Chimeric immunogenic polypeptides

Abstract

Provided herein are chimeric polypeptides that may be used, e.g., for the diagnosis of or vaccination against Ehrlichia chaffeensis and / or Ehrlichia canis.

Description

[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 711,005, filed Jul. 27, 2018, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology and medicine. More particularly, it concerns chimeric polypeptides that may be used for diagnostic or vaccination purposes.2. Description of Related Art[0003]Human monocytotropic ehrlichiosis (HME) is a group 1 NIAID emerging disease, and the etiologic agent, E. chaffeensis, is classified as a Category C priority pathogen. HME is an undifferentiated febrile illness that is life-threatening, clinical diagnosis is difficult, and definitive diagnosis is most often retrospective (Walker and Dumler, 1997; Walker et al., 2004; Dumler et al., 2007). Although well over 8,000 cases have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control as of 2012, this number likely underestimates the actua...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention aims to provide technical effects that improve upon existing technology. These effects may include increased efficiency, enhanced functionality, improved performance, or other advantages. The detailed description of the invention provides a preferred method for achieving these technical effects, but those skilled in the art will also recognize that modifications and improvements can be made within the scope of the invention.

Problems solved by technology

HME is an undifferentiated febrile illness that is life-threatening, clinical diagnosis is difficult, and definitive diagnosis is most often retrospective (Walker and Dumler, 1997; Walker et al., 2004; Dumler et al., 2007).

Progression of the disease can result in a fatal outcome and often involves multisystem failure, with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and meningoencephalitis being common in many fatal cases (Fishbein et al., 1994; Paparone et al., 1995).

The threat to public health is increasing with newly emerging ehrlichial agents, yet vaccines for human ehrlichioses are not available, and therapeutic options are limited.

Prospects for development of effective subunit vaccines and immunodiagnostics for Ehrlichia have been limited due to many factors, not the least of which is the small repertoire of immunoreactive / protective proteins that have been molecularly defined (McBride and Walker, 2010).

Nevertheless, these antigens likely represent a significant, but incomplete repertoire of immunoreactive / protective proteins.

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