembrane and/or cytoplasmic region are removed. An example of such a GBS 147 fragment is set forth below as SEQ JD NO: 71.

SEQ TD NO: 71

0174VDKHHSKKAILKLTLITTSILLMHSNQVNAEEQELKNQEQSPVIANVAQQPSPSVTTNTVEKTSVTAA SASNTA EMGDTSVKNDKTEDELLEELSKNLDTSNLGADLEEEYPSKPETTNNKESNWTNASTAIAQ KVPSAYEEVKPESKSSLAVLDTSKITKLQAITQRGKGNVVAIIDTGFDINHDIFRLDSPKDDKHSFKT KTEFEE KAKHNITYGKWVNDKIVFAHNYANNTETVADIAAAMKDGYGSEAKNISHGTHVAGIFVGNS KRPAINGLLLEGAAPNAQVLLMRIPDKIDSDKFGEAYAKAITDAVNLGAKTINMSIGKTADSLIALND KVKLALKLASEKGVAVVVAAGNEGAFGMDYSKPLSTNPDYGTVNSPAISEDTLSVASYESLKTISEW ETTIEGKLVKLPIVTSKPFDKGKAYDVVYANYGAKKDFEGKDFKGKIALIERGGGLDFMTKITHATNA GVVGIVIFNDQEKRGNFLIPYRELPVGIISKVDGERIKNTSSQLTFNQSFEWDSQGGNRMLEQSSWG VTAEGAIKPDVTASGFEIYSSTYNNQYQTMSGTSMASPHVAGLMTMLQSHLAEKYKGMNLDSKKLLEL SKNILMSSATALYSEEDKAFYSPRQQGAGVVDAEKAIQAQYYITGNDGKAKINLKRMGDKFDITVTIH KLVEGVKELYYQANVATEQVNKGKFALKPQALLDTNWQKVILRDKETQVRFTIDASQFSQKLKEQMAN GYFLEGFVRFKEAKDSNQELMSIPFVGFNGDFANLQALETPIYKTLSKGSFYYKPNDTTHKDQLEYNE SAPFESNNYTALLTQSASWGYVDYVKNGGELELAPESPKRIILGTFENKVEDKTIHLLERDAANNPYF AISPNKDGNRDEITPQATFLRNVKDISAQVLDQNGNVIWQSKVLPSYRKNFHNNPKQSDGHYRMDALQ WSGLDKDGKWADGFYTYRLRYTPVAEGANSQESDFKVQVSTKSPNLPSRAQFDETNRTLSLAMPKES SYVPTYRLQLVLSHVVKDEEYGDETSYHYFHIDQEGKVTLPKTVKIGESEVAVDPKALTLVVEDKAGN FATVKLSDLLNKAWSEKENAIVISNSFKYFDNLKKEPMFISKKEKWNKNLEE11LVKPQTTVTTQS LSKEITKSGNEKVLTSTNNNSSRVAKIISPKHNGDSVNHT In one embodiment, one or more amino acids from the leader or signal sequence region and one or more amino acids from the transmembrane or cytoplasmic region are removed from the GBS 147 sequence. An example of such a GBS 147 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO 72.

SEQ ID NO: 72

0176EEQELKNQEQSPVIANVAQQPSPSVTTNTVEKTSVTAASASNTAKEMGDTSVKNDKTEDELLEELSKN LDTSNLGADLEEEYPSKPETTNNKESNVVTNASTAIAQKVPSAYEEVKPESKSSLAVLDTSKITKLQA ITQRGKGNVVAIIDTGFDINHDIFRLDSPKDDKHSFKTKTEFEELKAKHNITYGKWVNDKIVFAHNYA NNTETVADIAAAMKDGYGSEAKNISHGTHVAGIFVGNSKRPAINGLLLEGAAPNAQVLLMRIPDKIDS DKFGEAYAKAITDAVNLGAKTINMSIGKTADSLIALNDKVKLALKLASEKGVAVVVAAGNEGAFGMDY SKPLSTNPDYGTVNSPAISEDTLSVASYESLKTISEWETTIEGKLVKLPIVTSKPFDKGKAYDVVYA NYGAKKDFEGKDFKGKIALIERGGGLDFMTKITHATNAGVVGIVIFNDQEKRGNFLIPYRELPVGIIS KVDGERIKNTSSQLTFNQSFEWDSQGGNRMLEQSSWGVTAEGAIKPDVTASGFEIYSSTYNNQYQTM SGTSMASPHVAGLMTMLQSHLAEKYKGMNLDSKKLLELSKNILMSSATALYSEEDKAFYSPRQQGAGV VDAEKAIQAQYYITGNDGKAKINLKRMGDKFDITVTIHKLVEGVKELYYQANVATEQVNKGKFALKPQ ALLDTNWQKVILRDKETQVRFTIDASQFSQKLKEQMANGYFLEGFVRFKEAKDSNQELMSIPFVGFNG DFANLQALETPIYKTLSKGSFYYKPNDTTHKDQLEYNESAPFESNNYTALLTQSASWGYVDYVKNGGE LELAPESPKRIILGTFENKVEDKTIHLLERDAANNPYFAISPNKDGNRDEITPQATFLRNVKDISAQV LDQNGNVIWQSKVLPSYRKNFHNNPKQSDGHYRMDALQ SGLDKDGKVVADGFYTYRLRYTPVAEGAN SQESDFKVQVSTKSPNLPSRAQFDETNRTLSLAMPKESSYVPTYRLQLVLSHWKDEEYGDETSYHYF HIDQEGKVTLPKTVKIGESEVAVDPKALTLVVEDKAGNFATVKLSDLLNKAVVSEKENAIVISNSFKY FDNLKKEPMFISKKEKWNKNLEEIILVKPQTTVTTQSLSKEITKSGNEKVLTSTNNNSSRVAKIISP KHNGDSVTXIHT

0177GBS 173 GBS 173 refers to an amidase family protein. Nucleotide and amino acid sequences of GBS 173 sequenced from serotype V isolated strain 2603 V R are set forth in Ref. 2 as SEQ ID 8787 and SEQ JD 8788. These sequences are set forth below as SEQ ID NOS 73 and 74:

SEQ ID NTO. 73

0179ATGAAACGTAAATACTTTATTCTTAATACGGTGACGGTTTTAACGTTAGCTGCTGCAATGAATACTAG CAGTATCTATGCTAATAGTACTGAGACAAGTGCTTCAGTAGTTCCTACTACAAATACTATCGTTCAAA CTAATGACAGTAATCCTACCGCAAAATTTGTATCAGAATCAGGACAATCTGTAATAGGTCAAGTAAAA CCAGATAATTCTGCGGCGCTTACAACAGTTGACACGCCTCATCATATTTCAGCTCCAGATGCTTTAAA AACAACTCAATCAAGTCCTGTCGTTGAGAGTACTTCTACTAAGTTAACTGAAGAGACTTACAAACAAA AAGATGGTCAAGATTTAGCCAACATGGTGAGAAGTGGTCAAGTTACTAGTGAGGAACTCGTTAATATG GCATACGATATTATTGCTAAAGAAAACCCATCTTTAAATGCAGTCATTACTACTAGACGCCAAGAAGC TATTGAAGAGGCTAGAAAACTTAAAGATACCAATCAGCCGTTTTTAGGTGTTCCCTTGTTAGTCAAGG GGTTAGGGCACAGTATTAAAGGTGGTGAAACCAATAATGGCTTGATCTATGCAGATGGAAAAATTAGC ACATTTGACAGTAGCTATGTCAAAAAATATAAAGATTTAGGATTTATTATTTTAGGACAAACGAACTT TCCAGAGTATGGGTGGCGTAATATAACAGATTCTAAATTATACGGTCTAACGCATAATCCTTGGGATC TTGCTCATAATGCTGGTGGCTCTTCTGGTGGAAGTGCAGCAGCCATTGCTAGCGGAATGACGCCAATT GCTAGCGGTAGTGATGCTGGTGGTTCTATCCGTATTCCATCTTCTTGGACGGGCTTGGTAGGTTTAAA ACCAACAAGAGGATTGGTGAGTAATGAAAAGCCAGATTCGTATAGTACAGCAGTTCATTTTCCATTAA CTAAGTCATCTAGAGACGCAGAAACATTATTAACTTATCTAAAGAAAAGCGATCAAACGCTAGTATCA GTTAATGATTTAAAATCTTTACCAATTGCTTATACTTTGAAATCACCAATGGGAACAGAAGTTAGTCA AGATGCTAAAAACGCTATTATGGACAACGTCACATTCTTAAGAAAACAAGGATTCAAAGTAACAGAGA TAGACTTACCAATTGATGGTAGAGCATTAATGCGTGATTATTCAACCTTGGCTATTGGCATGGGAGGA GCTTTTTCAACAATTGAAAAAGACTTAAAAAAACATGGTTTTACTAAAGAAGACGTTGATCCTATTAC TTGGGCAGTTCATGTTATTTATCAAAATTCAGATAAGGCTGAACTTAAGAAATCTATTATGGAAGCCC AAAAACATATGGATGATTATCGTAAGGCAATGGAGAAGCTTCACAAGCAATTTCCTATTTTCTTATCG CCAACGACCGCAAGTTTAGCCCCTCTAAATACAGATCCATATGTAACAGAGGAAGATAAAAGAGCGAT TTATAATATGGAAAACTTGAGCCAAGAAGAAAGAATTGCTCTCTTTAATCGCCAGTGGGAGCCTATGT TGCGTAGAACACCTTTTACACAAATTGCTAATATGACAGGACTCCCAGCTATCAGTATCCCGACTTAC TTATCTGAGTCTGGTTTACCCATAGGGACGATGTTAATGGCAGGTGCAAACTATGATATGGTATTAAT TAAΆTTTGCAACTTTCTTTGAAAAACATCATGGTTTTAATGTTAAATGGCAAAGAΆTAATAGATΆAAG AAGTGAAACCATCTACTGGCCTAΆTACAGCCTACTAACTCCCTCTTTAAAGCTCATTCATCATTAGTA AATTTAGAAGAAAATTCACAAGTTACTCAAGTATCTATCTCTAAAAAATGGATGAAATCGTCTGTTAA AAATAAACCATCCGTAATGGCATATCAAAAAGCACTTCCTAAΆΆCAGGTGATACAGAATCAAGCCTAT CTCCAGTTTTAGTAGTAACCCTTTTATTAGCTTGTTTTAGCTTTGTAACAAAAAAGAATCAGAAAAGT SEQID NO.74

0180MKRKYFIJNTVTVLTLAAAMNTSSIYANSTETSASVVPTTNTIVQTNDSNPTAKFVSESGQSVIGQVK PDNSAALTTVDTPHHISAPDALKTTQSSPVVESTSTKLTEETYKQKDGQDLANMVRSGQVTSEELVNM AYDIIAKENPSLNAVITTRRQEAIEEARKLKDTNQPFLGVPLLVKGLGHSIKGGETNNGLIYADGKIS TFDSSYVKKYKDLGFIILGQTNFPEYGWRNITDSKLYGLTHNPWDLAHNAGGSSGGSAAAIASGMTPI ASGSDAGGSIRIPSSWTGLVGLKPTRGLVSNEKPDSYSTAVHFPLTKSSRDAETLLTYLKKSDQTLVS VNDLKSLPIAYTLKSPMGTEVSQDAKNAIMDNVTFLRKQGFKVTEIDLPIDGRALMRDYSTLAIGMGG AFSTIEKDLKKHGFTKEDVDPITWAVHVIYQNSDKAELKKSIMEAQKHMDDYRKAMEKLHKQFPIFLS PTTASLAPLNTDPYVTEEDKRAIYNMENLSQEERIALFNRQWEPMLRRTPFTQIANMTGLPAISIPTY LSESGLPIGTMLMAGANYDMVLIKFATFFEKHHGFNVKWQRIIDKEVKPSTGLIQPTNSLFKAHSSLV NLEENSQVTQVSISKK MKSSVKNKPSVMAYQKALPKTGDTESSLSPVLVVTLLLACFSFVTKKNQKS GBS 173 contains an N-terminal leader or signal sequence region which is indicated by the underlined sequences at the beginning of SEQ JD NO: 74 above, i one embodiment, one or more amino acids from the leader or signal sequence of GBS 173 are removed. An example of such a GBS 173 fragment is set forth below as SEQ JD NO: 75.

