Immunogens derived from pathogen-free tick species or cell lines, and tick vaccines derived therefrom
AssigneeCenter for Innovation and Business Development Foundation
InventorStephen K. Wikel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Immunogens for vaccination of mammals to prevent tick infestation and transfer of disease from ticks to host animals. The immunogens are derived from cells of pathogen-free ticks, preferably tick gut brush border cells or developing larvae cells, and provide positive responses to immunoblotting and cell mediated immune response to the host, and as well do not cause heightened cutaneous response to tick feeding.
Claims21
An immunogen comprising an antigen which is capable of inducing immunity to tick infestation of a host animal, said immunogen comprising:
- (a) an immunogen isolated and purified from a pathogen-free Amblyomma tick species or cell line;
- (b) said immunogen being isolated and purified from tick cells of a tick digestive tract or from developing tick larva cells and being one which results in a mean death rate of at least 75% of challenged ticks;
- and
- (c) said immunogen being one which does not induce host cutaneous hypersensitivity to tick feeding and one which provides a cross reactive positive immune response involving both antibody and cell mediated immune response for sera and cells of the species to be inoculated.
A tick vaccine comprising an immunogen which is capable of inducing immunity to tick infestation of host animals, said vaccine comprising, in combination:
- (a) an immunogen isolated and purified from a pathogen-free Amblyomma tick species or cell line;
- (b) said immunogen being isolated and purified from tick cells of a tick digestive tract or from developing tick larva cells and being one which results in a mean death rate of at least 75% of challenged ticks;
- (c) said immunogen being one which does not induce host cutaneous hypersensitivity to tick feeding and one which provides a cross reactive positive immune response involving both antibody and cell mediated immune response for sera and cells of the species to be inoculated;
- and
- (d) a pharmaceutically acceptable tick vaccine carrier which is both non-harmful to the animal to be vaccinated and which does not negatively impact on the immune response of said immunogen.
A method of immunizing a host animal against tick infestation, said method comprising inoculating said host animal with a vaccine containing an immunogen which is capable of inducing immunity to tick infestation, said immunogen comprising:
- (a) an immunogen isolated and purified from a pathogen-free Amblyomma tick species or cell line;
- (b) said immunogen being isolated and purified from tick cells of a tick digestive tract or from developing tick larva cells and being one which results in a mean death rate of at least 75% of challenged ticks;
- and
- (c) said immunogen being one which does not induce host cutaneous hypersensitivity to tick feeding and one which provides a cross reactive positive immune response involving both antibody and cell mediated immune response for sera and cells of the species to be inoculated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.