CA1340910C - Fibronectin binding protein - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to new recombinant DNA-molecules comprising nucleotide sequences of S. dysgalactiae encoding for at least one protein or polypeptide having fibronectin binding property. The product fibronectin binding proteins can be used in immunization, for example in the vaccination of rumens against mastitis derived from streptococcal infections.

Description

FIbrcONECTIN BINDING PROTEIN 1 3 4 0 9 1 0 DESCRIPTION
Technical field The present invention relates to fibronectin binding proteins and hybrid-DNA molecules, e.g., plasmids or phages containing at least one nucleotide sequence encoding for said proteins.
Further the invention relates to micro-organisms containing such molecules and their use to produce said proteins, and the synthetic production of said proteins.
The object of the present invention is to obtain minimal fibronectin binding proteins.
A further object of the present invention is to obtain said proteins by means of genetic engineering technique using e.g., a plasmid containing a nucleotide sequence encoding for the proteins.
A further object of the present invention is to obtain a possi-bility to prepare said proteins by means of chemical synthesis.
Background of the invention WO-A1-85/05553 discloses bacterial cell surface proteins having fibronectin, fibrinogen, collagen, and/or laminin binding abi-lity. Thereby it is shown that different bacteria have an abi-lity to bind to fibronectin,, fibrinogen, collagen and/or lami-nin. It is further shown th<3t fibronectin binding protein from Staphylococcus aureus has a molecular weight of 165 kD, and/or 87 kD, whereby it is probable that the smaller protein is a part of the larger one.
Fibronectin is a large glycoprotein having a molecular weight of about 450 kD and having 'two similar subunits, which can have varying molecular sizes depending on a complex splicing pattern of the precursor mRNA. The protein is present in basement mem-branes, and connective tissue, but also in a soluble form in different body fluids,. such as blood plasma (1>. After the ori-ginal discovery by Kuu:;ela in 1978 that S, aureus binds to fibronectin (2) it has been shown that certain strains of other pathogenic bacteria, such as streptococci of different serological types (3), E. coli (4) and Salmonella (5) can bind to this protein (6).
Adhesion of pathogenic bacteria to surfaces is today a generally recognized concept in the discussions of wound pathogens using surface receptors. to bind to different proteins on epithelium cell surfacE~s, in connective tissue matrix, and in wound crusts, such as e~.g., fibronectin, fibrinogen, collagen and laminin. The problem i.s that these receptors are present in a relatively small amount on the bacterial cell surface, and that they are difficult to release. One feasible way in cases where the receptors consist of proteins is to clone the genes for the receptors in question to be able to prepare them in quantities which makes it considerably easier to study infections and the course of infect ions as. well as prophylact ical and therapeut ical treatment of infections by wound pathogens.
Screening studies of different serological groups of streptococci, such as F,, C, and G according to Lancefield (3) have shown that the strains tested can bind to different connective tissue proteins such as fibronectin, fibrinogen, collagen and laminin and different i.mmunoglobulins (7,8) to a varying degree and with different specificity.
In order to further characterize fibronectin binding proteins from streptococci, particularly genes from Streptococcus dysgalactiae for such proteins have been cloned in E. cola. The fibronectin binding domains of these proteins have also been 2a localized and properties and functions of proteins containing these domains will. be discussed below.
The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. la is a restriction map and subclones of the 5 kb insert from S. dyscral.actiae in the pUCl8-vector called pSDF100;
Fig. lb is a restriction map and subclones of the 6.9 kb insert from S. ~~sgalactiae in the pUCl8-vector called pSDF200;
Fig. 2 is a graphical representation of results of inhibition assays;
Fig. 3 shows repetitive sequences of pSDF102 och pSDF203;
Fig. 4 shows t:he nucleotide and deducted amino acid sequences of pSDF102;
Fig. 5 shows t:he nucleotide and deducted amino acid sequences of pSDF203.
Description of the present invention It has now surprisingly been shown possible to obtain recombinant DNA molecules (sometimes hereinafter referred to as "hybrid" DNA molecules) comprising nucleotide sequences of the genes 13409 1d coding for proteins or polypeptides having fibronectin binding properties. As evident from the below the following nucleotide sequences are pre~~ent in the plasmides, pSDF102, and pSDF203, respectively, which encode said proteins.
CTA GAT ACC TCA G,4A AAC AAA AAA TCT GTA ACT GAA AAA GTA ATA ACT
AGC GAT GTT AAA TAT AAG ATT AAT GAT AAA GAA GTG AAA GGT AAA GAA
CTA GAC GAT GTC TCT TTA ACT TAC AGT AAA GAA ACC GTT CGT AAG CCA
CAG GTG GAA CCA AAT GTT CCT GAT ACA CCT CAG GAA AAA CCA TTG ACA
CCG CTT GCA CCG T(:A GAA CCT TCA CAA CCA TCT ATT CCA GAG ACA CCA
CTG ATA CCG TCA GAA CCT TCA GTT CCA GAG ACA TCA ACA CCA GAA GGT
CCA ACA GAG GGA GAA AAT AAT CTT GGT GGT CAG AGT GAA ATA ACG ATT
ACA GAA GAT TCT CAA TCA GGG ATG TCT GGT CAA AAT CCT GGT TCT GGA-AAT GAA ACA GTG GTT
GAA GAC ACT CAA AC:A AGT CAA GAG GAT ATT GTA CTT GGT GGT CCA GGT
CAA GTG ATT GAC TTT ACA GAA GAT AGC CAA CCG GGT ATG TCT GGT AAT
AAT AGC CAT ACT ATT ACA
GAA GAT TCT AAA CCA AGT CAA GAG GAT GAG GTG ATA ATC GGC GGT CAA
GGT CAG 6TG ATT GAC TTT ACA GAA GAT ACT CAA TCT GGT ATG TCT rGG
GAT AAT AGC CAT ACA GAT GGG ACA GTG CTT GAA
GAA GAC TCT AAA CCA AGT CAA GAG GAT GAG GTG ATA ATC GGC GGT CAA
GGT CAA GTG ATT GAC TTT ACA GAA GAT ACC CAA ACC GGT ATG TCT GGG