0181SEQ TDNO: 75 TTNTIVQTNDSNPTAKFVSESGQSVIGQVKPDNSAALTTVDTPHHISAPDALKTTQSSPWESTSTKL TEETYKQKDGQDLANMVRSGQVTSEELVNMAYDIIAKENPSLNAVITTRRQEAIEEARKLKDTNQPFL GVPLLVKGLGHSIKGGETNNGLIYADGKISTFDSSYVKKYKDLGFIILGQTNFPEYG RNITDSKLYG LTHNP DLAHNAGGSSGGSAAAIASGMTPIASGSDAGGSIRIPSS TGLVGLKPTRGLVSNEKPDSYS TAVHFPLTKSSRDAETLLTYLKKSDQTLVSVNDLKSLPIAYTLKSPMGTEVSQDAKNAIMDNVTFLRK QGFKVTEIDLPIDGRALMRDYSTLAIGMGGAFSTIEKDLKKHGFTKEDVDPITWAVHVIYQNSDKAEL KKSIMEAQKHMDDYRKAMEKLHKQFPIFLSPTTASLAPLNTDPYVTEEDKRAIYNMENLSQEERIALF NRQ EPMLRRTPFTQIANMTGLPAISIPTYLSESGLPIGTMLMAGANYDMVLIKFATFFEKHHGFNVK WQRIIDKEVKPSTGLIQPTNSLFKAHSSLVNLEENSQVTQVSISKK MKSSVKNKPSVMAYQKALPKT GDTESSLSPVLWTLLLACFSFVTKKNQKS GBS 173 may also contain a C-terminal transmembrane and/or cytoplasmic region which may be located within the underlined region near the end of SEQ ID NO: 74 above. In one embodiment, one or more amino acids from the transmembrane or cytoplasmic region of GBS 173 are removed. An example of such a GBS 173 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 76.

SEQIDNO: 76

0183MKRKYFILNTVTVLTLAAAMNTSSIYANSTETSASVVPTTNTIVQTNDSNPTAKFVSESGQSVIGQVK PDNSAALTTVDTPHHISAPDALKTTQSSPVVESTSTKLTEETYKQKDGQDLANMVRSGQVTSEELVNM AYDIIAKENPSLNAVITTRRQEAIEEARKLKDTNQPFLGVPLLVKGLGHSIKGGETNNGLIYADGKIS TFDSSYVKKYKDLGFIILGQTNFPEYGWRNITDSKLYGLTHNPWDLAHNAGGSSGGSAAAIASGMTPI ASGSDAGGSIRIPSS TGLVGLKPTRGLVSNEKPDSYSTAVHFPLTKSSRDAETLLTYLKKSDQTLVS VNDLKSLPIAYTLKSPMGTEVSQDAKNAIMDNVTFLRKQGFKVTEIDLPIDGRALMRDYSTLAIGMGG AFSTIEKDIKKHGFTKEDVDPITWAVHVIYQNSDKAELKKSIMEAQKHMDDYRKAMEKLHKQFPIFLS PTTASLAPLNTDPYVTEEDKRAIYNMENLSQEERIALFNRQWEPMLRRTPFTQIANMTGLPAISIPTY LSESGLPIGTMLMAGANYDMVLIKFATFFEKHHGFNVK QRIIDKEVKPSTGLIQPTNSLFKAHSSLV N EENSQVTQVSISKKWMKSSVKNK In one embodiment, one or more amino acids from the leader or signal sequence region and one or more amino acids from the transmembrane or cytoplasmic region are removed. An example of such a GBS 173 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 77.

SEQ ID NO: 77

0185TTNTIVQTNDSNPTAKFVSESGQSVIGQVKPDNSAALTTVDTPHHISAPDALKTTQSSPVVESTSTKL TEETYKQKDGQDLANMVRSGQVTSEELVNMAYDIIAKENPSLNAVITTRRQEAIEEARKLKDTNQPFL GVPLLVKGLGHSIKGGETNNGLIYADGKISTFDSSYVKKYKDLGFIILGQTNFPEYGWRNITDSKLYG LTHNPWDLAHNAGGSSGGSAAAIASGMTPIASGSDAGGSIRIPSSWTGLVGLKPTRGLVSNEKPDSYS TAVHFPLTKSSRDAETLLTYLKKSDQTLVSVNDLKSLPIAYTLKSPMGTEVSQDAKNAIMDNVTFLRK QGFKVTEIDLPIDGRALMRDYSTLAIGMGGAFSTIEKDLKKHGFTKEDVDPITWAVHVIYQNSDKAEL KKSIMEAQKHMDDYRKAMEKLHKQFPIFLSPTTASLAPLNTDPYVTEEDKRAIYNMENLSQEERIALF NRQWEPMLRRTPFTQIANMTGLPAISIPTYLSESGLPIGTMLMAGANYDMVLIKFATFFEKHHGFNVK WQRIIDKEVKPSTGLIQPTNSLFKAHSSLVNLEENSQVTQVSISKKMKSSVKNK

0186GBS 313 Nucleotide and amino acid sequences of GBS 313 sequenced from serotype V isolated strain

01872603 V/R. are set forth in Ref. 2 as SEQ JD 4089 and SEQ ID 4090. These sequences are set forth as

0188SEQ ID NOS 78 and 79 below:

0189SEQ m NO. 78

0190ATGAAACGTATTGCTGTTTTAACTAGTGGTGGTGACGCCCCTGGTATGAACGCTGCTATCCGTGCAGT TGTTCGTAAAGCAATTTCTGAAGGTATGGAAGTTTACGGCATCAACCAAGGTTACTATGGTATGGTGA CAGGGGATATTTTCCCTTTGGATGCTAATTCTGTTGGGGATACTATCAACCGTGGAGGAACGTTTTTA CGTTCAGCACGTTATCCTGAATTTGCTGAACTTGAAGGTCAGCTTAAAGGGATTGAACAGCTTAAAAA ACACGGTATTGAAGGTGTAGTAGTTATCGGTGGTGATGGTTCTTATCATGGTGCTATGCGTCTAACTG AGCACGGTTTCCCAGCTGTTGGTTTGCCGGGTACAATTGATAACGATATCGTTGGCACTGACTATACT ATTGGTTTTGACACAGCAGTTGCGACAGCAGTTGAGAATCTTGACCGTCTTCGTGATACATCAGCAAG TCATAACCGTACTTTTGTTGTTGAGGTTATGGGAAGAAATGCAGGAGATATCGCTCTTTGGTCAGGTA TCGCTGCAGGTGCAGATCAAATTATTGTTCCTGAAGAAGAGTTCAATATTGATGAAGTTGTCTCAAAT GTTAGAGCTGGCTATGCAGCTGGTAAACATCACCAAATCATCGTCCTTGCAGAAGGTGTTATGAGTGG TGATGAGTTTGCAAAAACAATGAAAGCAGCAGGAGACGATAGCGATCTTCGTGTGACGAATTTAGGAC ATCTGCTCCGTGGTGGTAGTCCGACGGCTCGTGATCGTGTCTTAGCATCTCGTATGGGAGCGTACGCT GTTCAAΓTGTTGAAAGAAGGTCGTGGTGGTTTAGCCGTTGGTGTCCACAACGAΆGAAATGGTTGAAAG TCCAΆTΓTTAGGTTTAGCAGAAGAAGGTGCTTTGTTCAGCTTGACTGATGAAGGAAΆAATCGTTGTTA ATAATCCGCATAAAGCGGACCTTCGCTTGGCAGCACTTAATCGTGACCTTGCCAACCAAAGTAGTAAA

SEQ TD NO.79

0192MKRIAVLTSGGDAPGMNAAIRAVVRKAISEGMEVYGINQGYYGMVTGDIFPLDANSVGDTINRGGTFL RSARYPEFAELEGQLKGIEQLKKHGIEGVVVIGGDGSYHGAMRLTEHGFPAVGLPGTIDNDIVGTDYT IGFDTAVATAVENLDRLRDTSASHNRTFWEVMGRNAGDIALWSGIAAGADQIIVPEEEFNIDEVVSN VRAGYAAGKHHQIIVLAEGVMSGDEFAKTMKAAGDDSDLRVTNLGHLLRGGSPTARDRVLASRMGAYA VQLLKEGRGGLAVGVHNEEMVESPILGLAEEGALFSLTDEGKIVVNNPHKADLRLAALNRDLANQSSK GBS 328 GBS 328 belongs to the 5'-nucleotidase family. Nucleotide and amino acid sequences of GBS 328 sequenced from serotype V isolated strain 2603 V/R are set forth in Ref. 2 as SEQ ID 6015 and SEQ ID 6016. These sequences are set forth below as SEQ ID NOS 80 and 81 :

SEQ ID NO. 80

0194ATGAAAAAGAAAATTATTTTGAAAAGTAGTGTTCTTGGTTTAGTCGCTGGGACTTCTATTATGTTCTC AAGCGTGTTCGCGGACCAAGTCGGTGTCCAAGTTATAGGCGTCAATGACTTTCATGGTGCACTTGACA ATACTGGAACAGCAAATATGCCTGATGGAAAAGTTGCTAATGCTGGTACTGCTGCTCAATTAGATGCT TATATGGATGACGCTCAAAAAGATTTCAAACAAACTAACCCTAATGGTGAAAGCATTAGGGTTCAAGC AGGCGATATGGTTGGAGCAAGTCCAGCCAACTCTGGGCTTCTTCAAGATGAACCAACTGTCAAAAATT TAATGCAATGAATGTTGAGTATGGCACATTGGGTAACCATGAATTTGATGAAGGGTTGGCAGAATAT AATCGTATCGTTACTGGTAAAGCCCCTGCTCCAGATTCTAATATTAΆTAATATTACGAΆATCATACCC ACATGAAGCTGCAAAACAAGAAATTGTAGTGGCAAATGTTATTGATAAAGTTAACAAACAAATTCCTT ACAATTGGAAGCCTTACGCTATTAAAAATATTCCTGTAAATAACAAAAGTGTGAACGTTGGCTTTATC GGGATTGTCACCAAAGACATCCCAAACCTTGTCTTACGTAAAAATTATGAACAATATGAATTTTTAGA TGAAGCTGAAACAATCGTTAAATACGCCAAAGAATTACAAGCTAAAAATGTCAAAGCTATTGTAGTTC TCGCACATGTACCTGCAACAAGTAAAAATGATATTGCTGAAGGTGAAGCAGCAGAAATGATGAAAAAA GTCAATCAACTCTTCCCTGAAAATAGCGTAGATATTGTCTTTGCTGGACACAATCATCAATATACAAA TGGTCTTGTTGGTAAAACTCGTATTGTACAAGCGCTCTCTCAAGGAAAAGCCTATGCTGATGTACGTG GTGTCTTAGAΓACTGATACACAAGATTTCATTGAGACCCCTTCAGCTAΆAGTAATTGCAGTTGCTCCT GGTAAAAAAACAGGTAGTGCCGATATTCAAGCCATTGTTGACCAAGCTAATACTATCGTTAAACAAGT AACAGAAGCTAAAATTGGTACTGCCGAGGTAAGTGTCATGATTACGCGTTCTGTTGATCAAGATAATG TTAGTCCGGTAGGCAGCCTCATCACAGAGGCTCAACTAGCAATTGCTCGAAAAAGCTGGCCAGATATC GATTTTGCCATGACAAATAATGGTGGCATTCGTGCTGACTTACTCATCAAACCAGATGGAACAATCAC CTGGGGAGCTGCACAAGCAGTTCAACCTTTTGGTAATATCTTACAAGTCGTCGAAATTACTGGTAGAG ATCTTTATAAAGCACTCAACGAACAATACGACCAAAAACAAAATTTCTTCCTTCAAATAGCTGGTCTG CGATACACTTACACAGATAATAAAGAGGGCGGGGAAGAAACACCATTTAAAGTTGTAAAAGCTTATAA ATCAAATGGTGAGGAAATCAATCCTGATGCAAAATACAAATTAGTTATCAATGACTTTTTATTCGGTG GTGGTGATGGCTTTGCAAGCTTCAGAAATGCCAAACTTCTAGGAGCCATTAACCCCGATACAGAGGTA TTTATGGCCTATATCACTGATTTAGAAAAAGCTGGTAAAAAAGTGAGCGTTCCAAATAATAAACCTAA AATCTATGTCACTATGAAGATGGTTAATGAAACTATTACACAAAATGATGGTACACATAGCATTATTA AGAAACTTTATTTAGATCGACAAGGAAATATTGTAGCACAAGAGATTGTATCAGACACTTTAAACCAA ACAAAATCAAAATCTACAAAAATCAACCCTGTAACTACAATTCACAAAAAACAATTACACCAATTTAC AGCTATTAACCCTATGAGAAATTATGGCAAACCATCAAACTCCACTACTGTAAAATCAAAACAATTAC CAAAAACAAACTCTGAATATGGACAATCATTCCTTATGTCTGTCTTTGGTGTTGGACTTATAGGAATT GCTTTAAATACAAAGAAAAAACATATGAAA SEQEDNO.81 KKKIILKSSVLGLVAGTSIMFSSVFADQVGVQVIGVNDFHGALDNTGTANMPDGKVANAGTAAQLDA YMDDAQKDFKQTNPNGESIRVQAGDMVGASPANSGLLQDEPTVKNFNAMNVEYGTLGNHEFDEGLAEY NRIVTGKAPAPDSNINNITKSYPHEAAKQEIWANVIDKVNKQIPYNWKPYAIKNIPVNNKSVNVGFI GIVTKDIPNLVLRKNYEQYEFLDEAETIVKYAKELQAKNVKAIVVLAHVPATSKNDIAEGEAAEMMKK VNQLFPENSVDIVFAGHNHQYTNGLVGKTRIVQALSQGKAYADVRGVLDTDTQDFIETPSAKVIAVAP GKKTGSADIQAIVDQANTIVKQVTEAKIGTAEVSVMITRSVDQDNVSPVGSLITEAQLAIARKS PDI DFAMTNNGGIRADLLIKPDGTITWGAAQAVQPFGNILQVVEITGRDLYKALNEQYDQKQNFFLQIAGL RYTYTDNKEGGEETPFKVVKAYKSNGEEINPDAKYKLVINDFLFGGGDGFASFRNAKLLGAINPDTEV FMAYITDLEKAGKKVSVPNNKPKIYVTMKMVNETITQNDGTHSIIKKLYLDRQGNIVAQEIVSDTLNQ TKSKSTKINPVTTIHKKQLHQFTAINPMRNYGKPSNSTTVKSKQLPKTNSEYGQSFLMSVFGVGLIGI ALNTKKKHMK GBS 328 may contain an N-terminal leader or signal sequence region which is indicated by the underlined sequence at the beginning of SEQ JD NO: 81 above. In one embodiment, one or more amino acids from the leader or signal sequence region of GBS 328 are removed. An example of such a GBS 328 fragment is set forth below as SEQ JD NO: 82.

SEQ DD NO: 82

0196HGA-GDNTGTANMPDGKVANAGTAAQLDAYMDDAQKDFKQTNPNGESIRVQAGDMVGASPANSGLLQDE PTVKNFNAMNVEYGTLGNHEFDEGLAEYNRIVTGKAPAPDSNINNITKSYPHEAAKQEIVVANVIDKV NKQIPYNWKPYAIKNIPVNNKSVNVGFIGIVTKDIPNLVLRKNYEQYEFLDEAETIVKYAKELQAKNV KAIWLAHVPATSKNDIAEGEAAEMMKKVNQLFPENSVDIVFAGHNHQYTNGLVGKTRIVQALSQGKA YADVRGVLDTDTQDFIETPSAKVIAVAPGKKTGSADIQAIVDQANTIVKQVTEAKIGTAEVSVMITRS VDQDNVSPVGSLITEAQLAIARKS PDIDFAMTNNGGIRADLLIKPDGTITWGAAQAVQPFGNILQVV EITGRDLYKALNEQYDQKQNFFLQIAGLRYTYTDNKEGGEETPFKVVKAYKSNGEEINPDAKYKLVIN DFLFGGGDGFASFRNAKLLGAINPDTEVFMAYITDLEKAGKKVSVPNNKPKIYVTMK VNETITQNDG THSIIKKLYLDRQGNIVAQEIVSDTLNQTKSKSTKINPVTTIHKKQLHQFTAINPMRNYGKPSNSTTV KSKQLPKTNSEYGQSFLMSVFGVGLIGIALNTKKKHMK GBS 328 may also contain a transmembrane and/or cytoplasmic domain region. In one embodiment, one or more amino acids from the transmembrane and or cytoplasmic domain region of GBS 328 are removed. An example of such a GBS 328 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 83.

0197SEQ ID NO: 83 MKKKIILKSSVLGLVAGTSIMFSSVFADQVGVQVIGVNDFHGALDNTGTANMPDGKVANAGTAAQLDA YMDDAQKDFKQTNPNGESIRVQAGDMVGASPANSGLLQDEPTVKNFNAMNVEYGTLGNHEFDEGLAEY NRIVTGKAPAPDSNINNITKSYPHEAAKQEIVVANVIDKVNKQIPYNWKPYAIKNIPVNNKSVNVGFI GIVTKDIPNLVLRKNYEQYEFLDEAETIVKYAKELQAKNVKAIWLAHVPATSKNDIAEGEAAEMMKK VNQLFPENSVDIVFAGHNHQYTNGLVGKTRIVQALSQGKAYADVRGVLDTDTQDFIETPSAKVIAVAP GKKTGSADIQAIVDQANTIVKQVTEAKIGTAEVSVMITRSVDQDNVSPVGSLITEAQLAIARKSWPDI DFAMTNNGGIRADLLIKPDGTIT GAAQAVQPFGNILQVVEITGRDLYKALNEQYDQKQNFFLQIAGL RYTYTDNKEGGEETPFKWKAYKSNGEEINPDAKYKLVINDFLFGGGDGFASFRNAKLLGAINPDTEV FMAYITDLEKAGKKVSVPNNKPKIYVTMKMVNETITQNDGTHSIIKKLYLDRQGNIVAQEIVSDTLNQ TKSKSTKINPVTTIHKKQLHQFTAINPMRNYGKPSNSTTVKS In one embodiment, one or more amino acids from the leader or signal sequence region and one or more amino acids from the transmembrane or cytoplasmic region of GBS 328 are removed. An example of such a GBS 328 fragment is set forth below as SEQ JD NO: 84.

SEQ ID NO: 84

0199HGA DNTGTANMPDGKVANAGTAAQLDAYMDDAQKDFKQTNPNGESIRVQAGDMVGASPANSGLLQDE PTVKNFNAMNVEYGTLGNHEFDEGLAEYNRIVTGKAPAPDSNINNITKSYPHEAAKQEIVVANVIDKV NKQI PYNWKPYAIKNIPVNNKSVNVGFIGIVTKDIPNLVLRKNYEQYEFLDEAETIVKYAKELQAKNV KAIWLAHVPATSKNDIAEGEAAEMMKKVNQLFPENSVDIVFAGHNHQYTNGLVGKTRIVQALSQGKA YADVRGVLDTDTQDFIETPSAKVIAVAPGKKTGSADIQAIVDQANTIVKQVTEAKIGTAEVSVMITRS VDQDISIVSPVGSLITEAQLAIARKSWPDIDFAMTNNGGIRADLLIKPDGTITWGAAQAVQPFGNILQVV EI GRDLYKALNEQYDQKQNFFLQIAGLRYTYTDNKEGGEETPFKVVKAYKSNGEEINPDAKYKLVIN DFIJFGGGDGFASFRNAKLLGAINPDTEVFMAYITDLEKAGKKVSVPNNKPKIYVTMKMVNETITQNDG THS I IKKLYLDRQGNIVAQEIVSDTLNQTKSKSTKINPVTTIHKKQLHQFTAINPMRNYGKPSNSTTV KS

0200GBS 656 GBS 656 refers to a putative DNA-entry nuclease. Nucleotide and amino acid sequences of GB S 656 sequenced from serotype V isolated strain 2603 V/R are set forth in Ref.2 as SEQ JD 9323 and SEQ ID 9324. These sequences are set forth below as SEQ ED NOS 85 and 86:

SEQ TDNO.85

0202ATGAAAAGATTACATAAACTGTTTATAACCGTAATTGCTACATTAGGTATGTTGGGGGTAATGACCTT TGGTCTTCCAACGCAGCCGCAAAACGTAACGCCGATAGTACATGCTGATGTCAATTCATCTGTTGATA CGA\GCCAGGAATTTCAAAATAATTTAAAAAATGCTATTGGTAACCTACCATTTCAATATGTTAATGGT ATTTATGAATTAAATAATAATCAGACAAATTTAAATGCTGATGTCAATGTTAAAGCGTATGTTCAAAA TACAATTGACAATCAACAAAGACTATCAACTGCTAATGCAATGCTTGATAGAACCATTCGTCAATATC AAAATCGCAGAGATACCACTCTTCCCGATGCAAATTGGAAACCATTAGGTTGGCATCAAGTAGCTACT AATGACCATTATGGACATGCAGTCGACAAGGGGCATTTAATTGCCTATGCTTTAGCTGGAAATTTCAA AGGTTGGGATGCTTCCGTGTCAAATCCTCAAAATGTTGTCACACAAACAGCTCATTCCAACCAATCAA ATCAAAAAATCAATCGTGGACAAAATTATTATGAAAGCTTAGTTCGTAAGGCGGTTGACCAAAACAAA CGTGTTCGTTACCGTGTAACTCCATTGTACCGTAATGATACTGATTTAGTTCCATTTGCAATGCACCT AGAAGCTAAATCACAAGATGGCACATTAGAATTTAATGTTGCTATTCCAAACACACAAGCATCATACA CTAxTGGATTATGCAACAGGAGAAATAACACTAAAT SEQ EDNO.86

