Compositions and methods for identifying

1. A method for identifying the species of Ehrlichia infecting a subject, if present, the method comprising:

contacting a sample from the subject with a first population of isolated peptides comprising at least three different peptides, each comprising a sequence of S-X 2 -K-E-X 5 -K-Q -X 8 -T-X 10 -X 11 -X 12 -X 13 -G-L-K-Q-X 18 -W-X 20 -G-X 22 -X 23 -X 24 -X 25 -X 26 -G-G-G-G-G-N-F-S-A-K-E -E-X 39 -A-E-T-R-X 44 -T-F-G-L-X 49 -K-Q-Y-D-G-A-X 56 -I-X 58 -E-N-Q-V-Q-N-K-F-T-I-S-N-C (SEQ ID NO: 1) or a fragment thereof, wherein X 2 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of A and V, X 5 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of E and D, X 8 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of T and P, X 10 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of T and V, X 11 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of G and A, X 12 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of L and V, X 13 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of Y and F, X 18 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of D and N, X 20 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of D and N, X 22 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of S and V, X 23 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of A, S, and T, X 24 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of A and I, X 25 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of T and P, X 26 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of S, N, and K, X 39 is any amino acid, X 44 is any amino acid, X 49 is any amino acid, X 56 is any amino acid, and X 58 is any amino acid;

detecting formation of a first set of complexes comprising an antibody and one or more peptides in the first population;

contacting said sample with a second population of isolated peptides comprising at least three different peptides, each comprising a sequence of F-S-A-K-E-E-X 7 -A-E-T-R-X 12 -T-F-G-L -X 17 -K-Q-Y-D-G-A-X 24 -I-X 26 -E-N-Q-V-Q-N-K-F-T-I-S-N-C (SEQ ID NO: 2), wherein X 7 is any amino acid, X 12 is any amino acid, X 17 is any amino acid, X 24 is any amino acid, and X 26 is any amino acid; and

detecting formation of a second set of complexes comprising an antibody and one or more peptides in the second population, wherein formation of both the first and second sets of complexes indicates that the subject is infected with Ehrlichia ewingii ( E. ewingii ), and wherein formation of the first but not the second set of complexes indicates that the subject is infected with Ehrlichia canis ( E. canis ) and/or Ehrlichia chaffeensis ( E. chaffeensis ).

2. A method for identifying the species of Ehrlichia infecting a subject, if present, the method comprising:

contacting a sample from the subject with populations of isolated peptides as defined in claim 1 ;

detecting formation of a first set of complexes comprising an antibody and one or more peptides in the first population;

contacting said sample with a third population of isolated peptides comprising at least three different peptides, each comprising a sequence of S-X 2 -K-E-X 5 -K-Q-X 8 -T-X 10 -X 11 -X 12 -X 13 -G-L-K-Q-X 18 -W-X 20 -G-X 22 -X 23 -X 24 -X 25 -X 26 -G-G-G-G-G-N-F-S-A-K-E-E-X 39 -A-X 41 -T-R -X 44 -T-F-G-X 48 -X 49 -K-Q-Y-D-G-A-X 56 -I-X 58 -E-N-Q-V-Q-N-K-F-T-I-S-N-C (SEQ ID NO: 3) or a fragment thereof, wherein X 2 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of A and V, X 5 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of E and D, Xg is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of T and P, X 10 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of T and V, X 11 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of G and A, X 12 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of L and V, X 13 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of Y and F, X 18 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of D and N, X 20 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of D and N, X 22 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of S and V, X 23 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of A, S, and T, X 24 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of A and I, X 25 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of T and P, X 26 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of S, N, and K, X 39 is any amino acid, X 41 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of D and N, X 44 is any amino acid, X 48 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of V and A, X 49 is any amino acid, X 56 is any amino acid, and X 58 is any amino acid; and

detecting formation of a third set of complexes comprising an antibody and one or more peptides in the third population, wherein formation of both the first and third sets of antibody-peptide complexes indicates that the subject is infected with E. canis and/or E. chaffeensis , and wherein formation of the first but not the third set of antibody-peptide complexes indicates that the subject is infected with E. ewingii.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

