Research Development Foundation

The University of Texas System

Clayton Foundation for Research

David H Walker

Jere W McBride

Xue-Jie Yu

Sunil Thomas

Allan R Brasier

Christopher Kuyler Doyle

Rong C Fang

John Stenos

Patricia Crocquet-Valdes

Yingxin Zhao

Jere Mcbride

Donald H Bouyer

Jere W Mcbride

Methods and compositions for diagnosing and vaccinating againstare provided.

Immunoreactive polypeptides

Immunoreactive engineered polypeptides are provided. The engineered polypeptides can be used to diagnose or induce an immune response againstor

Immunoreactive peptides

Certain embodiments are directed to detection methods and methods of identifying detection targets for sensitive and specific laboratory tests to diagnose and monitor rickettsial infections during the earliest stages of the disease and to assess the degree of illness.

Methods and compositions for diagnosis of rickettsia infection

Provided herein are chimeric polypeptides that may be used, e.g., for the diagnosis of or vaccination againstand/or

Chimeric immunogenic polypeptides

Certain embodiments are direct to a vaccine composition comprising an immunizing amount of ansonicate, wherein thesonicate elicits a protective physiologic response. In certain aspects theis one or more of, and

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The present invention provides an isolated and purified heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60) peptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2. The instant invention is also directed to a vaccine againstcomprising a peptide homologous to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2. The instant invention is also directed to an antibody directed against a peptide homologous to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2. The instant invention is also directed to a method of determining whether a subject is infected with, comprising the steps of: contacting a sample from a subject with the antibody described herein; and detecting a resulting antibody reaction, wherein a positive reaction indicates the subject is infected with

Compositions of and method of using heat shock protein peptides

The present invention provides an isolatedpeptide and therapeutic and diagnostic uses therefor.

Diagnosis and treatment of ehrlichiosis

Novel genes encoding homologous immunoreactive thio-disulfide oxidoreductases, or disulfide bond formation (Dsb) proteins fromandare disclosed. While theandDsb proteins are at most only 31% or less homologous to other known Dsb proteins, theDsbs contain a cysteine active site, Cys-Gly-Tyr-Cys, similar to those in known Dsb proteins. As predicted by 15-amino acid identical N-terminal signal peptides, the proteins are primarily localized in the periplasm ofand, possibly playing a role in antigenicity and pathogenesis. The present invention provides the nucleotide and amino acid sequences and expression vectors for theanddsb genes, antisera directed against the proteins, and kits to determine whether an individual or animal is infected with a given species of

Sequences encoding two immunoreactive glycoproteins were cloned from(p153 gene) and(pgene). These two glycoproteins are species-specific immunoreactive orthologs that are useful as subunit vaccines and for serologic and molecular diagnostics forand

P153 and p156 antigens for the immunodiagnosis of canine and human ehrlichioses and uses thereof

The present invention is directed to the cloning, sequencing, expression, and characterization of an immunoreactive ferric binding protein (Fbp) (38-kDa) protein ofencoded by a polynucleotide therefor. In particular embodiments, the protein is employed in an immunogenic composition, such as a vaccine. Methods to induce an immune reaction in an individual with compositions of the invention are provided.

The 28-kDa outer membrane proteins (P28) ofare encoded by a multigene family consisting of 21 members located in a 23-kb DNA fragment in the genome of. Fifteen of these proteins are claimed herein as novel sequences. The amino acid sequence identity of the various P28 proteins was 20-83%. Six of 10 tested p28 genes were actively transcribed in cell culture grown. RT-PCR also indicated that each of the p28 genes was monocistronic. These results suggest that the p28 genes are active genes and encode polymorphic forms of the P28 proteins. The P28s were also divergent among different isolates of. The large repertoire of the p28 genes in a single ehrlichial organism and antigenic diversity of the P28 among the isolates ofsuggest that the P28s may be involved in immune avoidance.

Growing community of inventors

Galveston, TX, United States of America

David H Walker