GCT GGA CAA GTA GAG AGT CCA ACA ACT ACC GAA GAA ACC CAT AAA CCA
GAA ATA ATC ATG GGC GGT CAA AGT GAC CCT ATT GAT ATG GTT GAG GAC
ACT CTT CCT GGT ATG TCT GGC TCT AAT GAA GCT ACT GTT GTG GAA GAA
GAC ACA CGT CCT AAA CTT CAA TTC CAT TTT GAT AAT GAA GAG CCC GTT
CCT GCA ACG'GTT CCA ACC GTT TCT CAA ACT CCT ATT GCT CAG GTA .GAA
AGT AAA GTG CCT CAT GCC AAA GCA GAG AGT GCG TTA CCT CAA ACT GGA
GAT ACA AAT AAA CTA GAA ~4CG TTC TTT ACC ATT ACA GCA CTA ACT GTT
ATT GGA GCG GCA GGA TTA CTA GGC AAA AAA CGT CGT AAT AAT CAA ACT
GAT TAA TCA GCA GA1' TTC ~4TC AAA CGC TAT AAA CAA GGC TAA CAT TTT
AGC CTT GTT TTA TAT TGT TTC ACT GAC CTC TAA AAG TTA TGA CTG TTT
TAA AGG GGG GGT AGG CCA ATC CTC AAA AGT AGT TAA GTT GAG AAA CAC
CAC ATC ACT TTA GTl: TTA CTG CGC ATA CTA AAA GCA AAA GAT AAT TAG
GAG CAG TTG CTA AC"; GGA AAA AAT CAA ATG CAA AGC TAG TTG CCA AAG
AAC TCT AGA
and/or CTC GAG GAA ACT TT(~ CCA AAC GAG GAA CAT CAA TCA GGT GAT ACC ACA
ACT ATT GAA GAT AC1' CGC CCG ATT GAT ACC ATG TCA GGT CTA TCA GGA
~0 GAG ACT GGG CAG TCT GGT AAT ACT ACA ATT GAG GAA GAT AGT ACG ACT
CAC GTT AAA TTC TCA AAA CGT GAT ATT AAT GGT AAA GAA CTA GCA GGT
GCT ATG ATT GAA CTA CGT AAT CTA TCA GGT CAA ACT ATT CAA TCA TGG
ATA TCA GAC GGC ACA GTT AAA GTT TTC TAC TTG ATG CCA GGG ACT TAT
CAA TTT GTG GAG AC(~ GCA GCG CCA GAA GGT TAT GAA TTG GCA GCT CCa ATT ACC TTC ACA ATT GAT GAG AAA GGA CAA ATT TGG GTA GAC AGT ACA
ATT ACT GAG GCG AGT CAA TCT ATT GAT TTC
GAG GAA ACT TTA CCA ACT ioAA CAA GGC CAA TCT GGC TCT ACA ACG GAG
GTT GAG GAT ACT AAA GGC CCA GAA GTC ATT ATC GGC GGT CAG GGA GAG
30 iqTT GTT GAT ATC
GAG GAG AAC TTA CCA ACT GAA CAA GGC CAA TCT GGC TCT ACA ACT GAA
GTA GAG GAT ACT AAA GGC CCA GAA GTC ATT ATC GGC GGT CAA GGA GAG
GTT GTT GAT ATT
GAG GAG AGC TTA CCA ACT GAA CAA GGC CAA TCT GGC TCT ACA ACT GAA
GTA GAA GAT

AGCAAG CCT AAA CTC TCT CAC TTT GAT AAC GAG TGG CCT AAG GAA
A'fC

GACAAA CCA CAA CTA CCT GTT GAA AAA CCT AAG ACT AAG GAG AGC
GCC

TTGCCA GCC GCA GGG GAA GAA CAT GTC TTA TCT ACT ATC GTG GGA
GCT

GCAATG ATC

S
whereby the smaller repetitive regions (cf. Fig. 3) in each gene above code for the pEeptides having fibronectin binding activity. -The invention further comprises a plasmid or phage comprising a nucleotide sequence codinc3 for said fibronectin binding pro-teins.
The invention further comprises micro-organisms containing at least one hydrid-DNA. molecule according to above. Such micro-organisms have been deposited at the Deutsche Sammlung von Mik-roorganismen under deposition number DSM 4614 (pSDF102) and DSM
4613 CpSDF203).
The invention further relates to a process for preparing fibro-nectin binding proteins comprising transfer of at least one hybrid-DNA molecule according to above into a micro-organism, cultivating the said micro-organism in a culture medium, and isolating the protein thus formed in a manner known per _se.
A further aspect of the present invention comprises a chemical synthesis of the fibronectin binding proteins, whereby amino acids connected into peptiides in which the order of amino acids is based upon said nucleoi:ide sequences encoding said proteins.
The synthesis starts from the C-terminal glycine, and aspartic acid, respectively, which are reacted stepwise with the appro-priate amino acid, whereby they are finally reacted with gluta-mic acid, and glutamic ac=id, respectively, at the N-terminal end to the formation of the fibronectin binding peptide regions.

Appropriate amino acids can also be fused to said amino acid sequence such as the IgG Minding region of protein A.
The invention will be described more in detail in the following with reference to the Examples given, however, without being restricted thereto.
Example 1 Construction of a gene bank of chromosomal DNA from Streptococ-cus dysgalactiae Chromosomal DNA from Streptococcus dysgalactiae, strain S2, was prepared in accordance with the perchlorate method (9). The DNA
was partially cleaved using Sau 3AI, was size fractionated on a 1% agarose gel, and the DNA fragment within the size range 3 to 9 kb were collected, electro eluated, and purified on a Nensorb (Du Pont) column.
The plasmid vector pUC18 was cleaved using Bam HI and was phos-phatase treated. The partially cleaved and fractionated strep-tococcus-DNA was ligated with the cleaved pUC18 vector. The li-gation mixture was t~ansformed to freeze competent E. coli, strain TG1, and was spred on LA plates containing ampicillin (50 /ug/ml) and IPTG (0.lmM), and 0.004% X-gal, called axi-plates. White colonies were transferred to LA plates with am-picillin (50 /ug/ml).
Screening of a gene bank for a fi-bronectin binding protein (FNBP) The white colonies from the axi plates were picked using tooth picks to LA plates with ampicillin, 52 colonies per plate. In total 728 transformants were collected. These were screened with regard to fibronectin binding activity using a filter assay method according to below.
Transformants are picked from an axi-plates to LA plates with ampicillin, and the plates are incubated over night. From these plates the colonies are replicated over to new LA plates, and which are incubated at 37°C over night. A nitro-cellulose fil-ter is put onto each agarplate with grown out colonies. When the filters are completely moistened the colonies are attached by suction and the filters are carefully removed. The filters are exposed to chloroform vapour for 5 min, and are then wash--5 ed, 3 x 10 min, 37°C in a buffer solution consisting of 100mM
Tris-HCl pH 7.5, 0.05 % Tween-40, and 150mM NaCI. The filters are allowed to dry at room temperature for about 30 min. The filters are preincubated i~w 150mM NaCI, 10mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5, and 1.4% fat free milk powder, for 2 hrs at 37°C, or room tem-perature over night. The milk powder buffer has to be freshly prepared. 1251 labelled fibronectin is added (about 30,000 cpm per filter), and the filters are incubated at room temperature over night. The filters are washed, 3 x 10 min at 37°C using a solution of 0.05 % Tween-4.0~~ and 150mM NaCI, whereupon the fi l-ters are dried. An unexposed film is put thereon, and is expos-ed for 3 to 5 days. The film is developed and the clones which have bound to 125I-fibronectin are identified and isolated.
The filter screening assay showed 3 positive c!.ones, which all were further analysed. The fibronectin binding ability was fur-ther determined in a competition assay (10). Lysate of the E.
coli clones were prepared by lysing the bacteria using lyso-zyme (1 mg/ml) in a buffer solution consisting of 100 mM Tris-HCL pH 7.5, 150mM NaCI, and 1mM EDTA. The fibronectin binding acti-vity was analysed by determining the ability of the lysa-tes to compete with S- aureus, strain Cowan I (alternatively strain 8325-4), and S- dysgalactiae, strain S2, respectively, with regard to their ability to bind to the 125I_labelled 29 kD
fragment of fibronectin. The test showed that it is possible to drive out the fibronectin binding to the two staphylococcal strains, as well as 'strain S2 of S. dysgalactiae when using lysates of E. coli clones containing the strepto-cocci DNA.
Inversely the binding of the 29 kD fragment of fibronectin to S. dysgalactiae can be inhibited by adding a lysate of _E. coli clone containing a gcene for fibronectin binding protein of S.
aureus.
'~'~~u ~~ - ,y~ G; ~ lL

