Isolated peptide sequences and proteins containing these sequences are
provided which are useful in the prevention and treatment of infection
caused by Gram-positive bacteria. The peptide sequences have been shown
to be highly conserved motifs in the surface proteins of Gram-positive
bacteria, and these consensus sequences include amino acid sequences such
as LPXTG (SEQ ID NO:13), ALKTGKIDIIISGMTSTPERKK (SEQ ID NO:14),
VEGAVVEKPVAEAYLKQN (SEQ ID NO:15), and EYAGVDIDLAKKIAK (SEQ ID NO:16). By
virtue of the highly conserved regions, the sequences and the proteins
including these sequences can be utilized to generate antibodies which
can recognize these highly conserved motifs and the proteins containing
them and thus be useful in the treatment or prevention of a wide range of
infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria.