Description:
Disease caused by
Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States and developing countries. Pneumococcal disease is prevalent among the very young, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals. This invention is an improved, immunogenic peptide construct consisting of a combination of antigenic epitopes of the PsaA (37-kDa) protein from
S. pneumoniae. In addition, the peptides of the invention have the capability of serving as specific immunogens in a subject, effectively eliciting the production of antibodies and conferring protective immunity against
S. pneumoniae infection following immunognen administration.