Vaccination of companion animals to elicit a protective immune response against tick infestations and tick-borne pathogen transmission
Inventors
Guerrero, Felicito • Perez De Leon, Adalberto A. • Foil, Lane D.
Assignees
US Department of Agriculture USDA • Louisiana State University
Publication Number
US-9408896-B2
Publication Date
2016-08-09
Expiration Date
2034-03-07
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Abstract
Compositions of either the aquaporin protein from the cattle tick, Rhipicephalus microplus, or a nucleic acid construct incorporating a nucleic acid sequence encoding this aquaporin protein, are effective for eliciting a protective immune response against other tick species in non-bovine animals. The R. microplus aquaporin protein is antigenic and can be administered as a protein vaccine, or in the alternative, the nucleic acid construct can be utilized as a DNA vaccine. Induction of the immune response significantly reduces or eliminates the infestation of treated, non-bovine animals with ticks other than the cattle tick, particularly the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Moreover, as ticks are vectors of a variety of pathogenic agents, the reduction in the incidence of tick infestation afforded by the vaccines may concurrently reduce the incidence of diseases caused by these pathogenic agents in susceptible animals.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to compositions comprising either the aquaporin protein from the cattle tick, Rhipicephalus microplus, or nucleic acid constructs incorporating the nucleic acid sequence encoding this aquaporin protein, which are effective for eliciting a protective immune response against other tick species in non-bovine animals. The protein is antigenic and can be administered as a protein vaccine or as a DNA vaccine wherein the nucleic acid constructs express the protein in vivo within the vaccinated animal's cells. This immune response significantly reduces or eliminates the infestation of treated non-bovine animals with ticks other than the cattle tick, particularly the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus.
The problem being addressed is that ticks pose a significant health risk as vectors for many pathogens affecting both animals and humans. Current control methods rely mainly on pesticides, but increasing resistance among ticks to acaricides and insecticides threatens control efforts. Although some vaccines exist, such as the BM86 vaccine for cattle ticks, there remains a need for vaccines effective against other tick species and in non-bovine animals including companion animals.
The invention fulfills this need by providing vaccines composed of the R. microplus aquaporin protein or nucleic acid constructs encoding it that induce protective immune responses in non-bovine animals. The vaccines can be used against various tick species including the brown dog tick and may reduce transmission of tick-borne diseases. The aquaporin protein fragment has been isolated, sequenced, and produced recombinantly, with protein or DNA vaccines formulated with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and adjuvants. The vaccine is administered in an amount effective to induce immunity, which may be demonstrated by antibody production and reduction in tick infestation metrics in treated animals compared to controls.
Claims Coverage
The patent contains two independent claims defining methods of reducing Rhipicephalus sanguineus tick infestations in animals by administering vaccine compositions containing Rhipicephalus microplus aquaporin protein or fusion proteins derived therefrom.
Use of Rhipicephalus microplus aquaporin protein for immunization
A method of reducing Rhipicephalus sanguineus tick infestations by administering a vaccine composition comprising an aquaporin protein of Rhipicephalus microplus in an amount effective to stimulate an immune response in the animal, wherein the aquaporin protein comprises at least amino acids 3-198 of SEQ ID NO: 1. The method applies to animals selected from canines, felines, and Cervidae.
Use of fusion proteins comprising Rhipicephalus microplus aquaporin fragments
A method of reducing Rhipicephalus sanguineus tick infestations by administering a vaccine composition containing a fusion protein comprising a fragment of Rhipicephalus microplus aquaporin protein comprising at least amino acids 3-198 of SEQ ID NO: 1, effective to stimulate an immune response in the animal, with animals selected from canines, felines, and Cervidae.
The independent claims cover methods of reducing brown dog tick infestations in various animals through vaccination with compositions containing specific fragments of Rhipicephalus microplus aquaporin protein or fusion proteins thereof, emphasizing the amino acid sequence region 3-198 of SEQ ID NO: 1 and use in companion and cervid animals.
Stated Advantages
The vaccines significantly reduce or eliminate tick infestations in treated non-bovine animals, including infestations by the brown dog tick.
Reduction in tick infestations afforded by the vaccines concurrently reduces the incidence of diseases caused by tick-borne pathogenic agents in susceptible animals.
Documented Applications
Vaccination of non-bovine animals such as domestic dogs, cats, deer, and horses to reduce or eliminate infestations by ticks, including the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus.
Use in controlling and preventing animal infestations with various tick species to reduce the transmission of tick-borne diseases such as canine ehrlichiosis and babesiosis.
Production of recombinant Rhipicephalus microplus aquaporin protein for use as a protein vaccine or the use of nucleic acid constructs encoding the aquaporin protein as DNA vaccines in animals.
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