The University of Texas System

University of Georgia Research Foundation Inc

Nisha Jain Garg

Rick L Tarleton

Allan R Brasier

Hyunsu Ju

Certain embodiments include methods for assessing a subject having a trypanosome infection for the presence or absence of indications of cardiomyopathy.

Biomarkers for chagas disease related cardiomyopathy

Provided herein are vaccine compositions for control ofinfection and Chagas disease. The compositions comprise plasmids encoding o GPI-anchored genes ASP-2, TcG-1, TcG2 and TcG4 from; plasmids encoding cytokines IL12 and GM-CSF; and plasmids encoding a gene expression system. Certain vaccine compositions comprise recombinant proteins, selected from TcG-1, TcG2 and TcG4 from. In another vaccination strategy, the recombinant proteins are replaced by lysates comprisingcells. Further provided herein are diagnosis compositions comprising 1) recombinant proteins, selected from TcG-1, TcG2 and TcG4 from; 2) antibodies that specifically binds the TcG-1, TcG2 and TcG4 proteins; 3) sense and antisense polynucleotide sequences that encode the TcG-1, TcG2 and TcG4 proteins. Said compositions can be used in diagnosing and/or evaluating efficacy of treatments againstinfection. A diagnosis kit, and methods of diagnosing and/or treatinginfection are also provided.

Compositions and methods for detecting microbial infections

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Polypeptide and polynucleotide vaccines effective to treat or prevent infection of a mammal, such as a dog, a cat, or a human, by a protozoan. Methods of treatment and prevention are also provided, including therapeutic administration of the vaccine to an infected mammal to prevent progression of infection to a chronic debilitating disease state. Preferred embodiments of the polynucleotide vaccine contain nucleotide coding regions that encode polypeptides that are surface-associated or secreted by. Optionally the efficacy of the polynucleotide vaccine is increased by inclusion of a nucleotide coding region encoding a cytokine. Preferred embodiments of the polypeptide vaccine include immunogenic peptides that contain membrane transducing sequences that allow the polypeptides to translocate across a mammalian cell membrane.

Prophylactic and therapeutic immunization against protozoan infection and disease

The invention relates to the expression of proteins in nonpathogenic protozoans. In particular, the invention relates to the expression and subsequent isolation of proteins from the nonpathogenic protozoan Crithidia.

Growing community of inventors

League City, TX, United States of America

Nisha Jain Garg