Patent Publication Number: US-2013243779-A1

Title: Peptides protective against e. faecalis, methods and uses relating thereto

Description:
The present invention relates to a protective peptide of  Enterococcus faecalis  ( E. faecalis ) or a functional active variant thereof, optionally further consisting of additional amino acid residue(s); a nucleic acid coding for the same; a pharmaceutical composition comprising said peptide or said nucleic acid; an antibody or functional active fragment thereof specifically binding to the antigen; a hybridoma cell line which produces said antibody; a method for producing said antibody; a pharmaceutical composition comprising said antibody; the use of said peptide or said nucleic acid for the manufacture of a medicament for the immunization or treatment of a subject; the use of said antibody or functional fragment thereof for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of an infection; a method of diagnosing an  E. faecalis  infection; and the use of said peptide for the isolation and/or purification and/or identification of an interaction partner of the peptide. 
     Enterococci are gram-positive bacteria that are normal inhabitants of the alimentary tract of humans and animals. They have been recognized as a cause of infective endocarditis for more than a century {Murray, B., 1990} and have gained prominence over the last two decades as being among the most common pathogens found in hospital-acquired infections, and surgical-site infections {Richards, M. et al., 2000}. The increasing importance of enterococci as nosocomial pathogens can be attributed in part to intrinsic and acquired antibiotic resistance {Murray, B., 1990}; {Rice, L., 2001}. Treatment of multi-drug-resistant enterococcal infections poses a significant challenge to clinicians {Cetinkaya, Y. et al., 2000}; {Gold, H., 2001}, and the potential of these organisms to serve as a reservoir for antibiotic resistance genes is of great concern {French, G., 1998}; {Noble, W. et al., 1992}; {Poyart, C. et al., 1997}. 
     The classification of enterococci as group D streptococci dates back to the early 1930&#39;s. In 1984, enterococci were given formal genus status after several studies demonstrated a more distant relationship with the streptococci. 
     Enterococci are generally considered commensals of the gastrointestinal tract of a variety of organisms including man. Although there are more than 14 different species of enterococci,  E. faecalis  and  E. faecium  are the species most commonly found in humans. Several intrinsic features of  Enterococcus  may allow members of this genus to survive for extended periods of time, leading to its persistence and nosocomial spread. The ability of enterococci to adapt and persist in the presence of detergents may allow them to survive inadequate cleaning regimens, contributing to their persistence in the hospital. The intrinsic ruggedness of enterococci also confers an unusual level of tolerance to several classes of antibiotics including aminoglycosides, beta-lactams and quinolones. For example, the resistance of enterococci to aminoglycosides results from the ability of enterococci to block the uptake of the drug at the cell wall. Although the mechanism of high-level resistance was determined to be the result of a bifunctional enzyme {Ferretti, J. et al., 1986}, the molecular basis for the intrinsic resistance of enterococci to low-levels of aminoglycosides remains to be determined. 
     Among enterococci,  E. faecium  is unique because it is commonly used in production of fermented foods, and is also used as a probiotic bacterium. In recent years,  E. faecium  has been less acceptable as a food fermentation organism because of concern that this bacterium may be an intermediate host for spreading of antibiotic resistance to bacteria involved in human infections. Despite these concerns,  E. faecium  is still amongst the most common bacteria found in foods fermented by lactic acid bacteria. Many isolates of  E. faecium  have been shown to produce bacteriocins (antimicrobial peptides) that are able to kill or inhibit growth of pathogens such as Listeriae, Clostridia, bacilli, and staphylococci. Such bacteriocins may contribute to the preservative effect of food fermentations, and is one reason why they have been chosen as starter cultures in the production of fermented food. Recently, enterocins have been implemented successfully in treatment of mastitis in cattle. 
     Besides the applications for food production, as probiotics and in treatment of animal disease, and more importantly, enterococci are emerging opportunistic human pathogens. This is due to their intrinsic pathogenic potential, and, even more because of their ability to rapidly acquire antibiotic resistance genes.  E. faecium  and  E. faecalis  are the causing agents of a large percentage of hospital-acquired infections, including super infections. 
     Enterococci normally colonize the gastrointestinal tract of man. They are found in relative abundance in human feces. A close association is likely to exist between enterococci and its host, or the organism would be eliminated due to normal intestinal motility. Many infection-derived enterococcal isolates were found to be clonal, indicating nosocomial transmission. Moreover, a number of studies have documented patient colonization following hospital admission, and have shown that colonization with multiple resistant strains is a predisposing factor for subsequent infection. 
     One of the enigmas of nosocomial enterococcal infection not easily explained is the ready colonization of an ecology already occupied by members of the same species. As noted, antibiotics lacking substantial anti-enterococcal activity (i.e. antibiotics that do not deleteriously affect indigenous enterococci) are important predisposing factors for infection. These infections are frequently caused by multiple resistant enterococcal isolates that have been exogenously acquired and appear to have out competed indigenous enterococci in the absence of direct selection. The fact that exogenous, multiple resistant, nosocomially transmitted enterococci efficiently colonize the gastrointestinal tract suggests that they may not compete directly for the same niche as indigenous strains. 
     Infection caused by the genus  Enterococcus  include a) bacteremia, b) urinary tract infections c) endophthalmitis, d) endocarditis and also wound and intra-abdominal infections. Approximately 75% of the infections are caused by the species  E. faecalis , the rest by  E. faecium:    
     a) Bacteremia 
     Nosocomial surveillance data for the period October 1986-April 1997 list enterococci as the third most common cause of nosocomial bacteremia, accounting for 12.8% of all isolates. The translocation of enterococci across an intact intestinal epithelial barrier is thought to lead to many bacteremias with no identifiable source. The risk factors for mortality associated with enterococcal bacteremia include severity of illness, patient age, and use of broad spectrum antibiotics, such as third-generation cephalosporins or metronidazole. These studies suggest that high-level aminoglycoside resistance does not affect clinical outcome, and that the presence of the  E. faecalis  cytolysin (hemolysin) may enhance the severity of the infection. 
     b) Urinary Tract Infections 
     Enterococci have been estimated to account for 110,000 urinary tract infections (UTI) annually in the United States. A few studies have been aimed at understanding the interaction of enterococci with uroepithelial tissue. A potential role for the plasmid-encoded aggregation substance in the adhesion of enterococci to renal epithelial cells has been demonstrated.  E. faecalis  harboring the pheromone responsive plasmid pAD1, or various isogenic derivatives, were better able to bind to the cultured pig renal tubular cell line, LLC-PK, than plasmid free cells. Their findings also showed that a synthetic peptide containing the fibronectin motif, Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser, could inhibit binding. This structural motif mediates the interaction between fibronectin and eukaryotic surface receptors of the integrin family. 
     c) Endophthalmitis 
     Colonization of host tissue may play a role in the pathogenesis of endophthalmitis. Enterococci are among the most destructive agents that cause this post-operative complication of cataract surgery. Experiments designed to determine whether aggregation substance targeted  E. faecalis  to alternate anatomical structures within the eye showed that enterococci attach to membranous structures in the vitreous, but that such adherence is not dependent on the presence of aggregation substance. 
     d) Endocarditis 
     Of the diverse infections caused by enterococci, infective endocarditis (IE) is one of the most therapeutically challenging. Enterococci are the third leading cause of infective endocarditis, accounting for 5-20% of cases of native valve IE, and 6-7% of prosthetic valve endocarditis. The presence of the pheromone-responsive plasmid pAD1 enhances vegetation formation in enterococcal endocarditis. Serum from a patient with  E. faecalis  endocarditis was used to identify an antigen selectively expressed in serum but not in broth culture {Lowe, A. et al., 1995}. This protein antigen, designated EfaA, has extensive sequence similarity with several streptococcal adhesions and might function as an important adhesin in endocarditis. 
     Ampicillin is the therapy of choice for enterococcal infections. For serious enterococcal infection, particularly for endocarditis, aminoglycosides are critical as part of combination therapy with penicillin or ampicillin. Although enterococci are intrinsically resistant to low levels of aminoglycosides, the addition of the cell wall inhibitors to aminoglycoside will result in an enhanced killing by the synergistic action of the two antimicrobials. With the increasing incidence of high level resistance to aminoglycosides and penicillins, vancomycin has become the only choice available for the treatment of enterococcal infections. Then, vancomycin resistance was reported in clinical isolates of enterococci in 1988, followed by an outbreak caused by vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). In U.S. hospitals the percentage of nosocomial enterococci resistant to vancomycin increased from 0.3% in 1989 to 7.9% in 1993. Among patients in intensive care units with nosocomial infections an increase was even more dramatic; from 0.4% in 1989 to 13.6% in 1993, a 34-fold increase in the 4-year period. 
     In addition to a higher mortality rate, vancomycin-resistant enterococcal infections cost on average about $25,000 more to treat and doubled the patients&#39; length of stay in the hospital. 
     The dramatic increase in vancomycin resistance, especially among  E. faecium  isolates, indicates that enterococcal infection will pose an increasing challenge in the future. An obvious therapeutic alternative is vaccination with the aim to induce protective immune responses, which prevents or attenuates infections. 
     Vaccine development is hindered by the lack of sufficient knowledge about the elements of protective immunity against enterococcal infections. There are reports that neutrophil mediated killing of enterococci was largely a function of complement with antibody playing a less essential but potentially important role, though additional evidence for the importance of anti-enterococcal antibodies in promoting clearance by opsonophagocytic killing was recently reported {Gaglani, M. et al., 1997}. 
     The importance of surface proteins in human immunity to  Enterococcus  already has been appreciated. It is apparent that all clinical isolates express surface proteins with activity relevant to host immune defense. The enterococcal surface protein (Esp) {Shankar, V. et al., 1999}, gelatinase, cytolysin {Haas, W. et al., 2002} and aggregation substance (AS) surface protein {Sussmuth, S. et al., 2000} are well-characterized biochemically and genetically, and have also been shown to be immunogenic {Xu, Y. et al., 1997}. In an animal model of infective endocarditis specific antibodies against the aggregation substance were still not protective {McCormick, J. et al., 2001}. 
     Thus, there remains a need for an effective treatment to prevent or ameliorate enterococcal infections. Vaccines capable of showing cross-protection against the majority of  Enterococcus  strains causing human infections could also be useful to prevent or ameliorate infections caused by all other enterococcal species, namely  E. faecalis  and  E. faecium.    
     A vaccine can contain a whole variety of different antigens. Examples of antigens are whole-killed or attenuated organisms, subfractions of these organisms/tissues, proteins, or, in their most simple form, peptides. Antigens can also be recognized by the immune system in form of glycosylated proteins or peptides and may also be or contain polysaccharides or lipids. Short peptides can be used since for example cytotoxic T-cells (CTL) recognize antigens in form of short usually 8-11 amino acids long peptides in conjunction with major histocompatibility complex (MHC). B-cells can recognize linear epitopes as short as 4-5 amino acids, as well as three-dimensional structures (conformational epitopes). In order to obtain sustained, antigen-specific immune responses, adjuvants need to trigger immune cascades that involve all cells of the immune system necessary. Primarily, adjuvants are acting, but are not restricted in their mode of action, on so-called antigen presenting cells (APCs). These cells usually first encounter the antigen(s) followed by presentation of processed or unmodified antigen to immune effector cells. Intermediate cell types may also be involved. Only effector cells with the appropriate specificity are activated in a productive immune response. The adjuvant may also locally retain antigens and co-injected other factors. In addition the adjuvant may act as a chemoattractant for other immune cells or may act locally and/or systemically as a stimulating agent for the immune system. 
     Currently vaccines against enterococcal infection are only in the research stages of development. Efforts are focused not only on capsular polysaccharide (CPS) as immunogens {Huebner, J. et al., 2000}, but also on virulence factors and membrane/surface proteins. 
     The development of protein conjugated vaccines are no doubt a great new addition to the amarmatorium in the battle against enterococcal infections, but the vaccine can contain only a limited number of enterococcal proteins and given adequate ecological pressure, variation of the pathogenicity island and plasmids by non-vaccine clinical isolates remains a real threat. Moreover polysaccharide antigens used for active immunization do not provide immunological memory in humans. Conjugation of CPS to non-enterococcal related immunogenic protein carriers (e.g. tetanus toxoid, cholera toxin B subunit, etc.) has been shown to be beneficial in inducing higher concentrations of antibodies in vaccinees, but it does not provide pathogen-specific B cell and T cell epitopes which would recruit memory B and T cells during a real infection to support the most effective host response. To be able to supplement the enterococcal vaccines with proteins fulfilling these criteria it is necessary to identify conserved immunogenic enterococcal-specific surface proteins. 
     Certain proteins or enzymes displayed on the surface of gram-positive organisms significantly contribute to pathogenesis, are involved in the disease process caused by these pathogens. Often, these proteins are involved in direct interactions with host tissues or in concealing the bacterial surface from the host defense mechanisms {Navarre, W. et al., 1999}.  E. faecalis  is not an exception in this regard. Several surface proteins are characterized as virulence factors, important for enterococcal pathogenicity reviewed in {Jett, B. et al., 1994}. If antibodies to these proteins could offer better protection to humans then polysaccharides, they could provide the source of a novel, protein-based enterococcal vaccine to be used in conjunction with or in place of the more traditional capsular polysaccharide vaccine. The use of some of the above-described proteins as antigens for a potential vaccine is based on easiness of identification or chance of availability. 
     In order to identify vaccine candidates from bacterial pathogens methods for identification, isolation and production of hyperimmune serum reactive antigens from a specific pathogen, especially from  Staphylococcus aureus  and  Staphylococcus epidermidis , have been developed (WO 02/059148). Moreover, methods for identification of reactive antigens as well as reactive antigens from  E. faecalis  have been provided (WO 04/106367). 
     However, some of these antigens are large proteins, which may be disadvantageous in the context of immunization. First, providing of smaller antigens eases production of the protein in recombinant form. It is generally accepted that it is more difficult to produce larger proteins. Smaller proteins may be produced in a more economic manner, thus saving costs, particularly in the health care system. Second, reducing the size of antigenic proteins used for vaccination may lead to safer products. Eliminating extra sequences in antigenic proteins is desirable, since this reduces the probability of inducing antibodies which can cause cross-reactions with human tissues. Third, proteins used for vaccination may contain more than one antigen, the antigens directed either against the same disease or against different diseases, in order to obtain a more effective vaccination or vaccination against several diseases. However, if the single antigens are too large a combination into one fusion protein is not feasible. 
     On the other hand, there is a great potential for passive antibody-based therapy. There have been already attempts to use human intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) preparations for prevention. Recent advances in the technology of monoclonal antibody production provide the means to generate human antibody reagents and reintroduce antibody therapies, while avoiding the toxicities associated with serum therapy. Immunoglobulins are an extremely versatile class of antimicrobial proteins that can be used to prevent and treat emerging infectious diseases. Antibody therapy has been effective against a variety of diverse microorganisms reviewed in {Burnie, J. et al., 1998}. Anti-enterococcal mAB could be given therapeutically to immunosuppressed patient, due to organ transplantation, cancer, HIV infection and other causes. 
     Accordingly, one problem underlying the present invention was to provide an appropriate antigen of  E. faecalis  for the development of medicaments such as vaccines against an  Enterococcus  infection. More particularly, the problem was to provide a protective peptide or combinations thereof from  E. faecalis  that can be used for the manufacture of said medicaments. 
     Consequently, the present invention provides a protective peptide of a hyperimmune serum reactive antigen consisting of the amino acid sequence of the SEQ ID NO: 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 or 40, or a functional active variant of the protective peptide, or a fragment (portion) thereof. These peptides are also referred to as antigenic peptides. 
     The protective peptides consisting of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 21 to 40 are derived from  E. faecalis  strain V583 described earlier (GenBank accession numbers for chromosome and the plasmids are: AE016830 (chromosome), AE016833 (pTEF1), AE016831 (pTEF2), AE016832 (pTEF3); {Paulsen, I. et al., 2003}). 
     The amino acid and DNA sequences of the full length antigens from which the protective peptides consisting of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 21 to 40 are derived are disclosed in WO 04/106367. 
     The amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 21 to 40 and corresponding DNA sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 20 are disclosed in the attached Sequence Listing and Table 2 (see Example 1). The peptides of SEQ ID NOs: 21 to 40 have been shown to induce protective immune response against  E. faecalis  in an animal model of infective endocarditis (see Example 1 and Figures). Functional active variants may be obtained by changing the sequence of the protective peptide as defined below and are characterized by having a biological activity similar to that displayed by the protective peptide of the sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 21 to 40 from which the variant is derived, including the ability to induce protective immune responses and/or to show protection against  E. faecalis  e.g. in an animal model of infective endocarditis, wherein any variant may be tested as described in the Examples. 
     In another preferred embodiment of the invention the peptide of the invention or a functional active variant, can further consist of
         a) 1 to 450 additional amino acid residue(s), preferably 1 to 400, 1 to 350, 1 to 300, 1 to 250, 1 to 200, 1 to 150, more preferably 1 to 100, even more preferably at most 1 to 50, most preferably 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 20, 30 or 40 additional amino acids residue(s) if the antigen is SEQ ID NO: 21; or   b) 1 to 400 additional amino acid residue(s), preferably 1 to 350, 1 to 300, 1 to 250, 1 to 200, 1 to 150, more preferably 1 to 100, even more preferably at most 1 to 50, most preferably 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 20, 30 or 40 additional amino acids residue(s) if the antigen is SEQ ID NO: 22; or   c) 1 to 300 additional amino acid residue(s), preferably 1 to 250, 1 to 200, 1 to 150, more preferably 1 to 100, even more preferably at most 1 to 50, most preferably 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 20, 30 or 40 additional amino acids residue(s) if the antigen is SEQ ID NO: 24; or   d) 1 to 125 additional amino acid residue(s), preferably 1 to 100, 1 to 80, 1 to 60, more preferably 1 to 40, even more preferably at most 1 to 30, most preferably 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 additional amino acids residue(s) if the antigen is SEQ ID NO: 25.       

