Antigenics, Inc.

Aquila Biopharmaceuticals Inc.

Cambridge Biotech Corporation

Cambridge Bioscience Corporation

Gerald A Beltz

James Storey

Richard T Coughlin

Cheryl Murphy

Dante J Marciani

Charlotte A Kensil

Chung-Ho Hung

William A Haseltine

Richard M Thorn

Eli Young

Deborah Davis

Charlotte Kensil

The present invention relates, in general, to polypeptides having antigenic epitopes from granulocytic ehrlichia (GE) proteins and methods of use thereof.

Characterization of granulocytic ehrlichia and methods of use

The present invention relates, in general, to methods of screening a sample obtained from a subject for antibodies relating to granulocytic ehrlichia (GE) infection.

Characterization of granulocytic Ehrlichia and methods of use

The present invention relates, in general, to granulocytic ehrlichia (GE) proteins. In particular, the present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules coding for GE S2, S7, S22, S23, C6.1, C6.2, S11, E8, E46#1, and E46#2 proteins; purified GE S2, S7, S22, S23, C6.1, C6.2, S11, E8, E46#1, and E46#2 proteins and polypeptides; recombinant nucleic acid molecules; cells containing the recombinant nucleic acid molecules; antibodies having binding affinity specifically to GE S2, S7, S22, S23, C6.1, C6.2, S11, E8, E46#1, and E46#2 proteins and polypeptides; hybridomas containing the antibodies; nucleic acid probes for the detection of nucleic acids encoding GE S2, S7, S22, S23, C6.1, C6.2, S11, E8, E46#1, and E46#2 proteins; a method of detecting nucleic acids encoding GE S2, S7, S22, S23, C6.1, C6.2, S11, E8, E46#1, and E46#2 proteins or polypeptides in a sample; kits containing nucleic acid probes or antibodies; bioassays using the nucleic acid sequence, protein or antibodies of this invention to diagnose, assess, or prognose a mammal afflicted with ehrlichiosis; therapeutic uses, specifically vaccines comprising S2, S7, S22, S23, C6.1, C6.2, S11, E8, E46#1, and E46#2 proteins or polypeptides or nucleic acids; and methods of preventing or inhibiting ehrlichiosis in an animal.

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Certain novel compositions of the adjuvant saponin QS-21 having improved properties are disclosed. The compositions of the present invention are designed (1) to minimize the lytic effects of QS-21, (2) to improve the tolerance of QS-21 containing formulations in humans or other animals, (3) to stabilize the QS-21 from alkaline hydrolysis and/or (4) to maintain the high adjuvant potency of the QS-21 product. These compositions may be employed with vaccines comprising proteins or peptides, polysaccharides, lipids, or nucleic acids.

Compositions of saponin adjuvants and excipients

Nucleic acids encoding eleven different proteins of granulocytic erhlichia (GE), a tick-borne intracellular bacteria, have been isolated and sequenced completely. These DNAs were isolated as immunoreactive clones from a Lambda Zap II genomic library of GE DNA purified from infected HL60 cells. Three of the clones, E8, E80, and E46, contain open reading frames for four highly homologous proteins which appear to be part of a multigene family resembling the MSP-2 gene family of,One clone, B3, contained a gene encoding the heat shock 70 protein. The other clones (W20, E74, and E82) contain open reading frames for proteins which have some homology to other bacterial proteins present in the nucleotide and protein databases. These and other GE antigens identified by immunoscreening of the genomic library are potentially useful as diagnostic reagents and vaccine candidates for GE.

Nucleic acids, proteins, and methods of use of granulocytic ehrlichia

Feline immunodeficiency virus antigens from gp160 envelope protein, gp120 envelope protein and p24 gag protein, useful for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of FIV. The invention may also be used to purify FIV.

Recombinant FIV glycoprotein 160 and P24 gag protein

The present invention relates, in general, to granulocytic ehrlichia (GE) proteins. In particular, the present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules coding for GE S2, S7, S22, S23, C6.1, C6.2, S11, E8, E46&num;1, and E46&num;2 proteins; purified GE S2, S7, S22, S23, C6.1, C6.2, S11, E8, E46&num;1, and E46&num;2 proteins and polypeptides; recombinant nucleic acid molecules; cells containing the recombinant nucleic acid molecules; antibodies having binding affinity specifically to GE S2, S7, S22, S23, C6.1, C6.2, S11, E8, E46&num;1, and E46&num;2 proteins and polypeptides; hybridomas containing the antibodies; nucleic acid probes for the detection of nucleic acids encoding GE S2, S7, S22, S23, C6.1, C6.2, S11, E8, E46&num;1, and E46&num;2 proteins; a method of detecting nucleic acids encoding GE S2, S7, S22, S23, C6.1, C6.2, S11, E8, E46&num;1, and E46&num;2 proteins or polypeptides in a sample; kits containing nucleic acid probes or antibodies; bioassays using the nucleic acid sequence, protein or antibodies of this invention to diagnose, assess, or prognose a mammal afflicted with ehrlichiosis; therapeutic uses, specifically vaccines comprising S2, S7, S22, S23, C6.1, C6.2, S11, E8, E46&num;1, and E46&num;2 proteins or polypeptides or nucleic acids; and methods of preventing or inhibiting ehrlichiosis in an animal.

The invention relates to antigenic preparations useful for inducing the production of antibodies in a cat which will bind to epitopes on feline leukemia virus. Also disclosed are immunogenic compositions and methods for immunizing a cat to enable the production of antibodies to feline leukemia virus.

Vaccine comprising recombinant feline leukemia antigen and saponin

Certain peptide fragments of the human T-cell leukemia (lymphotropic) virus (HTLV-III) are particularly immunoreactive to HTLV-III antibodies, and can therefore be applied to immunodiagnostic tests for the detection of antibodies to HTLV-III.

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Lexington, MA, United States of America

Gerald A Beltz