34 results about "Borrelia afzelii" patented technology

Disclosed is a vaccine against Lyme Disease or its causative agent Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu stricto or sensu lato) containing a plasmid a DNA encoding a promoter for driving expression in a mammalian cell, DNA encoding a leader peptide for facilitating secretion / release of a prokaryotic protein sequence from a mammalian cell, a DNA encoding Borrelia OspA or OspB, and a DNA encoding a terminator. Disclosed too is an immunogenic composition against Lyme Disease or its causative agent Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu stricto or sensu lato) containing a plasmid comprising a DNA encoding a promoter for driving expression in a mammalian cell, DNA encoding a leader peptide for facilitating secretion / release of a prokaryotic protein sequence from a mammalian cell, a DNA encoding a Borrelia OspC, and a DNA encoding a terminator. And, methods for making and using such vaccines and the immunogenic composition are also disclosed.

Disclosed and claimed are compositions containing a Borrelia burgdorferi antigen, and methods for making and using them. The antigen can be OspA. The compositions can contain at least one additional antigen from a pathogen other than Borrelia burgdorferi. The compositions are useful for eliciting an immunological response in a host mammal susceptible to Lyme Disease and to the mammalian pathogen other than Borrelia burgdorferi. Suitable host mammals include dogs, pups, horses, and, the additional antigen can be of a canine, equine or feline pathogen, such as rabies, canine distemper, adenovirus, coronavirus, parainfluenza and parvovirus. No significant efficacy interference is observed.

The present invention discloses hybridization assay probes, amplification primers, nucleic acid compositions and methods useful for detecting Borrelia nucleic acids. Hybridization assay probes and amplification primers that selectively detect Lyme disease-associated Borrelia and distinguish those Borrelia from Borrelia hermsii are disclosed. Other hybridization probes selectively detect Borrelia hermsii and not Lyme disease-associated Borrelia are also described.

The present invention relates, e.g., to an isolated peptide consisting of the sequence MKKDDQIAAAIALRGMA (SEQ ID NO:1) or an active variant thereof, wherein the peptide or active variant can bind specifically to an antibody induced by a causative agent of Lyme disease (a pathogenic Borrelia), e.g. in a sample from a subject having Lyme disease. Also disclosed are linear multimeric peptides that contain the peptide represented by SEQ ID NO:1 as well as one or more additional peptide epitopes from other Borrelia proteins that can also bind specifically to an antibody as above. Compositions and diagnostic kits comprising a peptide of the invention are described, as are diagnostic assays using the peptide(s).

The present invention relates to vaccines for control of Borrelia infections in animal and human populations. In particular, the present invention provides compositions and methods comprising recombinant bacteria engineered to express one or more Borrelia burgdorferi antigens for use as Lyme disease vaccines. In some embodiments, the recombinant bacteria are freeze-dried.

The present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules, polypeptides encoded by the same, antibodies directed thereto and a method of preparing such polypeptides including: (a) inserting an isolated DNA molecule coding for a polypeptide which is immunoreactive with a 66 kDa polypeptide derived from Borrelia garinii IP90 into an expression vector; (b) transforming a host organism or cell with the vector; (c) culturing the transformed host cell under suitable conditions; and (d) harvesting the polypeptide. The isolated DNA molecule is preferably at least 10 nucleotides in length, and the method may optionally include subjecting the polypeptide to post-translational modification. The host cell can be a bacterium, a yeast, a protozoan, or a cell derived from a multicellular organism such as a fungus, an insect cell, a plant cell, or a mammalian cell.

Bites from Amblyomma americanum, a hard tick, have been associated with a Lyme disease-like illness in the southeastern and south-central United States. Present in 2% of ticks collected in four states were uncultivable spirochetes. Through use of the polymerase chain reaction, partial sequences of the flagellin and 16s rRNA genes of microorganisms from Texas and New Jersey were obtained. The sequences showed that the spirochete was a Borrelia sp. but distinct from other known members of this genus, including B. burgdorferi, the agent of Lyme disease. Species-specific differences in the sequences of the flagellin protein, the flagellin gene and the 16s rRNA gene between the new Borrelia species and previously known species provide compositions and methods for assay for determining the presence of this new spirochete, or for providing evidence of past or present infection by this spirochete in animal reservoirs and humans.