     The protective peptide of  E. faecalis  can be any of the peptides as defined above, namely as defined in any of the SEQ ID NO: 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 or 40, or a functional active variant thereof, wherein the functional active variant is as defined below. 
     The functional active variant of the protective peptide may have added at least one additional amino acid residue heterologous or homologous to the peptide of any of the SEQ ID NOs: 21 to 40. Homologous refers to any amino acid residue which is identical to the amino acid residue of the protein from  E. faecalis  from which the peptide is derived, wherein the peptide of any of the SEQ ID NO: 21 to 40 is derived from the protein as listed in the table below (Table 1). Alternatively or additionally, the protective peptide may consist of the antigen, optionally the additional sequence as defined above and at least one amino acid residue heterologous to the antigen, preferably a marker protein. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Peptides of the present invention are related to proteins from 
               
               
                 WO 04/106367. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                 Derived from protein (as disclosed in WO 
               
               
                   
                 Protective peptide 
                 04/106367) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 SEQ ID NO: 21 
                 EF0032 
               
               
                   
                 SEQ ID NO: 22 
                 EF0270 
               
               
                   
                 SEQ ID NO: 23 
                 EF0428 
               
               
                   
                 SEQ ID NO: 24 
                 EF0779 
               
               
                   
                 SEQ ID NO: 25 
                 EF0792 
               
               
                   
                 SEQ ID NO: 26 
                 EF1026 
               
               
                   
                 SEQ ID NO: 27 
                 EF1032 
               
               
                   
                 SEQ ID NO: 28 
                 EF1060 
               
               
                   
                 SEQ ID NO: 29 
                 EF1093 
               
               
                   
                 SEQ ID NO: 30 
                 EF1277 
               
               
                   
                 SEQ ID NO: 31 
                 EF1355 
               
               
                   
                 SEQ ID NO: 32 
                 EF1692 
               
               
                   
                 SEQ ID NO: 33, 41 
                 EF2703 
               
               
                   
                 SEQ ID NO: 34 
                 EF3051 
               
               
                   
                 SEQ ID NO: 35 
                 EF3177 
               
               
                   
                 SEQ ID NO: 36 
                 EF3183 
               
               
                   
                 SEQ ID NO: 37, 42 
                 EF3207 
               
               
                   
                 SEQ ID NO: 38, 43 
                 EF3256 
               
               
                   
                 SEQ ID NO: 39 
                 EFA0042 
               
               
                   
                 SEQ ID NO: 40, 44 
                 EFC0034 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The functional active variant of the protective peptide may be obtained by sequence alterations in the protective peptide, wherein the peptide with the sequence alterations retains a function of the unaltered protective peptide, e.g. having a biological activity similar to that displayed by the unaltered protective peptide. Such sequence alterations can include, but are not limited to, (conservative) amino acid substitutions, deletions, mutations and insertions. 
     The additional sequence or amino acid residue(s) as defined above consists of (an) amino acid residue(s), which may be any amino acid, which may be either an L- and/or a D-amino acid, naturally occurring and otherwise. Preferably the amino acid is any naturally occurring amino acid such as alanine, cysteine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, phenylalanine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, lysine, leucine, methionine, asparagine, proline, glutamine, arginine, serine, threonine, valine, tryptophan or tyrosine. 
     However, the amino acid may also be a modified or unusual amino acid. Examples of those are 2-aminoadipic acid, 3-aminoadipic acid, beta-alanine, 2-aminobutyric acid, 4-aminobutyric acid, 6-aminocaproic acid, 2-aminoheptanoic acid, 2-aminoisobutyric acid, 3-aminoisobutyric acid, 2-aminopimelic acid, 2,4-diaminobutyric acid, desmosine, 2,2′-diaminopimelic acid, 2,3-diaminopropionic acid, N-ethylglycine, N-ethylasparagine, hydroxylysine, allo-hydroxylysine, 3-hydroxyproloine, 4-hydroxyproloine, isodesmosine, allo-isoleucine, N-methylglycine, N-methylisoleucine, 6-N-Methyllysine, N-methylvaline, norvaline, norleucine or ornithine. Additionally, the amino acid may be subject to modifications such as posttranslational modifications. Examples of modifications include acetylation, amidation, blocking, formylation, γ-carboxyglutamic acid hydroxylation, glycosilation, methylation, phosphorylation and sulfatation. If more than one additional or heterologous amino acid residue is present in the peptide, the amino acid residues may be the same or different from one another. 
     In one embodiment the peptide of the invention further encompasses at least one amino acid residue heterologous to the antigen. The feature “heterologous amino acid” or “amino acid heterologous to the antigen or protein” refers to any amino acid which is different from that amino acid located adjacent to the antigen or protein in any naturally occurring protein of  E. faecalis , particularly from that of  E. faecalis  strain V583 (serogroup CPS-C). Therefore, the protein of the invention encompassing at least one heterologous amino acid refers to a protein which is different from any naturally occurring protein of  E. faecalis  or fragment thereof, particularly which is different from that of  E. faecalis  strain V583 (serogroup CPS-C). The proteins from which the antigens of the invention are derived as well as a reference for their sequences are disclosed in WO 04/106367 and in the table above (Table 1). 
     In one preferred embodiment of the invention the peptide of the invention comprising additional amino acid residue(s) as defined above is characterized in that it comprises at least 2, preferably at least 3, more preferably at least 4 antigens as defined above. 
     The antigenic peptide may be flanked by the amino acid residue(s) C-terminally, N-terminally or C- and N-terminally. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the functional active variant of the peptide of the invention is essentially identical to any of the antigens of the SEQ ID NOs: 21 to 40, but differs from the antigens of any of the of the SEQ ID NOs: 21 to 40, in that it is derived from a homologous sequence of a different strain and/or serotype of  E. faecalis.    
     Accordingly, the present invention also relates to antigens of different  E. faecalis  isolates. Such homologues may easily be isolated based on the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences disclosed herein. The presence of any antigen can be determined for every serotype. In addition it is possible to determine the variability of a particular antigen in the various serotypes as described for the sic gene {Hoe, N. et al., 2001}. The contribution of the various serotypes to the different enterococcal infections varies in the different age groups and geographical regions. It is an important aspect that the most valuable protective antigens are expected to be conserved among various clinical isolates. A homologous antigen of a different serotype may be identified by e.g. sequence alignment. The homologous antigen sequence may vary from the antigen of any of the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 21 to 40 by one or more amino acid substitutions, deletions and/or additions. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention the functional active variant is a fragment of any of the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 21 to 40. The fragment is characterized by being derived from the antigen as defined above by one or more amino acid deletions. The deletion(s) may be C-terminally, N-terminally and/or internally. Preferably the fragment is obtained by at most 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80, 100, 150 or 200, more preferably by at most 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50, even more preferably at most 5, 10 or 15, still more preferably at most 5 or 10, most preferably 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 deletion(s). The functional active fragment of the invention is characterized by having a biological activity similar to that displayed by the complete antigen, including the ability to induce immune response and/or to show protection against  E. faecalis  e.g. in an infective endocarditis model. The fragment of an antigen is functional active in the context of the present invention, if the activity of the fragment amounts to at least 10%, preferably at least 25%, more preferably at least 50%, even more preferably at least 70%, still more preferably at least 80%, especially at least 90%, particularly at least 95%, most preferably at least 99% of the activity of the antigen without sequence alteration. These fragments may be designed or obtained in any desired length, including as small as about 50 to 80 amino acids in length. 
     In a further embodiment a fragment of the peptide of the invention are characterized by structural or functional attributes, such as alpha-helix, beta-sheet, turn and coil-forming regions, hydrophilic regions, hydrophobic regions, alpha-amphipathic regions, beta-amphipathic regions, flexible regions, surface-forming regions, substrate binding regions, and high antigenic index regions of the peptide according to the present invention, and combinations of such fragments. Preferred regions are those that mediate antigenicity and antibody binding activities of the peptides according to the present invention. Most highly preferred in this regard are fragments that have a chemical, biological or other activity of the peptides and variants thereof of the present invention, including those with a similar activity or an improved activity, whereby such improved activities are immunogenicity and stability, or with a decreased undesirable activity, whereby such decreased undesirable activity is enzymatic and toxic function and generation of human cross-reactive antibodies. Particularly preferred fragments of the peptides according to the present invention are those that comprise or contain antigenic or immunogenic determinants in an animal, especially in a human. Such fragments are also referred to as antigenic fragment. An antigenic fragment is antigenic by itself or may be made antigenic when provided as a hapten. 
     Accordingly, in one preferred embodiment of the invention the functional active fragments consists of at least 60%, preferably at least 70%, more preferably at least 80%, still more preferably at least 90%, even more preferably at least 95%, most preferably 99% of the antigenic peptide of any of the SEQ ID NOs: 21 to 40. 
     Another preferred embodiment of the invention relates to a peptide as defined above in the previous embodiments, wherein the peptide is a functional active variant of an antigen of any of the SEQ ID NOs: 21 to 40 and wherein the variant has at least 50% sequence identity to the antigen of any of the SEQ ID NOs: 21 to 40. In a more preferred embodiment the functional active variant has a sequence identity of at least 60%, preferably at least 70%, more preferably at least 80%, still more preferably at least 90%, even more preferably at least 95%, most preferably 99% to the antigen of any of the SEQ ID NOs: 21 to 40. 
     The percentage of sequence identity can be determined e.g. by sequence alignment. Methods of alignment of sequences for comparison are well known in the art. Various programs and alignment algorithms have been described e.g. in Smith and Waterman, Adv. Appl. Math. 2: 482, 1981 or Pearson and Lipman, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 85: 2444-2448, 1988. 
     The NCBI Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) (Altschul et al., J. Mol. Biol. 215: 403-410, 1990) is available from several sources, including the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI, Bethesda, Md.) and on the Internet, for use in connection with the sequence analysis programs blastp, blastn, blastx, tblastn and tblastx. Variants of an antigen of any of the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 21 to 40 are typically characterized using the NCBI Blast 2.0, gapped blastp set to default parameters. For comparisons of amino acid sequences of at least 35 amino acids, the Blast 2 sequences function is employed using the default BLOSUM62 matrix set to default parameters, (gap existence cost of 11, and a per residue gap cost of 1). When aligning short peptides (fewer than around 35 amino acids), the alignment is performed using the Blast 2 sequences function, employing the PAM30 matrix set to default parameters (open gap 9, extension gap 1 penalties). Methods for determining sequence identity over such short windows such as 15 amino acids or less are described at the website that is maintained by the National Center for Biotechnology Information in Bethesda, Md. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST/). 
     The functional active variant of an antigen is obtained by sequence alterations in the antigen, wherein the antigen with the sequence alterations retains a function of the unaltered antigen. Such sequence alterations can include, but are not limited to, conservative substitutions, deletions, mutations and insertions. In the context of the present invention a variant specifically has a biological activity similar to that displayed by the antigen without alteration, including the ability to induce an immune response and/or to show protection against  E. faecalis  e.g. in an infective endocarditis model if the activity of the variant amounts to at least 10%, preferably at least 25%, more preferably at least 50%, even more preferably at least 70%, still more preferably at least 80%, especially at least 90%, particularly at least 95%, most preferably at least 99% of the activity of the antigen without sequence alterations. 
     The term “functional active variant” includes naturally-occurring allelic variants, as well as mutants or any other non-naturally occurring variants. As is known in the art, an allelic variant is an alternate form of a (poly)peptide that is characterized as having a substitution, deletion, or addition of one or more amino acids that does essentially not alter the biological function of the polypeptide. By “biological function” is meant a function of the polypeptide in the cells in which it naturally occurs, even if the function is not necessary for the growth or survival of the cells. For example, the biological function of a porin is to allow the entry into cells of compounds present in the extracellular medium. The biological function is distinct from the antigenic function. A polypeptide can have more than one biological function. 
     Within any species of the living world, allelic variation is the rule. For example, any bacterial species, e.g.  E. faecalis , is usually represented by a variety of strains (characterized by clonal reproduction) that differ from each other by minor allelic variations. Indeed, a polypeptide that fulfils the same biological function in different strains can have an amino acid sequence that is not identical in each of the strains. Such an allelic variation is equally reflected at the polynucleotide level. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the functional active variant or fragment derived from the antigen by amino acid exchanges, deletions or insertions may also conserve, or more preferably improve, the activity (as defined above). Furthermore, these peptides may also cover epitopes, which trigger the same or preferably an improved T cell response. These epitope are referred to as “heteroclitic”. They have a similar or preferably greater affinity to MHC/HLA molecules, and the ability to stimulate the T cell receptors (TCR) directed to the original epitope in a similar or preferably stronger manner. Heteroclitic epitopes can be obtained by rational design i.e. taking into account the contribution of individual residues to binding to MHC/HLA as for instance described by (Rammensee, H. et al., 1999, Immunogenetics. 50: 213-219), combined with a systematic exchange of residues potentially interacting with the TCR and testing the resulting sequences with T cells directed against the original epitope. Such a design is possible for a skilled man in the art without much experimentation. 
     In a still more preferred embodiment of the invention the functional active variant of an antigen of any of the SEQ ID NOs: 21 to 40 having at least 50% sequence identity to the antigen of any of the SEQ ID NOs: 21 to 40, especially at least 60%, preferably at least 70%, more preferably at least 80%, still more preferably at least 90%, even more preferably at least 95%, most preferably 99% to the antigen of any of the SEQ ID NOs: 21 to 40 is derived from the antigen of any of the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 21 to 40 by conservative substitutions. Conservative substitutions are those that take place within a family of amino acids that are related in their side chains and chemical properties. Examples of such families are amino acids with basic side chains, with acidic side chains, with non-polar aliphatic side chains, with non-polar aromatic side chains, with uncharged polar side chains, with small side chains, with large side chains etc. In one embodiment, one conservative substitution is included in the peptide. In another embodiment, two conservative substitutions or less are included in the peptide. In a further embodiment, three conservative substitutions or less are included in the peptide. 
     Examples of conservative amino acid substitutions include, but are not limited to, those listed below: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Original Residue 
                 Conservative Substitutions 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 Ala 
                 Ser 
               
               
                   
                 Arg 
                 Lys 
               
               
                   
                 Asn 
                 Gln; His 
               
               
                   
                 Asp 
                 Glu 
               
               
                   
                 Cys 
                 Ser 
               
               
                   
                 Gln 
                 Asn 
               
               
                   
                 Glu 
                 Asp 
               
               
                   
                 His 
                 Asn; Gln 
               
               
                   
                 Ile 
                 Leu; Val 
               
               
                   
                 Leu 
                 Ile; Val 
               
               
                   
                 Lys 
                 Arg; Gln; Asn 
               
               
                   
                 Met 
                 Leu; Ile 
               
               
                   
                 Phe 
                 Met; Leu; Tyr 
               
               
                   
                 Ser 
                 Thr 
               
               
                   
                 Thr 
                 Ser 
               
               
                   
                 Trp 
                 Tyr 
               
               
                   
                 Tyr 
                 Trp; Phe 
               
               
                   
                 Val 
                 Ile; Leu 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In another embodiment of the invention the peptide as defined above may be modified by a variety of chemical techniques to produce derivatives having essentially the same activity (as defined above for fragments and variants) as the modified peptides, and optionally having other desirable properties. For example, carboxylic acid groups of the protein, whether C-terminal or side chain, may be provided in the form of a salt of a pharmaceutically-acceptable cation or esterified to form an ester, or converted to an amide. Amino groups of the peptide, whether amino-terminal or side chain, may be in the form of a pharmaceutically-acceptable acid addition salt, such as the HCl, HBr, acetic, benzoic, toluene sulfonic, maleic, tartaric and other organic salts, or may be converted to an amide. Hydroxyl groups of the peptide side chains may be converted to alkoxy or to an ester using well recognized techniques. Phenyl and phenolic rings of the peptide side chains may be substituted with one or more halogen atoms, such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine, or with alkyl, alkoxy, carboxylic acids and esters thereof, or amides of such carboxylic acids. Thiols can be protected with any one of a number of well recognized protecting groups, such as acetamide groups. 
     Peptides of this invention may be in combination with outer surface proteins or other proteins or antigens of other proteins. In such combination, the antigen may be in the form of a fusion protein. The antigen of the invention may be optionally fused to a selected peptide or protein derived from other microorganisms. For example, an antigen or polypeptide of this invention may be fused at its N-terminus or C-terminus to a polypeptide from another pathogen or to more than one polypeptide in sequence. Peptides which may be useful for this purpose include polypeptides identified by the prior art. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention the peptide of the invention is fused to an epitope tag which provides an epitope to which an anti-tag substance can selectively bind. The epitope tag is generally placed at the amino- or carboxyl-terminus of the peptide but may be incorporated as an internal insertion or substitution as the biological activity permits. The presence of such epitope-tagged forms of a peptide can be detected using a substance such as an antibody against the tagged peptide. Also, provision of the epitope tag enables the peptide to be readily purified by affinity purification using an anti-tag antibody or another type of affinity matrix that binds to the epitope tag. Various tag polypeptides and their respective antibodies are well known in the art. Examples include poly-histidine (poly-his), poly-histidine-glycine (poly-his-gly) tags, the HA tag polypeptide, the c-myc tag, the Strep tag and the FLAG tag. 
     Fusions also may include the peptides or antigens of this invention fused or coupled to moieties other than amino acids, including lipids and carbohydrates. Further, antigens of this invention may be employed in combination with other vaccinal agents described by the prior art, as well as with other species of vaccinal agents derived from other microorganisms. Such proteins are useful in the prevention, treatment and diagnosis of diseases caused by a wide spectrum of  Streptococcus  isolates. 
     These fusion proteins are constructed for use in the methods and compositions of this invention. These fusion proteins or multimeric proteins may be produced recombinantly, or may be synthesized chemically. 
     The peptides of the invention may be prepared by any of a number of conventional techniques. Desired peptides may be chemically synthesized. An alternative approach involves generating the fragments of known peptides by enzymatic digestion, e.g., by treating the protein with an enzyme known to cleave proteins at sites defined by particular amino acid residues, or by digesting the DNA with suitable restriction enzymes, expressing the digested DNA and isolating the desired fragment. Yet another suitable technique involves isolating and amplifying a DNA fragment encoding a desired peptide fragment, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Oligonucleotides that define the desired termini of the DNA fragment are employed as the 5′ and 3′ primers in the PCR. Techniques for making mutations, such as deletions, insertions and substitutions, at predetermined sites in DNA, and therefore in proteins, having a known sequence are well known. One of skill in the art using conventional techniques, such as PCR, may readily use the antigens and peptides provided herein to identify and isolate other similar proteins. Such methods are routine and not considered to require undue experimentation, given the information provided herein. For example, variations can be made using oligonucleotide-mediated site-directed mutagenesis (Carter et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 13: 4431 (1985); Zoller et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 10:6487 (1987)), cassette mutagenesis (Wells et al., Gene, 34:315 (1985)), restriction selection mutagenesis (Wells et al., Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London SerA, 317:415 (1986)), PCR mutagenesis, or other known techniques can be performed on the cloned DNA to produce the peptide of the invention. 
     Another subject of the present invention relates to a nucleic acid encoding a peptide of the invention, i.e. any peptide as defined above, or a nucleic acid complementary thereto. Nucleic acid molecules of the present invention may be in the form of RNA, such as mRNA or cRNA, or in the form of DNA, including, for instance, cDNA and genomic DNA e.g. obtained by cloning or produced by chemical synthetic techniques or by a combination thereof. The DNA may be double-stranded or single-stranded. Single-stranded DNA may be the coding strand, also known as the sense strand, or it may be the non-coding strand, also referred to as the anti-sense strand. Nucleic acid molecule as used herein also refers to, among other, single- and double-stranded DNA, DNA that is a mixture of single- and double-stranded RNA, and RNA that is a mixture of single- and double-stranded regions, hybrid molecules comprising DNA and RNA that may be single-stranded or, more typically, double-stranded, or a mixture of single- and double-stranded regions. 
     The nucleic acid may be a fragment of a nucleic acid occurring naturally in  E. faecalis . Preferably the nucleic acid has a sequence as defined in any of the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 20 or of any of the homologous variants identified in the attached listing of nucleic acid sequences. The nucleic acid also includes sequences that are a result of the degeneration of the genetic code. There are 20 natural amino acids, most of which are specified by more than one codon. Therefore, all nucleotide sequences are included in the invention which result in the peptide as defined above. 
     Additionally, the nucleic acid may contain one or more modified bases. Such nucleic acids may also contain modifications e.g. in the ribose-phosphate backbone to increase stability and half life of such molecules in physiological environments. Thus, DNAs or RNAs with backbones modified for stability or for other reasons are “nucleic acid molecule” as that feature is intended herein. Moreover, DNAs or RNAs comprising unusual bases, such as inosine, or modified bases, such as tritylated bases, to name just two examples, are nucleic acid molecule within the context of the present invention. It will be appreciated that a great variety of modifications have been made to DNA and RNA that serve many useful purposes known to those of skill in the art. The term nucleic acid molecule as it is employed herein embraces such chemically, enzymatically or metabolically modified forms of nucleic acid molecule, as well as the chemical forms of DNA and RNA characteristic of viruses and cells, including simple and complex cells, inter alia. For example, nucleotide substitutions can be made which do not affect the polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid, and thus any nucleic acid molecule which encodes an antigen or fragment or functional active variant thereof as defined above is encompassed by the present invention. 
     Furthermore, any of the nucleic acid molecules encoding an antigen of the invention or fragment or functional active variant thereof can be functionally linked, using standard techniques such as standard cloning techniques, to any desired regulatory sequences, whether an  E. faecalis  regulatory sequence or a heterologous regulatory sequence, heterologous leader sequence, heterologous marker sequence or a heterologous coding sequence to create a fusion protein. 
     The nucleic acid of the invention may be originally formed in vitro or in a cell in culture, in general, by the manipulation of nucleic acids by endonucleases and/or exonucleases and/or polymerases and/or ligases and/or recombinases or other methods known to the skilled practitioner to produce the nucleic acids. 
     In one embodiment of the invention the nucleic acid is located in a vector. A vector may additionally include nucleic acid sequences that permit it to replicate in the host cell, such as an origin of replication, one or more therapeutic genes and/or selectable marker genes and other genetic elements known in the art such as regulatory elements directing transcription, translation and/or secretion of the encoded protein. The vector may be used to transduce, transform or infect a cell, thereby causing the cell to express nucleic acids and/or proteins other than those native to the cell. The vector optionally includes materials to aid in achieving entry of the nucleic acid into the cell, such as a viral particle, liposome, protein coating or the like. Numerous types of appropriate expression vectors are known in the art for protein expression, by standard molecular biology techniques. Such vectors are selected from among conventional vector types including insects, e.g., baculovirus expression, or yeast, fungal, bacterial or viral expression systems. Other appropriate expression vectors, of which numerous types are known in the art, can also be used for this purpose. Methods for obtaining such expression vectors are well-known (see, e.g. Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning. A Laboratory Manual, 2 nd  edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York (1989)). In one embodiment, the vector is a viral vector. Viral vectors include, but are not limited to, retroviral and adenoviral vectors. 
     Suitable host cells or cell lines for transfection by this method include bacterial cells. For example, the various strains of  E. coli  are well-known as host cells in the field of biotechnology. Various strains of  B. subtilis, Pseudomonas, Streptomyces , and other bacilli and the like may also be employed in this method. Many strains of yeast cells known to those skilled in the art are also available as host cells for expression of the peptides of the present invention. Other fungal cells such as  Aspergillus  cells or insect cells such as  Spodoptera frugipedera  (Sf9) or  Drosophila  S2 cells may also be employed as expression systems. Alternatively, mammalian cells, such as human 293 cells, Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO), the monkey COS-1 or murine 3T3 cell lines, HeLa, C127, BHK, 293, Bowes melanoma cells or plant cells may be used. Still other suitable host cells, as well as methods for transfection, culture, amplification, screening, production, and purification are known in the art. 
     A peptide of the invention may be produced by expressing a nucleic acid of the invention in a suitable host cell. The host cells can be transfected, e.g. by conventional means such as electroporation with at least one expression vector containing a nucleic acid of the invention under the control of a transcriptional regulatory sequence. The transfected or transformed host cell is then cultured under conditions that allow expression of the protein. The expressed protein is recovered, isolated, and optionally purified from the cell (or from the culture medium, if expressed extracellularly) by appropriate means known to one of skill in the art. For example, the proteins are isolated in soluble form following cell lysis, or extracted using known techniques, e.g. in guanidine chloride. If desired, the peptides or fragments of the invention are produced as a fusion protein. Such fusion proteins are those described above. Alternatively, for example, it may be desirable to produce fusion proteins to enhance expression of the protein in a selected host cell or to improve purification. The molecules comprising the peptides and antigens of this invention may be further purified using any of a variety of conventional methods including, but not limited to: liquid chromatography such as normal or reversed phase, using HPLC, FPLC and the like; affinity chromatography (such as with inorganic ligands or monoclonal antibodies); size exclusion chromatography; immobilized metal chelate chromatography; gel electrophoresis; and the like. One of skill in the art may select the most appropriate isolation and purification techniques without departing from the scope of this invention. Such purification provides the antigen in a form substantially free from other proteinaceous and non-proteinaceous materials of the microorganism. 
     As an alternative, a peptide of the preset invention may be produced in cell-free translation systems using RNAs derived from the DNA construct of the present invention. Otherwise, the peptides of the invention can be synthetically produced by conventional peptide synthesizers. 
     Another subject of the invention is a pharmaceutical composition, preferably a vaccine, comprising at least one protective peptide according to the invention and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient. 
     A peptide of the invention may be used for methods for immunizing or treating humans and/or animals with the disease caused by infection with  E. faecalis . Therefore, the peptide may be used within a pharmaceutical composition. The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may further encompass pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and/or excipients. The pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and/or excipients useful in this invention are conventional and may include buffers, stabilizers, diluents, preservatives, and solubilizers. Remington&#39;s Pharmaceutical Sciences, by E. W. Martin, Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa., 15th Edition (1975), describes compositions and formulations suitable for pharmaceutical delivery of the (poly)peptides herein disclosed. In general, the nature of the carrier or excipients will depend on the particular mode of administration being employed. For instance, parenteral formulations usually comprise injectable fluids that include pharmaceutically and physiologically acceptable fluids such as water, physiological saline, balanced salt solutions, aqueous dextrose, glycerol or the like as a vehicle. For solid compositions (e.g. powder, pill, tablet, or capsule forms), conventional non-toxic solid carriers can include, for example, pharmaceutical grades of mannitol, lactose, starch, or magnesium stearate. In addition to biologically neutral carriers, pharmaceutical compositions to be administered can contain minor amounts of non-toxic auxiliary substances, such as wetting or emulsifying agents, preservatives, and pH buffering agents and the like, for example sodium acetate or sorbitan monolaurate. 
     In a preferred embodiment the pharmaceutical composition further comprises an immunostimulatory substance such as an adjuvant. The adjuvant can be selected based on the method of administration and may include mineral oil-based adjuvants such as Freund&#39;s complete and incomplete adjuvant, Montanide incomplete Seppic adjuvant such as ISA, oil in water emulsion adjuvants such as the Ribi adjuvant system, syntax adjuvant formulation containing muramyl dipeptide, or aluminum salt adjuvants. Preferably, the adjuvant is a mineral oil-based adjuvant. 
     In a more preferred embodiment the immunostimulatory substance is selected from the group comprising polycationic polymers, especially polycationic peptides, immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs), especially Oligo(dIdC) 13  peptides containing at least two LysLeuLys motifs, especially KLKLLLLLKLK, neuroactive compounds, especially human growth hormone, alum, Freund&#39;s complete or incomplete adjuvants, or combinations thereof. 
     In a still more preferred embodiment the immunostimulatory substance is a combination of either a polycationic polymer and immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotides or of a peptide containing at least two LysLeuLys motifs and immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotides, preferably a combination of KLKLLLLLKLK and Oligo(dIdC) 13 . 
     The term “Oligo(dIdC) 13 ” as used in the present invention means a phosphodiester backboned single-stranded DNA molecule containing 13 deoxy (inosine-cytosine) motifs, also de fined by the term [oligo-d(IC) 13 ]. The exact sequence is 5′-dIdCdIdCdIdCdIdCdIdCdIdCdIdCdIdCdIdCdIdCdIdCdIdCdIdC-3′. Oligo(dIdC) 13  can also be defined by the terms (oligo-dIC 26 ); oligo-dIC 26-mer ; oligo-deoxy IC, 26-mer; or oligo-dIC, 26-mer, as specified for example in WO 01/93903 and WO 01/93905. 
     In an even more preferred embodiment of the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention the polycationic polymer is a polycationic peptide, especially polyarginine. 
     In an even more preferred embodiment of the invention the immunostimulatory substance is at least one immunostimulatory nucleic acid. Immunostimulatory nucleic acids are e.g. neutral or artificial CpG containing nucleic acids, short stretches of nucleic acids derived from non-vertebrates or in form of short oligonucleotides (ODNs) containing non-methylated cytosine-guanine dinucleotides (CpG) in a defined base context (e.g. as described in WO 96/02555). Alternatively, also nucleic acids based on inosine and cytidine as e.g. described in WO 01/93903, or deoxynucleic acids containing deoxy-inosine and/or deoxyuridine residues (described in WO 01/93905 and WO 02/095027) may preferably be used as immunostimulatory nucleic acids in the present invention. Preferably, mixtures of different immunostimulatory nucleic acids are used in the present invention. Additionally, the aforementioned polycationic compounds may be combined with any of the immunostimulatory nucleic acids as aforementioned. Preferably, such combinations are according to the ones described in WO 01/93905, WO 02/32451, WO 01/54720, WO 01/93903, WO 02/13857, WO 02/095027 and WO 03/047602. 
     In addition or alternatively, the pharmaceutical composition may comprise a neuroactive compound. Preferably, the neuroactive compound is human growth factor, e.g. described in WO 01/24822. Also preferably, the neuroactive compound is combined with any of the polycationic compounds and/or immunostimulatory nucleic acids as defined above. 
     The pharmaceutical composition encompasses at least one peptide of the invention; however, it may also contain a cocktail (i.e., a simple mixture) comprising different peptides (including fragments and other variants) of the invention, optionally mixed with different antigenic proteins or peptides of other pathogens. Such mixtures of these peptides, polypeptides, proteins or fragments or variants thereof are useful e.g. in the generation of desired antibodies to a wide spectrum of enterococci isolates. The peptide(s) of the present invention may also be used in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt. Suitable acids and bases which are capable of forming salts with the peptides of the present invention are well known to those of skill in the art, and include inorganic and organic acids and bases. 
     Still another subject of the invention is a pharmaceutical composition containing a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of: 
     (i) a nucleic acid of the invention and/or a nucleic acid complementary thereto, and
 