Restriction mapping and subcloning Ptasmid-DNA of the three positive subclones from the filter assay, called pSDF1(70, pSDF200, and pSDF300 were prepared using the LiCI method (11> and determined to be 4.9 kb, 6.9 kb, and 6.5 kb, respectively, by cleavages using restriction enzymes and analysis on agarose gels. All three clones were cleaved using about 20 of the most common restriction enzymes, which recognizes a sequence of 6 nucleotides and starting from cleavage pattern restriction maps were drafted. Two of the clones, pSDF100, and pSDF300, were partly overlapping having a 3.9 kb sequence in common, and thus only one was selected for further studies. As pSDF100 had a higher fibronectin binding activity than pSDF300 the former was selected.
pSpF100 and pSDF200 were subcloned in order to identify more closely the regions encoding fibronectin binding activity.
pSDF100 was cleaved using Bam HI, whereupon the plasmid was re-ligated. This clone with the Bam HI-Bam HI fragment deleted was called pSDF101 and was positive. pSDF101 was further cleaved using XbaI, which gave 3 fragments, one mainly consisting of the pUC18 vector,. 1'he other two XbaI-XbaI fragments were puri-fied and inserted into the pUC18 vector. One of these fragments encodes fibronectin binding activity. This clone was called pSDF102. In the corresponding way subclones were constructed from pSDF200. The CI.aI-SacI fragment deleted from pSDF200 gave a clone called pSDF201, and further the BgIII-EcoRI fragment eliminated from pSDF201 gives pSDF202. Finally, the XhoI-EcoRI
fragment has been deleted from pSDF202. This new clone was the-reby obtained was called pSDF203. All these new subclones are positive, i.e., they express fibronectin binding activity, cf.
FIG 1a and FIG. 1b.
Further subcloning try EcoaII digestion In order to facilit<~te the nucleotide sequencing according to the dideoxymethod smaller subclones differing 150 to 200 base pairs in length are required in order to obtain overlapping DNA
sequence. Exonucleas III digest one of the DNA strands from the - g _ 5' overhang, or from the blunt end, but leaves the 3' overhang.
The single stranded DNA i~a then digested using S1-nuclease.
This technique is used in the "Erase-a-Base "System Kit ~1 (Promega, Madison, USA) and makes it possible to construct series of subclones which differs in some hundreds of nucleotides in size. In cases of interest the fibronectin binding activity was tested, cf. Table 1 below.
Table 1 Inhibition assay in tubes Assay mixture: 100 ~ul of lysate of E. coli clones containing streptococcal DNA clones (the bacteria were grown on LEA + 50 dug ampicillin + 1mM IPTG, washed, anti concentrated to OD540 - 5~0) 100 ~ul Cowan I cells, heat killed, OD540 = 5.0 100 ~ul 12~~I labelled fibronectin, 8865 cpm 200 ~ul PBS; + 0.1 % BSA
Incubation: 2 hrs, room temperature Washing: Twice in PBS + 0.1 % BSA + 0.05 % Tween ~T'UUJC' -/,ra p rr _ g _ the results are evident from Table 1 below.
Lysate of Dilution of Number of cpm % binding in relation subclone lysate to control without lysate Control Without lysate 4430 100 pSDF102c10 undiL 550 12.4 10 2 3870 87.4 10pSDF102c13 undil 200 4.5 10 2 1440 32.5 pSDF102c9 undil 610 13.8 10 2 3170 71.6 pSDF102c11 undi L 1400 31 .6 10 2 3490 78.8 pSDF102c14 undil 630 14.2 10 2 3220 72.7 pSDF102c18 undil 4030 91.0 10 2 4300 97.1 20pSDF203c3 undil 640 14.4 10 2 2780 62.8 pSDF203cb undil 2710 61.2 pSDF203c8 undil 3180 71.8 10 2 3660 82.6 pSDF203c11 undil 3540 79.9 10 2 3970 89.6 pSDF203c15 undil 3860 87.1 10 2 4300 97.1 30pSDF203c9 undil 4020 90.7 pSDF102 undil 200 4.5 10 2 1050 23.7 pSDF203 undil 180 4.1 10 2 950 21.4 TG1 undil 3690 83.3 13409'1~
Nucleotide sequencing Subclones obtained after an exoIII digestion and other subclo-nes were sequenced using i:he dideoxy method according to Gem SeqR dsDNA Sequ-encing System <Promega Biotech., Madison, USA) -Nucleotide sequencing of pSDF102 gave the following sequence:
CTA GAT ACC TCA GAA AAC APIA AAA TCT GTA ACT GAA AAA GTA ATA ACT
AGC GAT GTT AAA TAT AAG ATT AAT GAT AAA GAA GTG AAA GGT AAA GAA
CTA GAC GAT GTC TCT TTA AC:T TAC AGT AAA GAA ACC GTT CGT AAG CCA
CAG GTG GAA CCA AAT GTT CCT GAT ACA CCT CAG GAA AAA CCA TTG ACA
CCG CTT GCA CCG TCA GAA CCT TCA CAA CCA TCT ATT CCA GAG ACA CCA
CTG ATA CCG TCA GAA CCT Tt;A GTT CCA GAG ACA TCA ACA CCA GAA GGT
CCA ACA GAG GGA GAA AAT AP,T CTT GGT GGT CAG AGT GAA ATA ACG ATT
ACA GAA GAT TCT CAA TCA GGG ATG TCT GGT CAA AAT CCT GGT TCT GGA
AAT GAA ACA GTG GTT
GAA GAC ACT CAA ACA AGT CAA GAG GAT ATT GTA CTT GGT GGT CCA GGT

