CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE LIPOTEICHOIC ACID AND USES THEREOF

摘要

Described is a lipoteichoic acid (LTA) isolated from Clostridium difficile, aswell as substitutedversions and conjugates thereof, which may be used to combat enteric diseasecaused by C.difficile. The structure of the isolated LTA is illustrated below, wherein R1is selected from NH2and NHAc; each R2 is independently selected from NH2 and NHAc; n is an integerbetween 1and 20; R3 and R4 are independently selected from a C14:0, C16:0, C16: 1,C18:0, or C18:1fatty acid, or any combination thereof; and wherein one of COR3 or COR4 may bereplaced byH. Further described are vaccines for C. difficile produced using the isolatedLTA and LTAconjugates. Also described is the use of the LTA to confer immunity against C.difficile and useof the LTA to detect C. difficile.(see above formula)