The present invention relates to a truncated form of the secretory aspartyl proteinase 2 (Sap2), as well as to nucleic acid molecules encoding same. This truncated Sap2 polypeptide (tSap2) is surprisingly stable and devoid of enzymatic activity but retains full immunogenicity upon intravaginal administration and confers full protection against intravaginal challenge by the Candida fungus. The present invention further relates to compositions comprising tSap2 and to the use of tSap2 in the preparation of such compositions.