0203MKRLHKLFITVIATLGMLGVMTFGLPTQPQNVTPIVHADVNSSVDTSQEFQNNLKNAIGNLPFQYVNG IYELNNNQTNLNADVNVKAYVQNTIDNQQRLSTANAMLDRTIRQYQNRRDTTLPDANWKPLGWHQVAT NDHYGHAVDKGHLIAYALAGNFKGWDASVSNPQNVVTQTAHSNQSNQKINRGQNYYESLVRKAVDQNK RVRYRVTPLYRNDTDLVPFAMHLEAKSQDGTLEFNVAIPNTQASYTMDYATGΞITLN

0204GBS 67 The following offers examples of preferred GBS 67 fra ments. Nucleotide and amino acid sequence of GBS 67 sequences from serotypeV isolated strain 2603 are set forth below as SEQ ID NOS: 87 and 88. SEQ IDNO: 87

0205ATGAGAAAATACCAAAAATTTTCTAAAATATTGACGTTAAGTCTTTTTTGTTTGTCGCAAATACCGCT TAATACCAATGTTTTAGGGGAAAGTACCGTACCGGAAAATGGTGCTAAAGGAAAGTTAGTTGTTAAAA AGACAGATGACCAGAACAAACCACTTTCAAAAGCTACCTTTGTTTTAAAAACTACTGCTCATCCAGAA AGTΆAAATAGAAAAAGTAACTGCTGAGCTAACAGGTGAΆGCTACTTTTGATAATCTCATACCTGGAGA TTATACTTTATCAGAAGAAACAGCGCCCGAAGGTTATAAΆAAGACTAΆCCAGACTTGGCAAGTTAAGG TTGAGAGTAATGGAAAAACTACGATACAAAATAGTGGTGATAAAAATTCCACAATTGGACAAAATCAG GAAGAACTAGATAAGCAGTATCCCCCCACAGGAATTTATGAAGATACAAAGGAATCTTATAAACTTGA GCATGTTAAAGGTTCAGTTCCAAATGGAAAGTCAGAGGCAAAAGCAGTTAACCCATATTCAAGTGAAG GTGAGCATATAAGAGAAΆTTCCAGAGGGAACATTATCTAAACGTATTTCAGAΆGTAGGTGATTTAGCT CATAΆTAAATATAAAATTGAGTTAACTGTCAGTGGAAAAACCATAGTAAAΆCCAGTGGACAAACAAAA GCCGTTAGATGTTGTCTTCGTACTCGATAATTCTAACTCAATGAATAACGATGGCCCAAATTTTCAAA GGCATAATAAAGCCAAGAAAGCTGCCGAAGCTCTTGGGACCGCAGTAAAAGATATTTTAGGAGCAAAC AGTGATAATAGGGTTGCATTAGTTACCTATGGTTCAGATATTTTTGATGGTAGGAGTGTAGATGTCGT AAAAGGATTTAAΆGAAGATGATAAATATTATGGCCTTCAAACTAAGTTCACAΆTTCAGACAGAGAATT ATAGTCATAAACAATTAACAAATAATGCTGAAGAGATTATAAAAAGGATTCCGACAGAAGCTCCTAAA GCTAAGTGGGGATCTACTACCAATGGATTAACTCCAGAGCAACAAAAGGAGTACTATCTTAGTAAAGT AGGAGAAACATTTACTATGAAΆGCCTTCATGGAGGCAGATGATATTTTGAGTCAAGTAAATCGAAATA GTCAAAAAATTATTGTTCATGTAACTGATGGTGTTCCTACGAGATCATATGCTATTAATAATTTTAAA CTGGGTGCATCATATGAAAGCCAATTTGAACAAATGAAAAAAAATGGATATCTAAATAAAAGTAATTT TCTACTTACTGATAAGCCCGAGGATATAAAAGGAΆATGGGGAGAGTTACTTTTTGTTTCCCTTAGATA GTTATCAAACACAGATAATCTCTGGAAACTTACAAAAΆCTTCATTATTTAGATTTAAΆTCTTAATTAC CCTAAAGGTACAATTTATCGAAATGGACCAGTGAAAGAACATGGAACACCAACCAAACTTTATATAAA TAGTTTAAAACAGAAAAATTATGACATTTTTAATTTTGGTATCGATATATCTGGTTTTAGACAAGTTT ATAATGAGGAGTATAAGAAAAATCAAGATGGTACTTTTCAAAAATTGAAAGAGGAAGCTTTTAAACTT TCAGATGGAGAAATCACAGAACTAATGAGGTCGTTCTCTTCCAAACCTGAGTACTACACCCCTATCGT AΆCTTCAGCCGATACATCTAACAATGAAΆTTTTATCTAAAATTCAGCAACAATTTGAAACGATTTTAA CAAAAGAAAACTCAATTGTTAATGGAACTATCGAAGATCCTATGGGTGATAAΆΆTCAΆTTTACAGCTT GGTAATGGACAAACATTACAGCCAAGTGATTATACTTTACAGGGAAATGATGGAAGTGTAATGAAGGA TGGTATTGCAACTGGTGGGCCTAATAATGATGGTGGAΆTACTTAAGGGGGTTAAATTAGAATACATCG GAAATAAACTCTATGTTAGAGGTTTGAATTTAGGAGAAGGTCAAΆAAGTAACΆCTCACATATGATGTG AAACTAGATGACAGTTTTATAAGTAACAAATTCTATGACACTAΆTGGTAGAACAΆCATTGAATCCTAA GTCAGAGGATCCTAATACACTTAGAGATTTTCCAATCCCTAAAATTCGTGATGTGAGAGAATATCCTA CAATAACGATTAAAAACGAGAAGAΆGTTAGGTGAΆATTGAATTTATAAΆAGTTGATAAAGATAATAAT AAGTTGCTTCTCAAAGGAGCTACGTTTGAΆCTTCAAGAATTTAATGAAGATTATAAACTTTATTTACC AΆTAAAAAATAATAATTCAAAAGTAGTGACGGGAGAAΆACGGCAAAATTTCTTACAΆAGATTTGAAAG ATGGCAAATATCAGTTAATAGAAGCAGTTTCGCCGGAGGATTATCAAAAAATTACTAΆTAAACCAATT TTAACTTTTGAAGTGGTTAAAGGATCGATAAAAΆATATAΆTAGCTGTTAATAAΆCAGATTTCTGAATA TCATGAGGAAGGTGACAAGCATTTAATTACCAACACGCATATTCCACCAAAAGGAATTATTCCTATGA CAGGTGGGAAAGGAΆTTCTATCTTTCATTTTAATAGGTGGAGCTATGATGTCTATTGCAGGTGGAATT TATATTTGGAAAAGGTATAAGAAATCTAGTGATATGTCCATCAAAAAAGAT SEQ IDNO: 88

0206MRKYQKFSKILTLSLFCLSQIPLNTNVLGESTVPENGAKGKLVVKKTDDQNKPLSKATFVLKTTAHPE SKIEKVTAELTGEATFDNLIPGDYTLSEETAPEGYKKTNQTWQVKVESNGKTTIQNSGDKNSTIGQNQ EELDKQYPPTGIYEDTKESYKLEHVKGSVPNGKSΞAKAVNPYSSEGEHIREIPEGTLSKRISEVGDLA HNKYKIELTVSGKTIVKPVDKQKPLDVVFVLDNSNSMNNDGPNFQRHNKAKKAAEALGTAVKDILGAN SDNRVALVTYGSDIFDGRSVDVVKGFKEDDKYYGLQTKFTIQTENYSHKQLTNNAEEIIKRIPTEAPK AKWGSTTNGLTPEQQKEYYLSKVGETFTMKAFMEADDILSQVNRNSQKIIVHVTDGVPTRSYAINNFK LGASYESQFEQMKKNGYLNKSNFLLTDKPEDIKGNGESYFLFPLDSYQTQIISGNLQKLHYLDLNLNY PKGTIYRNGPVKEHGTPTKLYINSLKQKNYDIFNFGIDISGFRQVYNEEYKKNQDGTFQKLKEEAFKL SDGEITELMRSFSSKPEYYTPIVTSADTSNNEILSKIQQQFETILTKENSIVNGTIEDPMGDKINLQL GNGQTLQPSDYTLQGNDGSVMKDGIATGGPNNDGGILKGVKLEYIGNKLYVRGLNLGEGQKVTLTYDV KLDDSFISNKFYDTNGRTTLNPKSEDPNTLRDFPIPKIRDVREYPTITIKNEKKLGEIEFIKVDKDNN KLLLKGATFELQEFNEDYKLYLPIKNNNSKVVTGENGKISYKDLKDGKYQLIEAVSPEDYQKITNKPI LTFEVVKGSIKNIIAVNKQISEYHEEGDKHLITNTHIPPKGIJPMTGGKGILSFILIGGAMMSIAGGI YI KRYKKSSDMSIKKD

0207GBS 67 contains a C-terminus transmembrane region which is indicated by the underlined region closest to the C-tenninus of SEQ ID NO: 88 above. In one embodiment^ one or more amino acids from the transmembrane region is removed and or the amino acid is truncated before the transmembrane region. An example of such a GBS 67 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 89. SEQ TD NO: 89

0208MRKYQKFSKILTLSLFCLSQIPLNTNVLGESTVPENGAKGKLVVKKTDDQNKPLSKATFVLKTTAHPE SKIEKVTAELTGEATFDNLIPGDYTLSEETAPEGYKKTNQTWQVKVESNGKTTIQNSGDKNSTIGQNQ EELDKQYPPTGIYEDTKESYKLEHVKGSVPNGKSEAKAVNPYSSEGEHIREIPEGTLSKRISEVGDLA HNKYKIELTVSGKTIVKPVDKQKPLDVVFVLDNSNSMNNDGPNFQRHNKAKKAAEALGTAVKDILGAN SDNRVALVTYGSDIFDGRSVDVVKGFKEDDKYYGLQTKFT1QTENYSHKQLTNNAEEIIKRIPTEAPK AKWGSTTNGLTPEQQKEYYLSKVGETFTMKAFMEADDILSQVNRNSQKIIVHVTDGVPTRSYAINNFK LGASYESQFEQMKKNGYLNKSNFLLTDKPEDIKGNGESYFLFPLDSYQTQIISGNLQKLHYLDLNLNY PKGTIYRNGPVKEHGTPTKLYINSLKQKNYDIFNFGIDISGFRQVYNEEYKKNQDGTFQKLKEEAFKL SDGEITELMRSFSSKPEYYTPIVTSADTSNNEILSKIQQQFETILTKENSIVNGTIEDPMGDKINLQL GNGQTLQPSDYTLQGNDGSVMKDGIATGGPNNDGGILKGVKLEYIGNKLYVRGLNLGEGQKVTLTYDV KLDDSFISNKFYDTNGRTTLNPKSEDPNTLRDFPIPKIRDVREYPTITIKNEKKLGEIEFIKVDKDNN KLLLKGATFELQEFNEDYKLYLPIKNNNSKVVTGENGKISYKDLKDGKYQLIEAVSPEDYQKITNKPI LTFEVVKGSIKNIIAVNKQISEYHEEGDKHLITNTHIPPKGIIPMTGGKGILS

0209GBS 67 contains an amino acid motif indicative of a cell wall anchor (an LPXTG motif):

0210SEQ TD NO: 90 IPMTG. (shown in italics in SEQ ID NO: 88 above), hi some recombinant host cell systems, it may be preferable to remove this motif to facilitate secretion of a recombinant GBS 67 protein from the host cell. Accordingly, in one preferred fragment of GBS 67 for use in the invention, the transmembrane and the cell wall anchor motif are removed from GBS 67. An example of such a GBS 67 fragment is set forth below as SEQ ID NO: 91.

