# US 5,344,645 A · Immunogens derived from pathogen-free tick species or cell lines, and tick vaccines derived therefrom > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,344,645 A - Document ID: US5344645A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 07/673,671 - Filed: 1991-03-22 - Granted: 1994-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 1991-03-22 - Assignees: Center for Innovation and Business Development Foundation - Inventors: Stephen K. Wikel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5344645A ## CPC - C07K 14/43527: {from ticks} - C07K 16/18: against material from animals or humans - A61K 39/00: Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies (materials for immunoassay G01N33/53) - 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) - 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) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The immunogen of claim 1 which is derived from tick brush border cells. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The immunogen of claim 1 which is derived from developing tick larva cells. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The immunogen of claim 1 wherein said immunogen provides a positive immune response at each step of isolation and purification. ### Claim 5 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. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vaccine of claim 5 wherein the immunogen is derived from tick brush border cells. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The vaccine of claim 5 wherein the immunogen is derived from developing tick larva cells. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The vaccine of claim 5 wherein the immunogen comprises a mixture of immunogen derived from tick brush border cells and from developing tick larva cells. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The vaccine of claim 5 wherein said pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is selected from the group consisting of adjuvants, immunopotentiators and diluents. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The tick vaccine of claim 5 wherein said immunogen at each step of isolation and purification provides a positive immune response. ### Claim 11 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. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein said immunogen is in substantially pure homogeneous form. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein said immunogen is a mixture of immunogens derived from tick brush border cells and/or developing tick larva cells. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein said vaccination is intramuscularly. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein said vaccination is subcutaneously. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein said host mammalian species is selected from the group consisting of cattle, horses, dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and swine. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein at each step of isolation and purification, the immunogen is checked for positive immune response and further processed only if it provides positive immune response. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein the immunogen is derived from digestive track brush border. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein the immunogen is derived from developing tick larvae cells. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein the immunogen is in substantially pure form. ### Claim 21 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein at each step of isolation and purification said immunogen provides a positive immune response.