Attenuated uracil auxotroph of an apicomplexan and use thereof
Uracil auxotroph mutants of apicomplexans are provided which lack a functional carbamoyl phosphate synthase II (CPSII) enzyme. Also provided are T. gondii autoxtroph mutants which express exogenous antigens, and methods of protecting an animal against a T. gondii and non- T. gondii disease.
1. An attenuated Toxoplasma gondii uracil auxotroph mutant lacking its functional carbamoyl phosphate synthase II (CPSII) enzyme, wherein said mutant comprises replacement of all of the coding sequence of the CPSII enzyme set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 or a 1 bp to 27 Kb portion thereof.
2. The attenuated Toxoplasma gondii uracil auxotroph mutant of claim 1 , wherein said mutant further comprises a nucleic acid encoding an exogenous antigen.
3. The attenuated Toxoplasma gondii uracil auxotroph mutant of claim 2 , wherein the exogenous antigen is a non- Toxoplasma gondii protective antigen.
4. A vaccine for protection against infection by Toxoplasma gondii comprising the attenuated Toxoplasma gondii uracil auxotroph mutant of claim 1 or claim 2 in admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
5. A vaccine for protection against infection by Toxoplasma gondii and a non- Toxoplasma gondii disease comprising the attenuated Toxoplasma gondii uracil auxotroph mutant of claim 3 in admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.