(ii) optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.
 
     In another embodiment, the nucleic acid sequences of this invention, alone or in combination with nucleic acid sequences encoding other antigens or antibodies from other pathogenic microorganisms, may further be used as components of a pharmaceutical composition. The composition may be used for immunizing or treating humans and/or animals with the disease caused by infection with  E. faecalis . The pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient may be as defined above. 
     For use in the preparation of the therapeutic or vaccine compositions, nucleic acid delivery compositions and methods are useful, which are known to those of skill in the art. The nucleic acid of the invention may be employed in the methods of this invention or in the compositions described herein as DNA sequences, either administered as naked DNA, or associated with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and provide for in vivo expression of the antigen, peptide or polypeptide. So-called “naked DNA” may be used to express the antigen, peptide or polypeptide of the invention in vivo in a patient. (See, e.g., J. Cohen, Science, 259:1691-1692, which describes similar uses of “naked DNA”). For example, “naked DNA” associated with regulatory sequences may be administered therapeutically or as part of the vaccine composition e.g., by injection. 
     Alternatively, a nucleic acid encoding the antigens or peptides of the invention or a nucleic acid complementary thereto may be used within a pharmaceutical composition, e.g. in order to express the antigens or peptides or polypeptides of the invention in vivo, e.g., to induce antibodies. 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition, wherein the nucleic acid according to the invention is comprised in a vector and/or a cell. Vectors and cells suitable in the context of the present invention are described above. Vectors are particularly employed for a DNA vaccine. An appropriate vector for delivery may be readily selected by one of skill in the art. Exemplary vectors for in vivo gene delivery are readily available from a variety of academic and commercial sources, and include, e.g., adeno-associated virus (International patent application No. PCT/US91/03440), adenovirus vectors (M. Kay et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 91:2353 (1994); S. Ishibashi et al., J. Clin. Invest., 92:883 (1993)), or other viral vectors, e.g., various poxviruses, vaccinia, etc. Recombinant viral vectors, such as retroviruses or adenoviruses, are preferred for integrating the exogenous DNA into the chromosome of the cell. 
     In order to be able to overcome the diseases, a vaccination may not be suitable or not possible due to the advanced and/or fast disease progression. Thus it would be very beneficial to provide monoclonal or polyclonal antibody therapies which target antigenic proteins of  E. faecalis  and have the potential to support a therapy of an infection or eliminate the pathogen and the disease altogether. 
     Therefore, another subject of the invention relates to an antibody or functional active fragment thereof which binds specifically to the antigen of the invention. 
     In a preferred embodiment the antibody is a monoclonal, polyclonal, chimeric or humanized antibody or functional active variant thereof. In another preferred embodiment the functional active fragment comprises a Fab fragment. 
     Antibodies generated against the antigens, fragments or variants thereof of the present invention can be obtained by direct injection of the antigens, fragments or variants thereof into an animal or by administering the antigens, fragments or variants thereof to an animal, preferably a non-human. The antibody so obtained will then bind the antigens, fragments or variants. Such antibodies can then be used to isolate reactive antigens, fragments or variants thereof from tissue expressing those. 
     For preparation of monoclonal antibodies, any technique known in the art, which provides antibodies produced by continuous cell line cultures, e.g. a hybridoma cell line, can be used. 
     Techniques described for the production of single chain antibodies (U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,778) can be adapted to produce single chain antibodies to the antigens, fragments or variants thereof according to this invention. Also, transgenic mice or other organisms such as other mammals may be used to express humanized antibodies to antigens, fragments or variants thereof according to this invention. 
     Still another subject of the invention relates to a hybridoma cell line which produces the antibody of the invention. 
     Hybridoma cell lines expressing desirable monoclonal antibodies are generated by well-known conventional techniques. The hybridoma cell can be generated by fusing a normal-activated, antibody-producing B cell with a myeloma cell. In the context of the present invention the hybridoma cell is able to produce an antibody specifically binding to the antigen of the invention. 
     Similarly, desirable high titer antibodies are generated by applying known recombinant techniques to the monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies developed to these antigens (see, e.g., PCT Patent Application No. PCT/GB85/00392; British Patent Application Publication No. GB2188638A; Amit et al., Science, 233:747-753 (1986); Queen et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 86:10029-10033 (1989); WO 90/07861; Riechmann et al., Nature, 332:323-327 (1988); Huse et al., Science, 246:1275-1281 (1988)). 
     The present invention also provides a method for producing an antibody according to the invention, characterized by the following steps:
     (a) administering an effective amount of the peptide according to the invention to an animal; and   (b) isolating the antibody produced by the animal in response to the administration of step (a) from the animal.   

     Another subject of the invention relates to a method for producing an antibody according to the invention, characterized by the following steps:
     (a) contacting a B cell with an effective amount of the peptide according to the invention;   (b) fusing the B cell of step (a) with a myeloma cell to obtain a hybridoma cell; and   (c) isolating the antibody produced by the cultivated hybridoma cell.   

     More particularly, the antibody may be produced by initiating an immune response in a non-human animal by administrating a peptide of the invention to an animal, removing an antibody containing body fluid from said animal, and producing the antibody by subjecting said antibody containing body fluid to further purification steps. Alternatively, the antibody may be produced by initiating an immune response in a non-human animal by administrating an antigen, fragment or variant thereof, as defined in the present invention, to said animal, removing the spleen or spleen cells from said animal and/or producing hybridoma cells of said spleen or spleen cells, selecting and cloning hybridoma cells specific for said antigen, fragment or variant thereof and producing the antibody by cultivation of said cloned hybridoma cells. 
     In a preferred embodiment the antibody produced according to a method of the invention is additionally purified. Methods of purification are known to the skilled artisan. 
     The antibody may be used in methods for treating an infection. Accordingly, still another subject of the invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the antibody of the invention. The pharmaceutical composition may encompass further components as detailed above. The composition may further encompass substances increasing their capacity to stimulate T cells. These include T helper cell epitopes, lipids or liposomes or preferred modifications as described in WO 01/78767. Another way to increase the T cell stimulating capacity of epitopes is their formulation with immune stimulating substances for instance cytokines or chemokines like interleukin-2, -7, -12, -18, class I and II interferons (IFN), especially IFN-gamma, GM-CSF, TNF-alpha, flt3-ligand and others. 
     Still another subject of the invention is a pharmaceutical composition, especially a vaccine, comprising the protective peptide or the nucleic acid or the antibody or functional fragments thereof as defined by the invention, useful for the immunization of a subject against an infection or the treatment of a subject having an infection, wherein the infection is preferably caused by  E. faecalis.    
     In another aspect of the invention the peptide or the nucleic acid of the invention is used for the manufacture of a medicament for the immunization or treatment of a subject, preferably against  E. faecalis . Alternatively, the peptide or the nucleic acid of the invention is used in a method of immunizing or treating a subject in need thereof, wherein an effective amount of the peptide or the nucleic acid of the invention is administered to the subject. The subject may be immunized in order to prevent an infection, particularly an  E. faecalis  infection, or may be treated to ameliorate or cure an infection, particularly an  E. faecalis  infection. The determination of the effective amount to be administered is within the knowledge of the skilled practitioner. Exemplary amounts are mentioned below. 
     The peptides or the nucleic acids of the invention are generally useful for inducing an immune response in a subject. The pharmaceutical composition (vaccine) used for immunization may be administered to a subject susceptible to infection by  E. faecalis , preferably mammals, and still more preferably humans, in any conventional manner, including oral, intranasal, intramuscular, intra-lymph node, intradermal, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, and combinations thereof, but most preferably through subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. The volume of the dose when subcutaneous or intramuscular injection is the selected administration route is preferably up to about 5 ml, still more preferably between 0.3 ml and 3 ml, and most preferably about 0.5 to 1 ml. The amount of protein comprising the antigen in each dose should be enough to confer effective immunity against and decrease the risk of developing clinical signs resulting from  E. faecalis  infection to a subject receiving a vaccination therewith. Preferably, the unit dose of protein should be up to about 5 μg protein/kg body weight, more preferably between about 0.2 to 3 μg, still more preferably between about 0.3 to 1.5 μg, more preferably between about 0.4 to 0.8 μg, and still more preferably about 0.6 μg. Alternative preferred unit doses of protein could be up to about 6 μg protein/kg body weight, more preferably between about 0.05 to 5 μg, still more preferably between about 0.1 to 4 μg. The dose is preferably administered 1 to 3 times, e.g. with an interval of 1 to 3 weeks. Preferred amounts of protein per dose are from approximately 1 μg to approximately 1 mg, more preferably from approximately 5 μg to approximately 500 μg, still more preferably from approximately 10 μg to approximately 250 μg and most preferably from approximately 25 μg to approximately 100 μg. 
     In still another aspect of the invention the antibody of the invention or functional fragment thereof is used for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of an infection, preferably an  E. faecalis  infection. Alternatively, the antibody of the invention is used in a method of treating a subject in need thereof, wherein an effective amount of the antibody of the invention is administered to the subject. The subject may be treated to ameliorate or cure an infection, particularly an  E. faecalis  infection. The determination of the effective amount to be administered is within the knowledge of the skilled practitioner. Exemplary amounts are mentioned below. 
     The treatment involves administering an effective amount of an antibody of the invention to a subject, preferably a mammal, more preferably a human. Thus, antibodies against the antigens, fragments or variants thereof of the present invention may be employed to inhibit and/or treat infections, particularly bacterial infections and especially infections arising from  E. faecalis.    
     An “effective amount” of a peptide, nucleic acid or an antibody of the invention may be calculated as that amount capable of exhibiting an in vivo effect, e.g. preventing or ameliorating a sign or symptom of infection, particularly  E. faecalis  infection. Such amounts may be determined by one of skill in the art. Preferably, such a composition is administered parenterally, preferably intramuscularly or subcutaneously. However, it may also be formulated to be administered by any other suitable route, including orally or topically. The selection of the route of delivery and dosage of such therapeutic compositions is within the skill of the art. 
     Treatment in the context of the present invention refers to both therapeutic treatment and prophylactic or preventative measures, wherein the object is to prevent or slow down (lessen) the targeted pathologic condition or disorder. Those in need of treatment include those already with the disorder as well as those prone to have the disorder or those in whom the disorder is to be prevented. 
     Another subject of the invention relates to a method of diagnosing an  E. faecalis  infection comprising the steps of:
     (a) contacting a sample obtained from a subject with the peptide according to the invention; and   (b) detecting the presence of an antibody against  E. faecalis  in the sample.   

     The peptides of the invention may be used for the detection of the  E. faecalis . Preferably such detection is for diagnosis, more preferable for the diagnosis of a disease, most preferably for the diagnosis of an  E. faecalis  infection. The peptides or polypeptides may be used to detect the presence of an  E. faecalis -specific antibody or fragment thereof e.g. in a sample obtained from a subject. The sample may be e.g. a blood sample. Alternatively, the presence of an  E. faecalis -specific antigen can be detected using an antibody of the invention. 
     Accordingly, an alternative method of diagnosing an  E. faecalis  infection comprises the steps of:
     (a) contacting a sample obtained from a subject with the antibody according to the invention; and   (b) detecting the presence of an antigen of  E. faecalis  in the sample.   

     The present invention also relates to diagnostic assays such as quantitative and diagnostic assays for detecting levels of the peptides or antibodies of the present invention in cells and tissues or body fluids, including determination of normal and abnormal levels. Assay techniques that can be used to determine levels of a peptide or an antibody, in a sample derived from a host are well known to those of skill in the art. Such assay methods include radioimmunoassays, competitive-binding assays, Western Blot analysis and ELISA assays (Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assays). Among these, ELISAs frequently are preferred. An ELISA assay initially comprises preparing an antibody specific to the peptide, particularly the antigen, preferably a monoclonal antibody. In addition, a reporter antibody generally is prepared which binds to the monoclonal antibody. The reporter antibody is attached to a detectable reagent such as radioactive, fluorescent or enzymatic reagent, such as horseradish peroxidase enzyme. 
     The peptides or antibodies of the present invention may also be used for the purpose of or in connection with an array. More particularly, at least one of the peptides or antibodies of the present invention may be immobilized on a support. Said support typically comprises a variety of antigens and fragments thereof whereby the variety may be created by using one or several of the peptides or antibodies of the present invention. The characterizing feature of such array as well as of any array in general is the fact that at a distinct or predefined region or position on said support or a surface thereof, a distinct polypeptide is immobilized. Because of this any activity at a distinct position or region of an array can be correlated with a specific polypeptide. The number of different peptides or antibodies of the present invention immobilized on a support may range from as little as 10 to several 1000 different peptides or antibodies of the present invention. 
     The manufacture of such arrays is known to the one skilled in the art and, for example, described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,744,309. The array preferably comprises a planar, porous or non-porous solid support having at least a first surface. Preferred support materials are, among others, glass or cellulose. It is also within the present invention that the array is used for any of the diagnostic applications described herein. Apart from the peptides or antibodies of the present invention also the nucleic acid molecules according to the present invention may be used for the generation of an array as described above. 
     In a last aspect, the peptide according to the invention is used for the isolation and/or purification and/or identification of an interaction partner of the peptide (a ligand), wherein the isolation and/or purification and/or identification of the ligand may be carried out as detailed below or as known to the person skilled in the art. In a preferred embodiment of the invention an affinity device may be used. The affinity device may comprise as least a support material and any peptide according to the present invention, which is attached to the support material. Because of the specificity of the peptides according to the present invention for their target cells or target molecules or their interaction partners, the peptides allow a selective removal of their interaction partner(s) from any kind of sample applied to the support material provided that the conditions for binding are met. The sample may be a biological or medical sample, including but not limited to, fermentation broth, cell debris, cell preparation, tissue preparation, organ preparation, blood, urine, lymph liquid, liquor and the like. The peptide may be attached to the matrix in a covalent or non-covalent manner. Suitable support material is known to the one skilled in the art and can be selected from the group comprising cellulose, silicon, glass, aluminum, paramagnetic beads, starch and dextrane. 
     More particularly, the isolation and/or purification and/or identification of the ligand may be carried out by contacting an isolated or immobilized peptide according to the invention with a candidate ligand under conditions to permit binding of the candidate ligand to the peptide, wherein the test system comprises a component capable of providing a detectable signal in response to the binding of the candidate ligand to said peptide; and detecting the presence or absence of a signal generated in response to the binding of the ligand to the peptide. The ligand may be an agonist or an antagonist. 
     Test systems for detection binding of a ligand are known to the skilled artisan and include e.g. binding assays with labeled ligand such as radioligands, fluorescence-labeled ligands or enzyme-labeled ligands. 
     The test compound can be any test compound either naturally occurring or chemically synthesized. Naturally occurring test compounds include in particular antibodies, preferably those showing similarity to the antibodies of the invention. In one preferred embodiment of the invention the test compound is provided in the form of a chemical compound library. Chemical compound libraries include a plurality of chemical compounds and have been assembled from any of multiple sources, including chemically synthesized molecules and natural products, or have been generated by combinatorial chemistry techniques. They are especially suitable for high throughput screening. They may be comprised of chemical compounds of a particular structure or compounds of a particular creature such as a plant. 
     The ligands identified may be employed, for instance, to inhibit diseases arising from infection with a member of the  Enterococcus  genus (Enterococci), especially  E. faecalis  and may therefore be formulated in a pharmaceutical composition. 
    
    
     
       The present invention is further illustrated by the following figures, examples and the sequence listing, from which further features, embodiments and advantages may be taken. It is to be understood that the present examples are given by way of illustration only and not by way of limitation of the disclosure. 
         FIGS. 1 to 21  demonstrate the protection achieved by active immunization with selected  E. faecalis  antigens in a rat model of catheter-induced endocarditis. 
     
    
    
     Table 1 shows the peptides of the present invention to be related to proteins from WO 04/106367. 
     Table 2 shows the DNA constructs made for expression of recombinant  E. faecalis  proteins prepared for assessing protection. 
     Table 3 shows the range of protection conferred by  E. faecalis  recombinant proteins in a rat model of catheter-induced endocarditis. 
     Table 4 presents all 46  E. faecalis  strains utilized for PCR and sequencing of vaccine-antigen encoding ORFs. 
     Table 5 shows a summary on the sequence conservation of the selected 9  E. faecalis  genes in forty-six isolates. 
     FIGURES 
       FIGS. 1 to 21 . Protection Achieved by Active Immunization with the  E. Faecalis  Antigens in a Rat Model of Catheter-Induced Endocarditis. 
     Male Sprague-Dawley rats immunized with recombinant  E. faecalis  proteins (each figure represents the data from one recombinant protein) were subsequently challenged i.v. with 1×10 6 -10 7  CFU of  E. faecalis  strain OG1RF for induction of endocarditis.  Enterococcus faecalis  OG1RF in the vegetations of control rats versus OG1RF in the vegetations of recombinant protein immunized rats are depicted (significance determined by the unpaired t-test). Data are expressed as log 10 colony-forming units per gram recovered from vegetation homogenates ˜48 h post infection; the log 10 no. of colony-forming units per gram for vegetation were combined and averaged. Horizontal bars represent geometric means. Circles represent experiments where the challenge dose was 10 6  cfu, and triangles represent challenge doses of 10 7  cfu, or data where challenge dose of 10 6  and 10 7  were combined. 
     EXAMPLES 
     Example 1 
     Identification of  Enterococcus faecalis  Antigens Eliciting Protective Immune Responses in a Rat Model of Catheter-Induced  E. faecalis  Endocarditis 
     Experimental Procedures 
     Cloning and Expression of Recombinant Enterococcal Proteins 
     Cloning of Genes/DNA Fragments: 
     The gene/DNA fragment of interest was amplified from genomic DNA of  E. faecalis  (strain V583; serogroup CPS-C) by PCR using gene specific primers. Apart from the gene specific part, the primers had restriction sites that aided in a directional cloning of the amplified PCR product. The gene annealing (specific) part of the primer ranged between 15-30 bases in length. The PCR products obtained were digested with the appropriate restriction enzymes and cloned into the pET28b (+) or pET41b (+) vector (Novagen) for His-tagged proteins. The constructs are listed in Table 2. Once the recombinant plasmid was confirmed to contain the gene of interest,  E. coli  BL21 Star™ (DE3) cells (Invitrogen) that served as expression host were transformed. 
     Expression and Purification of Proteins: 
       E. coli  BL21 Star™ cells harboring the recombinant plasmid were grown into log phase in the required culture volume. Once an OD 600nm  of 0.6 was reached the culture was induced with 0.5 mM IPTG for 3 hours at 37° C. The cells were harvested by centrifugation, lysed by a combination of the freeze-thaw method followed by disruption of cells with Bug-buster®, (Novagen). The lysate was separated by centrifugation into soluble (supernatant) and insoluble (pellet) fractions. Depending on the location of the protein different purification strategies were applied. A) If the His-tagged protein was in the soluble fraction, protein purification was done by binding the supernatant to Ni-Sepharose beads (Ni-Sepharose™ 6 Fast Flow, GE Healthcare). Due to the presence of the hexa Histidine (6×HIS) at the C-terminus of the expressed protein, it bound to the Ni-Sepharose while the other contaminating proteins were washed from the column by wash buffer. The protein was eluted by 500 mM Imidazole in 50 mM Tris, 0.5 mM NaCl buffer at pH 8.0. The eluate was concentrated, assayed by Bradford for protein concentration and checked by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. B) If the protein was present in the insoluble fraction the pellet was solubilized in suitable buffer containing 8 M Urea and applied onto the Ni-NTA column under denaturing conditions (in buffer containing 8 M Urea) using the same materials and procedure as mentioned above. Contaminating proteins were washed from the column by wash buffer without urea. Refolding of the His-tagged protein was performed while the protein was immobilized on the Ni-NTA matrix. After renaturation, proteins were eluted by the addition of 500 mM Imidazole. The eluate was dialyzed to remove traces of urea and concentrated if the volume was large, checked by SDS-PAGE and measured by the Bradford method. 
     Animal Protection Studies 
     Animals: 
     Male Sprague-Dawley rats (150 g) 
     Active Immunization: 
     100 μg of recombinant protein combined with Freund&#39;s complete adjuvant (CFA) was injected subcutaneously, into the flank. Groups of six to ten rats were immunized with each antigen. Animals were boosted in the same area with the same amount of protein and adjuvant (Freund&#39;s incomplete adjuvant (IFA)), on days 14 and 28. Animals were monitored for any discomfort or lesions and were provided free access to food and water. 
     Induction of Endocarditis: 
     One week following the final immunization, aortic valve endocarditis was produced in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The animals were anaesthetized using isoflurane for the placement of intravascular catheters. Hair was clipped at the surgical site and bupivicaine was administered (&lt;1 ml/kg body weight) prior to performing surgery at this site. The right carotid artery was exposed, and a sterile polyethylene catheter was inserted via a small incision and advanced 4 cm into the left ventricle. Proper positioning of the catheter was ensured by sensing resistance and vigorous pulsation of the line. Blood was collected at the time of catheter placement and approximately 0.5 ml of immune sera was stored at −80° C. Following placement of the catheter, the catheter was heat-sealed and left in place during the course of the experiment and the skin was closed with sutures. 
     Bacterial Challenge: 
     Twenty-four hours after catheterization, each rat was inoculated via tail vein with 10 6 -10 7  colony forming units (CFU) (10× the infectious dose 50 (ID 50 )) of  E. faecalis  strain OG1RF pre-mixed in 0.9% saline (0.2-0.4 ml volume). The animals were euthanized by CO 2  inhalation at 48 hours post-infection and the aortic valves examined. Vegetations were excised, weighed, and homogenized in 0.5 ml saline, and dilutions plated to BHI, BEA, and BHI+Rif100 agar for enumeration of CFU. Animals from which cultures of undiluted vegetations yielded no bacteria were considered to have had no induction of endocarditis. The number of infected and uninfected animals and of bacterial CFU recovered from non-immunized (control) versus immunized groups was compared to evaluate the protective effect of the antigens. Randomly picked colonies recovered from infected vegetations were also tested to re-confirm the identity of the infecting organism. 
     Results 
     In the present invention, 20  E. faecalis  antigens were tested in a rat catheter-induced endocarditis model. Groups of 6-10 rats were immunized with individual  E. faecalis  recombinant proteins combined with CFA (first immunization) or IFA (second and third immunizations). Of these, nine  E. faecalis  antigens showed a high level of protection (60-100%). In particular, 100% protection was observed in rats immunized with EF2703-1, 90% was observed in rats immunized with EF0032-2, 86% protection was observed in rats immunized with EF3177, and 71% protection was observed in rats immunized with either EF0792-1, EF1277, or EF3256-1.67% protection was observed for EF0270-2 and EF1060-1 and 62% protection was observed in rats immunized with EF3207. Partial protection (40-50% protection) was observed for seven proteins; EF0428, EF3051-1, EF1093-1, EF0779-2, EFC0034-1, EFA0042-1, and EF3183-1. Four proteins, EF1355, EF1026, EF1032 IB, and EF1692 appeared to show minimal protection (17-40%) (Table 3). 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 DNA constructs made for heterologous expression. The protein name corresponds to the 
               
               
                 nomenclature of the genes derived from the genome of  E. faecalis  strain V583. 
               
               
                 The restriction sites (RE) used for cloning and the position (start/stop) of the 
               
               
                 amplicon are indicated for each construct. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 DNA 
                 Protein 
                 SEQ ID NO 
               
               
                 Construct 
                 Protein 
                 Vector 
                 RE 
                 (start/stop) 
                 (start/stop) 
                 (DNA, protein) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 1 
                 EF0032-2 
                 pET28b (+) 
                 NcoI/XhoI 
                 1381/2613 
                 461/871 
                  1, 21 
               
               
                 2 
                 EF0270-2 
                 pET28b (+) 
                 NcoI/XhoI 
                 1348/1896 
                 450/632 
                  2, 22 
               
               
                 3 
                 EF0428 
                 pET28b (+) 
                 NcoI/XhoI 
                   1/1110 
                  1/370 
                  3, 23 
               
               
                 4 
                 EF0779-2 
                 pET28b (+) 
                 NcoI/XhoI 
                  970/1785 
                 324/595 
                  4, 24 
               
               
                 5 
                 EF0792-1 
                 pET28b (+) 
                 NcoI/XhoI 
                 115/657 
                  39/219 
                  5, 25 
               
               
                 6 
                 EF1026 
                 pET28b (+) 
                 BspHI/XhoI 
                  1/810 
                  1/270 
                  6, 26 
               
               
                 7 
                 EF1032 IB 
                 pET28b (+) 
                 NcoI/XhoI 
                   1/2235 
                  1/745 
                  7, 27 
               
               
                 8 
                 EF1060-1 
                 pET28b (+) 
                 NcoI/XhoI 
                  82/1659 
                  28/553 
                  8, 28 
               
               
                 9 
                 EF1093-1 
                 pET28b (+) 
                 NcoI/XhoI 
                  97/1782 
                  33/594 
                  9, 29 
               
               
                 10 
                 EF1277 
                 pET28b (+) 
                 BspHI/XhoI 
                  1/480 
                  1/160 
                 10, 30 
               
               
                 11 
                 EF1355 
                 pET28b (+) 
                 NcoI/XhoI 
                   1/1617 
                  1/539 
                 11, 31 
               
               
                 12 
                 EF1692 
                 pET28b (+) 
                 NcoI/XhoI 
                  1/564 
                  1/188 
                 12, 32 
               
               
                 13 
                 EF2703-1 
                 pET28b (+) 
                 NcoI/XhoI 
                  88/1122 
                  30/374 a   
                 13, 33 
               
               
                 14 
                 EF3051-1 
                 pET28b (+) 
                 AflIII/XhoI 
                 109/765 
                  37/255 
                 14, 34 
               
               
                 15 
                 EF3177 
                 pET28b (+) 
                 NcoI/XhoI 
                  1/789 
                  1/263 
                 15, 35 
               
               
                 16 
                 EF3183-1 
                 pET28b (+) 
                 AflIII/XhoI 
                  76/1074 
                  26/358 
                 16, 36 
               
               
                 17 
                 EF3207 
                 pET28b (+) 
                 AflIII/XhoI 
                  1/972 
                  1/324 b   
                 17, 37 
               
               
                 18 
                 EF3256-1 
                 pET28b (+) 
                 NcoI/XhoI 
                  73/927 
                  25/309 c   
                 18, 38 
               
               
                 19 
                 EFA0042-1 
                 pET41b (+) 
                 NcoI/XhoI 
                 121/801 
                  41/267 
                 19, 39 
               
               
                 20 
                 EFC0034-1 
                 pET41b (+) 
                 NcoI/XhoI 
                  10/1341 
                  4/447 d   
                 20, 40 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   a The residue Lysine at position 39 relative to the native protein was changed to an Isoleucine according to the sequence confirmation of the expression construct. 
               
               
                   b The residue Phenylalanine at position 40 relative to the native protein was changed to a Leucine according to the sequence confirmation of the expression construct. 
               
               
                   c The residue Lysine at position 237 relative to the native protein was changed to a Glutamic acid according to the sequence confirmation of the expression construct. 
               
               
                   d The residue Phenylalanine at position 236 relative to the native protein was changed to a Tyrosine according to the sequence confirmation of the expression construct. Mutations could be due to PCR amplification or be mutations in the particular V583 strain used for PCR amplification; SEQ ID NOs: 41-44 are fragments corresponding to the cases described under a-d, where such differences are not present. 
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Protection conferred by  E. faecalis  recombinant proteins in a rat 
               
               
                 model of catheter-induced endocarditis. Sprague-Dawley rats 
               
               
                 (6-10 rats per group) were immunized subcutaneously with 
               
               
                 100 μg of the respective recombinant protein cloned from 
               
               
                   E. faecalis  strain V583 adjuvanted with CFA/IFA. Rats were then 
               
               
                 challenged intravenously with 10 6 -10 7  CFU of  E. faecalis   
               
               
                 strain OG1RF. Rats with sterile cultures of undiluted vegetation 
               
               
                 homogenates were considered to have had no induction of 
               
               
                 endocarditis and therefore were protected. Fisher&#39;s exact test 
               
               
                 was used to derive p values by comparing total number of 
               
               
                 infected/non-infected by OG1RF versus infected/non-infected 
               
               
                 by OG1RF + recombinant protein. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Protection 
                 p-values of 
                   
               
               
                   
                 (% animals in 
                 protection 
                 p-values of CFU 
               
               
                   
                 which no 
                 (infected vs. non- 
                 treated vs. 
               
               
                 Recombinant 
                 infection was 
                 infected) (Fisher&#39;s 
                 untreated 
               
               
                 proteins 
                 detected) 
                 exact test) 
                 (unpaired t-test) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 EF2703-1 
                  6/6 (100%) 
                 0.0001 
                 &lt;0.0001 
               
               
                 EF0032-2 
                 9/10 (90%)  
                 0.0008 
                 0.0002 
               
               
                 EF3177 
                 6/7 (86%) 
                 0.0004 
                 0.0001 
               
               
                 EF0792-1 
                 5/7 (71%) 
                 0.0037 
                 0.0044 
               
               
                 EF1277 
                 5/7 (71%) 
                 0.0037 
                 0.0045 
               
               
                 EF3256-1 
                 5/7 (71%) 
                 0.0037 
                 0.0112 
               
               
                 EF0270-2 
                 4/6 (67%) 
                 0.0450 
                 0.0424 
               
               
                 EF1060-1 
                 4/6 (67%) 
                 0.0116 
                 0.0113 
               
               
                 EF3207 
                 5/8 (62%) 
                 0.0079 
                 0.0049 
               
               
                 EFC0034-1 
                 3/6 (50%) 
                 0.0631 
                 0.0326 
               
               
                 EFA0042-1 
                 3/6 (50%) 
                 0.0631 
                 0.0315 
               
               
                 EF0428 
                 3/6 (50%) 
                 0.2786 
                 0.2305 
               
               
                 EF3051-1 
                 3/6 (50%) 
                 0.0631 
                 0.0813 
               
               
                 EF3183-1 
                 3/6 (50%) 
                 0.0631 
                 0.2920 
               
               
                 EF1093-1 
                 3/7 (43%) 
                 0.1336 
                 0.0367 
               
               
                 EF0779-2 
                 3/7 (43%) 
                 0.0938 
                 0.0072 
               
               
                 EF1355 
                 2/6 (33%) 
                 0.2341 
                 0.2394 
               
               
                 EF1026 
                 2/7 (28%) 
                 0.6080 
                 0.1468 
               
               
                 EF1692 
                 1/6 (17%) 
                 1.0000 
                 0.7784 
               
               
                 EF1032 IB 
                 1/6 (17%) 
                 1.0000 
                 0.6286 
               
               
                 adjuvant-only 
                 1/6 (17%) 
                 1.0000 
                 0.7528 
               
               
                 negative control 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
               
            
               
                 DNA sequences: 
                   
               
               
                 Construct 1: EF0032-2 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 1) 
                   
               
               
                 ATGGTCACTGGTATTTTAGATGATTGGAACTACGCATCACGCAGCTTGTATTCTGAGCCTTATCCTGACTTAAAA 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AATCTAGTCGATCAAACAAAAAAAGAAAATGATACCTTTTACCGCTTGGAAAATTTAAATGGTGTTTCGGCCAAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GACGGCATTAACTATGGCTACAGTGGCATTAGCATGTTTTCTTCCGTACGGAACCGACATTCTTCAACATACCTA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AACGCCTTAGGTTTCCGCTCACGAGGCACGAATTTAAATATTCGTTACCAAAATAATACCTTGTTAATGGATGCT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTGATGGGCATTAAATACAATATTGCTGAAAACAATCCAATGAAATTCGGCTTTGAGCGACAAGCTGCTGCTGGT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AAATATCAGCTTTATCGTAACGAAAATGCTTTGCCGTTAGGATTTTTAGCAGACAAAGAGATTTACAATGTCCGG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CAACCTCTCAATGATAATTTAGGTAGTCAAACAAATTTACTAAATGCTTTAGCCAATACTAATGAACGGTATTTT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ACCTTTTATCAACCAACGATGACGCTTCAAAATAACGTGACAATTACGCAAAATACAGCTGGCGTAACTTTTACG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GAGAAACAACATAACGTAGCCAAAGAGATTTCTTATACAGTCAATGTGCCCGCCAATACGCAAGCTTATTTGAGT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTATTCCCAACGGATTTTGCTCAATTGGAAAGTTCCACTGCGACGGTCACCGTGAACGGCTCAAGTCAGCAATCA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CAAATTGGCATTACTGGCCAATATTATAACTTAGGTTACTATCCCAAAGATACAACCGTTAACTTCAAAGTAAGT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTTTATGGAACCAAAGCAGTAAGTTTTGTTCAGCCGCAAGTGGTTGGCTTAAATACCAATGCATTTGAAAAAGCC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATTTCCGCCGTGCAAGAAAAAGGCGTTGATTTAACAACTGGCAAACGCTCTGCTTCAGGTACCTTTACCGCCGAC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AAAGATCAAGTACTCGTCACTACAATTCCTTATGACAAAGGTTGGCGTGTCAAAATTGATGGCAAAAAAGTTACC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CCAAAAGCCTTTAAAGATGCCTTTCTAAGCGTTCCTGTCAGCGCTGGAACCCATACTATTCAGTTCTCTTATTTA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CCAGAAGGATTGATTCCTGGCATCGTGTTATTCGTTCTATGTACTGGTGGTTTCGTTGCCTACGTAACCTTGATT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CCTGCTAGACGAAACCGTAAAAAAGAAGACAAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 2: EF0270-2 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 2) 
                   
