Compositions of and method of using heat shock protein peptides
View Patent ↗The present invention provides an isolated and purified heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60) peptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2. The instant invention is also directed to a vaccine against Ehrlichia comprising a peptide homologous to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2. The instant invention is also directed to an antibody directed against a peptide homologous to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2. The instant invention is also directed to a method of determining whether a subject is infected with Ehrlichia , comprising the steps of: contacting a sample from a subject with the antibody described herein; and detecting a resulting antibody reaction, wherein a positive reaction indicates the subject is infected with Ehrlichia.
1. An isolated heat shock protein 60 peptide having at most 21 amino acids that is at least 80% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.
2. The peptide of claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence of the peptide is at least 90% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.
3. The peptide of claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence of the peptide is at least 95% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.
4. The peptide of claim 1 , wherein said peptide has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.
5. The peptide of claim 1 , further comprising a label.
6. The peptide of claim 1 , wherein said peptide further comprises a carrier.
7. The peptide of claim 6 , wherein said peptide is conjugated to said carrier.
8. The peptide of claim 7 , wherein said peptide and carrier are conjugated by glutaraldehyde, m-maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxy-succinimide ester, carbo-diimide or bis-biazotized benzidine.
9. The peptide of claim 6 , wherein said carrier is keyhole limpet hemocyanin, human serum albumin, a lymphokine, or an adjuvant.
10. The peptide of claim 9 , wherein the adjuvant is IL2, IL4, IL8, BCG, Detox, 5 RIBI, ISCOMS, or aluminum hydroxide.
11. A method of inducing an immune response against Ehrlichia comprising administering to a subject the peptide of claim 1 .
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said Ehrlichia is selected from the group consisting of Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Ehrlichia muris, Ehrlichia ewingii, Ehrlichia ruminantium and Ehrlichia canis.