AAT AGC CAT ACT ATT ACA
GAA GAT TCT AAA CCA AGT CAA GAG GAT GAG GTG ATA ATC GGC GGT CAA
GGT CAG GTG ATT GAC TTT ACA GAA GAT ACT CAA TCT GGT ATG TCT GGG
GAT AAT AGC CAT ACA GAT GGG ACA GTG CTT GAA
GAA GAC TCT AAA CCA AGT CAA GAG GAT GAG GTG ATA ATC GGC GGT CAA
GGT CAA GTG ATT GAC TTT A(:A GAA GAT ACC CAA ACC GGT ATG TCT GGG

ACT GGA CAA GTA GAG AGT CCA ACA ACT ACC GAA GAA ACC CAT AAA CCA
GAA ATA ATC ATG GGC GGT CAA AGT GAC CCT ATT GAT ATG GTT GAG GAC
ACT CTT CCT GGT ATG TCT GGC TCT AAT GAA GCT ACT GTT GTG GAA GAA
GAC ACA CGT CCT AAA CTT CAA TTC CAT TTT GAT AAT GAA GAG CCC GTT
CCT GCA ACG GTT CCA ACC GTT TCT CAA ACT -CCT ATT GCT CAG GTA GAA
AGT AAA GTG CCT CAT GCC AAA GCA GAG AGT GCG TTA CCT CAA ACT GGA
GAT ACA AAT AAA CTA GAA ACG TTC TTT ACC ATT ACA GCA CTA ACT GTT
ATT GGA GCG GCA GGA TTA CTA GGC AAA AAA CGT CGT AAT AAT CAA ACT
GAT TAA TCA GCA GAT TTC ATC AAA CGC TAT AAA CAA GGC TAA CAT TTT
AGC CTT GTT TTA TAT TGT TTC ACT GAC CTC TAA AAG TTA TGA CTG TTT
TAA AGG GGG GGT AGG CCA ATC CTC AAA AGT AGT TAA GTT GAG AAA CAC
CAC ATC ACT TTA GTC TTA CTG CGC ATA CTA AAA GCA AAA GAT AAT TAG
GAG CAG TTG CTA ACT GGA A,AA AAT CAA ATG CAA AGC TAG TTG CCA AAG
AAC TCT AGA
whereby the repetitive domains of the sequence GAA GAC ACT CAA ACA AGT CAA GAG GAT ATT GTA CTT GGT GGT CCA GGT
CAA GTG ATT GAC TTT ACA G,AA GAT AGC CAA CCG GGT ATG TCT GGT AAT
AAT AGC CAT ACT ATT ACA
GAA GAT TCT AAA CCA AGT CAA GAG GAT GAG GTG ATA ATC GGC GGT CAA
GGT CAG GTG ATT GAC TTT ACA GAA GAT ACT CAA TCT GGT ATG TCT GGG
GAT AAT AGC CAT ACA GAT GGG ACA GTG CTT GAA
GAA GAC TCT AAA CCA AGT CAA GAG GAT GAG GTG ATA ATC GGC GGT CAA
GGT CAA GTG ATT GAC TTT ACA GAA GAT ACC CAA ACC GGT ATG TCT GGG
encode a peptide having fibronectin binding activity.

13409 ~0 The nucleotide sequencing of pSDF203 gave the following sequen-ce ;
w CTC GAG GAA ACT TTG CCA AAC GAG GAA CAT CAA TCA GGT GAT ACC ACA
ACT ATT GAA GAT ACT CGC CCG ATT GAT ACC ATG TCA GGT CTA TCA GGA
GAG ACT GGG CAG TCT GGT AAT ACT ACA ATT GAG GAA GAT AGT ACG ACT
CAC GTT AAA TTC TCA AAA CGT GAT ATT AAT GGT AAA GAA CTA GCA GGT
GCT ATG ATT GAA CTA CGT PAT CTA TCA GGT CAA ACT ATT CAA TCA TGG
ATA TCA GAC GGC ACA GTT AAA GTT TTC TAC TTG ATG CCA GGG ACT TAT
CAA TTT GTG GAG ACG GCA GCG CCA GAA GGT TAT GAA TTG GCA GCT CCA
ATT ACC TTC ACA ATT GAT GAG AAA GGA CAA ATT TGG GTA GAC AGT ACA
ATT ACT GAG GCG AGT CAA TCT ATT GAT TTC
GAG GAA ACT TTA CCA ACT GAA CAA GGC CAA TCT GGC TCT ACA ACG GAG
GTT GAG GAT ACT AAA GGC CCA GAA GTC ATT ATC GGC GGT CAG GGA GAG
ATT GTT GAT ATC
GAG GAG AAC TTA CCA ACT GAA CAA GGC CAA TCT GGC TCT ACA ACT GAA
GTA GAG GAT ACT AAA GGC CCA GAA GTC ATT ATC GGC GGT CAA GGA GAG
GTT GTT GAT ATT
GAG GAG AGC TTA CCA ACT GAA CAA GGC CAA TCT GGC TCT ACA ACT GAA
GTA GAA GAT
AGC AAG CCT AAA CTC TCT ATC CAC TTT GAT AAC GAG TGG CCT AAG GAA
GAC AAA CCA CAA CTA CCT GCC GTT GAA AAA CCT AAG ACT AAG GAG AGC
TTG CCA GCC GCA GGG GAA GCT GAA CAT GTC TTA TCT ACT ATC GTG GGA
GCA ATG ATC

whereby the repetitive domains of the sequence GAG GAA ACT TTA CCA ACT G~4A CAA GGC CAA TCT GGC TCT ACA ACG GAG
GTT GAG GAT ACT AAA GGC CCA GAA GTC ATT ATC GGC GGT CAG GGA GAG
ATT GTT GAT ATC
GAG GAG AAC TTA CCA ACT Gi4A CAA GGC CAA TCT GGC TCT ACA ACT GAA
GTA GAG GAT ACT AAA GGC CCA GAA GTC ATT ATC GGC GGT CAA GGA GAG
GTT GTT GAT ATT
GAG GAG AGC TTA CCA ACT GAA CAA GGC CAA TCT GGC TCT ACA ACT GAA
GTA GAA GAT
encode a peptide having fibronectin binding activity.
Southern blot hybridisation detects no homologies on DNA level between the genes for the fibronectin binding protein of S. au-reus, and the corresponding genes from S. dysgalactiae. The competitive inhibit=on between the proteins from the respective species depends most probably on the fact that their binding sites in the fibronectin within the NH2 terminal 29 kD fragment are close to each other and thereby sterically block the binding.
Western blot analyses of lysate of the two fibronectin binding E. coli clones studied indicate using 1251 labelled fibronectin and autoradiography shows that subclone pSDF203 encodes a pro-tein having a molecular weight of 70 kDa, and subclone pSDF102 a corresponding proi:ein having a molecular weight of 110 kD.