The invention relates to the development of chimeric OspA molecules for use in a new Lyme vaccine. More specifically, the chimeric OspA molecules comprise the proximal portion from one OspA serotype, together with the distal portion from another OspA serotype, while retaining antigenic properties of both of the parent polypeptides. The chimeric OspA molecules are delivered alone or in combination to provide protection against a variety of Borrelia genospecies. The invention also provides methods for administering the chimeric OspA molecules to a subject in the prevention and treatment of Lyme disease or borreliosis.

The present invention relates, e.g., to a Lactobacillus bacterium, which (1) expresses a recombinant polypeptide containing a lipoprotein signal sequence from the OspA protein of Borrelia burgdorferi, or an active variant of the leader sequence, operably linked to one or more heterologous polypeptide(s) of interest and / or (2) which comprises an expressible polynucleotide encoding a recombinant polypeptide, wherein the polynucleotide encodes a lipoprotein signal from the OspA protein of Borrelia burgdorferi, or an active variant thereof, which is operably linked to one or more heterologous polypeptide(s) of interest. In one embodiment, the heterologous polypeptide is from Yersinia pestis, the etiologic agent of plague. In another embodiment, the heterologous polypeptide is from Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiologic agent of Lyme disease. Also described are immunogenic compositions, such as live bacterial vaccines, comprising the bacterium; methods for eliciting an immune response against the polypeptide using the bacterium; and kits comprising the bacterium.

The present invention is drawn to an immunogenic composition comprising OspC polypeptides from Lyme Disease causing Borrelia. In one embodiment, the immunogenic composition of the present invention comprises at least one OspC polypeptide or immunogenic fragment thereof from each of Borrelia burgdorferi OspC families A, B, I and K. In another embodiment, the immunogenic composition of the present invention comprises at least one OspC polypeptide or immunogenic fragment thereof from each of Borrelia afzelii OspC families A and B.

Compositions and methods of detecting Borrelia proteins, nucleic acid sequences encoding these proteins, and subject antibodies to these proteins in a sample are disclosed.

Disclosed are the dbp gene and dbp-derived nucleic acid segments from Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiological agent of Lyme disease, and DNA segments encoding dbp from related borrelias. Also disclosed are decorin binding protein compositions and methods of use. The DBP protein and antigenic epitopes derived therefrom are contemplated for use in the treatment of pathological Borrelia infections, and in particular, for use in the prevention of bacterial adhesion to decorin. DNA segments encoding these proteins and anti-(decorin binding protein) antibodies will also be of use in various screening, diagnostic and therapeutic applications including active and passive immunization and methods for the prevention of Borrelia colonization in an animal. These DNA segments and the peptides derived therefrom are contemplated for use in the preparation of vaccines and, also, for use as carrier proteins in vaccine formulations, and in the formulation of compositions for use in the prevention of Lyme disease.

The testing for the Lyme disease pathogen, (Borrelia bergdorferi (Bb) and all other Lyme Borrelia), is notoriously difficult. Bb is not by nature a blood loving bacteria, and prefers the climate of avascular tissues such as cartilage. The Borrelia Provocation technology disclosed herein proposes to uniquely lure the Lyme Borrelia spirochetes into the blood through a simple procedure of sub-dermal injection of benign tick saliva and co-factors. Lyme Borrelia can then be tested accurately after the provocation injection, utilizing any Lyme Borrelia detection test such as a specific PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test for the most accurate results, as there will be abundantly available DNA present in the blood if there is an existing infection. Treatment is more effective after provocation as well. The provocation protocol taught herein makes accurate, non-invasive, active direct Lyme infection testing possible, and creates a platform for an effective treatment as well.

