Technologies

Chlamydia trachomatis is the leading sexually transmitted infectious agent in the United States, causing about 10 million new cases per year. It is a major cause of involuntary infertility in women. This invention claims the DNA sequences, and their encoded amino acid sequences, of the four variable domains from the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of Chlamydia trachomatis , from the serovars Ba, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K and L3. Serovars D, E, F, G, H, I, J, and K are the most common serovars associated with Chlamydia trachomatis caused sexually transmitted diseases. The claimed variable domains of MOMP contain the major antigen targets of protective immunity including neutralizing antibodies capable of preventing chlamydial infection. Thus, these sequences are useful for the development of recombinant protein, peptide, and DNA based vaccines against C. trachomatis caused sexually transmitted diseases. The variable domains also represent the primary serotyping antigenic determinants of C. trachomatis organisms making these variable domain sequences potential useful targets for the development of DNA or antibody based diagnostic assays for C. trachomatis .