               
               
                 GCCATTGCAGCGGTCGTTGGTTTTGGTCTAACATTCTTCTTCTGGAAAGACAATACAGTTGAGGAAGAAGAAGTG 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATTATTGATAAAACAACGATTAAAAAAGAAAATATTACAAGTCCAGTCAAAGGACGAGTGTTATCTTTAAAAAAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GCAGAGGATCCTGCTTTTGCAAATGGAGCATTAGGAAATGGGGTCGTGATTGAACCAACGGAAGGTAAAGTGGTT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GCACCCTTTGATGGAACGATTGTCACACTATTCCCAACAAAACATGCATTAGGTTTGATTTCAGATAACGGCACA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GAATTATTGATTCATATTGGGATTGATACAGTTCAATTAGAAGGCGAAGGCTTTGAAGCTTTTGTAAAACAAGGT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GACCGCGTGAAAAAAGGTCAAACATTAGTAACCTTTGATTTAGAAGGAATTAAAAAAGCTGGGTTTAGTACACAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATTCCAATCGTTGTGACGAATACAGCGGATTATTTAGATATTTTGGAAGTCGGCAGTAATGAAGTTTCAACAAGT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GATGATTTGCTGACCGCTTTAATA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 3: EF0428 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 3) 
                   
               
               
                 TTGCCGATGATTATTAAACAGGAACAATTCATACCAAAAGATACAGTAGAAACAACGATTGACTTATTAATTAGA 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AATTTAACAACGATTAAAGATAACACAGGTGAATTTCTGTTAGATTTTGATGGTTTAAAAGTTGATGACAAAAGT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TGGACGATTTGGAACTGGCCGCAAGGCGTTGGGTTGTATGGTATATATAAGAATTATCGAAATACTAAAAGTGAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AAAGCTTTACAAGTAGTTAACGACTGGTTTGAAGGTCGGATGCAAGAAGGCGCGCCGCCTAAGAATGTGAATACG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATGGCTCCGCTTTTAACAATGGCTTATCTATATGAAGACACTAAAGACTCTAAATATATACCTTACTTAGAGCAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TGGGCGGAATGGGTGATGGAAGAAATGCCCCGAACGAATGAAGGTGGCTTGCAACATGCGACATATGGACCAGAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AATAAAAATCAATTATGGGATGATACGTTAATGATGACTGTCTTACCTTTGGCAAAAATTGGTAAGTTGTTGAAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CGACTCGATTATTTGGAAGAAGCAAAGCATCAATTTTTAATCCATATTAAATATTTACAAGATAAAAAAAGTGGT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CTATGGTATCACGGTTGGACTTTTGAGGGAAATCATAACTATGCGGAAGCACTGTGGGCAAGAGGAAACTGCTGG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATTACGATTGCTATTCCAGAAATTATTGAAATCTTAGAGTTGCCAAAAGGAGATAGTTTACGGGAATTTTTATTG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AGTACCCTCAATGCGCAAGTGGCAGCTTTAGCGAAATACCAAGATGAATCTGGTTTATGGCATACATTAATTAAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GATTCAAATTCGTATTTAGAATCTTCTGCTACAGCGGGATTCGCTTATGGGATTTTAAAAGCGGTTCATAAAAAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TATATTTCTTCTGAATATGAAGAAGTGGCAAACAAAGCAATTGCTGGCTTACTAAATGAGATTGATGAAACGGGA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GAAGTACAACATGTGTCAGTTGGTACAGGAATGGGTGATAATTTAGATTTTTATCGCACAATTGGAATGACAGCG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATGCCTTATGGTCAATCATTAACAATCCTATGTTTGACTGAATTGCTTGTTTCTTATTGC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 4: EF0779-2 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 4) 
                   
               
               
                 GGCTATATAATTTTCAACGCTGTTTACTTAACAGGGCTATTAGAATCAAAACCTTTGATTATTTCGCATCGAGGG 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GTCACCAATAGTAATGGCGTACAAAATACCATTCCTGCTATGGAAAGAACCATTAAATTTAAACCAGATTATATT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GAAATTGATGTTCAAGAAACCAAAGACCATCAATTTGTTGTGATGCATGATGCAAACCTTCAAGAACTCGCCGGC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GTTGATGGCACGCCGCAAGAATTTACGTTGGCTGAATTAACAAAAATGACCGTTAAAGAAAATGGCCAAGAAGCA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CCAATTGCCAGTTTTGATGATTATTTAGCGAAAGCAAACCAAGCCAAACAAAAATTACTAGTAGAAATTAAAACG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TCTAAACAAGATAGTCAAGGTGCGCTTTCTAACTTTATTGAAAAATATGAACGTCCTCTGATAAAGAATAACCAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CAGGTTCAATCTCTCGACTACAATGTGATCAAAGCGTTTAAAAAAGCCAAATCAAAAGTAAAAGTTAGTTTTATT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTGCCCTATAATTTCACTTTTCCAGAAACACAAGCTGATTTGTATACAATGGAAGCTACTACGTTGAATGATACC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTCATTTTAAAAGCTGACCAACAGAAAAAAGCAGTTTATGCTTGGACAGTTAATGACTCAGAGGTATTGAGTAAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATGCTCTTTATGGACGTTGCTGGAGTGATTACCGATGATTTGGAGTTAGTCAATGAAGAAGTCAATGACTTTGAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AAAAATCCGTCGTATGCGGATCGTATTTTGCATTATATTTTTATGCTACCAAGTGTGGCTTCTCAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 5: EF0792-1 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 5) 
                   
               
               
                 TTAGCTCAAGGAAATCGTTTAGCCGTAGATCAATGGCAAGCGAATCAAGTGGTTTTATCAAAAGAGGCCAATAGT 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AATTTAAATGTATCAGTGTTAGATGAAAACGTGAAAGAAACGATTTCAGGAGGCAAAATTGCACCGATTGGTCAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CAATCTTTAGCCATCCGCCCAGCAGATGATAAAAAGGCTGAATTAACGAATGTTAGCTTATTTGGGATTGAAAAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GAAAGTTTTTTAATGCCAAAAGTGATTGAAGGAAACGCATTTACTGATAAAAATCAAGTGATTGCTTCAGAAACA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTGAAAAATCAAGGATTTAAAATTGGCGACAAATTAACTGCAGGGAAATATGATGAGCAATTAGAAATTGTCGGC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTTATTTCTAAAAGTAGCTATAACATTGTGCCAGTTATTTACACTTCTCTGGATACTTGGCGGTCAATTAAATAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GGTGACAATCCAGCAATGGCCAAAATGGTTAATGGTTTCATTGTTCGCAGCAAGGACAACACGGAAGTTAAAACG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ACTAATAAAGACAGCCAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 6: EF1026 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 6) 
                   
               
               
                 ATGAAAAAAGAGATCATTGTTTATACTATTTCCGATTCACTTGGAGAAACATCACAAAAATTGTTAGCTGCAGCA 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AGCGCACAATATCCAGATATTTCTTTTCTTAATCGATACAATTTTTCTTTTGTCACAACAGAAGAAGAATTATTA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GAGATTTTAAAAGATGCCTTAAAAGATAAAGCCTTAGTTGTCAGTACATTAGTCAGTAAACAACTAATCACAGCG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GCGAAAGAATTTAGTGAACGAACAGGGTTGTTATATTTAGATTTAATGGCGCCATTTTTTGAATTAATTCAAGCG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AAAGCCGGAGTAGATCCTATTGAAGAGCCTGGACGACGCCACCAACTAGATCGTGCCTATTTTGATAAAATCTCA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GCGATTGAATTTGCTGTAAAATATGATGATGGCAAAAATCCTCAAGGGTTTCTTGATTCTGATATATTGTTGTTA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GGCGTTTCGCGGACCTCAAAGACGCCAGTCAGTATGTATTTAGCGAATCAAGGCTACCGCGTTTCTAACTTACCA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTAATTCCAGAAGTTCCATTGCCGCCAATTTTGGAAGAAATGGATCCACAAAAAATGATTGGTTTAGTTTGTTCG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CCAGAAACATTAGGACAGATTCGTAGCAGTCGGTTGGCTTCCTTAGGTTTAGGTAATGAGACCAGTTATACCAAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GTTGAACGGATTGAACAAGAATTAGCTTATGCCGAAGAGATTTTTGCGAAGTATGGCATCCCAGTGATTGATGTA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ACCGCAAAATCTGTCGAAGAAACAGCCTTTTTAATTAAAGAAAAACTAGATGAAAGAAAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 7: EF1032 IB 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 7) 
                   
               
               
                 ATGGAATGGATTGAAATTAAGCACGCAACACAAAATAATTTGAAGAATATCTCTGTCAATATCCCTAAAAAGCAA 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CTAACTGTTGTTACTGGACTTTCGGGTTCAGGAAAGTCCTCCTTAGTATTTGACACATTAGCCGCTGAATCACGT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CGTGAACTAAATGATACATTTAGTTCGTTTGTTCAAAATTACTTACCCAAATATGGTCGTCCAGAAGTTGAAAAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATCGAGAATCTTCCTGTTGCAATTGTCATTGACCAGAAAAAAGTAGCAGGTAATTCTCGTTCGACAGTGGGAACG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TACACAGATATTTATACGTTTTTACGTTTGCTGTTTTCACGAGCAGGTTCTCCATTTGTTGGTTATTCAGATACT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTTTCGTTTAATCATCCGGATGGAAAATGTCCAACATGCGATGGCTTAGGAAAGATTACCGAAATCAATCTTCAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CAGCTAGTTGATTATGACAAATCATTAAACAAAGGGCCTATCGATTTCCCCACATTTACAGTTGGCAACTGGCGG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TGGAAGCGTTATGCCCATAGTGGTCTATTTGATTTGGATAAAAAAATCAAGGACTATTCTCCTGAAGAGTTAGCA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTATTTTTATATGCTCCACAACAAAAACTAGCTAATCCACCCAAAGAGTGGCCTCATACAGCTTTGTATGAAGGA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATCGTCCCGCGTATGCAACGTAGCATATTGCATACAGACGAAGGCAAACGTCATCAAAAATACCTTAATCACTTT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GTTACCGTAAAAAGATGTCCTGATTGTTTAGGAAGTAGAGTCAATGAACGTGTTCGTAGCTGCAAAATTAATCAG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AAAAGTATTGCTGATGCTGTTGACATGCCACTCACTGAATTACATTCTTTTATTCGTTCAATGGACCTATCCTTA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATAAAAACTATTCAAGAAGAGCTACTTGTACGTCTAGAAGCATTAATTAATATCGGTCTCTCCTACCTCACATTA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GGACGAGCAACTGAAACACTTTCTGGTGGTGAAGCACAGCGGATTAAAATTGCTAAGTATGTAAACAGCGCCTTA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AATGATATTATGTATATTTTAGATGAACCAAGTGCTGGCTTACATCCAAAGGACATCGAACGGATCAGTCGTGCA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTGCTCAATTTAAAAAATAAAGGAAACACCGTGGTTCTCGTGGAACATAATCCACAATTAATTAGAGAAGCTGAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTTATCATCGATATCGGACCTTTCGCAGGCGAAAATGGTGGCCATGTCCAGTTTTCAGGAACGTATGACGCATTT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTAGTCTCCAAAACCTTGACTAGTCAAGCGCTTCAAGAGCCGCTCCCTTTAAACGACCAACCAAGAAAAGCAAGG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AAGTCTTTATCAATCGAACATGCGACACTGCATAATTTAAACAATCTATCTGTCGAAGTTCCGTTAGGAGTTTTG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ACTGTTATTTGTGGGGTCGCTGGTTCAGGTAAATCATCATTAGCGGAAGAAATTTATCAAAAAGCCCAGGCTGAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AACCAAGAAATTATTCATCTTTCACAAAAAAGCATTACCGCAAATTTACGATCCACACCTATGACCTATCTTAAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATTTTTGATAAGGTCCGCAAACTGTTTGCGGAAGAAAATCATGTTAGTCCAGCTTTATTTAGCTATAATTCCAAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GGCGCCTGTCCTACTTGCAAGGGGAAAGGCATAATTGTCTCCGATATGTCTTTTATGGAGGATGTTACTAGTATT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TGCGAAACCTGTCACGGAACGCGTTACAAAGAAGAGGTGCTTCATTATCTGTATAACGGAAAAAATATCGTTGAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GTACTAGCTTTAAGCGTTAAAGATGGCTATGATTTTTTCAAAGACCAGCCTTTTGCTCTTTCATTAAAAAATTTA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CTGGAAGTTGGCTTAAGCTATCTTAAACTCAATCAATCGCTCTCAACATTATCTGGTGGCGAATTGCAAAGGGTA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AAATTAGCAGACACACTTCACCAAAAAAAAGCTATCTATTTAATGGATGAACCTACAGATGGTTTACACTTAATT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GATATCCAACAAAGTCTTCAACTTTTCAATCGAATGGTAGAAGAAGGAAACAGCTTGATTTTATTAGAACATCAC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATTGATGTGATTAAAAGTGCCGACTGGTTGATTGAACTAGGTCCCGAAGGTGGAAAAAATGGCGGACAGCTTCTT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTTACAGGAACCCCAGCAAATATGCTAAATTCCACTCATTCTATTACTAAAGGCTATCTG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 8: EF1060-1 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 8) 
                   
               
               
                 GATAGTAACAAAGCAGCGGAACAAAAAATTGCAATTAGTTCTGAAGCGGCTATTTCGACAATGGAACCACACACA 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GCGGGGGATACGACCTCGACTTTAGTCATGAATCAAGTTTATGAAGGACTCTATGTTTTAGGTAAAGAAGATGAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTAGAGTTGGGGGTCGCTGCCGAAGAACCAGCGATTTCTGAAGATGAAACCGTTTATACATTTAAGATTAGAGAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GATGCCAAATGGTCGAATGATGATCCAGTAACAGCAAACGACTTTGTTTATGCATGGCAACAAGTTGCTTCCCCT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AAATCAGGATCGATTCATCAAGCTTTATTTTTTGATGTCATTAAAAATGCTAAGGAAATTGCTTTAGAAGGCGCA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GATGTGAATACTCTTGGGGTTAAGGCGCTAGATGATAAAACGTTAGAAATAACTTTAGAACGGCCCACCCCTTAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTGAAATCATTACTTTCGTTTCCTGTTTTGTTTCCACAAAATGAAAAATATATCAAAGAACAAGGGGATAAATAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GCTACTGATGCAGAACATTTGATTTATAATGGTCCTTTTAAATTGAAAGAATGGGATAATGCCTCTTCTGATGAC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TGGACCTACGAAAAAAATGATACGTATTGGGATGCTGAAAAAGTTAAATTAACAGAAGCGAAAGTTTCAGTAATT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AAGAGCCCAACGACAGCGGTGAATTTGTTTGACTCGAATGAATTGGATGTAGTGAATAAGCTAAGTGGTGAATTT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATTCCTGGTTATGTTGATAATCCAGCCTTTCTTTCAATTCCTCAATTCGTCACATACTTTTTAAAAATGAACAGC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GTTCGTGATGGAAAAGAAAATCCGGCTTTAGCGAACAACAATATTCGTAAAGCGTTGGCACAAGCTTTTGATAAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GAAAGTTTTGTAAAAGAAGTCTTGCAAGATCAATCAACGGCTACAGATCAAGTAATTCCGCCGGGACAAACGATT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GCGCCAGATGGAACAGATTTCACAAAACTAGCTGCTAAGAAAAATAACTACTTAACCTACGATACAGCGAAAGCA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AAAGAATTCTGGGAAAAAGGGAAAAAAGAAATTGGGCTGGATAAAATCAAATTAGAATTTTTAACAGATGATACA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GACAGCGCCAAAAAAGCTGCTGAGTTTTTCCAATTTCAATTGGAAGAAAATCTAGATGGATTAGAAGTGAATGTT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ACTCAAGTTCCTTTTACTATTCGTGTTGATCGTGATCAAACGAGAGACTATGATTTAGAATTATCTGGTTGGGGA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ACCGATTATCGTGATCCATTAACAGTTATGCGCATCTTTACTTCGGATAGTACCTTGGGCGGCGTAACGTTCAAG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AGTGATACGTATGATCAATTAATTCAAGAAACTAGAACAACACATGCGGCTGATCAAGAGGCTCGTTTAAATGAC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTTGCTCAAGCACAAGATATTTTGGTGAATCAGGAAACGGTTTTAGCACCAATCTACAATCGAAGCATTTCTGTA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTAGCTAATCAAAAAATCAAGGATCTGTATTGGCATTCATTTGGACCCACGTACAGTTTAAAATGGGCTTATGTT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AAC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 9: EF1093-1 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 9) 
                   
               
               
                 GAAGAAAATGGGGAGAGCGCACAGCTCGTGATTCACAAAAAGAAAATGACGGATTTACCAGATCCGCTTATTCAA 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AATAGCGGGAAAGAAATGAGCGAGTTTGATAAATATCAAGGACTGGCAGATGTGACGTTTAGTATTTATAACGTG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ACGAACGAATTTTACGAGCAACGAGCGGCAGGCGCAAGCGTTGATGCAGCTAAACAAGCTGTCCAAAGTTTAACT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CCTGGGAAACCTGTTGCTCAAGGAACCACCGATGCAAATGGGAATGTCACTGTTCAGTTACCTAAAAAACAAAAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GGTAAAGATGCAGTGTATACCATTAAAGAAGAACCAAAAGAGGGTGTAGTTGCTGCTACGAATATGGTGGTGGCG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTCCCAGTTTACGAAATGATCAAGCAAACAGATGGTTCCTATAAATATGGAACAGAAGAATTAGCGGTTGTTCAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATTTATCCTAAAAATGTGGTAGCCAATGATGGTAGTTTGAAAAAAGTAGGAACTGCTGAAAATGAAGGATTAAAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GGCGCAGAATTTGTTATTTCTAAAAGCGAAGGCTCACCAGGCACAGTAAAATATATCCAAGGAGTCAAAGATGGA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTATATACATGGACAACGGATAAAGAACAAGCAAAACGCTTTATTACTGGGAAAAGTTATGAAATTGGCGAAAAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GATTTCACAGAAGCAGAGAATGGAACGGGAGAATTAACAGTTAAAAATCTTGAGGTTGGTTCGTATATTTTAGAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GAAGTAAAAGCTCCAAATAATGCAGAATTAATTGAAAATCAAACAAAAACACCATTTACAATTGAAGCAAACAAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CAAACACCTGTTGAAAAAACAGTCAAAAATGATACCTCTAAAGTTGATAAAACAACACCAAGCTTAGATGGTAAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GATGTGGCAATTGGCGAAAAAATTAAATATCAAATTTCTGTAAATATTCCATTGGGGATTGCAGACAAAGAAGGC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GACGCTAATAAATACGTCAAATTCAATTTAGTTGATAAACATGATGCAGCCTTAACTTTTGATAACGTGACTTCT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GGAGAGTATGCTTATGCGTTATATGATGGGGATACAGTGATTGCTCCTGAAAATTATCAAGTGACTGAACAAGCA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AATGGCTTCACTGTCGCCGTTAATCCAGCGTATATTCCTACGCTAACACCAGGCGGCACACTAAAATTCGTTTAC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTTATGCATTTAAATGAAAAAGCAGATCCTACGAAAGGCTTTAAAAATGAGGCGAATGTTGATAACGGTCATACC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GACGACCAAACACCACCAACTGTTGAAGTTGTGACAGGTGGGAAACGTTTCATTAAAGTCGATGGCGATGTGACA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GCGACACAAGCCTTGGCGGGAGCTTCCTTTGTCGTCCGTGATCAAAACAGCGACACAGCAAATTATTTGAAAATC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GATGAAACAACGAAAGCAGCAACTTGGGTGAAAACAAAAGCTGAAGCAACTACTTTTACAACAACGGCTGATGGA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTAGTTGATATCACAGGGCTTAAATACGGTACCTATTATTTAGAAGAAACTGTAGCTCCTGATGATTATGTCTTG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTAACAAATCGGATTGAATTTGTGGTCAATGAACAATCATATGGCACAACAGAAAACCTAGTTTCACCAGAAAAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GTACCAAACAAACACAAAGGTACCTTACCTTCAACA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 10: EF1277 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 10) 
                   
