Description of Invention: This invention describes Isac, a novel anticomplement protein that can be isolated and purified from I. scapularis (tick) saliva that may be useful as a peptide vaccine against Lyme disease. Because inactivation of Isac by antibodies will make transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi to humans more difficult, Isac is an ideal candidate for a Lyme disease vaccine. Isac disrupts the alternative complement pathway by inhibiting factors Bb and/or C3b, preventing cell lysis and anaphylatoxin production. The inventors have found no similarity to any protein in GenBank for Isac. Isac may also be used in situations where alternative complement activation is implicated such as in rheumatoid conditions such as lupus erythematosus or juvenile arthritis. The invention is further described in Ribeiro et al., "Purification, cloning, and expression of a novel salivary anticomplement protein from the tick, Ixodes scapularis," J Biol. Chem. 2000 Jun 23; 275(25):18717-23.
Inventors: Jose M Ribeiro (NIAID) Jesus G Valenzuela (NIAID) Rosane Charlab (NIAID) Thomas N Mather (EM)
For Additional Information Please Contact: John Stansberry Ph.D. NIH Office of Technology Transfer 6011 Executive Blvd. Suite 325, Rockville, MD 20852 United States Email: js852e@nih.gov Phone: 301-435-5236 Fax: 301-402-0220
Description of Invention:
This invention describes Isac, a novel anticomplement protein that can be isolated and purified from I. scapularis (tick) saliva that may be useful as a peptide vaccine against Lyme disease. Because inactivation of Isac by antibodies will make transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi to humans more difficult, Isac is an ideal candidate for a Lyme disease vaccine. Isac disrupts the alternative complement pathway by inhibiting factors Bb and/or C3b, preventing cell lysis and anaphylatoxin production. The inventors have found no similarity to any protein in GenBank for Isac. Isac may also be used in situations where alternative complement activation is implicated such as in rheumatoid conditions such as lupus erythematosus or juvenile arthritis. The invention is further described in Ribeiro et al., "Purification, cloning, and expression of a novel salivary anticomplement protein from the tick, Ixodes scapularis," J Biol. Chem. 2000 Jun 23; 275(25):18717-23.
Inventors:
Jose M Ribeiro (NIAID)
Jesus G Valenzuela (NIAID)
Rosane Charlab (NIAID)
Thomas N Mather (EM)
Patent Status:
HHS, Reference No. E-207-2000/0
US, , Patent No. 7,153,947, Issued 26 Dec 2006
Portfolios:
Infectious Diseases
Infectious Diseases - Therapeutics
Infectious Diseases - Vaccines
For Additional Information Please Contact:
John Stansberry Ph.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd. Suite 325,
Rockville, MD 20852
United States
Email: js852e@nih.gov
Phone: 301-435-5236
Fax: 301-402-0220
Ref No: 174
Updated: 06/2010