The deduced amino acid sequences of the proteins or polypepti-des from the above given nucleotide sequences encode for are the following:
Glu Asp Thr Gln Thr Ser Gln Glu Asp Ile Val Leu Gly Gly Pro Gly Gln Val Ile Asp Phe Thr Glu Asp Ser Gln Pro Gly Met Ser Gly Asn Ser His Thr Ile Thr Glu Asp Ser Lys Pro Ser Gln Glu Asp Glu Val Ile Ile Gly Gly Gln Gly Gln Val Ile Asp Phe 'fhr Glu Asp Thr Gln Ser Gly Met Ser Gly Asp Asn Ser His Thr Asp Gly Thr Val Leu Glu Glu Asp Ser Lys Pro Ser Gln Glu Asp Glu Val Ile Ile Gly Gly Gln Gly Gln Val Ile Asp Phe 1'hr Glu Asp Thr Gln Thr Gly Met Ser Gly and Glu Glu Thr Leu Pro Thr Glu Gln Gly Gln Ser Gly Ser Thr Thr Glu Val Glu Asp Thr Lys Gly Pro Glu Val Ile Ile Gly Gly Gln Gly Glu zp Ile Val Asp Ile Glu Glu Asn Leu pro Thr Glu Gln Gly Gln Ser Gly Ser Thr Thr Glu Val Glu Asp Thr Lys Gly pro Glu Val I le I le Gly Gly Gln Gly Glu Va L Va l Asp I le Glu Glu Ser Leu Pro Thr Glu Gln Gly Gln Ser Gly Gly Ser Thr Thr Glu Val Glu Asp, respectively.
The present fibronectin binding proteins can be used in immuni-zation, whereby the proteins, preferably in combination with a fusion protein in order to form a larger antigen to react upon, are injected in doses creating an immunological reaction in the host mammal. Thus the fibronectin binding proteins can be used in vaccination of rumens to mastitis created by streptococcal infections.

r X3409 ~o Further, the fibronectin t»nding proteins can be used to block an infection in an open skin lesion. Wounds can be treated by using a suspension compris>ing the fibronectin binding protein.
Thus the fibronectin binding proteins can be used to treat wounds, e.g., for blocking bacterial binding sites in fibro-nectin, or for immunization (vaccination). In the latter case the host produces specific; antibodies which can protect against attachment by bacterial strains comprising such fibronectin binding proteins. Hereby t:he antibodies block the adherence of the bacterial strains to damaged tissue.
Examples of colonizing of tissue damage are:
a) colonizing of wounds in skin and connective tissue, which wounds have been caused by a mechanical trauma, chemical da mage, and/or thermical damage;
b) colonizing of wounds on mucous membranes such as in the mouth cavity, or in the mammary glands, urethra or vagina;
c> colonizing of connective tissue proteins, which have been exposed by minimal tissue damage (micro lesions) in connection with epithelium and endothelium (mastitis, heart valve infec-tion, hip exchange surgery).
When using the present fibronectin binding proteins, prepared by means of hybrid-DNA technique, or synthesized, for immuniza tion (vaccination) in mammals, including humans, the proteins, or polypeptides are dispersed in sterile isotonic saline solut-ion, optionally while adding a pharmaceutically acceptable dis-persing agent. Different types of adjuvants can further be used in order to sustain the release in the tissue, and thus expose the protein for a longer period of time to the immuno defence system of a body.
A suitable dose to obtain immunization is 0.5 to 5 /ug of fib-ronectin binding protein per kg body weight and injection at immunization. In order to obtain durable immunization, vaccina-tions should be carried out at consecutive occasions with an interval of 1 to 3 weeks, preferably at three occasions. Adju-vants are normally r,ot added when repeating the immunization treatment.
When using the present fibronectin binding proteins or polypep-tides for local topical administration the protein is dispersed in an isotonic saline solution to a concentration of 25 to 250 dug per ml. The wounds are' then treated with such an amount on-ly to obtain a complete wetting of the wound surface. For an average wound thus only a couple of millilitres of solution are used in this way. After treatment using the protein solution the wounds are suitably washed with isotonic saline solution or another suitable wound treatment solution.
Further the fibronectin binding protein, or synthetized poly-peptide of the present invention can be used to diagnoze bac-terial infections caused by S. dysgalactiae strains, whereby a fibronectin binding protein of the present invention is immobi-lized on a solid carrier, such as small latex or SepharoseR
2p beads, whereupon sera containing antibodies are allowed to pass and react with the fibronectin binding protein thus immobiliz-ed. The agglutination is then measured by known methods.
Further the fibronectin binding protein or polypeptide can be used in an ELISA test (Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay; E
Engvall, Med. Biol. 55, 193 (1977» . Hereby wells in a poly-styrene microtitre plate are coated with the fibronectin bind-ing protein and incu~ated over night at 4°C. The plates are then thoroughly washed using PBS containing 0.05% Tween 20~ and dried. Serial dilutions of the patient serum made in PBS-Tween are added to the wells, and are incubated at 30°C for 1.5 hrs.
After rinsing anti-human IgG conjugated with an enzyme, or a horseradish peroxidase, or an alkaline phosphatase is added to the wells and further incubated at 30°C for 1.5 hrs. During these incubations IgG from patient serum, and added antihuman IgG-enzyme conjugate, respectively, has been bound thereto.
After rinsing, an enzyme substrate is added, p-nitrophosphate :~c-- f--.,.,~ d'e-,r~~ ,-~

X3409 ~o in case of an alkal=ine phosphatase, or orthophenylene diamine substrate (OPD) in case a peroxidase has been used, respective-ly. The wells of the plates are then rinsed using a citrate buffer containing 0..055% OPD, and 0.005% H202, and incubated at 30°C for 10 min. The enzyrne reaction is stopped by adding a 4N
solution of H2S04 to each well. The colour development is mea-sured using a spectrophotometer.
Depending on the type of cenzyme substrate used a fluoroscence measurement can be used as well.
Another method to diagnoze S. dysgalactiae infections is by us-ing the DNA gene probe method based on the nucleotide sequence for the fibronectin binding protein or part thereof. Thereby the natural or synthetic DNA sequence is attached to a solid carrier, such as a r~itrocc~llulose filter, a nylon filter, or a polystyrene plate ass mentioned above, by e.g., adding a milk in the case of diagnozing a mastitis, to the surface. The DNA gene probe, optionally labelled enzymatically, or by a radioactive isotope, is then added to the solid surface plate comprising the DNA sequence, whereby the DNA gene probe attaches to the membrane associated sequence where appearing. The enzyme or radioactive isotope can readily be determined by known methods.
Above the term fibronectin binding protein includes any of the polypeptide sequences as well, which constitute the minimal fibronectin binding site of the complete protein.