SEQ ED NO: 91

0212MRKYQKFSKILTLSLFCLSQIPLNTNVLGESTVPENGAKGKLVVKKTDDQNKPLSKATFVLKTTAHPE SKIEKVTAELTGEATFDNLIPGDYTLSEETAPEGYKKTNQT QVKVESNGKTTIQNSGDKNSTIGQNQ EELDKQYPPTGIYEDTKESYKLEHVKGSVPNGKSEAKAVNPYSSEGEHIREIPEGTLSKRISEVGDLA HNKYKIELTVSGKTIVKPVDKQKPLDVVFVLDNSNSMNNDGPNFQRHNKAKKAAEALGTAVKDILGAN SDNRVALVTYGSDIFDGRSVDWKGFKEDDKYYGLQTKFTIQTENYSHKQLTNNAEEIIKRIPTEAPK AKWGSTTNGLTPEQQKEYYLSKVGETFTMKAFMEADDILSQVNRNSQKIIVHVTDGVPTRSYAINNFK LGASYESQFEQMKKNGYLNKSNFLLTDKPEDIKGNGESYFLFPLDSYQTQIISGNLQKLHYLDLNLNY PKGTIYRNGPVKEHGTPTKLYINSLKQKNYDIFNFGIDISGFRQVYNEEYKKNQDGTFQKLKEEAFKL SDGEITELMRSFSSKPEYYTPIVTSADTSNNEILSKIQQQFETILTKENSIVNGTIEDPMGDKINLQL GNGQTLQPSDYTLQGNDGSVMKDGIATGGPNNDGGILKGVKLEYIGNKLYVRGLNLGEGQKVTLTYDV KLDDSFISNKFYDTNGRTTLNPKSEDPNTLRDFPIPKIRDVREYPTITIKNEKKLGEIEFIKVDKDNN KLLLKGATFELQEFNEDYKLYLPIKNNNSKVVTGENGKISYKDLKDGKYQLIEAVSPEDYQKITNKPI LTFEWKGSIKNIIAVNKQISEYHEEGDKHLITNTHIPPKGI The compositions of the invention may also include combinations including one or more known GBS antigens in combination with GBS 80. There is an upper limit to the number of GBS antigens which will be in the compositions of the invention. Preferably, the number of GBS antigens in a composition of the invention is less than

021320, less than 19, less than 18, less than 17, less than 16, less than 15, less than 14, less than 13, less than 12, less than 11, less than 10, less than 9, less than 8, less than 7, less than 6, less than 5, less than

02144, or less than 3. Still more preferably, the number of GBS antigens in a composition of the invention is less than 6, less than 5, or less than 4. Still more preferably, the number of GBS antigens in a composition of the invention is 3. The GBS antigens used in the invention are preferably isolated, i.e., separate and discrete, from the whole organism with which the molecule is found in nature or, when the polynucleotide or polypeptide is not found in nature, is sufficiently free of other biological macromolecules so that the polynucleotide or polypeptide can be used for its intended purpose.

0215Fusion Proteins The GBS antigens used in the invention may be present in the composition as individual separate polypeptides, but it is preferred that at least two (i.e. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, or 18) of the antigens are expressed as a single polypeptide chain (a "hybrid" or "fusion" polypeptide). Such fusion polypeptides offer two principal advantages: first, a polypeptide that may be unstable or poorly expressed on its own can be assisted by adding a suitable fusion partner that overcomes the problem; second, commercial manufacture is simplified as only one expression and purification need be employed in order to produce two polypeptides which are both antigenically useful. The fusion polypeptide may comprise two or more polypeptide sequences from the group consisting of GBS 80, GBS 91, GBS 104, GBS 184, GBS 276, GBS 305, GBS 322, GBS 330, GBS 338, GBS 361, GBS 404, GBS 690 and GBS 691. Preferably, the polypeptide sequences are selected from the group consisting of GBS 80, GBS 104 and GBS 322. Most preferably, the fusion peptide includes a polypeptide sequence from GBS 80. Accordingly, the invention includes a fusion peptide comprising a first amino acid sequence and a second amino acid sequence, wherein said first and second amino acid sequences are selected from a GBS antigen or a fragment thereof of the above antigen group. Preferably, the first and second amino acid sequences in the fusion polypeptide comprise different epitopes.

0216EXAMPLE 7: Examples of fragments for fusion proteins from GBS 80 with GBS 104. and GBS 322 Examples of GBS fragments for fusion proteins are provided from GBS 322, GBS 104, and GBS 80. One example of a fragment of GBS 322 in a fusion protein is a 407 amino acid fragment with the signal peptide removed. Fragments of GBS 104 may also be incorporated in fusion proteins. An example of GBS 104 fragments includes an 830 amino acid fragment, a 359 amino acid fragment from near the N-terminus, a 581 amino acid fragment from near the N-terminus, and a 740 amino acid fragment from near the N-terminus. Examples of GBS 80 fragments include a 446 amino acid fragment and a 235 amino acid fragment. Table 13 below summarizes the examples of fragments for fusion proteins and their locations within the corresponding full length GBS protein. Table 13 : Active Maternal Immunization Assay using combinations of GBS 80 with GBS 104 and GBS 322

0217GBS Size (AA) SEQ ED NO From ... to 322 407 92 25-432 104 830 96 28-858 104 NI 359 97 28-387 104 N2 581 98 28-609 104 N3 740 99 28-768 80 446 100 37-483 80N 235 101 37-272

0218Hybrids (or fusions) consisting of amino acid sequences from two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, or ten GBS antigens are preferred. In particular, hybrids consisting of amino acid sequences from two, three, four, or five GBS antigens are preferred. Different hybrid polypeptides may be mixed together in a single formulation. Within such combinations, a GBS antigen may be present in more than one hybrid polypeptide and/or as a non-hybrid polypeptide. It is preferred, however, that an antigen is present either as a hybrid or as a non-hybrid, but not as both. Hybrid polypeptides can be represented by the formula NH₂-A-{-X-L-}„-B-COOH, wherein: X is an amino acid sequence of a GBS antigen or a fragment thereof from the antigen group set forth above; L is an optional linker amino acid sequence; A is an optional N-terminal amino acid sequence; B is an optional C-terminal amino acid sequence; and n is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15. If a -X- moiety has a leader peptide sequence in its wild-type form, this may be included or omitted in the hybrid protein. In some embodiments, the leader peptides will be deleted except for that of the -X- moiety located at the N-terminus of the hybrid protein i.e. the leader peptide of Xi will be retained, but the leader peptides of X₂ ... X_n will be omitted. This is equivalent to deleting all leader peptides and using the leader peptide of Xj as moiety -A-. For each n instances of {-X-L-}, linker amino acid sequence -L- may be present or absent. For instance, when n=2 the hybrid may be NH₂-X L X₂-L₂-COOH, NH₂-X X₂-COOH, NH₂-X Lι-X₂-COOH, NH₂-Xi-X₂-L₂-COOH, etc. Linker amino acid sequence(s) -L- will typically be short (e.g. 20 or fewer amino acids i.e. 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1). Examples comprise short peptide sequences which facilitate cloning, poly-glycine linkers (i.e. comprising Gly„ where n = 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more), and histidine tags (i.e. His,, where n = 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more). Other suitable linker amino acid sequences will be apparent to those skilled in the art. A useful linker is GSGGGG, with the Gly-Ser dipeptide being formed from a BamΑl restriction site, thus aiding cloning and manipulation, and the (Gly)₄ tetrapeptide being a typical poly-glycine linker. -A- is an optional N-terminal amino acid sequence. This will typically be short (e.g. 40 or fewer amino acids i.e. 39, 38, 37, 36, 35, 34, 33, 32, 31, 30, 29, 28, 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, 22, 21, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1). Examples include leader sequences to direct protein trafficking, or short peptide sequences which facilitate cloning or purification (e.g. histidine tags i.e. His,, where n = 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more). Other suitable N-terminal amino acid sequences will be apparent to those skilled in the art. If Xi lacks its own N-terminus methionine, -A- is preferably an oligopeptide (e.g. with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 amino acids) which provides a N-terminus methionine. -B- is an optional C-terminal amino acid sequence. This will typically be short (e.g. 40 or fewer amino acids i.e. 39, 38, 37, 36, 35, 34, 33, 32, 31, 30, 29, 28, 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, 22, 21, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1). Examples include sequences to direct protein trafficking, short peptide sequences which facilitate cloning or purification (e.g. comprising histidine tags i.e. His„ where n = 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more), or sequences which enhance protein stability. Other suitable C-terminal amino acid sequences will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Most preferably, n is 2 or 3.

0219EXAMPLE 8: Active Maternal Immunization Assay using fusion proteins of Fragments of GBS 80. GBS 67. and GBS 322 In this example, fusion proteins of GBS antigens was used in the Active Maternal

0220Immunization Assay with an isolate challenge of different GBS strains. In these experiments, the challenge dose for the different GBS strains was sufficient to kill approximately 70 - 90% of unimmunized pups and is equal to 10 x LD 50% (where LD 50% is the statistically derived Median Lethal Dose). The maternal mice were immunized according to the Active Maternal Immunization

0221Assay schedule described above with the fusion proteins of a GBS 80 antigen with GBS 322 antigen in the GBS strains set forth in Table 14 below. Survival % was observed with the GBS fusion proteins. As shown in Table 14, in this particular challenge study, the survival rates for the fusion proteins in all of the GBS strains achieved up to 79%. Table 14: Active Maternal Immunization Assay using fusion proteins of GBS 80 with GBS 322

0222<img file="WO2005028618A2_D0010.tif" />

0223Nucleic Acids The invention also provides nucleic acid encoding the GBS antigens and/or the hybrid fusion polypeptides of the invention. Furthermore, the invention provides nucleic acid which can hybridise to these nucleic acids, preferably under "high stringency" conditions (e.g. 65°C in a O.lxSSC, 0.5% SDS solution). Polypeptides of the invention can be prepared by various means (e.g. recombinant expression, purification from cell culture, chemical synthesis, etc.) and in various forms (e.g. native, fusions, non-glycosylated, lipidated, etc.). They are preferably prepared in substantially pure form (i.e. substantially free from other GAS or host cell proteins). Nucleic acid according to the invention can be prepared in many ways (e.g. by chemical synthesis, from genomic or cDNA libraries, from the organism itself, etc.) and can take various forms (e.g. single stranded, double stranded, vectors, probes, etc.). They are preferably prepared in substantially pure form (i.e. substantially free from other GBS or host cell nucleic acids). The term "nucleic acid" includes DNA and RNA, and also their analogues, such as those containing modified backbones (e.g. phosphorothioates, etc.), and also peptide nucleic acids (PNA), etc. The invention includes nucleic acid comprising sequences complementary to those described above (e.g. for antisense or probing purposes). The invention also provides a process for producing a polypeptide of the invention, comprising the step of culturing a host cell transformed with nucleic acid of the invention under conditions which induce polypeptide expression. The invention provides a process for producing a polypeptide of the invention, comprising the step of synthesising at least part of the polypeptide by chemical means. The invention provides a process for producing nucleic acid of the invention, comprising the step of amplifying nucleic acid using a primer-based amplification method (e.g. PCR). The invention provides a process for producing nucleic acid of the invention, comprising the step of synthesising at least part of the nucleic acid by chemical means.

