Description of Invention:
This invention describes Isac, a novel anticomplement protein that can be isolated and purified from I. scapularis (tick) saliva that may be useful as a peptide vaccine against Lyme disease. Because inactivation of Isac by antibodies will make transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi to humans more difficult, Isac is an ideal candidate for a Lyme disease vaccine. Isac disrupts the alternative complement pathway by inhibiting factors Bb and/or C3b, preventing cell lysis and anaphylatoxin production. The inventors have found no similarity to any protein in GenBank for Isac. Isac may also be used in situations where alternative complement activation is implicated such as in rheumatoid conditions such as lupus erythematosus or juvenile arthritis. The invention is further described in Ribeiro et al., "Purification, cloning, and expression of a novel salivary anticomplement protein from the tick, Ixodes scapularis," J Biol. Chem. 2000 Jun 23; 275(25):18717-23.
Inventors:
Jose Ribeiro (NIAID) Jesus Valenzuela (NIAID) Rosane Charlab (NIAID) Thomas Mather (EM)
For Additional Information Please Contact: Peter A. Soukas J.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd, Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20852-3804
Phone: (301) 435-4646
Email: soukasp@mail.nih.gov
Fax: (301) 402-0220