LEGENDS TO THE FIGURES
FIG. 1 Restriction map FIG. 1a. Restriction map and subclones of the 5 kb insert from S. dysgalactiae in the pUC18-vector called pSDF100.
FIG. 1b. Restriction map and subclones of the 6.9 kb insert from S. dysgalactiae in the pUC18-vector called pSDF200.
A. Restriction map of the clone.
B. Different subclones constructed to determine the region in the gene which codes for fibronectin binding activity. The binding activity of the different gene products have been indicated.
C. Subclones obt<3ined after digestion with ExoIII of pSDF102, and pSDF203, respectively. Scale: 1 cm = 100 bp. M is the part: of the DNA sequence which encodes the membrane associated part of the protein <=COOH-terminal). Subclone p102c10 contains the 3' end of the gene (FIG. 1a). A1, A2 och A3, and B1, B2, and B3, respectively, denote repetitive domains of the sequences (cf. F:IG. 3) FIG. 2 Inhibition assay in tubes Binding of 125I labelled fibronectin to cells of S.
dysgalactiae S2, and S. aureus Cowan I, respectively, at the addition of lysates of E. coli-clones. The percentage values given are related to the binding of 1251 labelled fibronectin to cells in the absence of lysate. As a negative control a lysate of E. coli TG1 with pUC18-vector without insert was used, which had no influence on the binding of the cells to fibronectin.
E. coli clone 01'_> contains a gene from S. aureus encoding for fibs°onectin binding activity.

SIG. 3 shows repetitive sequences of pSDF102 och pSDF203.
FIG. 4 shows the nucleotide and deducted amino acid sequences of pSDF102 FIG. 5 shows the nucleotide and deducted amino acid sequences of pSDF203 References 1 3 ~+ ~ 9 1 0 1. Hymes, R.O. (1985) Annu. Rev. Cell Biol. 1, 67-90.
2. Kuusela, P. (1978) Nature 276, 718-720.
3. Switalski, L. et al (1982) Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. 1, 381-387.
4. Froman, G. et al. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 14899-14905.
5. Baloda, S.B. et: al (1985) FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 28, 1-5.
b. Wadstrom, T. et: al ('1985) In Jackson, G.J. Ced), Pathogenesis of Infection, Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New fork, 'Tokyo, pp. 193-207.

7. Lopes, J.D. et al <1'~85) Science 229, 275-277.

8. Langone, I.I. (:1982) Adv. Immunol. 32, 157-252.

9. Marmur, J. (19b1) J. Mol. Biol. 3, 208-218.

10. Flock, J.-I. et: al ('1987) The EMBO Journal b, 2351-2357.

11. Monstein, H.-J.. et al C1986) Biochem. Int. 12, 889-896.

Claims (16)

1. Recombinant-DNA molecule comprising one or more nucleotide sequences of S. dysgalactiae selected from the group consisting of:
CTA GAT ACC TCA GAA AAC AAA AAA TCT GTA ACT GAA AAA GTA ATA ACT
AGC GAT GTT AAA TAT AAG ATT AAT GAT AAA GAA GTG AAA GGT AAA GAA
CTA GAC GAT GTC TCT TTA ACT TAC AGT AAA GAA ACC GTT CGT AAG CCA
CAG GTG GAA CCA AAT GTT CCT GAT ACA CCT CAG GAA AAA CCA TTG ACA
CCG CTT GCA CCG TCA GAA CCT TCA CAA CCA TCT ATT CCA GAG ACA CCA
CTG ATA CCG TCA GAA CCT TCA GTT CCA GAG ACA TCA ACA CCA GAA GGT
CCA ACA GAG GGA GAA AAT AAT CTT GGT GGT CAG AGT GAA GAG ATA ACG
ATT ACA GAA GAT TCT CAA TCA GGG ATG TCT GGT CAA AAT CCT GGT TCT
GGA AAT GAA ACA GTG GTT
GAA GAC ACT CAA ACA AGT CAA GAG GAT ATT GTA CTT GGT GGT CCA GGT
CAA GTG ATT GAC TTT ACA GAA GAT AGC CAA CCG GGT ATG TCT GGT AAT
AAT AGC CAT ACT ATT ACA
GAA GAT TCT AAA CCA AGT CAA GAG GAT GAG GTG ATA ATC GGC GGT CAA
GGT CAG GTG ATT GAC TTT ACA GAA GAT ACT CAA TCT GGT ATG TCT GGG
GAT AAT AGC CAT ACA GAT GGG ACA GTG CTT GAA
GAA GAC TCT AAA CCA AGT CAA GAG GAT GAG GTG ATA ATC GGC GGT CAA
GGT CAA GTG ATT GAC TTT ACA GAA GAT ACC CAA ACC GGT ATG TCT GGG
GCT GGA CAA GTA GAG AGT CCA ACA ATC ACC GAA GAA ACC CAT AAA CCA

