Disease control with tick phospholipase A2

摘要

The present invention relates to reagents and methods for the modulation of viability of bacteria. A process is provided wherein a protein sequence from A. americanum saliva effective in reducing the viability of gram positive, gram negative, or acid-fast bacteria and spirochetes including B. burgdorferi is administered. The inventive protein from A. americanum saliva has utility as a therapeutic for the treatment of an organism infected with bacteria, particularly the spirochete B. burgdorferi.

主权项

1. A process of altering the viability of a bacterial organism comprising:
contacting a bacterial organism that is a member of the Spirochaetaceae family or the Treponemataceae family by administering to a vertabrate host infected with the bacterial organism a salivary protein derived from Amblyomma americanum (A. americanum) wherein said protein has phospholipase A2 (PLA2)-like activity.