Compositions And Methods For Immunodominant Antigens

Abstract

Contemplated compositions, devices, and methods comprise immunodominant antigens from selected human pathogens ( Burkholderia pseudomallei, Borrelia burgdorferi, Brucella melitensis, Chlamydia muridarum, Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis , human Herpes virus 1 and 2, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Plasmodium falciparum , and Vaccinia virus) can be used as a vaccine, as diagnostic markers, and as therapeutic agents. In particularly preferred aspects, the antigens have quantified and known relative reactivities with respect to sera of a population infected with the pathogen, and have a known association with a disease parameter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An isolated antigen composition comprising:
 a plurality of immunodominant antigens of a pathogenic organism associated with a carrier;   wherein the antigens have quantified and known relative reactivities with respect to sera of a population infected with the organism;   wherein the antigens are determined to have a known association with a disease parameter; and   wherein the plurality of antigens are encoded by nucleic acids selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:633 (BB_A19), SEQ ID NO:575 (BB_A25), SEQ ID NO:595 (BB_K07), SEQ ID NO:596 (BB_K12), SEQ ID NO:14 (BB — 0147), SEQ ID NO:550 (BB — 0279), and SEQ ID NO: 637 (VIsE), or fragments thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The antigen composition of  claim 1  further comprising at least one additional antigen of  Borrelia burgdorferi , encoded by nucleic acids selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:546 to SEQ ID NO:637. 
     
     
         3 . The antigen composition of  claim 1  wherein the carrier is a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and wherein the composition is formulated as a vaccine. 
     
     
         4 . The antigen composition of  claim 3  wherein the vaccine comprises at least four antigens. 
     
     
         5 . The antigen composition of  claim 3  wherein the vaccine comprises antigens from at least two distinct pathogens. 
     
     
         6 . The antigen composition of  claim 3  wherein the antigens or fragments thereof are recombinant. 
     
     
         7 . The antigen composition of  claim 3  wherein the antigens or fragments thereof are at least partially purified. 
     
     
         8 . The antigen composition of  claim 1  wherein the carrier is a solid carrier, and wherein the plurality of antigens is disposed on the carrier in an array. 
     
     
         9 . The antigen composition of  claim 8  wherein the antigens are from at least two distinct pathogens. 
     
     
         10 . The antigen composition of  claim 8  wherein the antigens or fragments thereof are at least partially purified. 
     
     
         11 . A method for the detecting presence of antibodies which specifically bind to antigens of  Borrelia burgdorferi , and which are present in a bodily fluid sample, comprising contacting the sample with antigens of  Borrelia burgdorferi , wherein the antigens are encoded by at least two of nucleic acids SEQ ID NO:633 (BB_A19), SEQ ID NO:575 (BB_A25), SEQ ID NO:595 (BB_K07), SEQ ID NO:596 (BB_K12), SEQ ID NO:14 (BB — 0147), SEQ ID NO:550 (BB — 0279), and SEQ ID NO: 637 (VIsE), and detecting antibodies which bind to the antigens. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the antigens are present in a crude expression extract or in partially purified form. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of detecting the antibodies comprises use of a signal-generating anti-antibody. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein binding affinity of respective antibodies which specifically bind to antigens of  Borrelia burgdorferi , are known and indicative of an activity state of lyme disease. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the antigens of  Borrelia burgdorferi , are coupled to a solid phase prior to the step of contacting the sample with the antigens. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the antigens of  Borrelia burgdorferi , are coupled to the solid phase in an array. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the antigens encoded by at least two of nucleic acids SEQ ID NO:633 (BB_A19), SEQ ID NO:575 (BB_A25), SEQ ID NO:595 (BB_K07), SEQ ID NO:596 (BB_K12), SEQ ID NO:14 (BB — 0147), SEQ ID NO:550 (BB — 0279), and SEQ ID NO: 637 (VIsE) is present as an antibody-binding fragment. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the antigens further comprise at least one antigen of  Borrelia burgdorferi , that is encoded by a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:546 to SEQ ID NO:637, or antibody binding fragments thereof. 
     
     
         19 . A diagnostic device for detection presence of antibodies which specifically bind to antigens of  Borrelia burgdorferi  and which are present in a bodily fluid sample, comprising a solid phase to which antigens are coupled, wherein the antigens are encoded by at least two of nucleic acids selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:633 (BB_A19), SEQ ID NO:575 (BB_A25), SEQ ID NO:595 (BB_K07), SEQ ID NO:596 (BB_K12), SEQ ID NO:14 (BB — 0147), SEQ ID NO:550 (BB — 0279), and SEQ ID NO: 637 (VIsE), and wherein the device is suitable for detection of the presence of the antibodies according to  claim 11 . 
     
     
         20 . The diagnostic device of  claim 19 , wherein binding of the antibodies is indicative of active lyme disease.