Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Micro-organism – tissue cell culture or enzyme using process... – Recombinant dna technique included in method of making a...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-27
2001-03-20
Allen, Marianne P. (Department: 1631)
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Micro-organism, tissue cell culture or enzyme using process...
Recombinant dna technique included in method of making a...
C536S023100, C536S023200, C435S325000, C435S320100, C435S252330, C424S093200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06204010
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to novel flea protease proteins and their use to reduce flea infestation of animals. The present invention also relates to the use of anti-flea protease antibodies and other compounds that reduce flea protease activity to reduce flea infestation of animals.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fleas, which belong to the insect order Siphonaptera, are obligate ectoparasites for a wide variety of animals, including birds and mammals. Flea infestation of animals is of health and economic concern because fleas are known to cause and/or transmit a variety of diseases. Fleas cause and/or carry infectious agents that cause, for example, flea allergy dermatitis, anemia, murine typhus, plague and tapeworm. In addition, fleas are a problem for animals maintained as pets because the infestation becomes a source of annoyance for the pet owner who may find his or her home generally contaminated with fleas which feed on the pets. As such, fleas are a problem not only when they are on an animal but also when they are in the general environment of the animal.
The medical and veterinary importance of flea infestation has prompted the development of reagents capable of controlling flea infestation. Commonly encountered methods to control flea infestation are generally focused on use of insecticides in formulations such as sprays, shampoos, dusts, dips, or foams, or in pet collars. While some of these products are efficacious, most, at best, offer protection of a very limited duration. Furthermore, many of the methods are often not successful in reducing flea populations on the pet for one or more of the following reasons: (1) failure of owner compliance (frequent administration is required); (2) behavioral or physiological intolerance of the pet to the pesticide product or means of administration; and (3) the emergence of flea populations resistant to the prescribed dose of pesticide. Additional anti-flea products include nontoxic reagents such as insect growth regulators (IGRs), including methoprene, which mimics flea hormones and affect flea larval development.
An alternative method for controlling flea infestation is the use of flea vaccines to be administered to animals prior to or during flea infestation. However, despite considerable interest in developing anti-flea reagents, no flea vaccine presently exists.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to flea serine protease proteins; to flea serine protease nucleic acid molecules, including those that encode such proteins; to antibodies raised against such proteins; and to compounds that inhibit flea serine proteases. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and inhibitors. Also included in the present invention are therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and/or inhibitors as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to protect a host animal from flea infestation.
One embodiment of the present invention is an isolated nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions with a gene including a serine protease gene comprising a nucleic acid sequence including a nucleic acid molecule including SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:38, SEQ ID NO:43, and/or SEQ ID NO:48.
The present invention also includes a nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions with a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein comprising an amino acid sequence including, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:37, SEQ ID NO:42 and/or SEQ ID NO:47 or with a nucleic acid sequence that is a complement of any of the nucleic acid sequences. A preferred nucleic acid sequence of the present invention includes a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence including SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:34, SEQ ID NO:35, SEQ ID NO:36, SEQ ID NO:38, SEQ ID NO:39, SEQ ID NO:40, SEQ ID NO:41, SEQ ID NO:43, SEQ ID NO:44, SEQ ID NO:45, SEQ ID NO:46, SEQ ID) NO:48, SEQ ID NO:49 and SEQ ID NO:50; and a nucleic acid molecule comprising an allelic variant of a nucleic acid molecule having any of said nucleic acid sequences.
The present invention also includes an isolated protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions with a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein comprising an amino acid sequence including SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:37, SEQ ID NO:42 and/or SEQ ID NO:47.
The present invention also relates to recombinant molecules, recombinant viruses and recombinant cells that include a nucleic acid molecule of the present invention. Also included are methods to produce such nucleic acid molecules, recombinant molecules, recombinant viruses and recombinant cells.
Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a therapeutic composition that is capable of reducing hematophagous ectoparasite infestation. Such a therapeutic composition includes a protective compound including: an isolated protein or mimetope thereof encoded by a nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions with a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein comprising an amino acid sequence including SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ Iolated nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions with a gene comprising a nucleic acid sequence including SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:38, SEQ ID NO:43 and/or SEQ ID NO:48; an isolated antibody that selectively binds to a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions with a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein comprising an amino acid sequence including SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:37, SEQ ID NO:42 and/or SEQ ID NO:47; an inhibitor of protease activity identified by its ability to inhibit the activity of a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions with a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein comprising an amino acid sequence including SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:37, SEQ ID NO:42 and/or SEQ ID NO:47; and a mixture thereof. Also included in the present invention is a method to reduce flea infestation, comprising the step of administering to the animal a therapeutic composition of the present invention.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a method to identify a compound capable of inhibiting flea protease activity, the method comprising: (a) contacting an isolated flea protease protein comprising an amino acid sequence including SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:37, SEQ ID NO:42 and/or SEQ ID NO:47 with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of said compound, the protein has proteolytic activity; and (b) determining if the putative inhibitory compound inhibits the activity. The present invention also includes a kit to identify a compound capable of inhibiting flea protease activity.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3826232 (1974-07-01), Duffey et al.
patent: 4800159 (1989-01-01), Mullis et al.
patent: 4973555 (1990-11-01), Weissman et al.
patent: 4973589 (1990-11-01), Barnett et al.
patent: 5057527 (1991-10-01), Alig et al.
patent: 5288612 (1994-02-01), Griffin et al.
patent: 5304482 (1994-04-01), Sambrook et al.
patent: 5356622 (1994-10-01), Health et al.
patent: 5371239 (1994-12-01), Doscher
patent: 5712143 (1998-01-01), Grieve et al.
patent: 0571911 (1993-12-01), None
patent: WO 90/03433 (1990-09-01), None
patent: 9312141 (1993-07-01), None
pate
Gaines Patrick J.
Stiegler Gary L.
Allen Marianne P.
Heska Corporation
Sheridan & Ross P.C.
LandOfFree
Flea protease proteins, nucleic acid molecules, and uses... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Flea protease proteins, nucleic acid molecules, and uses..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Flea protease proteins, nucleic acid molecules, and uses... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2467197