LYME DISEASE VACCINE

• US 20110262475A1
• Filed: 05/01/2009
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University
• Original Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University
• Inventors: Earnhart, Christopher G., Marconi, Richard T.
• Application Number:
  US12/990,079
• Publication Number:
  US 20110262475A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/190.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 39/00 Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies materials for immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 39/0225 Spirochetes, e.g. Treponema, Leptospira, Borrelia
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/04 Antibacterial agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 37/04 Immunostimulants
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/001 by chemical synthesis
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/20 from Spirochaetales (O), e.g. Treponema, Leptospira
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 16/1207 from Spirochaetales (O), e.g. Treponema, Leptospira
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 2319/00 Fusion polypeptide
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 2319/21 containing a His-tag
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2333/20 from Spirochaetales (O), e.g. Treponema, Leptospira
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2469/20 Detection of antibodies in sample from host which are directed against antigens from microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/56911 Bacteria
• CPC Class Codes: 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

Abstract

Antigenic polypeptides comprising linear immunodominant epitopes of Borrelia outer surface protein A (OspA) or Borrelia outer surface protein C (OspC) are useful as vaccines against Lyme disease, and as diagnostics for detecting Borrelia infections. The OspA and OspC antigenic polypeptides typically comprise a plurality of peptides representing epitope containing regions from multiple distinct phyletic groups. The antigenic polypeptides may also include epitopes from both Borrelia OspA and Borrelia OspC.

Claims

1. An isolated recombinant or synthetic peptide or polypeptide comprising at least one linear epitope from Borrelia outer surface protein A (OspA), said at least one linear epitope having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

2. The isolated recombinant or synthetic peptide or polypeptide of claim 1, wherein said at least one linear epitope is selected from the group consisting of

3. The isolated recombinant or synthetic peptide or polypeptide of claim 1, further comprising one or more amino acid sequences that are epitopes of Borrelia outer surface protein C (OspC).

4. The isolated recombinant or synthetic peptide or polypeptide of claim 3, wherein said one or more amino acid sequences that are epitopes of Borrelia OspC are from an OspC loop 5 region or an OspC alpha helix 5 region, or both.

5. The isolated recombinant or synthetic peptide or polypeptide of claim 3, wherein said one or more amino acid sequences that are epitopes of OspC are from OspC types selected from the group consisting of Smar, PLi, H13, PFiM, SL10, PMit, PKi, Pbes, HT22, Pko, PLj7, VS461, DK15, HT25, A,72a, F, E, M, D, U, I, L, H, Szid, PHez, PWa, B, K, N, and C.

6. The isolated recombinant or synthetic peptide or polypeptide of claim 3, wherein said one or more amino acid sequences that are epitopes of Borrelia OspC are selected from the group of polypeptides having sequences as set forth in SEQ ID NOS:

65-73.

7. A method for eliciting an immune response against Borrelia in an individual in need thereof, comprising the step of

administering to said individual an isolated recombinant or synthetic peptide or polypeptide comprising at least one linear epitope from Borrelia outer surface protein A (OspA), said at least one linear epitope having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said at least one linear epitope has an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said isolated recombinant or synthetic peptide or polypeptide further comprises one or more epitopes of Borrelia outer surface protein C (OspC).

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said one or more amino acid sequences that are epitopes of Borrelia OspC are selected from the group of polypeptides having sequences as set forth in SEQ ID NOS:

65-73.

11. A method for ascertaining whether an individual has been exposed to or infected with Borrelia, or both, comprising the steps of

obtaining a biological sample from said individual,

exposing said biological sample to a recombinant or synthetic peptide or polypeptide comprising at least one linear epitope from Borrelia outer surface protein A (OspA), said at least one linear epitope having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said recombinant or synthetic peptide or polypeptide further comprises one or more epitopes of Borrelia outer surface protein C (OspC).

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said one or more amino acid sequences that are epitopes of Borrelia OspC are selected from the group of polypeptides having sequences as set forth in SEQ ID NOS:

65-73.

14. An antibody to a recombinant or synthetic peptide or polypeptide comprising at least one linear epitope from Borrelia outer surface protein A (OspA), said at least one linear epitope having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

16. An isolated recombinant or synthetic peptide or polypeptide comprising one or more epitopes from Borrelia outer surface protein A (OspA), said one or more epitopes being from an antigenic region selected from the group consisting of:

antigenic region 221-240, antigenic region 17-67, antigenic region 94-144, and antigenic region 119-169.

17. The isolated recombinant or synthetic peptide or polypeptide of claim 16, further comprising one or more epitopes of Borrelia outer surface protein C (OspC).

18. An isolated recombinant or synthetic peptide or polypeptide comprising at least one linear epitope from Borrelia outer surface protein C (OspC), said at least one linear epitope having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

15. The antibody of claim 19, wherein said antibody is bactericidal for Borrelia spirochetes.

19. The isolated recombinant or synthetic peptide or polypeptide of claim 18, further comprising one or more epitopes of Borrelia outer surface protein A (OspA).