Mycoplasma subunit vaccine

Abstract

The present invention relates i.a. to vaccines for combating Mycoplasma infection, to mycoplasmal L-α-glycerophosphate oxidase for use in such vaccines, to the use of mycoplasmal L-α-glycerophosphate oxidase for the manufacturing of such vaccines, to methods for the preparation of such vaccines and to diagnostic tests for the discrimination of animals vaccinated with said vaccines and animals vaccinated with whole cell vaccines or animals suffering from field infection.

1 ) Vaccine for combating  Mycoplasma  infection, characterised in that said vaccine comprises mycoplasmal L-α-glycerophosphate oxidase or an immunogenic fragment thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         2 ) Vaccine for combating  Mycoplasma  infection, characterised in that said vaccine comprises a live recombinant carrier encoding mycoplasmal L-α-glycerophosphate oxidase or an immunogenic fragment thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         3 ) Vaccine for combating  Mycoplasma  infection, characterised in that said vaccine comprises a host cell comprising a live recombinant carrier encoding mycoplasmal L-α-glycerophosphate oxidase or an immunogenic fragment thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         4 ) Vaccine for combating  Mycoplasma  infection, characterised in that said vaccine comprises a gene encoding mycoplasmal L-α-glycerophosphate oxidase or a part of said gene encoding an immunogenic fragment thereof, under the control of a functionally linked promoter and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         5 ) Vaccine for combating  Mycoplasma  infection, characterised in that said vaccine comprises a host cell comprising a gene encoding mycoplasmal L-α-glycerophosphate oxidase or a part of said gene encoding an immunogenic fragment thereof, under the control of a functionally linked promoter and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         6 ) Vaccine according to claims  1 - 5 , characterised in that said vaccine additionally comprises one or more antigens derived from another micro-organism or virus that is pathogenic to the same host, antibodies against such antigens or genetic information encoding such antigens.  
     
     
         7 ) Vaccine according to  claim 6 , characterized in that said virus or micro-organism is selected from the group of Pseudorabies virus, Porcine influenza virus, Porcine parvo virus, Transmissible gastro-enteritis virus, Rotavirus, another  Mycoplasma  spp., in particular,  Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, Escherichia coli, Leptospira  spp.,  Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, Shigella  sp.,  Salmonella choleraesuis, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella enteritidis, Haemophilus parasui,s Lauwsonia, Pasteurella multocida, Streptococcus suis, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Staphylococcus hyicus  and  Clostridium perfringens.    
     
     
         8 ) Vaccine according to  claim 6 , characterized in that said virus or micro-organism is selected from the group consisting of Bovine Herpesvirus, bovine Viral Diarrhoea virus, Parainfluenza type 3 virus, Bovine Paramyxovirus, Foot and Mouth Disease virus, Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus, porcine circo virus, porcine respiratory reproductive syndrome virus, another  Mycoplasma  spp.,  Pasteurella haemolytica, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Leptospira  spp.,  Staphylococcus uberis, Theileria parva, Theileria annulata, Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina, Babesia major, Trypanosoma  species,  Anaplasma marginale, Anaplasma centrale  and  Neospora caninum.    
     
     
         9 ) Vaccine according to  claim 6 , characterized in that said virus or micro-organism is selected from the group consisting of Fowlpox virus, Infectious Bronchitis virus, Infectious Bursal Disease (Gumboro), Marek's Disease Virus, Chicken Anaemia agent, Avian Reovirus, Turkey Rhinotracheitis virus, Chicken Poxvirus, Avian Encephalomyelitisvirus, Duck Plague virus, Newcastle Disease virus, Egg Drop syndrome virus, Infectious Laryngotracheitis virus, Herpes Virus of Turkeys, another  Mycoplasma  spp. ia.  Mycoplasma gallisepticum  or  Mycoplasma synoviae, Haemophilus paragallinarum  (Coryza),  Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale, Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella -,  Campylobacter  species,  E. coli  and  Eimeria species.    
     
     
         10 ) Vaccine according to  claim 6 , characterized in that said virus or micro-organism is selected from the group consisting of influenza virus, measles virus, mumps paramyxovirus,  Clostridium diphteriae, Clostridium tetani, Bordetella pertussis , and pox virus.  
     
     
         11 ) Vaccine for combating  Mycoplasma  infections, characterised in that it comprises antibodies against an mycoplasmal L-α-glycerophosphate oxidase or an immunogenic fragment thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         12 ) Vaccine according to claim  1 - 11 , characterised in that it comprises an adjuvant.  
     
     
         13 ) Vaccine according to claim  1 - 12 , characterised in that said mycoplasmal L-α-glycerophosphate oxidase or an immunogenic fragment thereof is the mycoplasmal L-α-glycerophosphate oxidase as encoded by  M. bovis, M . sp. bovine group 7 , M. mycoides  subsp.  Capri, M. penetrans, M. gallisepticum, M. synoviae, M. mobile, M. pulmonis, M. hyopneumoniae, M. pneumoniae, M. genitalium, M. mycoides  S(mall) C(olony) strain Afadé or  M. mycoides  S(mall) C(olony) strain L2.  
     
     
         14 ) Mycoplasmal L-α-glycerophosphate oxidase or an immunogenic fragment thereof for use in a vaccine.  
     
     
         15 ) Use of mycoplasmal L-α-glycerophosphate oxidase or an immunogenic fragment thereof for the manufacturing of a vaccine for combating  Mycoplasma  infection.  
     
     
         16 ) Method for the preparation of a vaccine according to claim  1 - 14 , said method comprising the admixing of mycoplasmal L-α-glycerophosphate oxidase or an immunogenic fragment thereof, as described in  claim 1 , a live recombinant carrier as described in  claim 2 , a gene or a part thereof as described in  claim 4 , a host cell as described in claims  3  and  5  or antibodies against mycoplasmal L-α-glycerophosphate oxidase or an immunogenic fragment thereof as described in  claim 11 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         17 ) Diagnostic test for the discrimination between vaccination with a vaccine according to claims  1 - 14  on the one hand and vaccination with a whole cell vaccine or a field infection on the other hand, characterised in that said test comprises purified mycoplasmal L-α-glycerophosphate oxidase or an immunogenic fragment thereof.