POLYVALENT CHIMERIC OSPC VACCINOGEN AND DIAGNOSTIC ANTIGEN

摘要

Chimeric polyvalent recombinant proteins for use as vaccines and diagnostics for Lyme disease (e.g. in canines and humans) are provided. The chimeric proteins comprise epitopes of the loop 5 region and/or the alpha helix 5 region of outer surface protein C (OspC) types and/or OspE types. The OspC types may be associated with mammalian Borrelia infections.

主权项

1. A method for ascertaining whether an individual has been exposed to or infected with Borrelia, or both, comprising the steps of
obtaining a biological sample from said individual, exposing said biological sample to
at least one recombinant chimeric protein comprising epitopes from loop 5 region or alpha helix 5 region, or both, of two or more outer surface protein C (OspC) types which are different from each other; andat least one outer surface protein E (OspE) recombinant protein that does not bind factor H (FH);and
determining whether antibodies in said biological sample bind to said at least one chimeric protein and said at least one OspE recombinant protein that does not bind FH, wherein detection of antibody binding is indicative of prior exposure to or infection with Borrelia.