Neospora for use in treating cancer and infectious diseases

Abstract

The present invention relates to a strain of Neospora caninum for use in treating cancer or infectious diseases.

1 . A method for treating a chronic infectious disease in a subject, comprising administering to the subject at least one strain of  Neospora caninum , wherein said chronic infectious disease is selected from chronic virus infection and chronic bacterial infection. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein  Neospora caninum  is a wild type strain. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein  Neospora caninum  is a mutant strain characterized by an over-expression of GRA15 protein, and/or by an under-expression of ROP16 protein. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the strain of  Neospora caninum  is at a tachyzoite stage. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said chronic infectious disease is associated with or induces an immunosuppression, and is selected from the group consisting of tuberculosis and HIV. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one strain of  Neospora caninum  is comprised in a composition in association with an excipient. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one strain of  Neospora caninum  is comprised in a pharmaceutical composition further comprising at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one strain of  Neospora caninum  is comprised in a vaccine composition. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one strain of  Neospora caninum  is comprised in a vaccine composition comprising an adjuvant. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one strain of  Neospora caninum  is administered to the subject via subcutaneous, intradermal or intratumoral routes. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the amount of cells of  Neospora caninum  administered to the subject is ranging from about 10 4  to about 10 11 . 
     
     
         12 . A mutant strain of  Neospora caninum  characterized by an over-expression of GRA15 protein, and/or an under-expression of ROP16 protein. 
     
     
         13 . An ex vivo method for activating T cells, comprising contacting T cells with a strain of  Neospora caninum.