The present invention relates to oligonucleotide primers, and methods of
diagnosis using the primers, wherein particular primer pairs prime the
universal amplification of an amplicon for specific Streptococcus
pneumoniae from all 90 known serotypes. The amplicon includes at least a
portion of the psaA gene of Steptococcus pneumoniae. In the methods,
amplification of a biological sample using the primer pairs of the
invention provide an amplicon only if the sample contains a serotype of
Streptococcus pneumoniae. The invention further relates to an isolated
nucleic acid including a nucleic acid amplicon obtained using a pair of
oligonucleotide primers of the invention. In still a further aspect, the
invention discloses a polypeptide including an amino acid sequence encoded
by a nucleic acid amplicon obtained using oligonucleotide primers.
Additionally, methods of stimulating an immune response against a serotype
of Streptococcus pneumoniae in a mammal include either administering a
polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid amplicon obtained using the pair of
oligonucleotide primers of the invention, or administering a nucleic acid
containing a nucleic acid amplicon obtained using the pair of
oligonucleotide primers of the invention.