GAA ATA ATC ATG GGC GGT CAA AGT GAC CCT ATT GAT ATG GTT GAG GAC
ACT CTT CCT GGT ATG TCT GGC TCT AAT GAA GCT ACT GTT GTG GAA GAA
GAC ACA CGT CCT AAA CTT CAA TTC CAT TTT GAT AAT GAA GAG CCC GTT
CCT GCA ACG GTT CCA ACC GTT TCT CAA ACT CCT ATT GCT CAG GTA GAA
AGT AAA GTG CCT CAT GCC AAA GCA GAG AGT GCG TTA CCT CAA ACT GGA
GAT ACA AAT AAA CTA GAA ACG TTC TTT ACC ATT ACA GCA CTA ACT GTT
ATT GGA GCG GCA GGA TTA CTA GGC AAA AAA CGT CGT AAT AAT CAA ACT
GAT TAA TCA GCA GAT TTC ATC AAA CGC TAT AAA CAA GGC TAA CAT TTT
AGC CTT GTT TTA TAT TGT TTC ACT GAC CTC TAA AAG TTA TGA CTG TTT
TAA AGG GGG GGT AGG CCA ATC CTC AAA AGT AGT TAA GTT GAG AAA CAC
CAC ATC ACT TTA GTC TTA CTG CGC ATA CTA AAA GCA AAA GAT AAT TAG
GAG CAC TTG CTA ACT GGA AAA AAT CAA ATG CAA AGC TAG TTG CCA AAG
AAC TCT AGA
and CTC GAG GAA ACT TTG CCA AAC GAG GAA CAT CAA TCA GGT GAT ACC ACA
ACT ATT GAA GAT ACT CGC CCG ATT GAT ACC ATG TCA GGT CTA TCA GGA
GAG ACT GGG CAG TCT GGT AAT ACT ACA ATT GAG GAA GAT AGT ACG ACT
CAC GTT AAA TTC TCA AAA CGT GAT ATT AAT GGT AAA GAA CTA GCA GGT
GCT ATG ATT GAA CTA CGT AAT CTA TCA GGT CAA ACT ATT CAA TCA TGG
ATA TCA GAC GGC ACA GTT AAA GTT TTC TAC TTG ATG CCA GGG ACT TAT
CAA TTT GTG GAG AGG GCA GCG CCA GAA GGT TAT GAA TTG GCA GCT CCA
ATT ACC TTC ACA ATT GAT GAG AAA GGA CAA ATT TGG GTA GAC AGT ACA
ATT ACT GAG GCG AGT CAA TCT ATT GAT TTC
GAG GAA ACT TTA CCA ACT GAA CAA GGC CAA TCT GGC TCT ACA ACG GAG
GTT GAG GAT ACT AAA GGC CCA GAA GTC ATT ATC GGC GGT CAG GGA GAG
ATT GTT GAT ATC

GAG GAG AAC TTA CCA ACT GAA CAA GGC CAA TCT GGC TCT ACA ACT GAA
GTA GAG GAT ACT AAA GGC CCA GAA GTC ATT ATC GGC GGT CAA GGA GAG
GTT GTT GAT ATT
GAG GAG AGC TTA CCA ACT GAA CAA GGC CAA TCT GGC TCT ACA ACT GAA
GTA GAA GAT
AGC AAG CCT AAA CTC TCT ATC CAC TTT GAT AAC GAG TGG CCT AAG GAA
GAC AAA CCA CAA CTA CCT GCC GTT GAA AAA CCT AAG ACT AAG GAG AGC
TTG CCA GCC GCA GGG GAA GCT GAA CAT GTC TTA TCT ACT ATC GTG GGA
GCA ATG ATC
encoding a protein or a polypeptide having fibronectin binding properties.

2. Plasmid or phage comprising one or more nucleotide sequences of S dygalactiae selected from the group consisting of:
CTA GAT ACC TCA GAA AAC AAA AAA TCT GTA ACT GAA AAA GTA ATA ACT
AGC GAT GTT AAA TAT AAG ATT AAT GAT AAA GAA GTG AAA GGT AAA GAA
CTA GAC GAT GTC TCT TTA ACT TAC AGT AAA GAA ACC GTT CGT AAG CCA
CAG GTG GAA CCA AAT GTT CCT GAT ACA CCT CAG GAA AAA CCA TTG ACA
CCG CTT GCA CCG TCA GAA CCT TCA CAA CCA TCT ATT CCA GAG ACA CCA
CTG ATA CCG TCA GAA CCT TCA GTT CCA GAG ACA TCA ACA CCA GAA GGT
CCA ACA GAG GGA GAA AAT AAT CTT GGT GGT CAG AGT GAA GAG ATA ACG
ATT ACA GAA GAT TCT CAA TCA GGG ATG TCT GGT CAA AAT CCT GGT TCT
GGA AAT GAA ACA GTG GTT

GAA GAC ACT CAA ACA AGT CAA GAG GAT ATT GTA CTT GGT GGT CCA GGT
CAA GTG ATT GAC TTT ACA GAA GAT AGC CAA CCG GGT ATG TCT GGT AAT
AAT AGC CAT ACT ATT ACA
GAA GAT TCT AAA CCA AGT CAA GAG GAT GAG GTG ATA ATC GGC GGT CAA
GGT CAG GTG ATT GAC TTT ACA GAA GAT ACT CAA TCT GGT ATG TCT GGG
GAT AAT AGC CAT ACA GAT GGG ACA GTG CTT GAA
GAA GAC TCT AAA CCA AGT CAA GAG GAT GAG GTG ATA ATC GGC GGT CAA
GGT CAA GTG ATT GAC TTT ACA GAA GAT ACC CAA ACC GGT ATG TCT GGG
GCT GGA CAA GTA GAG AGT CCA ACA ATC ACC GAA GAA ACC CAT AAA CCA
GAA ATA ATC ATG GGC GGT CAA AGT CAG CCT ATT GAT ATG GTT GAG GAC
ACT CTT CCT GGT ATG TCT GGC TCT AAT GAA GCT ACT GTT GTG GAA GAA
GAC ACA CGT CCT AAA CTT CAA TTC CAT TTT GAT AAT GAA GAG CCC GTT
CCT GCA ACG GTT CCA ACC GTT TCT CAA ACT CCT ATT GCT CAG GTA GAA
AGT AAA GTG CCT CAT GCC AAA GCA GAG AGT GCG TTA CCT CAA ACT GGA
GAT ACA AAT AAA CTA GAA ACG TTC TTT ACC ATT ACA GCA CTA ACT GTT
ATT GGA GCG GCA GGA TTA CTA GGC AAA AAA CGT CGT AAT AAT CAA ACT
GAT TAA TCA GCA GAT TTC ATC AAA CGC TAT AAA CAA GGC TAA CAT TTT
AGC CTT GTT TTA TAT TGT TTC ACT GAC CTC TAA AAG TTA TGA CTG TTT
TAA AGG GGG GGT AGG CCA ATC CTC AAA AGT AGT TAA GTT GAG AAA CAC
CAC ATC ACT TTA GTC TTA CTG CGC ATA CTA AAA GCA AAA GAT AAT TAG
GAG CAC TTG CTA ACT GGA AAA AAT CAA ATG CAA AGC TAG TTG CCA AAG
AAC TCT AGA