               
               
                 ATGAACATTTTTGCTGTCCGTTTAAAAGAGGCTTTAACAGCCAAGAACATCAAACCTAGTGATTTAGCGAAAAAA 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ACTGGCATCGGTAAATCTTCGATCAGCGATTGGCTAGCTGGTCGTTACGAAGCAAAACAAGACAAAGTTTATCGC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATTGCAGATGCATTAGACATTAATGAGGCCTGGTTGATGGGACAAGAAGTTCCCATGGAAAAAAATGCCTCAACT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATCGACCGCATTTATAAAAAATTAGAACCCCAACGACAAGCCATCGTTTATCAATTTGCCGAACAACAATTACAC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GAACAACAAACGCAAGCAGAAATTCTCTCATTCCCTCGCCGTGACGAAATGACACTGGCTGCCCACGCTGGGGAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CCAGAAAAGATATTTTCAAAAGAAGAGATCGAGAAAATTCACGATTACTTGGATGAAATTGATGCCAAATATCAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CAATCGATTTCTTCTGACAAAAAAGAGGAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 11: EF1355 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 11) 
                   
               
               
                 ATGGCTTATCAGTTTAAATTACCGGATATCGGTGAAGGGATTGCCGAAGGCGAAATCGTTAAATGGTTTGTAAAA 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CCTGGCGATACAATCAACGAAGACGATACGTTATTAGAAGTACAAAATGACAAATCAGTGGAAGAAATTCCATCA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CCAGTAACAGGTACTGTAAAAAATATCGTTGTACCAGAAGGAACAGTTGCAAACGTTGGTGACGTGTTAATCGAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATCGACGCACCTGGTCACGAAGATAACGATGCAGCACCAGCAGCTCCTGCACAAGAACAAACACCAGCACAACCT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GCTGCTGTACCAACAACCGAAGCAGCTGGCGGATTTTTCCAATTCAAATTACCAGACATCGGTGAAGGAATTGCC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GAAGGCGAAATCGTTAAATGGTTCGTTAAAGCGGGCGACACAATTAATGAAGATGATTCATTATTAGAAGTACAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AATGACAAATCAGTAGAAGAAATTCCATCACCAGTAACAGGTACTGTAAAAAATATCGTTGTACCAGAAGGAACA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GTTGCCAATGTGGGTGACGTGTTAGTTGAAATTGACGCACCTGGTCATAATTCAGCAGCACCGTCAGTCGCAGCA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CCAGCTACTGACGCTCCTAAAGCGGAAGCATCAGCTCCAGCCGCTTCAACAGGCGTAGTTGCAGCCGCTGATCCA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AACAAACGCGTTTTAGCAATGCCATCTGTTCGTCAGTATGCGCGTGAAAAAGACGTTGATATTACACAAGTAACT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GCAACTGGTAAAGGTGGCCGTGTCATTAAAGCGGATATTGATGCCTTTGTCTCTGGTGGTTCTCAAGCAGCCCCA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GCTACTGAAGCTGCCGCAACAGAAGCAGCACCTAAAGCGGAAGCAGCTGCACCTAAAGCAGCGCCAAAAGCCTTT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ACTTCTGATTTAGGCGAAATGGAAACACGTGAAAAAATGACACCAACACGTAAAGCAATTGCTAAAGCAATGGTT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AACAGCAAACACACTGCTCCTCACGTAACATTACATGATGAAGTAGAAGTTTCTAAATTATGGGATCACCGTAAG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AAATTTAAAGATGTTGCTGCTGCAAATGGTACAAAATTAACATTCTTACCATACGTTGTAAAAGCATTGACTTCA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ACTGTTCAAAAATTCCCAATCTTGAATGCATCAATCGATGACGCAGCACAAGAAATTGTTTACAAAAATTACTTT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AACATTGGTATCGCTACTGATACAGATCATGGCTTATATGTACCAAATGTTAAAAATGCTAATACGAAGAGCATG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTTGCTATCGCTGATGAAATCAACGAAAAAGCAGCATTGGCTATCGAAGGTAAATTAACTGCACAAGATATGCGT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GATGGTACAATCACAATTAGTAACATTGGTTCAGTCGGTGGCGGCTGGTTTACACCAGTAATCAACTACCCTGAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GTTGCTATTTTAGGCGTTGGTACAATTGCACAAGAACCAGTTGTTAATGCAGACGGCGAAATCGTTGTGGGACGC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATGATGAAATTATCATTAAGCTTTGACCACCGTATCGTTGACGGCGCAACTGCTCAAAAAGCAATGAACAACATT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AAACGCTTATTAGCTGATCCAGAATTACTATTAATGGAAGGA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 12: EF1692 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 12) 
                   
               
               
                 ATGGCAAAACGAATTATCATTATGAACTTTGATATTGAAAGTAAATCGTACCAAGCATTTTCCGAAATAAAAAAG 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATGCAGGCAGAAAGACAGCTTAAAGGTGAGCAAATGGCGGTTGTTACGCATGTTAATGATGGCCAGCATCAATTT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AAAATCAATGATTTTATCGATTTTACAGGCAACAATCATACATCAAAAGATAGCATGATTGGGATGCTAGTAGGC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATATTAGGTGGTCCTCTGGGCATTCTTTTTGGCTGGTTTGCTGGAAGTATGTATGGTGCAAGCAAAGACGCCAAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GAAATTCAAGAAGCACAAACGGTTTTTGAACATGTGATTCAAAAGATTGATGAAGGACAAACGGGATTGTTATTA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATTGCAGAAGAAGAAGACAACCGTCCGCTCAACCAATTGGTTATGTTTGACTTAGGTGGCGAAATCACGCGGCTT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GATTTAGAGGAAGTCCAACAAGAAATTAACGATGCGAACGAAGTTGCAAATGAAGCGAAACAATCGTGGCAAGCA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AAAAAAGAACAACACAAAGAAGCAACATCGAAAGAAGAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 13: EF2703-1 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 13) 
                   
               
               
                 GGTAGCTATTTAAAGAAAACAATTGATATAGGCTATGTTCCCATAAAAAATGATTATAATGAAGCGCAAAATAAA 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GATAGTCAATCGTTTTTGATTATGGGGCTAGACAATACAATTGAACGGAAATTAGGCACAACTAGGACTGATGCT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATGATGGTGATTACCGTGAATAACAAGACGAAGAAAATAACCTATTTAAGTTTGCCACGGGATAGTTTTGTTCAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATTGATGCGAAAAATTACCAAGGGATGCAGCGAATTGAAGCCGCCTATACCTACGATGGACCAACAGCTTCTGTT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AACACAGTTGAGAAATTATTGAATATTCCAATCAATCATTACGTTGTGTTTAACTTTTTATCTTTTATTAAGTTA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATTGATGCGGTTGGCGGCATAGATGTCAATGTCAAGCAGGCGTTTGATGGTGTCACCAAAGACGGGCCAGGATCC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATTCATTTTGATGCAGGGAAACAGCATTTAGATGGTACGAAAGCTTTATCTTATGCCCGTGAAAGACATAGCGAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AACGATATTATGCGTGGATTCCGACAACAAGAAATTATTCAAGCAGTTGAAGACAAGTTGAAATCTGGTCAATCA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATCATGAAAATAATGGACATTATTGATTCGTTAAATGGAAACATTCAAACTGATGTGGATTCCAATGAATTGACT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CATTTAGTCAAAGAAGGTTTGACTTGGACCAATTATGATAAACAACAGCTTTCTTTTGACTGGCGCACTTTTAGT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AATGAAGGGCGCAGTATGGTTGAACTATACCCAGATAGTATTGAAAATGTCCGTCATCAATTACGTGTGTCTTTA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AATTTAGAAAAGCCAGATGAACGAGATCAAGACGGCTATGTCTTCCATACGAACGGTGAATTTTTATATCAAAGT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GATTATACCGTTCAAGATGAAGCAGCTGAGGAAAACGAAATGACTTCCATCAACGGCAATACGTATATTGGTGTT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CCTGGTAATACACAGACCGGCCCGTTGCCATCAGTTAAAACGGAAAATGGCTTTATAAAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 14: EF3051-1 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 14) 
                   
               
               
                 TTTTCAAGTTGGTTTGATGATTCATATGTCAAAGCTAGTGCTGAATCAAGTAAAACAAAAGAACCAGCACCAGTT 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AAAATTGAGAAAAAAGTCAAACCTTTAAGCTATGGACAACAGGTCAATCAAGAAATTGAAAAGAAGCAATATGAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GGACATCTGGATTTGCCGTTAGAATTGCAGACAGATGCTAAATGGAAAGACACCGCATACGGATTTGGCAATGTG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GATAAGCCGAATACAATCGAAATTAATGGCTGTGCGATTGTATCGCTTGCAATGGTTGGTTCATACATGGATCAC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CAAGAAGTTACCCCTCTGGATGTGTTAGCTTGGGCAAAAAATGACTTCTTTATGGAAGGGCAAGGGACGGCGTGG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TCTATTTTTAGTGCATATGCTGAAATGAAAGGCTATAACTGTCAAGAAATTGGGGATATTGAAACAGTGGCAGCT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTCTTGAAGGAAGGTCATCCAGTCATTATTTCTGTAAAACCGGGCTATTTCACTACAACTGGTCACATTATGGTG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATGAGTGGTGTGGATGAAAAAGGCGATTTCTGGATTAATGATCCAAACGATTCAGAAGAAAAGGGCCATTCAAAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CGGACATTTACAGCCGAAGAAGTGATGAATGAAGCGTTAAACTTCTGGGCATTTTAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 15: EF3177 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 15) 
                   
               
               
                 ATGGACTTACATTTAACCGTTGATCTAAAAAAAACAAAGACACTCATTGACTTAGCCGATCAGGCCCACTTAATC 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATTGAACAAACAACTAAATTACCGAAAAAAGAGGCAGCGATTCTTTTCTTGCTAATAGATAACCAACTAGTTGCT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTAGGACTTGCTGAAGAAAAAGCTACATATAAAGAAGTTTCTTTTGATCACTCGATTTTATTGAAACCGACTTGG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GACACAGAACTTGCCTATTTAGCGCAAGCTTTCCTAGATGATGCGAAAGAAAGTGGTTTAACATTGGAAGCAACC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CCAACGACAGTCAAAATTCCGAAAAGTGCGGTAGCGACAGTGACTAACTATAAAGAAACAGTCACCTTTATCTTG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GAACGTTTTGGCTACTCTCTGTTTAAAAAACCGGCGCCGAAGAAAGCCAGACCAGCCAAAGCACGCCACAAATGG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ACAAAAGAAGTTAGCCAAATTCCTTTTTATATTGATACTCGACAAAGCAAAGCAACTGTTTTTTGGCAAAAGCGC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AATGAAATGCTTATTAAAGCTGGCGCGACAATGATGCCCGAAGCCCCTTTAAATAAAGACGGGTCTGTCGGTTTC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TCCGCTAGATTTGGTGAAAAACTTCGTGATGAACGCAAGGGCCAATTTAAAGACTTTGTCACAACGGAAGATATC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GTCTTAAAAAGCGTTAATGAAGTCGGCTTGTTTCTCTATTTTGCTGGAACAAACAGCTGGTTAGAGCTAGTTGAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GAGAACGGCAAAACCTTAAATGAATGGACTGTGGTGGAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 16: EF3183-1 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 16) 
                   
               
               
                 TCTGAATTTAATTTTGCGGTCACACCAACAATTCCCGAAAATCAAGTGGATAAATCAAAAACCTACTTTGACTTA 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AAAATGGCGCCTGGTGCCAAACAAACCGTAGAAATTCAGTTACGCAATGATACAGATGAAGACATTACCATTGAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AATACGGTGAACTCAGCGACAACAAATTTAAATGGCGTAGTAGAATATGGCCAAAACGGGATCAAACCTGACAAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ACCTTACGTTTTAACTTAAAAGATTATGTGGAAGCACCGAAAGAAATCATCTTGCCGAAGCATTCCCAAAAGACC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTACCTTTAACCATTACGATGCCTAAAGATTCTTTTGATGGCGTGATGGCTGGCGGTATAACACTCAAAGAGAAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AAGAAAGAAACAACGACTTCTGCGGATCAATCAAAAGGGTTAGCTATTAATAATGAATACTCCTATGTTGTGGCT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATTATTCTTCAGCAAAATGAGACAAAGGTTCAACCAGATTTAAAATTACTGGGGGTTAAACCAGGCCAAGTCAAC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GCGCGAAACGTCATCAATGTTTCTTTACAAAACCCACAAGCGGCCTATTTAAACCAATTACATTTAATCAACACT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GTTTCAAAAGGAGGCGAAACGCTTTACCAATCCGATACTGAGGATATGCAAGTGGCGCCAAACTCTAACTTTAGT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TACCCAATTTCTTTAAAAGGGGAACGATTAACGCCAGGAAAATATGTCTTGAAATCAACGGCCTATGGTGTAAAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GATGAAAAGGGCACCTATCAAGTCAAAGGCGCCAATGGTGAAGAACGGTACCTGTACAAATGGGAATTTACAAAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GAATTTACTATTTCTGGGGACGTCGCTAAAGAATTAAATGAAAAAGACGTAACCATTAAAGGAACCAATTGGTGG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTGTATCTACTGATTGCATTAATCATTCTAGCGCTGCTCTTATTGATTTTCTTCTTGTATCGTAAAAAGAAAAAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GAGGAAGAACAACAATCTGAGCAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 17: EF3207 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 17) 
                   
               
               
                 ATGTCCAAGAATTTTTGGGCAACATTGCCAAAGCCCTTTTTTGTTTTAGCACCGATGGAAGATGTCACTGATGTG 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GTCTTTCGTCATGTCGTGAAAGAAGCTGGGGCACCAGATGTGCTTTTTACAGAATTTACTAATTCGGATAGTTAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TGTCATCCTGAAGGAAAAGATAGTGTACGCGGGCGCCTCGTTTTTACAGAAGATGAACAGCCGATGGTGGCACAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATTTGGGGGGATAAACCGGAATTTTTCCGTGAAATGAGTATCGGCGTAGCGGAGATGGGCTTTCAAGGGTTAGAC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATAAATATGGGCTGTCCTGTGCCTAACGTGGCTGAGCGTGGAAAAGGCAGCGGGCTAATTTTGCGCCCAGAAGTC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GCGGCTGAATTGATTGACGCTGCCAAAGCAGGTGGCTTACCTGTTAGTGTCAAAACACGCATTGGGTTTACTGAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATGGCGGAAATGGAGGCGTGGATCACGCATTTATTAGAGCAAGACATTGCGAATCTATCCATTCATTTGCGAACA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CGAAAAGAGATGAGCAAAGTGGATGCCCATTGGGAGGTCATTCCGCAAATTATGGCTATTCGGGACCGTGTCGCA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CCGCAAACGACAATTACGATTAATGGGGATATTCCCGATCGTCAAAAGGGCCTAGAATTAGCAGAACAATATGGT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GTAGATGGCATCATGATTGGTCGGGGGATTTTTAAAAATCCTTATGCCTTTGAAAAAGAACCCAAAACACATACG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CCACAAGAATTGCTGGGCTTGCTACGTTTACAATTGGATTTGCAAGACAAATATGCGGAATTGGTGCCTCGCTCC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATCGTTGGGCTGCATCGCTTCTTTAAAATTTATGTCAAAGGCTTTCCAGGTGCCAGTGATTTAAGAGCACAATTA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATGAATACAAAATCAACGGATGAAGTGCGCCAGTTGTTAGCGACGTTTGAAACAGAACATGGTGTGCTTGAC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 18: EF3256-1 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 18) 
                   
               
               
                 GCAGACAAGAAAGACAACACAACGAACTCTTCTAGCGCAGCATCTTCAGAAACGAAAAAATCAACGGAATCATCA 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GCACCAGCGAAAAAAGTTGCCGGTGGCGATTTAAAAGATGGTACGTATAAATTAGAAGAAAAAAATGAAAAAAAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GGTTACCGTGCAGTCTTTGAAATGACTGTAAAAGACGGCAAAATCACTGAATCTAAATATGACAACATCAATGCT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GACGGCAAGTCTAAAACAGAAGACACTAAGTATGAAGAAAGCATGAAAGCAAAATCTGGTGTTGGACCAAAAGAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TACATCAAACAATTAAACGATTCTTTTGTTAAAGCACAAAGCGCAAGCGGTGTGGAAGTAGTAACTGGTGCGACT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CATTCATCTGAATCATTCCAAAACTACGCACAACAATTAATCCAAGCAGCACAAGCTGGTAACACAGACACAATC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GAAATCGACAATGGGGCAACATTGAAAGATGGTACGTACTCATTGAAAGAAAAAAATGACTCAAACGGCTACCAC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ACAACATTCTCAATGACTGTGAAAGATGGTAAAGTGACTGAATCTAACTACGATAACGTGAACGCTGACGGCAAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TCTAAAAAAGATGACACTGAATACGAAAGCAAAATG G AAGACGTTGCTGGCGTTGGACCAAAAGAATATATCGAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ACATTAAACAAAGAATTTGTTAAAGCAATGGGCGAAGAAGACGGATCACCTGCAGGTGTTGAAGTAGTAACTGGT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GCAACACACAGCACACATTCATTCATCAACTACGCACAACAATTAGTGAACGCTGCTGAAAAAGGCGACACAACT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GAAATCGTTGTTGACAACATCGTAACAAAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 19: EFA0042-1 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 19) 
                   
               
               
                 TTTGCACAAGAAATTATCCCTGATGATACTACGACACCGCCCATTGAAGTACCAACAGAACCAAGTACACCAGAA 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AAGCCAACAGATCCAACACCGCCAATTGAGCCACCTGTAGACCCTGTAGAGCCACCTATTACACCAACGGAGCCA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ACAGAACCGACAGAGCCGACAACACCAACAGAACCTGAAAAACCAGTAGTTCCAACGGAACCGACAACACCAACA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GAACCGACAACTCCTACAGAGCCAAGTGAACCAGAACAACCAACGGAGCCAAGTAAACCAGTAGAACCTGAAAAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CCAGTTACACCAAGCAAACCAGCAGAACCCGAAAAACCTGTGACACCAACTAAACCAACAGAACCTGAAAAACCA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GTACAACCAGCAGAACCAAGCAAGCCAATCGACGTTGTTGTAACGCCAACAGGGGAATTAAATCACGCTGGAAAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GGTACACAACAGCCAACAGTCCCTATTGAAACAAGTAATTTGGCAGAAATCACACACGTGCCAAGTGTAACAACA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CCTATTACAACTACAGACGGAGAAAACATTGTAGCTGTAGAAAAAGGTGTTCCACTTACACAAACAGCAGAAGGG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTAAAACCTATTCAATCGAGTTACAAAGTATTGCCTAGCGGAAATGTAGAAGTAAAAGGTAAGGACGGTAAAATG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AAGGTTTTACCATACACA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 20: EFC0034-1 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 20) 
                   
               
               
                 AATAAAAAAACACCAAAACCATTAACCCCACCCAAAGCCTTTTTTAACTGGTGTACTGCACAAATACCCACGTAT 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GAATGGCAAAACAAAAAGGAGACAATTCTTGCGAGTTCTCGCAAGAATTGCCCTATCATAAAAAAACGATTAACA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AAATACTCACGATTATCGTTTCCAACGAAATTTTACTCCTTTGGAATCATTCTCGTTCGTGCAAAACGAATTGAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATTCAAACCCATAGTTATTGGCAGACGATTACAGATGGAATAGAAAACCTTATCTATGAGCCGTCAAACCTTGAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CGGTTTTCAAACGATACCCATGTTAAAGCCCATTATGAGAACGGACATTGGCATGAGGGCTTGTTAGCAAATTAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GGTTTTATGAGTAGTGCTTATACAAATACAGTATTCTATCCAAATAACTGGCAAGAAAAACTAACCACTGTATCG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GAATTAAAGTACTTACAGTTACCTGAAATAGAACGTCAAGAACTAGCTCATATTTACAAATACCGAAACGAAATT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GAGTTTTTACAAAAGATAGGTGCCACAACCTTAGCGAATGAAATCATTTTTGACGACTATCGCAACGTTTTTGGA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CTGTATTTTCATAAAGTAGATATGAGAGTAATTACTAAGAAATGGCTAAAAGCGAATAAACAAAAATTAAAAACA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AGAAATCCAACCTTTCATGAAT A CATGTTAGAAAAAACGTTAAAAGAGCGAAATGCGCCTATGATAAACGAAATA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GAAAAGTACGTGCATTATTCGCAAATTAAGCAACTACCGAAAGAAGTGAACTTAACAAAGTTTCAAAAATGGTTT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATACGAAAAGGGGAGCGTTTTGACTATTATATGGACTATTTACACATGTTAGAAGAGTTGAACACCCCACTTAAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AACGATAGTGTATTGTATCCTGAAAACTTACAAGTAGCTCACGATAACGCTATGAACACGCTAAACCTTTTGAAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AGTGAGATTGAAGAAAAGCAGTATCAAGAACGGAAAAACCAAATTAAAGCGTTAGAAGCTGAAATTGACGATTTG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CTTTTTCTCACACCACATTCATTACAAGAAATCATTCAAGAAGGAAGTATTCTACGCCATTGTGTGGGCAGTCAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CACTATATCGAACGGCATACGCAAGGAAAAACAACGATTGTTTTTATCCGAAGAAAAGAAAAGCCAGATATGCCT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TACTTCACATTAGAATATCGAAATCAACAGGTTATACAAATACAAGGAAAATGTAACCGTCAGGAAGTACCAGAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AAGATAAAACAAGCAGTCAGACAATGGCAAGAGAATTTACAGCACGCCTTATCATCA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Protein sequences: 
               
