Multivalent Vaccine for Filariasis
The present invention is a multivalent vaccine for immunizing an animal against filariasis. In some embodiments, the antigens of the multivalent vaccine are protein-based, DNA-based, or a combination thereof.
1 . A multivalent vaccine comprising two or more isolated antigens from one or more filarial nematodes.
2 . The multivalent vaccine of claim 1 , wherein the filarial nematodes are selected from the group of Brugia malayi, Wuchereria Bancroft, Onchocerca volvulus, Loa loa and Brugia timori.
3 . The multivalent vaccine of claim 1 , wherein the antigens are protein-based, DNA-based, or a combination thereof.
4 . The multivalent vaccine of claim 1 , wherein the antigens comprise Abundant Larval Transcript (ALT-2), Tetraspanin or Small heat shock protein (HSP) 12.6, or fragments thereof.
5 . The multivalent vaccine of claim 4 , wherein the fragment is selected from the group of SEQ ID NO:39, SEQ ID NO:40, SEQ ID NO:63, SEQ ID NO:64, SEQ ID NO:65, SEQ ID NO:66, SEQ ID NO:67, SEQ ID NO:68, and SEQ ID NO:69.
6 . The multivalent vaccine of claim 1 , wherein the antigens are covalently attached.
7 . A recombinant vector comprising two or more isolated DNA-based antigens from one or more filarial nematodes.
8 . The recombinant vector of claim 7 , wherein the antigens comprise Abundant Larval Transcript (ALT-2), Tetraspanin or Small heat shock protein (HSP) 12.6.
9 . The recombinant vector of claim 8 , wherein the antigen is selected from the group of SEQ ID NO:40, SEQ ID NO:65, SEQ ID NO:66, SEQ ID NO:67, SEQ ID NO:68, and SEQ ID NO:69.
10 . An expression vector comprising two or more isolated nucleic acid molecules from one or more filarial nematodes, wherein said nucleic acid molecules encode protein-based antigens.
11 . The expression vector of claim 10 , wherein the antigens comprise Abundant Larval Transcript (ALT-2), Tetraspanin or Small heat shock protein (HSP) 12.6.
12 . The expression vector of claim 11 , wherein the antigen is selected from the group of SEQ ID NO:39, SEQ ID NO:63 and SEQ ID NO:64.
13 . A recombinant host cell comprising the recombinant vector of claim 7 .
14 . A recombinant host cell comprising the expression vector of claim 10 .
15 . A method for immunizing an animal against filariasis comprising administering to an animal in need thereof the multivalent vaccine of claim 1 thereby immunizing the animal against filariasis.