IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,419,939
Granted Patent B2
US 12,419,939 · App. 17/798,189 · Granted Sep 23, 2025

Vaccine and methods for detecting and preventing filariasis

Inventor: Ramaswamy Kalyanasundaram (Rockford, IL)
Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
A61K39/0003A61P33/10A61K2039/53A61K2039/552A61K2039/70
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,419,939
App. No.
17/798,189
Granted
Sep 23, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention is a multivalent immunogenic composition for immunizing an animal against filariasis. In some embodiments, the antigens of the multivalent immunogenic composition are protein-based, DNA-based, or a combination thereof. This invention also provides a method and kit for detecting a filarial nematode and determining vaccine efficacy.

Claims (12)

1. A multivalent immunogenic composition comprising an Abundant Larval Transcript antigen comprising SEQ ID NO: 122, a Small heat shock protein (HSP) 12.6 antigen comprising SEQ ID NO:81, and a Thioredoxin Peroxidase 2 antigen comprising SEQ ID NO: 83, in combination with two or more adjuvants.

2. The multivalent immunogenic composition of claim 1 , wherein the Abundant Larval Transcript comprises SEQ ID NO: 79 or SEQ ID NO: 99.

3. The multivalent immunogenic composition of claim 1 , wherein the Abundant Larval Transcript comprises SEQ ID NO: 93; the Small heat shock protein 12.6 comprises SEQ ID NO: 91; and the Thioredoxin Peroxidase 2 comprises SEQ ID NO: 95, or fragments thereof.

4. The multivalent immunogenic composition of claim 1 , wherein the antigens are covalently attached.

5. A recombinant vector comprising nucleic acids encoding the multivalent immunogenic composition of claim 1 .

6. A recombinant host cell comprising the recombinant vector of claim 5 .

7. A method for inducing a protective immune response in a subject comprising administering the multivalent immunogenic composition of claim 1 to a subject thereby inducing a protective immune response in the subject.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising administering one or more additional doses of the multivalent immunogenic composition to the subject.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the immunogenic composition is administered by subcutaneous or intramuscular injection.

10. A method for immunizing an animal against dirofilariasis comprising administering to a subject a multivalent immunogenic composition comprising two or more antigens, and in combination with two or more adjuvants, wherein said antigens are selected from an Abundant Larval Transcript antigen comprising SEQ ID NO: 121 or SEQ ID NO:122; a Small heat shock protein 12.6 antigen comprising SEQ ID NO: 81 or SEQ ID NO: 123; a Tetraspanin antigen comprising SEQ ID NO: 82; and a Thioredoxin Peroxidase 2 antigen comprising SEQ ID NO: 83 or SEQ ID NO:124 thereby immunizing the subject against dirofilariasis.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising administering one or more additional doses of the multivalent immunogenic composition to the subject.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the immunogenic composition is administered by subcutaneous or intramuscular injection.