               
                 Construct 1: EF0032-2 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 21) 
                   
               
               
                 MVTGILDDWNYASRSLYSEPYPDLKNLVDQTKKENDTFYRLENLNGVSANDGINYGYSGISMFSSVRNRHSSTYL 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 NALGFRSRGTNLNIRYQNNTLLMDALMGIKYNIAENNPMKFGFERQAAAGKYQLYRNENALPLGFLADKEIYNVR 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 QPLNDNLGSQTNLLNALANTNERYFTFYQPTMTLQNNVTITQNTAGVTFTEKQHNVAKEISYTVNVPANTQAYLS 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 LFPTDFAQLESSTATVTVNGSSQQSQIGITGQYYNLGYYPKDTTVNFKVSFYGTKAVSFVQPQVVGLNTNAFEKA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ISAVQEKGVDLTTGKRSASGTFTADKDQVLVTTIPYDKGWRVKIDGKKVTPKAFKDAFLSVPVSAGTHTIQFSYL 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 PEGLIPGIVLFVLCTGGFVAYVTLIPARRNRKKEDK 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 2: EF0270-2 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 22) 
                   
               
               
                 AIAAVVGFGLTFFFWKDNTVEEEEVIIDKTTIKKENITSPVKGRVLSLKNAEDPAFANGALGNGVVIEPTEGKVV 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 APFDGTIVTLFPTKHALGLISDNGTELLIHIGIDTVQLEGEGFEAFVKQGDRVKKGQTLVTFDLEGIKKAGFSTQ 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 IPIVVTNTADYLDILEVGSNEVSTSDDLLTALI 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 3: EF0428 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 23) 
                   
               
               
                 LPMIIKQEQFIPKDTVETTIDLLIRNLTTIKDNTGEFLLDFDGLKVDDKSWTIWNWPQGVGLYGIYKNYRNTKSE 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 KALQVVNDWFEGRMQEGAPPKNVNTMAPLLTMAYLYEDTKDSKYIPYLEQWAEWVMEEMPRTNEGGLQHATYGPE 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 NKNQLWDDTLMMTVLPLAKIGKLLNRLDYLEEAKHQFLIHIKYLQDKKSGLWYHGWTFEGNHNYAEALWARGNCW 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ITIAIPEIIEILELPKGDSLREFLLSTLNAQVAALAKYQDESGLWHTLINDSNSYLESSATAGFAYGILKAVHKK 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 YISSEYEEVANKAIAGLLNEIDETGEVQHVSVGTGMGDNLDFYRTIGMTAMPYGQSLTILCLTELLVSYC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 4: EF0779-2 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 24) 
                   
               
               
                 GYIIFNAVYLTGLLESKPLIISHRGVTNSNGVQNTIPAMERTIKFKPDYIEIDVQETKDHQFVVMHDANLQELAG 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 VDGTPQEFTLAELTKMTVKENGQEAPIASFDDYLAKANQAKQKLLVEIKTSKQDSQGALSNFIEKYERPLIKNNH 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 QVQSLDYNVIKAFKKAKSKVKVSFILPYNFTFPETQADLYTMEATTLNDTFILKADQQKKAVYAWTVNDSEVLSK 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 MLFMDVAGVITDDLELVNEEVNDFEKNPSYADRILHYIFMLPSVASQ 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 5: EF0792-1 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 25) 
                   
               
               
                 LAQGNRLAVDQWQANQVVLSKEANSNLNVSVLDENVKETISGGKIAPIGQQSLAIRPADDKKAELTNVSLFGIEK 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ESFLMPKVIEGNAFTDKNQVIASETLKNQGFKIGDKLTAGKYDEQLEIVGFISKSSYNIVPVIYTSLDTWRSIKY 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GDNPAMAKMVNGFIVRSKDNTEVKTTNKDSQ 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 6: EF1026 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 26) 
                   
               
               
                 MKKEIIVYTISDSLGETSQKLLAAASAQYPDISFLNRYNFSFVTTEEELLEILKDALKDKALVVSTLVSKQLITA 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AKEFSERTGLLYLDLMAPFFELIQAKAGVDPIEEPGRRHQLDRAYFDKISAIEFAVKYDDGKNPQGFLDSDILLL 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GVSRTSKTPVSMYLANQGYRVSNLPLIPEVPLPPILEEMDPQKMIGLVCSPETLGQIRSSRLASLGLGNETSYTN 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 VERIEQELAYAEEIFAKYGIPVIDVTAKSVEETAFLIKEKLDERN 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 7: EF1032 IB 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 27) 
                   
               
               
                 MEWIEIKHATQNNLKNISVNIPKKQLTVVTGLSGSGKSSLVFDTLAAESRRELNDTFSSFVQNYLPKYGRPEVEK 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 IENLPVAIVIDQKKVAGNSRSTVGTYTDIYTFLRLLFSRAGSPFVGYSDTFSFNHPDGKCPTCDGLGKITEINLH 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 QLVDYDKSLNKGPIDFPTFTVGNWRWKRYAHSGLFDLDKKIKDYSPEELALFLYAPQQKLANPPKEWPHTALYEG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 IVPRMQRSILHTDEGKRHQKYLNHFVTVKRCPDCLGSRVNERVRSCKINQKSIADAVDMPLTELHSFIRSMDLSL 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 IKTIQEELLVRLEALINIGLSYLTLGRATETLSGGEAQRIKIAKYVNSALNDIMYILDEPSAGLHPKDIERISRA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 LLNLKNKGNTVVLVEHNPQLIREADFIIDIGPFAGENGGHVQFSGTYDAFLVSKTLTSQALQEPLPLNDQPRKAR 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 KSLSIEHATLHNLNNLSVEVPLGVLTVICGVAGSGKSSLAEEIYQKAQADNQEIIHLSQKSITANLRSTPMTYLN 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 IFDKVRKLFAEENHVSPALFSYNSKGACPTCKGKGIIVSDMSFMEDVTSICETCHGTRYKEEVLHYLYNGKNIVE 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 VLALSVKDGYDFFKDQPFALSLKNLLEVGLSYLKLNQSLSTLSGGELQRVKLADTLHQKKAIYLMDEPTDGLHLI 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 DIQQSLQLFNRMVEEGNSLILLEHHIDVIKSADWLIELGPEGGKNGGQLLFTGTPANMLNSTHSITKGYL 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 8: EF1060-1 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 28) 
                   
               
               
                 DSNKAAEQKIAISSEAAISTMEPHTAGDTTSTLVMNQVYEGLYVLGKEDELELGVAAEEPAISEDETVYTFKIRE 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 DAKWSNDDPVTANDFVYAWQQVASPKSGSIHQALFFDVIKNAKEIALEGADVNTLGVKALDDKTLEITLERPTPY 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 LKSLLSFPVLFPQNEKYIKEQGDKYATDAEHLIYNGPFKLKEWDNASSDDWTYEKNDTYWDAEKVKLTEAKVSVI 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 KSPTTAVNLFDSNELDVVNKLSGEFIPGYVDNPAFLSIPQFVTYFLKMNSVRDGKENPALANNNIRKALAQAFDK 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ESFVKEVLQDQSTATDQVIPPGQTIAPDGTDFTKLAAKKNNYLTYDTAKAKEFWEKGKKEIGLDKIKLEFLTDDT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 DSAKKAAEFFQFQLEENLDGLEVNVTQVPFTIRVDRDQTRDYDLELSGWGTDYRDPLTVMRIFTSDSTLGGVTFK 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 SDTYDQLIQETRTTHAADQEARLNDFAQAQDILVNQETVLAPIYNRSISVLANQKIKDLYWHSFGPTYSLKWAYV 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 N 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 9: EF1093-1 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 29) 
                   
               
               
                 EENGESAQLVIHKKKMTDLPDPLIQNSGKEMSEFDKYQGLADVTFSIYNVTNEFYEQRAAGASVDAAKQAVQSLT 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 PGKPVAQGTTDANGNVTVQLPKKQNGKDAVYTIKEEPKEGVVAATNMVVAFPVYEMIKQTDGSYKYGTEELAVVH 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 IYPKNVVANDGSLKKVGTAENEGLNGAEFVISKSEGSPGTVKYIQGVKDGLYTWTTDKEQAKRFITGKSYEIGEN 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 DFTEAENGTGELTVKNLEVGSYILEEVKAPNNAELIENQTKTPFTIEANNQTPVEKTVKNDTSKVDKTTPSLDGK 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 DVAIGEKIKYQISVNIPLGIADKEGDANKYVKFNLVDKHDAALTFDNVTSGEYAYALYDGDTVIAPENYQVTEQA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 NGFTVAVNPAYIPTLTPGGTLKFVYFMHLNEKADPTKGFKNEANVDNGHTDDQTPPTVEVVTGGKRFIKVDGDVT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATQALAGASFVVRDQNSDTANYLKIDETTKAATWVKTKAEATTFTTTADGLVDITGLKYGTYYLEETVAPDDYVL 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 LTNRIEFVVNEQSYGTTENLVSPEKVPNKHKGTLPST 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 10: EF1277 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 30) 
                   
               
               
                 MNIFAVRLKEALTAKNIKPSDLAKKTGIGKSSISDWLAGRYEAKQDKVYRIADALDINEAWLMGQEVPMEKNAST 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 IDRIYKKLEPQRQAIVYQFAEQQLHEQQTQAEILSFPRRDEMTLAAHAGDPEKIFSKEEIEKIHDYLDEIDAKYQ 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 QSISSDKKED 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 11: EF1355 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 31) 
                   
               
               
                 MAYQFKLPDIGEGIAEGEIVKWFVKPGDTINEDDTLLEVQNDKSVEEIPSPVTGTVKNIVVPEGTVANVGDVLIE 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 IDAPGHEDNDAAPAAPAQEQTPAQPAAVPTTEAAGGFFQFKLPDIGEGIAEGEIVKWFVKAGDTINEDDSLLEVQ 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 NDKSVEEIPSPVTGTVKNIVVPEGTVANVGDVLVEIDAPGHNSAAPSVAAPATDAPKAEASAPAASTGVVAAADP 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 NKRVLAMPSVRQYAREKDVDITQVTATGKGGRVIKADIDAFVSGGSQAAPATEAAATEAAPKAEAAAPKAAPKAF 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TSDLGEMETREKMTPTRKAIAKAMVNSKHTAPHVTLHDEVEVSKLWDHRKKFKDVAAANGTKLTFLPYVVKALTS 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TVQKFPILNASIDDAAQEIVYKNYFNIGIATDTDHGLYVPNVKNANTKSMFAIADEINEKAALAIEGKLTAQDMR 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 DGTITISNIGSVGGGWFTPVINYPEVAILGVGTIAQEPVVNADGEIVVGRMMKLSLSFDHRIVDGATAQKAMNNI 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 KRLLADPELLLMEG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 12: EF1692 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 32) 
                   
               
               
                 MAKRIIIMNFDIESKSYQAFSEIKKMQAERQLKGEQMAVVTHVNDGQHQFKINDFIDFTGNNHTSKDSMIGMLVG 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ILGGPLGILFGWFAGSMYGASKDAKEIQEAQTVFEHVIQKIDEGQTGLLLIAEEEDNRPLNQLVMFDLGGEITRL 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 DLEEVQQEINDANEVANEAKQSWQAKKEQHKEATSKEE 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 13: EF2703-1 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 33) 
                   
               
               
                 GSYLKKTIDIGYVPIKNDYNEAQNKDSQSFLIMGLDNTIERKLGTTRTDAMMVITVNNKTKKITYLSLPRDSFVQ 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 IDAKNYQGMQRIEAAYTYDGPTASVNTVEKLLNIPINHYVVFNFLSFIKLIDAVGGIDVNVKQAFDGVTKDGPGS 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 IHFDAGKQHLDGTKALSYARERHSDNDIMRGFRQQEIIQAVEDKLKSGQSIMKIMDIIDSLNGNIQTDVDSNELT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 HLVKEGLTWTNYDKQQLSFDWRTFSNEGRSMVELYPDSIENVRHQLRVSLNLEKPDERDQDGYVFHTNGEFLYQS 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 DYTVQDEAAEENEMTSINGNTYIGVPGNTQTGPLPSVKTENGFIK 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 14: EF3051-1 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 34) 
                   
               
               
                 FSSWFDDSYVKASAESSKTKEPAPVKIEKKVKPLSYGQQVNQEIEKKQYDGHLDLPLELQTDAKWKDTAYGFGNV 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 DKPNTIEINGCAIVSLAMVGSYMDHQEVTPLDVLAWAKNDFFMEGQGTAWSIFSAYAEMKGYNCQEIGDIETVAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 FLKEGHPVIISVKPGYFTTTGHIMVMSGVDEKGDFWINDPNDSEEKGHSKRTFTAEEVMNEALNFWAFY 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 15: EF3177 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 35) 
                   
               
               
                 MDLHLTVDLKKTKTLIDLADQAHLIIEQTTKLPKKEAAILFLLIDNQLVALGLAEEKATYKEVSFDHSILLKPTW 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 DTELAYLAQAFLDDAKESGLTLEATPTTVKIPKSAVATVTNYKETVTFILERFGYSLFKKPAPKKARPAKARHKW 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TKEVSQIPFYIDTRQSKATVFWQKRNEMLIKAGATMMPEAPLNKDGSVGFSARFGEKLRDERKGQFKDFVTTEDI 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 VLKSVNEVGLFLYFAGTNSWLELVDENGKTLNEWTVVE 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 16: EF3183-1 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 36) 
                   
               
               
                 SEFNFAVTPTIPENQVDKSKTYFDLKMAPGAKQTVEIQLRNDTDEDITIENTVNSATTNLNGVVEYGQNGIKPDK 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TLRFNLKDYVEAPKEIILPKHSQKTLPLTITMPKDSFDGVMAGGITLKEKKKETTTSADQSKGLAINNEYSYVVA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 IILQQNETKVQPDLKLLGVKPGQVNARNVINVSLQNPQAAYLNQLHLINTVSKGGETLYQSDTEDMQVAPNSNFS 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 YPISLKGERLTPGKYVLKSTAYGVKDEKGTYQVKGANGEERYLYKWEFTKEFTISGDVAKELNEKDVTIKGTNWW 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 LYLLIALIILALLLLIFFLYRKKKKEEEQQSEQ 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 17: EF3207 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO37) 
                   
               
               
                 MSKNFWATLPKPFFVLAPMEDVTDVVFRHVVKEAGAPDVLFTEFTNSDSYCHPEGKDSVRGRLVFTEDEQPMVAH 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 IWGDKPEFFREMSIGVAEMGFQGLDINMGCPVPNVAERGKGSGLILRPEVAAELIDAAKAGGLPVSVKTRIGFTE 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 MAEMEAWITHLLEQDIANLSIHLRTRKEMSKVDAHWEVIPQIMAIRDRVAPQTTITINGDIPDRQKGLELAEQYG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 VDGIMIGRGIFKNPYAFEKEPKTHTPQELLGLLRLQLDLQDKYAELVPRSIVGLHRFFKIYVKGFPGASDLRAQL 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 MNTKSTDEVRQLLATFETEHGVLD 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 18: EF3256-1 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 38) 
                   
               
               
                 ADKKDNTTNSSSAASSETKKSTESSAPAKKVAGGDLKDGTYKLEEKNEKNGYRAVFEMTVKDGKITESKYDNINA 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 DGKSKTEDTKYEESMKAKSGVGPKEYIKQLNDSFVKAQSASGVEVVTGATHSSESFQNYAQQLIQAAQAGNTDTI 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 EIDNGATLKDGTYSLKEKNDSNGYHTTFSMTVKDGKVTESNYDNVNADGKSKKDDTEYESKM E DVAGVGPKEYIE 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TLNKEFVKAMGEEDGSPAGVEVVTGATHSTHSFINYAQQLVNAAEKGDTTEIVVDNIVTK 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 19: EFA0042-1 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 39) 
                   
               
               
                 FAQEIIPDDTTTPPIEVPTEPSTPEKPTDPTPPIEPPVDPVEPPITPTEPTEPTEPTTPTEPEKPVVPTEPTTPT 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 EPTTPTEPSEPEQPTEPSKPVEPEKPVTPSKPAEPEKPVTPTKPTEPEKPVQPAEPSKPIDVVVTPTGELNHAGN 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GTQQPTVPIETSNLAEITHVPSVTTPITTTDGENIVAVEKGVPLTQTAEGLKPIQSSYKVLPSGNVEVKGKDGKM 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 KVLPYT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Construct 20: EFC0034-1 
               
               
                 (SEQ ID NO 40) 
                   
               
               