0224Purification and Recombinant Expression The GBS antigens of the invention may be isolated from Streptococcus agalactiae, or they may be recombinantly produced, for instance, in a heterologous host. Preferably, the GBS antigens are prepared using a heterologous host. The heterologous host may be prokaryotic (e.g. a bacterium) or eukaryotic. It is preferably E.coli, but other suitable hosts include Bacillus subtilis, Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella typhimurium, Neisseria lactamica, Neisseria cinerea, Mycobacteria (e.g. M.tuberculosis), yeasts, etc. Recombinant production of polypeptides is facilitated by adding a tag protein to the GBS antigen to be expressed as a fusion protein comprising the tag protein and the GBS antigen. Such tag proteins can facilitate purification, detection and stability of the expressed protein. Tag proteins suitable for use in the invention include a polyarginine tag (Arg-tag), polyhistidine tag (His-tag), FLAG-tag, Strep-tag, c-myc-tag, S-tag, calmodulin-binding peptide, cellulose-binding domain, SBP- tag,, chitin-bind g domain, glutathione S-transferase-tag (GST), maltose-binding protein, transcription termination anti-terminiantion factor (NusA), E. coli thioredoxin (TrxA) and protein disulfide isomerase I (DsbA). Preferred tag proteins include His-tag and GST. A full discussion on the use of tag proteins can be found at Ref. 3. After purification, the tag proteins may optionally be removed from the expressed fusion protein, i.e., by specifically tailored enzymatic treatments known in the art. Commonly used proteases include enterokinase, tobacco etch virus (TEV), thrombin, and factor X_a.

0225GBS polysaccharides The compositions of the invention may be further improved by including GBS polysaccharides. Preferably, the GBS antigen and the saccharide each contribute to the immunological response in a recipient. The combination is particularly advantageous where the saccharide and polypeptide provide protection from different GBS serotypes. The combined antigens may be present as a simple combination where separate saccharide and polypeptide antigens are adrriinistered together, or they may be present as a conjugated combination, where the saccharide and polypeptide antigens are covalently linked to each other. Thus the invention provides an immunogenic composition comprising (i) one or more GBS polypeptide antigens and (ii) one or more GBS saccharide antigens. The polypeptide and the polysaccharide may advantageously be covalently linked to each other to form a conjugate. Between them, the combined polypeptide and saccharide antigens preferably cover (or provide protection from) two or more GBS serotypes (e.g. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or more serotypes). The serotypes of the polypeptide and saccharide antigens may or may not overlap. For example, the polypeptide might protect against serogroup II or V, while the saccharide protects against either serogroups la, lb, or JJI. Preferred combinations protect against the following groups of serotypes: (1) serotypes la and lb, (2) serotypes la and II, (3) serotypes la and HI, (4) serotypes la and IV, (5) serotypes la and V, (6) serotypes la and VI, (7) serotypes la and VII, (8) serotypes la and VIII, (9) serotypes lb and II, (10) serotypes lb and JJJ, (11) serotypes lb and JV, (12) serotypes lb and V, (13) serotypes lb and VI, (14) serotypes lb and VJJ, (15) serotypes lb and VIII, 16) serotypes II and III, (17) serotypes II and IV, (18) serotypes II and V, (19) serotypes JI and VI, (20) serotypes II and VII, (21) serotypes II and VII, (22) serotypes HI and TV, (23) serotypes HI and V, (24) serotypes IH and VI, (25) serotypes IH and VH, (26) serotypes IH and VIH, (27) serotypes IV and V, (28) serotypes TV and VI, (29) serotypes TV and VII, (30) serotypes TV and VIII, (31) serotypes V and VI, (32) serotypes V and Vπ, (33) serotypes V and VHI, (34) serotypes VI and VII, (35) serotypes VI and VIH, and (36) serotypes VH and VIII. Still more preferably, the combinations protect against the following groups of serotypes: (1) serotypes la and II, (2) serotypes la and V, (3) serotypes lb and II, (4) serotypes lb and V, (5) serotypes III and H, and (6) serotypes HI and V. Most preferably, the combinations protect against serotypes HI and V. Protection against serotypes II and V is preferably provided by polypeptide antigens. Protection against serotypes la, lb and/or IH may be polypeptide or saccharide antigens. i one embodiment, the immunogenic composition comprises a GBS saccharide antigen and at least two GBS polypeptide antigens or fragments thereof, wherein said GBS saccharide antigen comprises a saccharide selected from GBS serotype la, lb, and IH, and wherein said GBS polypeptide antigens comprise a combination of at least two polypeptide or a fragment thereof selected from the antigen group consisting of GBS 80, GBS 91, GBS 104, GBS 184, GBS 276, GBS 305, GBS 322, GBS 330, GBS 338, GBS 361, GBS 404, GBS 690, and GBS 691. Preferably, the combination includes one or more of GBS 80, GBS 104 and GBS 322. Still more preferably, the combination includes GBS 80 or a fragment thereof. hi certain embodiments, the compositions of the invention do not include a GBS polysaccharide. In certain embodiments, the combination does not include one or more of the GBS antigens selected from the group consisting of GBS 4, GBS 22, GBS 85, GBS 338 and GBS 361. Immunogenic compositions and medicaments Compositions of the invention are preferably immunogenic compositions, and are more preferably vaccine compositions. The pH of the composition is preferably between 6 and 8, preferably about 7. The pH may be maintained by the use of a buffer. The composition may be sterile and/or pyrogen-free. The composition may be isotonic with respect to humans. Vaccines according to the invention may either be prophylactic (i.e. to prevent infection) or therapeutic (i.e. to treat infection), but will typically be prophylactic. Accordingly, the invention includes a method for the therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of a Streptococcus agalactiae infection in an animal susceptible to streptococcal infection comprising administering to said animal a therapeutic or prophylactic amount of the immunogenic compositions of the invention. The invention also provides a composition of the invention for use as a medicament. The medicament is preferably able to raise an immune response in a mammal (i.e. it is an immunogenic composition) and is more preferably a vaccine. The invention also provides the use of the compositions of the invention in the manufacture of a medicament for raising an immune response in a mammal. The medicament is preferably a vaccine. The invention also provides for a kit comprising a first component comprising a combination of GBS antigens. The invention also provides a delivery device pre-fϊlled with the immunogenic compositions of the invention. The invention also provides a method for raising an immune response in a mammal comprising the step of administering an effective amount of a composition of the invention. The immune response is preferably protective and preferably involves antibodies and/or cell-mediated immunity. The method may raise a booster response. The mammal is preferably a human. Where the vaccine is for prophylactic use, the human is preferably a female (either of child bearing age or a teenager). Alternatively, the human may be elderly (e.g., over the age of 50, 55, 60, 65, 70 or 75) and may have an underlying disease such as diabetes or cancer. Where the vaccine is for therapeutic use, the human is preferably a pregnant female or an elderly adult. These uses and methods are preferably for the prevention and/or treatment of a disease caused by Streptococcus agalactiae. The compositions may also be effective against other streptococcal bacteria. One way of checking efficacy of therapeutic treatment involves monitoring GBS infection after administration of the composition of the invention. One way of checking efficacy of prophylactic treatment involves monitoring immune responses against the GBS antigens in the compositions of the invention after administration of the composition. Compositions of the invention will generally be administered directly to a patient. Direct delivery may be accomplished by parenteral injection (e.g. subcutaneously, intraperitoneally, intradermally, intravenously, intramuscularly, or to the interstitial space of a tissue), or by rectal, oral (e.g. tablet, spray), vaginal, topical, transdermal {e.g. see ref. 4} or transcutaneous {e.g. see refs. 5 &amp; 6}, intranasal {e.g. see ref. 7}, ocular, aural, pulmonary or other mucosal administration. The invention may be used to elicit systemic and/or mucosal immunity. Dosage treatment can be a single dose schedule or a multiple dose schedule. Multiple doses may be used in a primary immunisation schedule and or in a booster immunisation schedule. In a multiple dose schedule the various doses may be given by the same or different routes e.g. a parenteral prime and mucosal boost, a mucosal prime and parenteral boost, etc. The compositions of the invention may be prepared in various fonns. For example, the compositions may be prepared as injectables, either as liquid solutions or suspensions. Solid forms suitable for solution in, or suspension in, liquid vehicles prior to injection can also be prepared (e.g. a lyophilised composition). The composition may be prepared for topical adm istration e.g. as an ointment, cream or powder. The composition may be prepared for oral administration e.g. as a tablet or capsule, as a spray, or as a syrup (optionally flavoured). The composition may be prepared for pulmonary administration e.g. as an inhaler, using a fine powder or a spray. The composition may be prepared as a suppository or pessary. The composition may be prepared for nasal, aural or ocular administration e.g. as drops. The composition may be in kit form, designed such that a combined composition is reconstituted just prior to administration to a patient. Such kits may comprise one or more antigens in liquid form and one or more lyophilised antigens. Immunogenic compositions used as vaccines comprise an immunologically effective amount of antigen(s), as well as any other components, as needed. By 'immunologically effective amount', it is meant that the administration of that amount to an individual, either in a single dose or as part of a series, is effective for treatment or prevention. This amount varies depending upon the health and physical condition of the individual to be treated, age, the taxonomic group of individual to be treated (e.g. non-human primate, primate, etc.), the capacity of the individual's immune system to synthesise antibodies, the degree of protection desired, the formulation of the vaccine, the treating doctor's assessment of the medical situation, and other relevant factors. It is expected that the amount will fall in a relatively broad range that can be determined through routine trials.

