Flea allantoinase proteins and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to flea allantoinase proteins; to flea allantoinase nucleic acid molecules, including those that encode such flea allantoinase proteins; to antibodies raised against such proteins; and to compounds that inhibit the activity of such proteins. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and inhibitory compounds. The present invention also includes therapeutic compositions comprising such inhibitory compounds, particularly those that specifically inhibit flea allantoinase activity, as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to treat animals.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An isolated protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes to a polynucleotide with a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:8 and SEQ ID NO:11, under conditions comprising: (1) hybridizing in a solution comprising 1×SSC, at a temperature of about 37° C.; and (2) washing in a solution comprising 1×SSC, at a temperature of about 47° C., wherein said protein comprises at least one epitope that elicits an immune response against a protein consisting of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:7 or SEQ ID NO:10. 
     
     
         22 . The isolated protein of  claim 21 , wherein said nucleic acid molecule comprises at least 25 contiguous nucleotides from SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:6, or SEQ ID NO:9. 
     
     
         23 . The isolated protein of  claim 21 , wherein said nucleic acid molecule comprises a nucleic acid sequence at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:6, or SEQ ID NO:9. 
     
     
         24 . A method to detect an inhibitor of flea allantoinase activity, said method comprising: (a) contacting an isolated protein of  claim 21  with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of said compound, said protein has activity; and (b) determining if said putative inhibitory compound inhibits said activity. 
     
     
         25 . An isolated protein comprising an amino acid sequence of at least 20 residues in length, wherein said amino acid sequence comprises at least one epitope that elicits an immune response against a protein consisting of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:7 or SEQ ID NO:10. 
     
     
         26 . The isolated protein of  claim 25 , wherein said amino acid sequence is at least 95% identical to at least 20 contiguous amino acids from SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:7 or SEQ ID NO:10. 
     
     
         27 . The isolated protein of  claim 25 , wherein said amino acid sequence is at least 98% identical to at least 20 contiguous amino acids from SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:7 or SEQ ID NO:10. 
     
     
         28 . The isolated protein of  claim 25 , wherein said amino acid sequence is identical to at least 20 contiguous amino acids from SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:7 or SEQ ID NO:10. 
     
     
         29 . The isolated peptide of  claim 25 , wherein said amino acid sequence is at least 50 amino acids in length, and is at least 95% identical to at least 50 contiguous amino acids from SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:7 or SEQ ID NO:10. 
     
     
         30 . The isolated peptide of  claim 25 , wherein said amino acid sequence is at least 50 amino acids in length, and is at least 98% identical to at least 50 contiguous amino acids from SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:7 or SEQ ID NO:10. 
     
     
         31 . The isolated peptide of  claim 25 , wherein said amino acid sequence is identical to at least 50 contiguous amino acids from SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:7 or SEQ ID NO:10. 
     
     
         32 . A method to detect an inhibitor of flea allantoinase activity, said method comprising: (a) contacting an isolated protein of  claim 21  with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of said compound, said protein has activity; and (b) determining if said putative inhibitory compound inhibits said activity.