                 NKKTPKPLTPPKAFFNWCTAQIPTYEWQNKKETILASSRKNCPIIKKRLTKYSRLSFPTKFYSFGIILVRAKRIE 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 IQTHSYWQTITDGIENLIYEPSNLERFSNDTHVKAHYENGHWHEGLLANYGFMSSAYTNTVFYPNNWQEKLTTVS 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ELKYLQLPEIERQELAHIYKYRNEIEFLQKIGATTLANEIIFDDYRNVFGLYFHKVDMRVITKKWLKANKQKLKT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 RNPTFHE Y MLEKTLKERNAPMINEIEKYVHYSQIKQLPKEVNLTKFQKWFIRKGERFDYYMDYLHMLEELNTPLN 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 NDSVLYPENLQVAHDNAMNTLNLLKSEIEEKQYQERKNQIKALEAEIDDLLFLTPHSLQEIIQEGSILRHCVGSQ 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 HYIERHTQGKTTIVFIRRKEKPDMPYFTLEYRNQQVIQIQGKCNRQEVPEKIKQAVRQWQENLQHALSS 
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Example 2 
     Conservation of Selected Vaccine Antigen-Encoding ORFs in  E. Faecalis  Clinical Isolates 
     Experimental Procedures: 
     Bacterial Culture and Isolation of Genomic DNA 
     Seven ml Luria Broth medium was inoculated with  E. faecalis  cells from frozen stabs, and cells were grown under aerobic conditions at 37° C., overnight. The cultures were harvested by centrifugation at 16,000×g for 15 mM and the supernatants were removed. Genomic DNA was purified using the Wizard genomic DNA purification kit (Promega) according to the manufacturer&#39;s instructions. Briefly, bacterial pellets were resuspended in 480 μl 50 mM EDTA and 120 μl lysozyme solution (10 mg/ml) (Sigma), incubated 60 min at 37° C., solutions were centrifuged at 16,000×g for 2 min, and the supernatants were removed. The cell pellets were resuspended in 600 μl Nuclei Lysis Solution (Wizard genomic DNA purification kit, Promega), incubated for 5 min at 80° C., cooled to room temperature, 3 μl RNase solution added (4 mg/ml, Promega), and incubated for 1 hr at 37° C. After cooling to 4° C. on ice, 200 μl Protein Precipitation Solution (Wizard genomic DNA purification kit, Promega) was added, the suspensions were vortexed, incubated on ice for 5 min, and centrifuged at 16,000×g for 5 min. The supernatants were transferred to new tubes containing 600 μl of room temperature isopropanol. After mixing, the solutions were centrifuged at 16,000×g for 2 m, the precipitated DNA was gently washed with 600 μl of room temperature 70% (v/v) ethanol, air-dried for 15 min at room temperature, and dissolved in 60 μl ddH 2 O for 1 hr at 65° C. 
     PCR: 
     Primers were designed for the nine ORFs; EF2703-1, EF0032-2, EF3177, EF0792-1, EF1277, EF3256-1, EF0270-2, EF1060-1, and EF3207 (Table 3) by multiple alignment of several  Enterococcus  spp. sequences (performed using the program VectorNTI). These nine  E. faecalis  ORFs were selected for PCR analysis as the recombinant protein antigens encoded by these ORFs showed the highest level of protection (≧60-100%) in the rat endocarditis model (Table 3). In order to facilitate PCR amplification, the optimal fragment size was set to 800 bp. PCR was performed in reaction volumes of 30 μl, containing 1 U Taq polymerase (Solis Biodyne, Estonia), 0.2 mM dNTPs (Invitrogen), 0.4 μM of each oligonucleotide (MWG, Germany), 2 mM MgCh and 1× buffer (Solis Biodyne, Estonia). As standard, 30 cycles (1×: 5 mM at 95° C.; 30×: 30 sec at 95° C., 30 sec at 55° C., 1 min 40 sec at 72° C.; 1×5 min at 72° C.) were performed, unless it was necessary to adapt conditions for individual primer pairs. PCR amplification was performed in a Biometra T3 Thermocycler. 
     In order to avoid false-negative results, all PCR reactions that were negative in the first amplification round were repeated. Optimization of PCR conditions was performed to successfully amplify the target sequence. Optimizations included increasing or lowering of the annealing temperature by 2 or 5° C., addition of betaine (final concentration 1M), or addition of DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide) to a final concentration of 2% (v/v). Touch-down-PCR conditions were used in cases where difficulties were encountered with target sequence amplification. The PCR fragments were subsequently visualized by electrophoresis on a 1% (w/v) agarose gel and staining with ethidium bromide (1:10000). 
     Clinical Isolates: 
     Details of all isolates of  E. faecalis  used for PCR and sequencing are summarized in Table 4. The 46  E. faecalis  isolates examined were selected to represent the serotypes that are most frequently isolated from patients. For further reference see Maekawa, S. et al., Microbiol Immunol. 1992; 36(7):671-681 or Shankar, V. et al., Infect Immun. 1999; 67(1):193-200. 
     DNA Sequencing: 
     The oligonucleotides used for sequencing were the same as those used for PCR amplification of the nine selected  E. faecalis  ORFs. Sequencing was performed by Agowa Biotech AG, Berlin, Germany. 
     Results 
     PCR was performed from genomic DNA isolated from a series of 46 independent  E. faecalis  clinical isolates using primers specific for the nine selected ORFs. All PCR amplicons obtained were sequenced. The results of the sequencing are presented in Table 5, where the determined DNA sequences together with the corresponding translated protein sequences are summarized. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 4 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                   E. faecalis  strains utilized for PCR and sequencing of vaccine-antigen 
               
               
                 encoding ORFs 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                 Origin 
                   
               
               
                 Strain 
                 Species 
                 (reference or source) 
                 Country 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 S1 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Japan 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (Maekawa et al., 1992) 
               
               
                 S2 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Japan 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (Maekawa et al., 1992) 
               
               
                 S3 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Japan 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (Maekawa et al., 1992) 
               
               
                 S4 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Japan 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (Maekawa et al., 1992) 
               
               
                 S5 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Japan 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (Maekawa et al., 1992) 
               
               
                 S6 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Japan 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (Maekawa et al., 1992) 
               
               
                 S7 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Japan 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (Maekawa et al., 1992) 
               
               
                 S8 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Japan 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (Maekawa et al., 1992) 
               
               
                 S9 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Japan 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (Maekawa et al., 1992) 
               
               
                 S10 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Japan 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (Maekawa et al., 1992) 
               
               
                 S11 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Japan 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (Maekawa et al., 1992) 
               
               
                 S12 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Japan 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (Maekawa et al., 1992) 
               
               
                 S13 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Japan 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (Maekawa et al., 1992) 
               
               
                 S14 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Japan 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (Maekawa et al., 1992) 
               
               
                 S15 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Japan 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (Maekawa et al., 1992) 
               
               
                 S16 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Japan 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (Maekawa et al., 1992) 
               
               
                 S17 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Japan 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (Maekawa et al., 1992) 
               
               
                 S18 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Japan 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (Maekawa et al., 1992) 
               
               
                 S19 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Japan 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (Maekawa et al., 1992) 
               
               
                 S20 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Japan 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (Maekawa et al., 1992) 
               
               
                 S21 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Japan 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (Maekawa et al., 1992) 
               
               
                 12030 (S22) 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Germany 
               
               
                 12107 (S23) 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Germany 
               
               
                 OG1RF (S24) 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Laboratory strain 
                 Germany 
               
               
                 S25 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Germany 
               
               
                 S26 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 USA 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (Shankar et al., 1999) 
               
               
                 HSM3143a 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Portugal 
               
               
                 HSM3686 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Portugal 
               
               
                 HSM3720 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Portugal 
               
               
                 HSM3840 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Portugal 
               
               
                 HSM4182 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Portugal 
               
               
                 U-1482 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Portugal 
               
               
                 U-1740 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Portugal 
               
               
                 U-1780 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Portugal 
               
               
                 U-1881 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Portugal 
               
               
                 U-2265 
                 
                   E. faecalis 
                 
                 Clinical isolate 
                 Portugal 
               
               
                 32 
                   Enterococcus  sp. 
                 Skin soft tissue infection 
                 Germany 
               
               
                 88 
                   Enterococcus  sp. 
                 Skin soft tissue infection 
                 Germany 
               
               
                 99 
                   Enterococcus  sp. 
                 Skin soft tissue infection 
                 Germany 
               
               
                 44 
                   Enterococcus  sp. 
                 Skin soft tissue infection 
                 Germany 
               
               
                 4 
                   Enterococcus  sp. 
                 Urinary tract infection 
                 Germany 
               
               
                 100 
                   Enterococcus  sp. 
                 Urinary tract infection 
                 Germany 
               
               
                 2 
                   Enterococcus  sp. 
                 Urinary tract infection 
                 Germany 
               
               
                 31 
                   Enterococcus  sp. 
                 Intra-abdominal infection 
                 Germany 
               
               
                 75 
                   Enterococcus  sp. 
                 Intra-abdominal infection 
                 Germany 
               
               
                 64 
                   Enterococcus  sp. 
                 Intra-abdominal infection 
                 Germany 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 5 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Summary on the sequence conservation of the selected 9  E. faecalis  genes in 
               
               
                 forty-six isolates. In case a particular sequence (or fragment) has been determined, then 
               
               
                 the respective SEQ ID NOs are shown, first the encoding DNA, then the translated 
               
               
                 polypeptide sequence as second. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Strain 
                 EF0032 
                 EF0270 
                 EF0792 
                 EF1060 
                 EF1277 
                 EF2703 
                 EF3177 
                 EF3207 
                 EF3256 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 S1 
                 85/86 
                 179/ 
                 271/ 
                 355/ 
                 441/ 
                 513/ 
                 605/ 
                 n.d. 
                 713/ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 180 
                 272 
                 356 
                 442 
                 514 
                 606 
                   
                 714 
               
               
                 S2 
                 87/88 
                 181/ 
                 273/ 
                 357/ 
                 n.d. 
                 515/ 
                 607/ 
                 n.d. 
                 715/ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 182 
                 274 
                 358 
                   
                 516 
                 608 
                   
                 716 
               
               
                 S3 
                 89/90 
                 183/ 
                 275/ 
                 359/ 
                 n.d. 
                 517/ 
                 609/ 
                 n.d. 
                 717/ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 184 
                 276 
                 360 
                   
                 518 
                 610 
                   
                 718 
               
               
                 S4 
                 91/92 
                 185/ 
                 277/ 
                 361/ 
                 443/ 
                 519/ 
                 611/ 
                 691/ 
                 719/ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 186 
                 278 
                 362 
                 444 
                 520 
                 612 
                 692 
                 720 
               
               
                 S5 
                 93/94 
                 187/ 
                 279/ 
                 363/ 
                 445/ 
                 521/ 
                 613/ 
                 n.d. 
                 721/ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 188 
                 280 
                 364 
                 446 
                 522 
                 614 
                   
                 722 
               
               
                 S6 
                 95/96 
                 189/ 
                 281/ 
                 365/ 
                 n.d. 
                 523/ 
                 615/ 
                 n.d. 
                 723/ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 190 
                 282 
                 366 
                   
                 524 
                 616 
                   
                 724 
               
               
                 S7 
                 97/98 
                 191/ 
                 283/ 
                 367/ 
                 447/ 
                 525/ 
                 617/ 
                 n.d. 
                 725/ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 192 
                 284 
                 368 
                 448 
                 526 
                 618 
                   
                 726 
               
               
                 S8 
                 99/100 
                 193/ 
                 285/ 
                 369/ 
                 449/ 
                 527/ 
                 619/ 
                 n.d. 
                 727/ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 194 
                 286 
                 370 
                 450 
                 528 
                 620 
                   
                 728 
               
               
                 S9 
                 101/ 
                 195/ 
                 287/ 
                 371/ 
                 n.d. 
                 529/ 
                 621/ 
                 n.d. 
                 729/ 
               
               
                   
                 102 
                 196 
                 288 
                 372 
                   
                 530 
                 622 
                   
                 730 
               
               
                 S10 
                 103/ 
                 197/ 
                 289/ 
                 373/ 
                 n.d. 
                 531/ 
                 623/ 
                 n.d. 
                 731/ 
               
               
                   
                 104 
                 198 
                 290 
                 374 
                   
                 532 
                 624 
                   
                 732 
               
               
                 S11 
                 105/ 
                 199/ 
                 n.d. 
                 375/ 
                 451/ 
                 533/ 
                 625/ 
                 n.d. 
                 733/ 
               
               
                   
                 106 
                 200 
                   
                 376 
                 452 
                 534 
                 626 
                   
                 734 
               
               
                 S12 
                 107/ 
                 201/ 
                 291/ 
                 377/ 
                 453/ 
                 535/ 
                 n.d. 
                 n.d. 
                 735/ 
               
               
                   
                 108 
                 202 
                 292 
                 378 
                 454 
                 536 
                   
                   
                 736 
               
               
                 S13 
                 109/ 
                 203/ 
                 293/ 
                 379/ 
                 n.d. 
                 537/ 
                 627/ 
                 n.d. 
                 737/ 
               
               
                   
                 110 
                 204 
                 294 
                 380 
                   
                 538 
                 628 
                   
                 738 
               
               
                 S14 
                 111/ 
                 205/ 
                 295/ 
                 381/ 
                 455/ 
                 539/ 
                 629/ 
                 n.d. 
                 739/ 
               
               
                   
                 112 
                 206 
                 296 
                 382 
                 456 
                 540 
                 630 
                   
                 740 
               
               
                 S15 
                 113/ 
                 207/ 
                 297/ 
                 383/ 
                 457/ 
                 541/ 
                 631/ 
                 n.d. 
                 741/ 
               
               
                   
                 114 
                 208 
                 298 
                 384 
                 458 
                 542 
                 632 
                   
                 742 
               
               
                 S16 
                 115/ 
                 209/ 
                 299/ 
                 385/ 
                 459/ 
                 543/ 
                 633/ 
                 n.d. 
                 743/ 
               
               
                   
                 116 
                 210 
                 300 
                 386 
                 460 
                 544 
                 634 
                   
                 744 
               
               
                 S17 
                 117/ 
                 211/ 
                 n.d. 
                 n.d. 
                 461/ 
                 545/ 
                 635/ 
                 n.d. 
                 745/ 
               
               
                   
                 118 
                 212 
                   
                   
                 462 
                 546 
                 636 
                   
                 746 
               
               
                 S18 
                 119/ 
                 213/ 
                 301/ 
                 387/ 
                 463/ 
                 547/ 
                 637/ 
                 n.d. 
                 747/ 
               
               
                   
                 120 
                 214 
                 302 
                 388 
                 464 
                 548 
                 638 
                   
                 748 
               
               
                 S19 
                 121/ 
                 215/ 
                 303/ 
                 389/ 
                 465/ 
                 549/ 
                 639/ 
                 n.d. 
                 749/ 
               
               
                   
                 122 
                 216 
                 304 
                 390 
                 466 
                 550 
                 640 
                   
                 750 
               
               
                 S20 
                 123/ 
                 217/ 
                 305/ 
                 391/ 
                 467/ 
                 551/ 
                 641/ 
                 n.d. 
                 751/ 
               
               
                   
                 124 
                 218 
                 306 
                 392 
                 468 
                 552 
                 642 
                   
                 752 
               
               
                 S21 
                 125/ 
                 219/ 
                 307/ 
                 393/ 
                 n.d. 
                 553/ 
                 643/ 
                 n.d. 
                 n.d. 
               
               
                   
                 126 
                 220 
                 308 
                 394 
                   
                 554 
                 644 
               
               
                 12030 
                 127/ 
                 221/ 
                 309/ 
                 395/ 
                 469/ 
                 555/ 
                 645/ 
                 n.d. 
                 753/ 
               
               
                 (S22) 
                 128 
                 222 
                 310 
                 396 
                 470 
                 556 
                 646 
                   
                 754 
               
               
                 12107 
                 129/ 
                 223/ 
                 311/ 
                 397/ 
                 471/ 
                 557/ 
                 647/ 
                 n.d. 
                 755/ 
               
               
                 (S23) 
                 130 
                 224 
                 312 
                 398 
                 472 
                 558 
                 648 
                   
                 756 
               
               
                 OG1RF 
                 131/ 
                 225/ 
                 313/ 
                 399/ 
                 473/ 
                 559/ 
                 649/ 
                 n.d. 
                 757/ 
               
               
                 (S24) 
                 132 
                 226 
                 314 
                 400 
                 474 
                 560 
                 650 
                   
                 758 
               
               
                 S25 
                 133/ 
                 227/ 
                 315/ 
                 401/ 
                 475/ 
                 561/ 
                 651/ 
                 n.d. 
                 759/ 
               
               
                   
                 134 
                 228 
                 316 
                 402 
                 476 
                 562 
                 652 
                   
                 760 
               
               
                 S26 
                 135/ 
                 229/ 
                 n.d. 
                 403/ 
                 477/ 
                 563/ 
                 653/ 
                 693/ 
                 761/ 
               
               
                   
                 136 
                 230 
                   
                 404 
                 478 
                 564 
                 654 
                 694 
                 762 
               
               
                 HSM3143a 
                 137/ 
                 231/ 
                 317/ 
                 405/ 
                 479/ 
                 565/ 
                 655/ 
                 n.d. 
                 763/ 
               
               
                   
                 138 
                 232 
                 318 
                 406 
                 480 
                 566 
                 656 
                   
                 764 
               
               
                 HSM3686 
                 139/ 
                 233/ 
                 319/ 
                 407/ 
                 481/ 
                 567/ 
                 657/ 
                 n.d. 
                 765/ 
               
               
                   
                 140 
                 234 
                 320 
                 408 
                 482 
                 568 
                 658 
                   
                 766 
               
               
                 HSM3720 
                 141/ 
                 235/ 
                 321/ 
                 409/ 
                 n.d. 
                 569/ 
                 659/ 
                 695/ 
                 767/ 
               
               
                   
                 142 
                 236 
                 322 
                 410 
                   
                 570 
                 660 
                 696 
                 768 
               
               
                 HSM3840 
                 143, 145/ 
                 237/ 
                 323/ 
                 411/ 
                 483/ 
                 571/ 
                 661/ 
                 697/ 
                 769/ 
               
               
                   
                 144, 146 
                 238 
                 324 
                 412 
                 484 
                 572 
                 662 
                 698 
                 770 
               
               
                 HSM4182 
                 147/ 
                 239/ 
                 325/ 
                 413/ 
                 n.d. 
                 573/ 
                 663/ 
                 699/ 
                 771/ 
               
               
                   
                 148 
                 240 
                 326 
                 414 
                   
                 574 
                 664 
                 700 
                 772 
               
               
                 U-1482 
                 149/ 
                 241/ 
                 327/ 
                 415/ 
                 485/ 
                 575/ 
                 n.d. 
                 n.d. 
                 773/ 
               
               
                   
                 150 
                 242 
                 328 
                 416 
                 486 
                 576 
                   
                   
                 774 
               
               
                 U-1740 
                 151/ 
                 243/ 
                 329/ 
                 417/ 
                 487/ 
                 577/ 
                 665/ 
                 n.d. 
                 775/ 
               
               
                   
                 152 
                 244 
                 330 
                 418 
                 488 
                 578 
                 666 
                   
                 776 
               
               
                 U-1780 
                 153/ 
                 245/ 
                 n.d. 
                 419/ 
                 489/ 
                 579/ 
                 667/ 
                 n.d. 
                 n.d. 
               
               
                   
                 154 
                 246 
                   
                 420 
                 490 
                 580 
                 668 
               
               
                 U-1881 
                 155/ 
                 247/ 
                 331/ 
                 421/ 
                 n.d. 
                 581/ 
                 669/ 
                 n.d. 
                 777/ 
               
               
                   
                 156 
                 248 
                 332 
                 422 
                   
                 582 
                 670 
                   
                 778 
               
               
                 U-2265 
                 157/ 
                 249/ 
                 333/ 
                 n.d. 
                 491/ 
                 583/ 
                 671/ 
                 n.d. 
                 779/ 
               
               
                   
                 158 
                 250 
                 334 
                   
                 492 
                 584 
                 672 
                   
                 780 
               
               
                 32 
                 159/ 
                 251/ 
                 335/ 
                 n.d. 
                 493/ 
                 585/ 
                 673/ 
                 701/ 
                 781/ 
               
               
                   
                 160 
                 252 
                 336 
                   
                 494 
                 586 
                 674 
                 702 
                 782 
               
               
                 88 
                 161/ 
                 253/ 
                 337/ 
                 423/ 
                 495/ 
                 587/ 
                 n.d. 
                 n.d. 
                 783/ 
               
               
                   
                 162 
                 254 
                 338 
                 424 
                 496 
                 588 
                   
                   
                 784 
               
               
                 99 
                 163/ 
                 255/ 
                 339/ 
                 425/ 
                 497/ 
                 589/ 
                 675/ 
                 n.d. 
                 785/ 
               
               
                   
                 164 
                 256 
                 340 
                 426 
                 498 
                 590 
                 676 
                   
                 786 
               
               
                 44 
                 165/ 
                 257/ 
                 341/ 
                 427/ 
                 499/ 
                 591/ 
                 677/ 
                 703/ 
                 787/ 
               
               
                   
                 166 
                 258 
                 342 
                 428 
                 500 
                 592 
                 678 
                 704 
                 788 
               
               
                 4 
                 167/ 
                 259/ 
                 343/ 
                 429/ 
                 501/ 
                 593/ 
                 679/ 
                 n.d. 
                 789/ 
               
               
                   
                 168 
                 260 
                 344 
                 430 
                 502 
                 594 
                 680 
                   
                 790 
               
               
                 100 
                 169/ 
                 261/ 
                 345/ 
                 431/ 
                 503/ 
                 595/ 
                 681/ 
                 n.d. 
                 n.d. 
               
               
                   
                 170 
                 262 
                 346 
                 432 
                 504 
                 596 
                 682 
               
               
                 2 
                 171/ 
                 263/ 
                 347/ 
                 433/ 
                 505/ 
                 597/ 
                 683/ 
                 705/ 
                 791/ 
               
               
                   
                 172 
                 264 
                 348 
                 434 
                 506 
                 598 
                 684 
                 706 
                 792 
               
               
                 31 
                 173/ 
                 265/ 
                 349/ 
                 435/ 
                 507/ 
                 599/ 
                 685/ 
                 707/ 
                 793/ 
               
               
                   
                 174 
                 266 
                 350 
                 436 
                 508 
                 600 
                 686 
                 708 
                 794 
               
               
                 75 
                 175/ 
                 267/ 
                 351/ 
                 437/ 
                 509/ 
                 601/ 
                 687/ 
                 709/ 
                 795/ 
               
               
                   
                 176 
                 268 
                 352 
                 438 
                 510 
                 602 
                 688 
                 710 
                 796 
               
               
                 64 
                 177/ 
                 269/ 
                 353/ 
                 439/ 
                 511/ 
                 603/ 
                 689/ 
                 711/ 
                 797/ 
               
               
                   
                 178 
                 270 
                 354 
                 440 
                 512 
                 604 
                 690 
                 712 
                 798 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 “n.d.” means “not determined”.