# US 2018/0022782 A1 · Vmp-like sequences of pathogenic borrelia species and strains > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0022782 A1 - Document ID: US20180022782A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/609,188 - Filed: 2017-05-31 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2002-12-20 - Assignees: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System - Applicants: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System - Inventors: Steven J. NORRIS - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180022782A1 ## CPC - C07K 14/20: from Spirochaetales (O), e.g. Treponema, Leptospira - C07K 17/08: the carrier being a synthetic polymer - C07K 17/12: Cellulose or derivatives thereof - C08G 69/48: Polymers modified by chemical after-treatment - G01N 33/56911: {Bacteria} - G01N 33/6854: {Immunoglobulins} - A61K 39/00: Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies (materials for immunoassay G01N33/53) - A61K 39/02: Bacterial antigens - G01N 2333/20: from Spirochaetales (O), e.g. Treponema, Leptospira - G01N 2469/20: Detection of antibodies in sample from host which are directed against antigens from microorganisms - G01N 2800/26: Infectious diseases, e.g. generalised sepsis - Y02A 50/30: Against vector-borne diseases, e.g. mosquito-borne, fly-borne, tick-borne or waterborne diseases whose impact is exacerbated by climate change - C07K: PEPTIDES (peptides in foodstuffs A23; obtaining protein compositions for foodstuffs, working-up proteins for foodstuffs A23J; preparations for medicinal purposes A61K; peptides containing beta-lactam rings C07D; cyclic dipeptides not having in their molecule any other peptide link than those which form their ring, e.g. piperazine-2,5-diones, C07D; ergot alkaloids of the cyclic peptide type C07D519/02; macromolecular compounds having statistically distributed amino acid units in their molecules, i.e. when the preparation does not provide for a specific; but for a random sequence of the amino acid units, homopolyamides and block copolyamides derived from amino acids C08G69/00; macromolecular products derived from proteins C08H1/00; preparation of glue or gelatine C09H; single cell proteins, enzymes C12N; genetic engineering processes for obtaining peptides C12N15/00; compositions for measuring or testing processes involving enzymes C12Q; investigation or analysis of biological material G01N33/00) - C08G: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE ## Abstract The present invention relates to DNA sequences encoding Vmp-like polypeptides of pathogenic Borrelia, the use of the DNA sequences in recombinant vectors to express polypeptides, the encoded amino acid sequences, application of the DNA and amino acid sequences to the production of polypeptides as antigens for immunoprophylaxis, immunotherapy, and immunodiagnosis. Also disclosed are the use of the nucleic acid sequences as probes or primers for the detection of organisms causing Lyme disease, relapsing fever, or related disorders, and kits designed to facilitate methods of using the described polypeptides, DNA segments and antibodies. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes at least 12 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 32. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein the nucleotide sequence encodes at least 35 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 32. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein the nucleotide sequence encodes at least 50 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 32. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein the nucleotide sequence encodes a peptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 32. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein the nucleic acid is an RNA segment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein the nucleic acid comprises at least 50 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 31. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein the nucleic acid comprises at least 110 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 31. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein the nucleic acid comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 31. ### Claim 9 An isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes at least 12 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 36. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The isolated nucleic acid of claim 9, wherein the nucleotide sequence encodes at least 35 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 36. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The isolated nucleic acid of claim 9, wherein the nucleotide sequence encodes at least 50 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 36. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The isolated nucleic acid of claim 9, wherein the nucleotide sequence encodes a peptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 36. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The isolated nucleic acid of claim 9, wherein the nucleic acid is an RNA segment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The isolated nucleic acid of claim 9, wherein the nucleic acid comprises at least 50 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 35. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The isolated nucleic acid of claim 9, wherein the nucleic acid comprises at least 110 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 35. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The isolated nucleic acid of claim 9, wherein the nucleic acid comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 35. ### Claim 17 A recombinant host cell comprising a heterologous nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes at least 12 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 36 or SEQ ID NO: 32. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The recombinant host cell of claim 17, further defined as an E. coli cell. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The recombinant host cell of claim 17, wherein the nucleotide sequence encodes at least 50 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 36 or SEQ ID NO: 32. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The recombinant host cell of claim 17, wherein the nucleotide sequence encodes a peptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 36 or SEQ ID NO: 32. ### Claim 21 A method of assaying for Borrelia infection comprising: (a) contacting a sample from a subject with an isolated polypeptide, said isolated polypeptide being immobilized on a surface and comprising at least 12 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 36 or SEQ ID NO: 32; and (b) determining whether immunologic binding occurs between the isolated polypeptide and an antibody in the sample, wherein immunologic binding is indicative of Borrelia infection.