0226Further Components of the Composition The composition of the invention will typically, in addition to the components mentioned above, comprise one or more 'pharmaceutically acceptable carriers', which include any carrier that does not itself induce the production of antibodies harmful to the individual receiving the composition. Suitable carriers are typically large, slowly metabolised macromolecules such as proteins, polysaccharides, polylactic acids, polyglycolic acids, polymeric amino acids, amino acid copolymers, and lipid aggregates (such as oil droplets or liposomes). Such carriers are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The vaccines may also contain diluents, such as water, saline, glycerol, etc. Additionally, auxiliary substances, such as wetting or emulsifying agents, pH buffering substances, and the like, may be present. A thorough discussion of pharmaceutically acceptable excipients is available in reference 8. Vaccines of the invention may be administered in conjunction with other immunoregulatory agents, hi particular, compositions will usually include an adjuvant. Preferred further adjuvants include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following set forth below: A. Mineral Containing Compositions Mineral containing compositions suitable for use as adjuvants in the invention include mineral salts, such as aluminium salts and calcium salts. The invention includes mineral salts such as hydroxides (e.g. oxyhydroxides), phosphates (e.g. hydroxyphoshpates, orthophosphates), sulphates, etc. {e.g. see chapters 8 &amp; 9 of ref. 9}), or mixtures of different mineral compounds, with the compounds taking any suitable form (e.g. gel, crystalline, amorphous, etc.), and with adsorption being preferred. The mineral containing compositions may also be formulated as a particle of metal salt. See ref. 10. B. Oil-Emulsions Oil-emulsion compositions suitable for use as adjuvants in the invention include squalene-water emulsions, such as MF59 (5% Squalene, 0.5% Tween 80, and 0.5% Span 85, formulated into submicron particles using a microfluidizer). See WO90/14837. See also, Frey et al., "Comparison of the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of a MF59-adjuvanted influenza vaccine and a non-adjuvanted influenza vaccine in non-elderly adults", Vaccine (2003) 21 :4234 — 4237. Particularly preferred adjuvants for use in the compositions are submicron oil-inwater emulsions. Prefeixed submicron oil-in-water emulsions for use herein are squalene/water emulsions optionally containing varying amounts of MTP-PE, such as a submicron oil-in-water emulsion containing 4-5% w/v squalene, 0.25-1.0% w/v Tween 80 ™ (polyoxyelthylenesorbitan monooleate), and/or 0.25-1.0% Span 85™ (sorbitan trioleate), and, optionally, N-acetylmuramyl- L-alanyl-D-isogluatminyl-L-alanine-2-(r-2'-dipahnitoyl-OT-glycero-3- huydroxyphosphophoryloxy)-ethylamine (MTP-PE), for example, the submicron oil-in-water emulsion known as "MF59" (International Publication No. WO 90/14837; U.S. Patent Nos. 6,299,884 and 6,451,325, incorporated herein by reference in their entireties; and Ott et al., "MF59 — Design and Evaluation of a Safe and Potent Adjuvant for Human Vaccines" in Vaccine Design: The Subunit and Adjuvant Approach (Powell, M.F. and Newman, M.J. eds.) Plenum Press, New York, 1995, pp. 277-296). MF59 contains 4-5% w/v Squalene (e.g., 4.3%), 0.25- 0.5% w/v Tween 80™, and 0.5% w/v Span 85™ and optionally contains various amounts of MTP-PE, formulated into submicron particles using a microfluidizer such as Model 110Y microfluidizer (Microfluidics, Newton, MA). For example, MTP-PE may be present in an amount of about 0-500 μg/dose, more preferably 0-250 μg/dose and most preferably, 0-100 μg/dose. As used herein, the term "MF59-0" refers to the above submicron oil-in-water emulsion lacking MTP-PE, while the term MF59-MTP denotes a formulation that contains MTP-PE. For instance, "MF59-100" contains 100 μg MTP-PE per dose, and so on. MF69, another submicron oil-in-water emulsion for use herein, contains 4.3% w/v squalene, 0.25% w/v Tween 80™, and 0.75% w/v Span 85™ and optionally MTP-PE. Yet another submicron oil-in-water emulsion is MF75, also known as SAF, containing 10% squalene, 0.4% Tween 80™, 5% pluronic-blocked polymer L121, and thr-MDP, also microfluidized into a submicron emulsion. MF75-MTP denotes an MF75 formulation that includes MTP, such as from 100-400 μg MTP-PE per dose. Submicron oil-in-water emulsions, methods of making the same and immunostimulating agents, such as muramyl peptides, for use in the compositions, are described in detail in International Publication No. WO 90114837 and U.S. Patent Nos. 6,299,884 and 6,45 1,325, incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Complete Freund' s adjuvant (CFA) and incomplete Freund' s adjuvant (IF A) may also be used as adjuvants in the invention. C. Saponin Formulations Saponin formulations, may also be used as adjuvants in the invention. Saponins are a heterologous group of sterol glycosides and triterpenoid glycosides that are found in the bark, leaves, stems, roots and even flowers of a wide range of plant species. Saponin from the bark of the Quillaia saponaria Molina tree have been widely studied as adjuvants. Saponin can also be commercially obtained from Smilax ornata (sarsaprilla), Gypsophilla paniculata (brides veil), and Saponaria officianalis (soap root). Saponin adjuvant formulations include purified formulations, such as QS21, as well as lipid formulations, such as ISCOMs. Saponin compositions have been purified using High Performance Thin Layer

0227Chromatography (HP-LC) and Reversed Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP- HPLC). Specific purified fractions using these techniques have been identified, including QS7, QS17, QS18, QS21, QH-A, QH-B and QH-C. Preferably, the saponin is QS21. A method of production of QS21 is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,057,540. Saponin formulations may also comprise a sterol, such as cholesterol (see WO 96/33739).

0228Combinations of saponins and cholesterols can be used to form unique particles called Iminunostimulating Complexs (ISCOMs). ISCOMs typically also include a phospholipid such as phosphatidylethanolamine or phosphatidylcholine. Any known saponin can be used in ISCOMs. Preferably, the ISCOM includes one or more of Quil A, QHA and QHC. ISCOMs are further described in EP 0 109 942, WO 96/11711 and WO 96/33739. Optionally, the ISCOMS may be devoid of additional detergent. See ref. 11. A review of the development of saponin based adjuvants can be found at ref. 12. C. Virosomes and Virus Like Particles (VLPs) Virosomes and Virus Like Particles (VLPs) can also be used as adjuvants in the invention. These structures generally contain one or more proteins from a virus optionally combined or formulated with a phospholipid. They are generally non-pathogenic, non-replicating and generally do not contain any of the native viral genome. The viral proteins may be recombinantly produced or isolated from whole viruses. These viral proteins suitable for use in virosomes or VLPs include proteins derived from influenza virus (such as HA or NA), Hepatitis B virus (such as core or capsid proteins), Hepatitis E virus, measles virus, Sindbis virus, Rotavirus, Foot-and-Mouth Disease virus, Retrovirus, Norwalk virus, human Papilloma virus, HIV, RNA-phages, Qβ-phage (such as coat proteins), GA-phage, fr-phage, AP205 phage, and Ty (such as retrotransposon Ty protein pi). VLPs are discussed further in WO 03/024480, WO 03/024481, and Refs. 13, 14, 15 and 16. Virosomes are discussed further in, for example, Ref. 17 D. Bacterial or Microbial Derivatives Adjuvants suitable for use in the invention include bacterial or microbial derivatives such as: (1) Non-toxic derivatives of enterobacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) Such derivatives include Monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) and 3-O-deacylated MPL (3dMPL).

02293dMPL is a mixture of 3 De-O-acylated monophosphoryl lipid A with 4, 5 or 6 acylated chains. A preferred "small particle" form of 3 De-O-acylated monophosphoryl lipid A is disclosed in EP 0 689 454. Such "small particles" of 3dMPL are small enough to be sterile filtered through a 0.22 micron membrane (see EP 0 689 454). Other non-toxic LPS derivatives include monophosphoryl lipid A mimics, such as aminoalkyl glucosaminide phosphate derivatives e.g. RC-529. See Ref. 18. (2) Lipid A Derivatives Lipid A derivatives include derivatives of lipid A from Escherichia coli such as OM-174. OM-174 is described for example in Ref. 19 and 20. (3) Immunostimulatory oligonucleotides nmunostimulatory oligonucleotides suitable for use as adjuvants in the invention include nucleotide sequences containing a CpG motif (a sequence containing an unmethylated cytosine followed by guanosine and linked by a phosphate bond). Bacterial double stranded RNA or oligonucleotides containing palindromic or poly(dG) sequences have also been shown to be immunostimulatory. The CpG's can include nucleotide modifications/analogs such as phosphorothioate modifications and can be double-stranded or single-stranded. Optionally, the guanosine may be replaced with an analog such as 2'-deoxy-7-deazaguanosine. See ref. 21, WO 02/26757 and WO

023099/62923 for examples of possible analog substitutions. The adjuvant effect of CpG oligonucleotides is further discussed in Refs. 22, 23, WO 98/40100, U.S. Patent No. 6,207,646, U.S. Patent No. 6,239,116, and U.S. Patent No. 6,429,199. The CpG sequence may be directed to TLR9, such as the motif GTCGTT or TTCGTT. See ref. 24. The CpG sequence may be specific for inducing a Thl immune response, such as a CpG-A ODN, or it may be more specific for inducing a B cell response, such a CpG-B ODN. CpG-A and CpG-B ODNs are discussed in refs. 25, 26 and WO 01/95935. Preferably, the CpG is a CpG-A ODN. Preferably, the CpG oligonucleotide is constructed so that the 5' end is accessible for receptor recognition. Optionally, two CpG oligonucleotide sequences may be attached at their 3' ends to form "immunomers". See, for example, refs. 27, 28, 29 and WO 03/035836. (4) ADP-ribosylating toxins and detoxified derivatives thereof. Bacterial ADP-ribosylating toxins and detoxified derivatives thereof may be used as adjuvants in the invention. Preferably, the protein is derived from£. coli (i.e., E. coli heat labile enterotoxin "LT), cholera ("CT"), or pertussis ("PT"). The use of detoxified ADP-ribosylating toxins as mucosal adjuvants is described in WO 95/17211 and as parenteral adjuvants in WO 98/42375. Preferably, the adjuvant is a detoxified LT mutant such as LT-K63.

0231E. Human Immunomodulators Human immunomodulators suitable for use as adjuvants in the invention include cytokines, such as interleukins (e.g. IL-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-12, etc.), interferons (e.g. interferon-γ), macrophage colony stimulating factor, and tumor necrosis factor.

0232F. Bioadhesives and Mucoadhesives Bioadhesives and mucoadhesives may also be used as adjuvants in the invention. Suitable bioadhesives include esterified hyaluronic acid microspheres (Ref. 30) or mucoadhesives such as cross-linked derivatives of poly(acrylic acid), polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrollidone, polysaccharides and carboxymethylcellulose. Chitosan and derivatives thereof may also be used as adjuvants in the invention. E.g., ref. 31.

0233G. Microparticles Microparticles may also be used as adjuvants in the invention. Microparticles (i.e. a particle of ~100nm to ~150μm in diameter, more preferably ~200nm to ~30μm in diameter, and most preferably ~500nm to ~10μm in diameter) formed from materials that are biodegradable and non-toxic (e.g. a poly(α-hydroxy acid), a polyhydroxybutyric acid, a polyorthoester, a polyanhydride, a polycaprolactone, etc.), with poly(lactide-co-glycolide) are preferred, optionally treated to have a negatively-charged surface (e.g. with SDS) or a positively-charged surface (e.g. with a cationic detergent, such as CTAB).

0234H. Liposomes Examples of liposome formulations suitable for use as adjuvants are described in U.S. Patent

0235No. 6,090,406, U.S. Patent No. 5,916,588, and EP 0 626 169.

0236I. Polvoxyethylene ether and Polyoxyethylene Ester Formulations Adjuvants suitable for use in the invention include polyoxyethylene ethers and polyoxyethylene esters. Ref. 32. Such formulations further include polyoxyethylene sorbitan ester surfactants in combination with an octoxynol (Ref. 33) as well as polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers or ester surfactants in combination with at least one additional non-ionic surfactant such as an octoxynol

0237(Ref. 34). Preferred polyoxyethylene ethers are selected from the following group: polyoxyethylene-9- lauryl ether (laureth 9), polyoxyethylene-9-steoryl ether, polyoxytheylene-8-steoryl ether, polyoxyethylene-4-lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene-35-lauryl ether, and polyoxyethylene-23-lauryl ether.

0238J. Polvphosphazene (PCPP) PCPP formulations are described, for example, in Ref. 35 and 36.

0239K. Muramyl peptides Examples of muramyl peptides suitable for use as adjuvants in the invention include N-acetyl- muramyl-L-threonyl-D-isoglutamine (thr-MDP), N-acetyl-normuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (nor-

0240MDP), and N-acetyhnuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutaminyl-L-alanine-2-(l '-2'-dipalmitoyl-57ϊ-glycero-3- hydroxyphosphoryloxy)-ethylamine MTP-PE).

