P43 antigen for the immunodiagnosis of canine ehrlichiosis and uses thereof
US6355777B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 28, 2000 |
| Grant date | Mar 12, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 28, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61K38/00
- WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis, caused by Ehrilichia canis is a potentially fatal disease of dogs that requires rapid and accurate diagnosis in order to initiate appropriate therapy leading to a favorable prognosis. In the invention described herein, a new immunoreactive E. canis surface protein gene of 1170-bp was cloned, which encodes a protein with a predicted molecular mass of 42.6 kilodaltons (P43). The P43 gene was not found in E. chaffeensis DNA by Southern blot, and antisera against recombinant P43 (rP43) did not react with E. chaffeensis by IFA. The P43 was located on the surface of E. canis by immunoelectron microscopy. Forty-two dogs exhibiting signs and/or hematologic abnormalities associated with canine ehrlichiosis were tested by IFA and by Western immunoblot. Among the 22 samples that were IFA positive for E. canis, 100% reacted with the rP43, 96% with the rP28, and 96% with the rP140. The specificity of the recombinant proteins compared to IFA was 96% for rP28, 88% for P43 and 63% for P140. Results of this study demonstrate that the rP43 and rP28 are sensitive and reliable serodiagnostic antigens for the diagnosis of Ehrlichia canis infections.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.