Canine babesiosis vaccine antigen

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of veterinary parasitology, especially of canine Babesiosis. In particular the invention relates to a polypeptide being a novel canine Babesia antigen (CBA), or fragments thereof, and to compositions comprising this antigen, to nucleic acids encoding the antigen, antibodies against the antigen, and medical uses of this antigen, fragments, antibodies, or encoding nucleic acids. In particular the invention relates to the use of such components in vaccines against canine Babesiosis.

1 . An isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having an amino acid sequence identity selected from the group consisting of greater than 53% with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, greater than 68% with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, or greater than 53% with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, and greater than 68% with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3,
 wherein said polypeptide is capable of inducing an immune response against a canine  Babesia  parasite.   
     
     
         2 . The polypeptide according to  claim 1  having an amino acid sequence identity greater than 29% with at least one amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7 and SEQ ID NO: 8, or an immunogenic fragment of said polypeptide. 
     
     
         3 . An isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence capable of encoding the polypeptide, or the immunogenic fragment thereof, according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         4 . The nucleotide sequence according to  claim 3 , having a nucleotide sequence identity greater than 70% with at least one nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13 and SEQ ID NO: 14. 
     
     
         5 . The nucleotide sequence according to  claim 3 , which can hybridise under stringent conditions to at least one nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13 and SEQ ID NO: 14. 
     
     
         6 . The isolated nucleic acid according to  claim 3 , wherein said nucleotide sequence is under the control of a functionally linked promoter. 
     
     
         7 . A live recombinant carrier micro-organism comprising the nucleic acid according to  claim 6 . 
     
     
         8 . An isolated antibody that can bind specifically to the polypeptide, or the immunogenic fragment thereof, according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . The polypeptide, or the immunogenic fragment thereof, according to  claim 1  for use in a vaccine for canines against Babesiosis. 
     
     
         10 . A vaccine for canines against Babesiosis, comprising the polypeptide, or the immunogenic fragment thereof, according to  claim 1 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         11 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method of vaccinating a canine against Babesiosis, comprising the step of inoculating said canine with a vaccine according to  claim 10 . 
     
     
         15 . A diagnostic test kit comprising the polypeptide, or the immunogenic fragment thereof, according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . A diagnostic test kit comprising the nucleic acid according to  claim 3 . 
     
     
         17 . A diagnostic test kit comprising the isolated antibody according to  claim 8 . 
     
     
         18 . The vaccine for canines against Babesiosis, comprising the nucleic acid according to  claim 3  and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         19 . The vaccine for canines against Babesiosis, comprising the live recombinant carrier micro-organism according to  claim 7  and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         20 . The vaccine for canines against Babesiosis, comprising the isolated antibody according to  claim 8  and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         21 . An isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence capable of encoding the polypeptide, or the immunogenic fragment thereof, according to  claim 2 . 
     
     
         22 . A method for preparing a vaccine for canines against Babesiosis, said method comprising admixing the isolated polypeptide of  claim 1 , or an immunogenic fragment thereof, with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         23 . A method for the preparation of a vaccine for canines against Babesiosis, said method comprising expressing the nucleic acid of  claim 3  in a recombinant expression system admixing the resulting expressed product with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.