HEMATOPHAGOUS INSECT CALRETICULIN NUCLEIC ACID MOLECULES, PROTEINS AND USES THEREOF

摘要

The present invention is directed to novel insect calreticulin nucleic acid molecules and proteins. The present invention includes hematophagous insect nucleic acid molecules that hybridize under stringent hybridization conditions to a flea calreticulin gene as well as hematophagous insect calreticulin proteins encoded by such nucleic acid molecules. The present invention also includes therapeutic compositions capable of reducing insect infestation or allergic dermatitis, as well as methods to treat animals with such therapeutic compositions. Examples of such therapeutic compositions include hematophagous insect calreticulin proteins, nucleic acid molecules encoding such proteins, anti-calreticulin antibodies and calreticulin inhibitors.