Novel chimeric nucleic acids, encoding chimeric Borrelia proteins comprising OspC or an antigenic fragment thereof and OspA or an antigenic fragment thereof, are disclosed. Chimeric proteins encoded by the nucleic acid sequences are also disclosed. The chimeric proteins are useful as vaccine immunogens against Lyme borreliosis, as well as for immunodiagnostic reagents.

The instant invention provides an immunogenic composition comprising an antigenic fragment of OspA protein of Borrelia burgdorferi and a chimeric protein containing antigenic fragments of different phylotypes of OspC protein of Borrelia burgdorferi. Vaccines incorporating the immunogenic composition of the invention, as well as methods of preventing Lyme disease in dogs and / or protecting dogs from Lyme disease using the vaccines are also provided.

The invention discloses a B.garinii polyclonal antibody and an application. A BSK-II culture medium is inoculated with a B.garinii strain for enlargement culture, and a somatic antigen is obtained after inactivation; after the obtained somatic antigen and an adjuvant are fully emulsified, a New Zealand white rabbit is immunized by using multi-point intradermal injection; the immunized New Zealand white rabbit is anesthetized with chloral hydrate, whole blood is solidified at the room temperature after being collected, and serum containing the B.garinii polyclonal antibody is subjected to centrifugal separation. The B.garinii polyclonal antibody prepared with the method has good specificity and high titer, can effectively detect Lyme disease spirochete and has brighter application prospect.

The present invention provides a method for treating Lyme disease and / or a Borrelia infection in animals comprising administering to an animal in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of cefovecin.

The invention relates to preparation and application of a borrelia burgdorferi flagellin FlaB antibody. By means of a PCR method, a gene segment of FlaB is obtained from a borrelia burgdorferi genomethrough amplification, cloned into a prokaryotic expression vector pET30a containing a histidine tag and then transferred into escherichia coli BL21 competent cells. Induction expression is carried out through IPTG, affinity purification is performed to obtain FlaB protein, immunized mice obtain the borrelia burgdorferi flagellin FlaB antibody, and a solid foundation is laid for detection and deepresearch of borrelia burgdorferi.

The present invention provides a method for treating Lyme disease and / or a Borrelia infection in animals comprising administering to an animal in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of cefovecin.

A method for diagnosing Lyme disease status in a mammal is provided. The method entails, in a biological sample obtained or derived from a mammal, determining antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi (B. burgdorferi) outer surface proteins (Osp) OspA, OspC, and OspF. Based upon determining the OspA, OspC, and OspF antibodies, the mammal can be diagnosed as vaccinated, not vaccinated, infected or not infected with B. burgdorferi. Mammals that have early, intermediate or chronic B. burgdorferi infection can also be identified. The method is particularly suited for use with horses and dogs. Isolated or recombinant B. burgdorferi antigens and compositions that contain them are also provided.

The invention discloses a Borrelia burgdorferi detection kit. The Borrelia burgdorferi detection kit comprises a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) primer for detecting Borrelia burgdorferi, and a Borrelia burgdorferi detection system is provided; a bacteria solution is diluted 1 / 10<8> times in a PCR-immune colloidal gold test strip detection method, a detection band changes color obviously, a positive result can be judged clearly, and the detection kit is proved to be higher in detection sensitivity; by combining a high-sensitivity and high-specificity method of PCR in nucleic acid testing withan immune colloidal gold rapid testing technique in immunological detection and designing the unique primer, extracted target DNA is subjected to specific amplification, an amplification product in adeveloping solution binds with a gold labelled antibody fixed on the test strip, a stable and visible detection band and a quality control band are formed, and rapid detection of Borrelia burgdorferiis realized.

The present invention is drawn to an immunogenic composition comprising OspC polypeptides from Lyme Disease causing Borrelia. In one embodiment, the immunogenic composition of the present invention comprises at least one OspC polypeptide or immunogenic fragment thereof from each of Borrelia burgdorferi OspC families A, B, I and K. In another embodiment, the immunogenic composition of the present invention comprises at least one OspC polypeptide or immunogenic fragment thereof from each of Borrelia afzelii OspC families A and B.