X 39 in SEQ ID NO: 1 is K;

X 44 in SEQ ID NO: 1 is K or R;

X 49 in SEQ ID NO: 1 is E or D;

X 56 in SEQ ID NO: 1 is K or Q;

X 58 in SEQ ID NO: 1 is E or T;

X 7 in SEQ ID NO: 2 is K;

X 12 in SEQ ID NO: 2 is K or R;

X 17 in SEQ ID NO: 2 is E or D;

X 24 in SEQ ID NO: 2 is K or Q; and/or

X 26 in SEQ ID NO: 2 is E or T.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

said fragment of SEQ ID NO: 1 comprises at least 20, 25, 30, 35, or 40 contiguous amino acids from SEQ ID NO: 1 and/or amino acids 33 to 71 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

each peptide in the first population comprises a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said detecting steps comprises: (i) performing an ELISA assay; (ii) running a lateral flow assay; (iii) performing an agglutination assay; (iv) performing a Western blot, slot blot, or dot blot assay; (v) performing a wavelength shift assay; (vi) running the sample through an analytical or centrifugal rotor; or (vii) running a microarray assay.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said sample is from a human, canine, or feline subject.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said sample is a blood, serum, plasma, cerebral spinal fluid, tissue extract, urine, or saliva sample.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising reporting detection results.

10. The method of claim 2 , wherein:

X 39 in SEQ ID NO: 1 is K;

X 44 in SEQ ID NO: 1 is K or R;

X 49 in SEQ ID NO: 1 is E or D;

X 56 in SEQ ID NO: 1 is K or Q;

X 58 in SEQ ID NO: 1 is E or T;

X 39 in SEQ ID NO: 3 is K;

X 44 in SEQ ID NO: 3 is K or R;

X 49 in SEQ ID NO: 3 is E or D;

X 56 in SEQ ID NO: 3 is K or Q; and/or

X 58 in SEQ ID NO: 3 is E or T.

11. The method of claim 2 , wherein:

said fragment of SEQ ID NO: 1 comprises at least 20, 25, 30, 35, or 40 contiguous amino acids from SEQ ID NO: 1 and/or amino acids 33 to 71 of SEQ ID NO: 1; and/or

said fragment of SEQ ID NO: 3 comprises at least 20, 25, 30, 35, or 40 contiguous amino acids from SEQ ID NO: 3 and/or amino acids 33 to 71 of SEQ ID NO: 3.

12. The method of claim 2 , wherein:

each peptide in the first population comprises a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; and/or

each peptide in the third population comprises a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3.

13. The method of claim 2 , wherein at least one of said detecting steps comprises: (i) performing an ELISA assay; (ii) running a lateral flow assay; (iii) performing an agglutination assay; (iv) performing a Western blot, slot blot, or dot blot assay; (v) performing a wavelength shift assay; (vi) running the sample through an analytical or centrifugal rotor; or (vii) running a microarray assay.

14. The method of claim 2 , wherein said sample is from a human, canine, or feline subject.

15. The method of claim 2 , wherein said sample is a blood, serum, plasma, cerebral spinal fluid, tissue extract, urine, or saliva sample.

16. The method of claim 2 , further comprising reporting detection results.

17. The method of claim 2 , wherein the sample is further analyzed with at least one assay to determine whether the infecting species is E. canis or E. chaffeensis .