Assignments (2)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Aug 2, 2023
From: UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
To: NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH), U.S. DEPT. OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (DHHS), U.S. GOVERNMENT
Reel/Frame 064476/0040 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 8, 2022
From: KALYANASUNDARAM, RAMASWAMY
To: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
Reel/Frame 060744/0811 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part 16790277 · Feb 13, 2020
Related Publication 20230089516A1 · Mar 23, 2023
References Cited (57)
US 10072054B2 · Kalyanasundaram · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20150307566A1 · Kalyanasundaram · 2015 [cited by examiner]
CN 110051832A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 1994015593A1 · 1994 [cited by applicant]
WO 1998052971A1 · 1998 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2017011380A1 · 2017 [cited by examiner]
International Search Report and Written Opinion in PCT/US2021/017813 dated Sep. 24, 2021. [cited by applicant]
EP Search Report from EP application 11841437.4, dated Apr. 29, 2014. [cited by applicant]
Anand et al. (2008) “Comparison of Immunogenicity, Protective Efficacy of Single and Cocktail DNA Vaccine of Brugia malayi Abundant Larval Transcript (ALT-2) and Thioredoxin Peroxidase (TPX) in Mice” Acta Tropica 107:10… [cited by applicant]
Bottazzi et al. (2006) “An Ounce of Prevention on a Budget: a Nonprofit Approach to Developing Vaccines Against Neglected Diseases” Expert Review of Vaccines 5(2):189-198. [cited by applicant]
Bortolatto et al. (2008) “Toll-like receptor 4 agonists adsorbed to aluminum hydroxide adjuvant attenuate ovalbumin-specific allergic airway disease: role of MyD88 adaptor molecule and interleukin-12/interferon-gamma ax… [cited by applicant]
Bowie et al. (1990) “Deciphering the Message in Protein Sequences: Tolerance to Amino Acid Substitutions” Science 257:1306-1310. [cited by applicant]
Chauhan et al. (2018) “Evaluating the Vaccine Potential of a Tetravalent Fusion Protein (rBmHAXT) Vaccine Antigen Against Lymphatic Filariasis in a Mouse Model,” Frontiers in Immunology 9:1520. [cited by applicant]
Chenthamarakshan et al. (1995) “Immunoprophylactic Potential of a 120 kDa Brugia malayi Adult Antigen Fraction, BmA-2, in Lymphatic Filariasis” Parasite Immunology 17(6):277-285. [cited by applicant]
Cookson et al. (1992) “Identification of the Major Soluble Cuticular Glycoprotein of Lymphatic Filarial Nematode Parasites (gp29) as a Secretory Homolog of Glutathione Peroxidase” Proceedings of the National Academy of … [cited by applicant]
Dash et al. (2011) “Granuloma Formation around Filarial Larvae Triggered by Host Responses to an Excretory/Secretory Antigen” Infection and Immunity 79(2):838-845. [cited by applicant]
Dissanayake et al. (1995) “Differential Recognition of Microfilarial Chitinase, a Transmission-Blocking Vaccine Candidate Antigen, by Sera from Patients with Brugian and Bancroftian Filariasis” American Journal of Tropi… [cited by applicant]
Ellis (1988) Vaccines, W.B. Saunders Company, Chapter 29, pp. 568-574. [cited by applicant]
Frank et al. (1996) “Purification and characterization of three larval excretory-secretory proteins of Dirofilaria immitis,” Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 75:221-229. [cited by applicant]
Gnanasekar et al. (2004) “Novel Phage Display-Based Subtractive Screening to Identify Vaccine Candidates of Brugia malayi” Infection and Immunity 72(8):4707-4715. [cited by applicant]
Gnanasekar et al. (2008) “Identification and Cloning of a Novel Tetraspanin (TSP) Homologue from Brugia malayi” DNA Sequence 19(2):151-156. [cited by applicant]
Gnanasekar et al. (2008) “A Novel Small Heat Shock Protein 12.6 (HSP12.6) from Brugia malayi Functions as a Human IL-10 Receptor Binding Protein” Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 159:98-103. [cited by applicant]
Greenspan, N.S. & E. Di Cera (1999) “Defining Epitopes: It's Not as Easy as it Seems” Nature Biotechnology 17:936-937. [cited by applicant]
Gregory et al. “The Abundant Larval Transcript-1 and -2 Genes of Brugia malayi Encode Stage-Specific Candidate Vaccine Antigens for Filariais” Infection and Immunity 68(7):4174-4179. [cited by applicant]
Klimowski et al. (1997) “Molecular cloning, expression and enzymatic activity of a thioredoxin peroxidase from Dirofilaria immitis,” Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 90(1):297-306. [cited by applicant]
Kron et al. (1995) “An Immunodominant Antigen of Brugia malayi is an Asparaginyl-tRNA Synthetase” FEBS Letters 374:122-124. [cited by applicant]
