Neospora vaccine

Abstract

The present invention provides an homogenate prepared from cells of Neospora , and vaccines against neosporosis prepared therefrom which are useful in the prevention of clinical disease and abortion in mammals.

1 . An homogenate prepared from cells of  Neospora  which is capable of inducing a protective response against neosporosis in a mammal.  
     
     
         2 . The homogenate of claim i., wherein the species of  Neospora  from which the homogenate is prepared is  N. caninum.    
     
     
         3 . The homogenate of  claim 1  which is capable of inducing the production of antibodies that recognize one or more antigenic components present in an homogenate of cells of  N. caninum  strain NC-1.  
     
     
         4 . The homogenate of  claim 3 , wherein the species of  Neospora  from which the homogenate is prepared is  N. caninum.    
     
     
         5 . The homogenate of  claim 4 , wherein the strain of  N. caninum  from which the homogenate is prepared is NC-1.  
     
     
         6 . The homogenate of  claim 1  which is prepared from tachyzoites.  
     
     
         7 . A vaccine to protect a mammal against neosporosis, comprising an immunologically effective amount of an homogenate prepared from cells of  Neospora , which homogenate is capable of inducing a protective response against neosporosis in a mammal, and a veterinarily acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         8 . The vaccine of  claim 7 , wherein the species of  Neospora  from which the homogenate is prepared is  N. caninum.    
     
     
         9 . The vaccine of  claim 7 , which is capable of inducing the production of antibodies that recognize one or more antigenic components present in an homogenate of cells of  N. caninum  strain NC-1.  
     
     
         10 . The vaccine of  claim 9 , wherein the species of  Neospora  from which the homogenate of the vaccine is prepared is  N. caninum.    
     
     
         11 . The vaccine of  claim 10 , wherein the strain of  N. caninum  from which the homogenate of the vaccine is prepared is NC-1.  
     
     
         12 . The vaccine of  claim 7 , wherein the homogenate is prepared from tachyzoites.  
     
     
         13 . The vaccine of  claim 7 , further comprising one or more additional immunomodulatory components  
     
     
         14 . The vaccine of  claim 13 , in which the additional immunomodulatory component is an adjuvant.  
     
     
         15 . The vaccine of  claim 14 , in which the adjuvant is selected from the group consisting of the RIBI adjuvant system (Ribi Inc.), alum, aluminum hydroxide gel, an oil-inwater emulsion, a water-in-oil emulsion, Block co polymer, QS-21, SAF-M, AMPHIGEN® adjuvant, saponin, Quil A, monophosphoryl lipid A, and Avridine lipid-amine adjuvant.  
     
     
         16 . The vaccine of  claim 15 , in which the adjuvant is an oil-in-water emulsion selected from the group consisting of SEAM62 and SEAM 1/2.  
     
     
         17 . The vaccine of  claim 13 , in which the additional immunomodulatory component is a cytokine.  
     
     
         18 . The vaccine of  claim 7 , wherein the  Neospora  cells from which the homogenate is prepared have been modified to delete the expression of one or more antigenic components normally associated with  Neospora  cells or a homogenate prepared therefrom.  
     
     
         19 - 38 . (Canceled).  
     
     
         39 . A combination vaccine for protecting a mammal against neosporosis and, optionally, one or more other diseases or pathological conditions that can afflict the mammal, which combination vaccine comprises an immunologically effective amount of a first composition comprising an homogenate prepared from cells of  Neospora , which homogenate is capable of inducing a protective response against neosporosis in a mammal; an immunologically effective amount of a second composition capable of inducing a protective response against a disease or pathological condition that can afflict the mammal; and a veterinarily acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         40 . The combination vaccine of  claim 39 , wherein the species of  Neospora  from which the homogenate of the first composition is prepared is  N. caninum.    
     
     
         41 . The combination vaccine of  claim 39 , which is capable of inducing the production of antibodies that recognize one or more antigenic components present in an homogenate of cells of  N. caninum  strain NC-1.  
     
     
         42 . The combination vaccine of  claim 41 , wherein the species of  Neospora  from which the homogenate of the first composition is prepared is  N. caninum.    
     
     
         43 . The combination vaccine of  claim 42 , wherein the strain of  N. caninum  from which the homogenate of the first composition is prepared is NC-1.  
     
     
         44 . The combination vaccine of  claim 39 , wherein the homogenate of the first composition is prepared from tachyzoites.  
     
     
         45 . The combination vaccine of  claim 39 , wherein the second composition is capable of inducing in the mammal a protective response against a pathogen selected from the group consisting of bovine herpes virus, bovine respiratory syncitial virus, bovine viral diarrhea virus, parainfluenza virus types I, II, or III,  Leptospira  spp.,  Campylobacter  spp.,  Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Mycoplasma  spp.,  Klebsiella  spp.,  Salmonella  spp., rotavirus, coronavirus, rabies,  Pasteurella haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Clostridia  spp.,  Tetanus  toxoid,  E. coli, Cryptosporidum  spp.,  Eimeria  spp. and  Neospora  spp.  
     
     
         46 . A kit for vaccinating a mammal against neosporosis, comprising a first container having an immunologically effective amount of an homogenate prepared from cells of  Neospora , which homogenate is capable of inducing a protective response against neosporosis in a mammal, and a second container having a veterinarily acceptable carrier or diluent.  
     
     
         47 - 51 . (Canceled)