Anti-microbial agents, diagnostic reagents, and vaccines based on unique apicomplexan parasite components

摘要

This invention relates uses of components of plant-like metabolic pathways not including psbA or PPi phosphorfructokinase and not generally operative in animals or encoded by the plastid DNA, to develop compositions that interfere with Apicomplexan growth and survival. Components of the pathways include enzymes, transit peptides and nucleotide sequences encoding the enzymes and peptides, or promoters of these nucleotide sequences to which antibodies, antisense molecules and other inhibitors are directed. Diagnostic and therapeutic reagents and vaccines are developed based on the components and their inhibitors. A cDNA sequence that encodes chorismate synthase expressed at an early state of Apicomplexan development, is disclosed and may be altered to produce a "knockout" organism useful in vaccine production.