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein said at least one assay is an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), a dot blot assay, a lateral flow assay, ELISA, or a Western Blot.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

contacting said sample with a third population of isolated peptides comprising at least three different peptides, each comprising a sequence of S-X 2 -K-E-X 5 -K-Q-X 8 -T-X 10 -X 11 -X 12 -X 13 -G-L-K-Q-X 18 -W-X 20 -G-X 22 -X 23 -X 24 -X 25 -X 26 -G-G-G-G-G-N-F-S-A-K-E-E-X 39 -A-X 41 -T-R -X 44 -T-F-G-X 48 -X 49 -K-Q-Y-D-G-A-X 56 -I-X 58 -E-N-Q-V-Q-N-K-F-T-I-S -N-C (SEQ ID NO: 3) or a fragment thereof, wherein X 2 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of A and V, X 5 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of E and D, X 8 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of T and P, X 10 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of T and V, X 11 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of G and A, X 12 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of L and V, X 13 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of Y and F, X 18 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of D and N, X 20 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of D and N, X 22 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of S and V, X 23 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of A, S, and T, X 24 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of A and I, X 25 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of T and P, X 26 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of S, N, and K, X 39 is any amino acid, X 41 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of D and N, X 44 is any amino acid, X 48 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of V and A, X 49 is any amino acid, X 56 is any amino acid, and X 58 is any amino acid; and

detecting formation of a third set of complexes comprising an antibody and one or more peptides in the third population, wherein formation of both the first and second sets of complexes but not the third set indicates that the subject is infected with E. ewingii , and wherein formation of both the first and third sets of complexes but not the second set indicates that the subject is infected with E. canis and/or E. chaffeensis .

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein:

X 39 in SEQ ID NO: 1 is K;

X 44 in SEQ ID NO: 1 is K or R;

X 49 in SEQ ID NO: 1 is E or D;

X 56 in SEQ ID NO: 1 is K or Q;

X 58 in SEQ ID NO: 1 is E or T;

X 7 in SEQ ID NO: 2 is K;

X 12 in SEQ ID NO: 2 is K or R;

X 17 in SEQ ID NO: 2 is E or D;

X 24 in SEQ ID NO: 2 is K or Q;

X 26 in SEQ ID NO: 2 is E or T,

X 39 in SEQ ID NO: 3 is K;

X 44 in SEQ ID NO: 3 is K or R;

X 49 in SEQ ID NO: 3 is E or D;

X 56 in SEQ ID NO: 3 is K or Q; and/or

X 58 in SEQ ID NO: 3 is E or T.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein:

said fragment of SEQ ID NO: 1 comprises at least 20, 25, 30, 35, or 40 contiguous amino acids from SEQ ID NO: 1 and/or amino acids 33 to 71 of SEQ ID NO: 1; and/or

said fragment of SEQ ID NO: 3 comprises at least 20, 25, 30, 35, or 40 contiguous amino acids from SEQ ID NO: 3 and/or amino acids 33 to 71 of SEQ ID NO: 3.

22. The method of claim 19 , wherein:

each peptide in the first population comprises a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; and/or

each peptide in the third population comprises a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3.

23. The method of claim 19 , wherein said sample is from a human, canine, or feline subject.

24. The method of claim 19 , wherein said sample is a blood, serum, plasma, cerebral spinal fluid, tissue extract, urine, or saliva sample.

25. The method of claim 19 , wherein at least one of said detecting steps comprises: (i) performing an ELISA assay; (ii) running a lateral flow assay; (iii) performing an agglutination assay; (iv) performing a Western blot, slot blot, or dot blot assay; (v) performing a wavelength shift assay; (vi) running the sample through an analytical or centrifugal rotor; or (vii) running a microarray assay.

26. The method of claim 19 , further comprising reporting detection results.

27. The method of claim 19 , wherein the sample is further analyzed with at least one assay to determine whether the infecting species is E. canis or E. chaffeensis.

28. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the isolated peptides in the first population of isolated peptides comprises a sequence, or a fragment thereof, selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 5, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 28, 32, and 38.

29. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the isolated peptides in the second population of isolated peptides comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 52, 54, 56, 58, 59, 60, 62, 63, 65, and 66.

30. The method of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the isolated peptides in the third population of isolated peptides comprises a sequence, or a fragment thereof, selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 68, 69, 72, 74, 80, 85, 92, 100, 106, and 108.