Vaccine against african horse sickness virus

Abstract

The present invention provides vectors that contain and express in vivo the genes encoding VP2 and VP5 of African Horse Sickness Virus or an epitope thereof that elicits an immune response in a horse against African horse sickness virus, compositions comprising said vectors, methods of vaccination against African horse sickness virus, and kits for use with such methods and compositions.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . An immunogenic composition comprising a recombinant poxvirus wherein the recombinant poxvirus comprises a nucleic acid molecule encoding either an African Horse Sickness Virus (AHSV) VP2 or AHSV VP5 polypeptide; and wherein the composition is capable of eliciting a protective immune response in an equine animal. 
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence as set forth in either SEQ ID NO:1 or 2. 
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 24 , wherein the nucleic acid has either the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:4, 5, or a degenerate sequence, which encodes the same polypeptide as is encoded by either SEQ ID NO:4 or 5. 
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 25 , wherein the degenerate sequence encodes either a VP2 polypeptide having the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, or a VP5 polypeptide having the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         27 . The composition of  claim 23  wherein the nucleic acid encodes a VP2 polypeptide. 
     
     
         28 . The composition of  claim 23  wherein the nucleic acid encodes a VP5 polypeptide. 
     
     
         29 . The composition of  claim 27  wherein the VP2 polypeptide has the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, 42, or 18. 
     
     
         30 . The composition of  claim 29  wherein the polypeptide has the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         31 . The composition of any one of  claim 23 - 25  or  30  to further comprising a carboxypolymethylene adjuvant. 
     
     
         32 . An expression vector comprising either a nucleic acid encoding a VP2 polypeptide having the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:4, or a nucleic acid having the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:5. 
     
     
         33 . The vector of  claim 32 , wherein the nucleic acid is as set forth in SEQ ID NO:4; and wherein the vector is a viral vector, and wherein the viral vector is an avipox, a canarypox or a fowlpox vector. 
     
     
         34 . The vector of  claim 33 , wherein the polynucleotide is operably linked to a promoter selected from the group consisting of H6 vaccinia promoter, 13L vaccinia promoter, 42K poxyiral promoter, 7.5K vaccinia promoter, and Pi vaccinia promoter. 
     
     
         35 . A host cell transformed with the vector of  claim 33 . 
     
     
         36 . A method for inducing an immunological response in an animal comprising administering to the animal an effective amount of the composition of  claim 23 . 
     
     
         37 . A method of vaccinating an animal susceptible to African Horse Sickness comprising administering at least one dose of the composition of  claim 23 . 
     
     
         38 . An isolated African Horse Sickness Virus AHSV4-Jane strain, having a nucleic acid sequence comprising the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:48, 50, or both.