Li et al. (1991) “Identification of Paramyosin as a Potential Protective Antigen Against Brugia malayi Infection in Jirds” Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 49:315-323. [cited by applicant]
Li et al. (1993) “Vaccination with Recombinant Filarial Paramyosin Induces Partial Immunity to Brugia malayi Infection in Jirds.” The Journal of Immunology 150(5):1881-1885. [cited by applicant]
Maizels et al. (1983) “Cross-reactive surface antigens on three stages of Brugia malayi, B. pahangi and B. timori” Parasitology 87:249-263. [cited by applicant]
Maizels et al. (1983) “Antigenic Analysis of Brugia timori, a Filarial Nematode of Man: Initial Characterization by Surface Radioiodination and Evaluation of Diagnostic Potential” Clinical & Experimental Immunology 51:2… [cited by applicant]
Maizels et al. (2001) “Immunological Genomics of Brugia malayi: Filarial Genes Implicated in Immune Evasion and Protective Immunity” Parasite Immunology 23:327-344. [cited by applicant]
Makepeace et al. (2009) “Immunisation with a Multivalent, Subunit Vaccine Reduces Patent Infection in a Natural Bovine Model of Onchocerciasis during Intense Field Exposure” PLoS ONE 3(II):e544. [cited by applicant]
Mcgonigle et al. (2001) “Immunisation of mice with fractions derived from the intestines of Dirofilaria immitis,” International Journal of Parasitology 31(13):1459-1466. [cited by applicant]
Morris et al. (2013) “A Comprehensive, Model-Based Review of Vaccine and Repeat Infection Trials for Filariasis,” Clinical Microbiology Review 26(3):381-421. [cited by applicant]
Rahman et al. (2007) “Pan LF-ELISA Using BmRI and BmSXP Recombinant Antigens for Detection of Lymphatic Filariasis” Filaria Journal 6:10. [cited by applicant]
Samykutty et al. (2010) “Multivalent Vaccine for Lymphatic Filariasis” Procedia in Vaccinology 3:12-18. [cited by applicant]
Selkirk et al. (1989) “Heat Shock Cognate 70 is a Prominent Immunogen in Brugian Filariasis” The Journal of Immunology 143:299-308. [cited by applicant]
Tamashiro et al. (1989) “Dirofilaria immitis: Studies on Anti-Microfilarial Immunity in Lewis Rats,” The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 40(4):368-376. [cited by applicant]
Thirugnanam et al. (2007) “Brugia malayi: Comparison of Protective Immune Responses Induced by Bm-alt-2 DNA, Recombinant Bm-ALT-2 Protein and Prime-Boost Vaccine Regimens in a Jird Model” Experimental Parastiology 116(4… [cited by applicant]
Veerapathran et al. (2009) “Evaluation of Wuchereria bancrofti GST as a Vaccine Candidate for Lymphatic Filariasis” PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 3(6):e457. [cited by applicant]
Yates et al. (1985) “Brugia Malayi: Vaccination of Jirds with 60Cobalt-Attenuated Infective Stage Larvae Protects against Homologous Challenge,” American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 34(6):1132-1137. [cited by applicant]
Office Communication dated Jan. 28, 2014 from U.S. Appl. No. 13/885,168, filed May 23, 2013. [cited by applicant]
Office Communication dated Sep. 18, 2014 from U.S. Appl. No. 13/885,168, filed May 23, 2013. [cited by applicant]
Office Communication dated Mar. 16, 2015 from U.S. Appl. No. 13/885,168, filed May 23, 2013. [cited by applicant]
Office Communication dated Dec. 12, 2016 from U.S. Appl. No. 14/798,945, filed Jul. 14, 2015. [cited by applicant]
Office Communication dated May 17, 2017 from U.S. Appl. No. 14/798,945, filed Jul. 14, 2015. [cited by applicant]
Office Communication dated Dec. 14, 2017 from U.S. Appl. No. 14/798,945, filed Jul. 14, 2015. [cited by applicant]
Office Communication dated Apr. 18, 2018 from U.S. Appl. No. 14/798,945, filed Jul. 14, 2015. [cited by applicant]
Office Communication dated May 21, 2018 from U.S. Appl. No. 14/798,945, filed Jul. 14, 2015. [cited by applicant]
Office Communication dated Mar. 15, 2019 from U.S. Appl. No. 16/116,203, filed Aug. 28, 2018. [cited by applicant]
Office Communication dated Nov. 1, 2019 from U.S. Appl. No. 16/116,203, filed Aug. 28, 2018. [cited by applicant]
Office Communication dated Dec. 30, 2020 from U.S. Appl. No. 16/790,277, filed Feb. 13, 2020. [cited by applicant]
Office Communication dated Apr. 19, 2021 from U.S. Appl. No. 16/790,277, filed Feb. 13, 2020. [cited by applicant]
Office Communication dated Sep. 20, 2021 from U.S. Appl. No. 16/790,277, filed Feb. 13, 2020. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion from PCT/US2011/059501, dated May 30, 2012. [cited by applicant]
International Preliminary Report on Patentability from PCT/US2011/059501, dated May 30, 2013. [cited by applicant]
International Preliminary Report on Patentability in PCT/US2021/017813 dated Aug. 22, 2022. [cited by applicant]