Moraxella bovis cytotoxin, cytotoxin gene, antibodies and vaccines for prevention and treatment of moraxella bovis infections

Abstract

Moraxella bovis cytotoxin, cytotoxin gene, antibodies and vaccines for prevention and treatment of Moraxella bovis infections Moraxella bovis cytotoxin and a gene encoding Moraxella bovis cytotoxin. Identification, isolation, cloning and identification of nucleotide sequence of the Moraxella bovis genes mbxA, mbxB, mbxC and mbxD, partial purification of the native cytotoxin, preparation of partially purified native and a recombinant Moraxella bovis cytotoxin, identification of an amino acid sequence of the cytotoxin, preparation of antibodies against the Moraxella bovis cytotoxin, preparation of vaccines against Moraxella bovis . Method for prevention and treatment of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis caused by Moraxella bovis.

1 - 33 . (canceled)  
     
     
         34 . An isolated polynucleotide, or a complementary polynucleotide thereof, selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or a fragment thereof, wherein said polynucleotide fragment encodes an immunogenic polypeptide;    (b) a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, or an immunogenic fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2;    (c) a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence comprising amino acids 438 through 713 of SEQ ID NO: 2;    (d) a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence comprising amino acids 590 through 927 of SEQ ID NO: 2; and    (e) a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence comprising amino acids 643 through 927 of SEQ ID NO: 2.    
     
     
         35 . The isolated polynucleotide of claim  34 (a), wherein said immunogenic polypeptide displays bovine lymphocyte cytolytic activity, hemolytic activity or corneotoxic activity.  
     
     
         36 . The isolated polynucleotide of claim  34 (b), wherein said immunogenic fragment displays bovine lymphocyte cytolytic activity, hemolytic activity or corneotoxic activity.  
     
     
         37 . A vector comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 34 .  
     
     
         38 . The vector of  claim 37 , wherein said vector is an expression vector.  
     
     
         39 . A cell comprising the vector of  claim 37 .  
     
     
         40 . The cell of  claim 39 , wherein said cell is a bacterial cell.  
     
     
         41 . A vaccine comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 34 .  
     
     
         42 . A vaccine comprising a polypeptide encoded by the polynucleotide of  claim 34 .  
     
     
         43 . The vaccine of  claim 42 , wherein said vaccine comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.  
     
     
         44 . The vaccine of  claim 42 , wherein said vaccine comprises an adjuvant.  
     
     
         45 . The vaccine of  claim 44 , wherein said adjuvant is selected from an ISCOM matrix, Freund's complete adjuvant and  Quillaja  saponins (Quil A).  
     
     
         46 . A method for the prophylaxis or treatment of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) in a bovine, comprising administering to said bovine a vaccine of  claim 41 , thereby preventing or treating IBK in said bovine.  
     
     
         47 . A method for the prophylaxis or treatment of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) in a bovine, comprising administering to said bovine a vaccine of  claim 42 , thereby preventing or treating IBK in said bovine.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein said administering comprises at least one subcutaneous injection.  
     
     
         49 . A method for producing a polypeptide vaccine, the method comprising expressing and isolating a polypeptide encoded by the polynucleotide of  claim 34 .  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising the step of admixing said polypeptide with an adjuvant.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising the step of admixing said polypeptide with a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.  
     
     
         52 . An antibody that specifically binds a polypeptide encoded by the polynucleotide of  claim 34 .  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein said antibody inhibits the activity of  Moraxella bovis  cytotoxin.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein said antibody prevents infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) in a bovine when present in said bovine.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein said antibody is a polyclonal antibody or a monoclonal antibody.