CTC GAG GAA ACT TTG CCA AAC GAG GAA CAT CAA TCA GGT GAT ACC ACA
ACT ATT GAA GAT ACT CGC CCG ATT GAT ACC ATG TCA GGT CTA TCA GGA
GAG ACT GGG CAG TCT GGT AAT ACT ACA ATT GAG GAA GAT AGT ACG ACT
CAC GTT AAA TTC TCA AAA CGT GAT ATT AAT GGT AAA GAA CTA GCA GGT
GCT ATG ATT GAA CTA CGT AAT CTA TCA GGT CAA ACT ATT CAA TCA TGG
ATA TCA GAC GGC ACA GTT AAA GTT TTC TAC TTG ATG CCA GGG ACT TAT
CAA TTT GTG GAG ACG GCA GCG CCA GAA GGT TAT GAA TTG GCA GCT CCA
ATT ACC TTC ACA ATT GAT GAG AAA GGA CAA ATT TGG GTA GAC AGT ACA
.TT ACT GAG GCG AGT CAA TCT ATT GAT TTC
GAG GAA ACT TTA CCA ACT GAA CAA GGC CAA TCT GGC TCT ACA ACG GAG
GTT GAG GAT ACT AAA GGC CCA GAA GTC ATT ATC GGC GGT CAG GGA GAG
ATT GTT GAT ATC
GAG GAG AAT TTA CCA ACT GAA CAA GGC CAA TCT GGC TCT ACA ACT GAA
GTA GAG GAT ACT AAA GGC CCA GAA GTC ATT ATC GGC GGT CAA GGA GAG
GTT GTT GAT ATT
GAG GAG AGC TTA CCA ACT GAA CAA GGC CAA TCT GGC TCT ACA ACT GAA
GTA GAA GAT
AGC AAG CCT AAA CTC TCT ATC CAC TTT GAT AAC GAG TGG CCT AAG GAA
GAC AAA CCA CAA CTA CCT CGC GTT GAA AAA CCT AAG ACT AAG GAG AGC
TTG CCA GCC GCA GGG GAA GCT GAA CAT GTC TTA TCT ACT ATC GTG GGA
GCA ATG ATC
encoding a protein or a polypeptide having fibronectin binding properties.

3. Plasmid pSDF102 as contained in the E. coli TG1 strain, having the deposition number DSM 4614.

4. Plasmid pSDF203 as contained in the E. coli TG1 strain, having the deposition number DSM 4613.

5. An E. coli strain expressing at least one of the fibronectin binding proteins encoded by a nucleotide sequence defined in claim 1 or 2.

6. A micro-organism transformed by a recombinant DNA
molecule according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

7. A recombinant-DNA molecule according to claim 1 or 2 comprising the nucleotide sequence GAA GAC ACT CAA ACA AGT CAA GAG GAT ATT GTA CTT GGT GGT CCA GGT
CAA GTG ATT GAC TTT ACA GAA GAT AGC CAA CCG GGT ATG TCT GGT AAT
AAT AGC CAT ACT ATT ACA
GAA GAT TCT AAA CCA AGT CAA GAG GAT GAG GTG ATA ATC GGC GGT CAA
GGT CAG GTG ATT GAC TTT ACA GAA GAT ACT CAA TCT GGT ATG TCT GGG
GAT AAT AGC CAT ACA GAT GGG ACA GTG CTT GAA
GAA GAC TCT AAA CCA AGT CAA GAG GAT GAG GTG ATA ATC GGC GGT CAA
GGT CAA GTG ATT GAC TTT ACA GAA GAT ACC CAA ACC GGT ATG TCT GGG

8. A recombinant-DNA molecule according to claim 1 or 2 comprising the nucleotide sequence GAG GAA ACT TTA CCA ACT GAA CAA GGC CAA TCT GGC TCT ACA ACG GAG
GTT GAG GAT ACT AAA GGC CCA GAA GTC ATT ATC GGC GGT CAG GGA GAG
ATT GTT GAT ATC
GAG GAG AAC TTA CCA ACT GAA CAA GGC CAA TCT GGC TCT ACA ACT GAA
GTA GAG GAT ACT AAA GGC CCA GAA GTC ATT ATC GGC GGT CAA GGA GAG
GTT GTT GAT ATT
GAG GAG AGC TTA CCA ACT GAA CAA GGC CAA TCT GGC TCT ACA ACT GAA
GTA GAA GAT

9. A plasmid or phage comprising one or more of the nucleotide sequences and/or parts thereof according to claim 7 or 8.

10. A micro-organism comprising at least one plasmid or phage according to claim 9.

11. A process for preparing a fibronectin binding protein or polypeptide, comprising a) introducing at least one recombinant molecules according to claim 1 into a micro-organism, b) culturing said micro-organism in a growth promoting medium, and c) isolating the protein thus formed.

12. A fibronectin binding protein or polypeptide comprising at least one of the amino acid sequences selected from the group Glu Asp Thr Gln Thr Ser Gln Glu Asp Ile Val Leu Gly Gly Pro Gly Gln Val Ile Asp Phe Thr Glu Asp Ser Gln Pro Gly Met Ser Gly Asn Ser His Thr Ile Thr Glu Asp Ser Lys Pro Ser Gln Glu Asp Glu Val Ile Ile Gly Gly Gln Gly Gln Val Ile Asp Phe Thr Glu Asp Thr Gln Ser Gly Met Ser Gly Asp Asn Ser His Thr Aap Gly Thr Val Leu Glu Glu Asp Ser Lys Pro Ser Gln Glu Asp Glu Val Ile Ile Gly Gly Gln Gly Gln Val Ile Asp Phe Thr Glu Asp Thr Gln Thr Gly Met Ser Gly and Glu Glu Thr Leu Pro Thr Glu Gln Gly Gln Ser Gly Ser Thr Thr Glu Val Glu Asp Thr Lys Gly Pro Glu Val Ile Ile Gly Gly Gln Gly Glu Ile Val Asp Ile Glu Glu Asn Leu Pro Thr Glu Gln Gly Gln Ser Gly Ser Thr Thr Glu Val Glu Asp Thr Lys Gly Pro Glu Val Ile Ile Gly Gly Gln Gly Glu Val Val Asp Ile Glu Glu Ser Leu Pro Thr Glu Glu Gly Gln Ser Gly Gly Ser Thr Thr Glu Val Glu Asp.

13. A process for preparing a fibronectin binding protein or polypeptide according to claim 12, which process comprises forming an amino acid residue based upon the nucleotide sequence encoding said protein or polypeptide starting from the C-terminal glycine and aspartic acid, respectively, according to claim 12, reacting said residue step by step with the appropriate amino acid, and finally reacting the resulting amino acid residue with glutamic acid and glutamic acid respectively, at the N-terminal end to form a fibronectin binding protein or polypeptide.

14. Pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of infections caused by S. dysgalactiae, whereby it comprises at least one fibronectin binding protein derived from a DNA
according to any one of claims 1 to 5 or 7 to 12 together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

15. A use for the treatment of infections caused by S.
dysgalactiae in mammals, of a therapeutically active amount of at least one fibronectin binding protein derived from a DNA
according to any one of claims 1 to 5 or 7 to 12.

16. A use according to claim 15 wherein the fibronectin binding protein is used in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.