0241L. Imidazoquinolone Compounds. Examples of imidazoquinolone compounds suitable for use adjuvants in the invention include

0242Imiquamod and its homologues, described further in Ref. 37 and 38. The invention may also comprise combinations of aspects of one or more of the adjuvants identified above. For example, the following adjuvant compositions may be used in the invention: (1) a saponin and an oil-in-water emulsion (ref. 39); (2) a saponin (e.g.., QS21) + a non-toxic LPS derivative (e.g., 3dMPL) (see WO

024394/00153); (3) a saponin (e.g.., QS21) + a non-toxic LPS derivative (e.g., 3dMPL) + a cholesterol; (4) a saponin (e.g. QS21) + 3dMPL + E -12 (optionally + a sterol) (Ref. 40); (5) combinations of 3dMPL with, for example, QS21 and/or oil-in-water emulsions (Ref. 41); (6) SAF, containing 10% Squalane, 0.4% Tween 80, 5% pluronic-block polymer Ll 21 , and thr-MDP, either microfluidized into a submicron emulsion or vortexed to generate a larger particle size emulsion. (7) Ribi™ adjuvant system (RAS), (Ribi Immunochem) containing 2% Squalene, 0.2% Tween 80, and one or more bacterial cell wall components from the group consisting of monophosphorylipid A (MPL), trehalose dimycolate (TDM), and cell wall skeleton (CWS), preferably MPL + CWS (Detox™); and (8) one or more mineral salts (such as an aluminum salt) + a non-toxic derivative of LPS (such as 3dPML). Aluminium salts and MF59 are preferred adjuvants for parenteral immunisation. Mutant bacterial toxins are preferred mucosal adjuvants. The composition may include an antibiotic. Further antigens The compositions of the invention may further comprise one or more additional non-GBS antigens, including additional bacterial, viral or parasitic antigens. In another embodiment, the GBS antigen combinations of the invention are combined with one or more additional, non-GBS antigens suitable for use in a vaccine designed to protect elderly or immunocomprised individuals. For example, the GBS antigen combinations may be combined with an antigen derived from the group consisting of Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Legionella pneumophila, Listeria monocytogenes, Neisseria meningitides, influenza, and Parainfluenza virus ('PIV'). Where a saccharide or carbohydrate antigen is used, it is preferably conjugated to a carrier protein in order to enhance immunogenicity {e.g. refs. 42 to 51 } . Preferred carrier proteins are bacterial toxins or toxoids, such as diphtheria or tetanus toxoids. The CRMι₉₇ diphtheria toxioid is particularly preferred {52} . Other carrier polypeptides include the N.meningitidis outer membrane protein {53}, synthetic peptides {54, 55}, heat shock proteins {56, 57}, pertussis proteins {58, 59}, protein D from H.influenzae {60}, cytokines {61}, lymphokines, hormones, growth factors, toxin A or B from C.difficile {62}, iron-uptake proteins {63}, etc. Where a mixture comprises capsular saccharides from both serogroups A and C, it may be preferred that the ratio (w/w) of MenA saccharide:MenC saccharide is greater than 1 (e.g. 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 5:1, 10:1 or higher). Different saccharides can be conjugated to the same or different type of carrier protein. Any suitable conjugation reaction can be used, with any suitable linker where necessary. Toxic protein antigens may be detoxified where necessary e.g. detoxification of pertussis toxin by chemical and/or genetic means. Where a diphtheria antigen is included in the composition it is preferred also to include tetanus antigen and pertussis antigens. Similarly, where a tetanus antigen is included it is preferred also to include diphtheria and pertussis antigens. Similarly, where a pertussis antigen is included it is preferred also to include diphtheria and tetanus antigens. Antigens in the composition will typically be present at a concentration of at least 1 μg/ml each. In general, the concentration of any given antigen will be sufficient to elicit an immune response against that antigen. As an alternative to using protein antigens in the composition of the invention, nucleic acid encoding the antigen may be used {e.g. refs. 64 to 72} . Protein components of the compositions of the invention may thus be replaced by nucleic acid (preferably DNA e.g. in the form of a plasmid) that encodes the protein.

0244Definitions The term "comprising" means "including" as well as "consisting" e.g. a composition

0245"comprising" X may consist exclusively of X or may include something additional e.g. X + Y. The term "about" in relation to a numerical value x means, for example, x±l 0%. References to a percentage sequence identity between two amino acid sequences means that, when aligned, that percentage of amino acids are the same in comparing the two sequences. This alignment and the percent homology or sequence identity can be determined using software programs known in the art, for example those described in section 7.7.18 of reference 73. A preferred alignment is determined by the Smith- Waterman homology search algorithm using an affine gap search with a gap open penalty of 12 and a gap extension penalty of 2, BLOSUM matrix of 62. The

0246Smith- Waterman homology search algorithm is disclosed in reference 74. REFERENCES (the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference)

0247[1] Tettelin et al. (2002) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 10.1073/pnas.l 82380799.

0248[2] International patent application WO02/34771.

02493 Terpe et al., "Overview of tag protein fusions: from molecular and biochemical fundamentals to commercial systems", Appl Microbiol Biotechnol (2003) 60:523 - 533.

02504. W099/27961.

02515. WO02/074244.

02526. WO02/064162.

02537. WO03/028760.

02548. Germaro (2000) Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy. 20th ed., ISBN: 0683306472.

02559. Vaccine design: the subunit and adjuvant approach (1 95) Powell &amp; Newman. ISBN 0-306-44867-X. 10. WO00/23105. l l. WOOO/07621.

025612. Barr, et al., "ISCOMs and other saponin based adjuvants", Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews (1998) 32:247 - 271. See also Sjolander, et al., "Uptake and adjuvant activity of orally delivered saponin and ISCOM vaccines", Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews (1998) 32:321 - 338.

025713. Niikura et al., "Chimeric Recombinant Hepatitis E Virus-Like Particles as an Oral Vaccine Vehicle Presenting Foreign Epitopes", Virology (2002) 293:273 - 280.

025814. Lenz et al., "Papillomarivurs-Like Particles Induce Acute Activation of Dendritic Cells", Journal of Immunology (2001) 5246 - 5355.

025915. Pinto, et al, "Cellular Immune Responses to Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-16 Ll Healthy Volunteers Immunized with Recombinant HPV-16 Ll Virus-Like Particles", Journal of Infectious Diseases (2003) 188:327 - 338.

026016. Gerber et al., "Human Papillomavrisu Virus-Like Particles Are Efficient Oral jmmunogens when Coadministered with Escherichia coli Heat-Labile Entertoxin Mutant R192G or CpG", Journal of Virology (2001) 75(10):4752 - 4760.

026117. Gluck et al., "New Technology Platforms in the Development of Vaccines for the Future", Vaccine (2002) 20:B10 -B16.

026218. Johnson et al. (1999) BioorgMed Chem Lett 9:2273-2278.

026319. Meraldi et al., "OM-174, a New Adjuvant with a Potential for Human Use, Induces a Protective Response with Administered with the Synthetic C-Terminal Fragment 242-310 from the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium berghei", Vaccine (2O03) 21:2485 - 2491.

026420. Pajak, et al., "The Adjuvant OM-174 induces both the migration and maturation of murine dendritic cells in vivo", Vaccine (2003) 21:836 - 842.

026521. Kandimalla, et al., "Divergent synthetic nucleotide motif recognition pattern: design and development of potent imniunomodulatory oligodeoxyribonucleotide agents with distinct cytokine induction profiles", Nucleic Acids Research (2003) 31.(9): 2393 - 2400.

026622. Krieg, "CpG motifs: the active ingredient in bacterial extracts?", Nature Medicine (2003) 9(7): 831 - 835.

026723. McCluskie, et al., "Parenteral and mucosal prime-boost i inunization strategies in mice with hepatitis B surface antigen and CpG DNA", FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology (2002) 32:179 - 185.

026824. Kandimalla, et al., "Toll-like receptor 9: modulation of recognition and cytokine induction by novel synthetic CpG DNAs", Biochemical Society Transactions (2003) 31 (part 3): 654 - 658.

026925. Blackwell, et al., "CpG-A-Induced Monocyte IFN-garnma-Inducible Protein-10 Production is Regulated by Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Derived JTN-alpha", J. Immunol. (2003) 170(8):4061 - 4068. 26. Krieg, "From A to Z on CpG", TRENDS in Immunology (2002) 23(2): 64 - 65.

027027. Kandimalla, et al, "Secondary structures in CpG oligonucleotides affect immunostimulatory activity", BBRC (2003) 306:948 - 953.

027128. Kandimalla, et al, "Toll-like receptor 9: modulation of recognition and cytokine induction by novel synthetic GpG DNAs", Biochemical Society Transactions (2003) 31 (part 3):664 - 658.

027229. Bhagat et al., "CpG penta- and hexadeoxyribonucleotides as potent immunomodulatory agents" BBRC (2003) 300:853 - 861.

027330. Singh et al. (2001) J Cont. Rele. 70:267-276. 31. WO99/27960.

027432. W099/52549.

027533. WO01/21207. 34. WO01/21152.

027635. Andrianov et al., "Preparation of hydrogel microspheres by coacervation of aqueous polyphophazene solutions", Biomaterials (1998) 19(1 - 3):109 - 115.

027736. Payne et al., "Protein Release from Polyphosphazene Matrices", Adv. Drug. Delivery Review (1998) 31(3): 185 - 196.

027837. Stanley, "Imiquimod and the imidazoquinolones: mechanism of action and therapeutic potential" Clin Exp Dermatol (2002) 27(7):571 - 577.

027938. Jones, "Resiqui od 3M", Curr Opin hivestig Drugs (2003) 4(2):214 - 218. 39. W099/11241.

028040. W098/57659.

028141. European patent applications 0835318, 0735898 and 0761231.

028242. Ramsay et al. (2001) Lancet 357(9251): 195-196.

028343. Lindberg (1999) Vaccine 17 Suppl 2:S28-36.

028444. Buttery &amp; Moxon (2000) JR Coll Physicians Lond 34:163-168.

028545. Ahmad &amp; Chapnick (1999) Infect Dis Clin North Am 13:113-133, vii.

028646. Goldblatt (1998) J. Med. Microbiol. 47:563-567.

028747. European patent 0477 508.

028848. US Patent No. 5,306,492.

028949. International patent application W098/42721.

029050. Conjugate Vaccines (eds. Cruse et al.) ISBN 3805549326, particularly vol. 10:48-114.

029151. Hermanson (1996) Bioconjugate Techniques ISBN: 0123423368 or 012342335X.

029252. Research Disclosure, 453077 (Jan 2002)

53. EP-A-0372501

54. EP-A-0378881

55. EP-A-0427347

56. W093/17712

57. WO94/03208

58. W098/58668 59. EP-A-0471177 60. WO00/56360 61. WO91/01146

62. WO00/61761

63. WOO 1/72337

030164. Robinson &amp; Torres (1997) Seminars in Immunology 9:271-283. 65. Donnelly et al. (1991) Annu Rev Immunol 15:617-648.

030266. Scott-Taylor &amp; Dalgleish (20O0) Expert Opin Investig Drugs 9:471-480.

030367. Apostolopoulos &amp; Plebanski (2000) Curr Opin Mol Ther 2:441-447.

030468. Dan (1999) Curr Opin Mol Ther 1 :116-120.

030569. Dubensky et al. (2000) Mol Med 6:723-732.

030670. Robinson &amp; Pertmer (2000) Adv Virus Res 55:1-74.

030771. Donnelly et al. (2000) Am J Respir Crit Care Med 162(4 Pt 2):S 190-193.

030872. Davis (1999) Aft. Sinai J. Med. 66:84-90.

030973. Current Protocols in Molecular Biology (F.M. Ausubel et al, eds., 1987) Supplement 30.

031074. Smith &amp; Waterman (1981) Adv. Appl. Math. 2: 482-489.