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 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . A vaccine composition comprising a recombinant poxvirus wherein the recombinant poxvirus comprises a nucleic acid molecule encoding an African Horse Sickness Virus (AHSV) VP2 polypeptide; and wherein the composition is capable of eliciting a protective immune response in an equine animal. 
     
     
         45 . The composition of  claim 44 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, 30, 44, 49, or 50-63. 
     
     
         46 . The composition of  claim 45 , wherein the nucleic acid has the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:4, 18, 28, 42 or 48. 
     
     
         47 . The composition of  claim 46  wherein the nucleic acid has the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:18 or 28. 
     
     
         48 . The composition of any one of  claims 44  to  47  further comprising a carboxypolymethylene adjuvant. 
     
     
         49 . The composition of  claim 48  wherein the adjuvant is CARBOPOL® 974P. 
     
     
         50 . The composition of  claim 49  wherein the adjuvant is present in an amount of about 4 mg/mL. 
     
     
         51 . An expression vector comprising a polynucleotide having the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:4, 28, 42 or 48; wherein the vector is capable of eliciting a protective immune response in an equine animal against AHSV. 
     
     
         52 . The vector of  claim 51  wherein the nucleic acid has the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:28. 
     
     
         53 . The vector of  claim 52 , wherein the vector is a canarypox or a fowlpox vector. 
     
     
         54 . The vector of  claim 53 , wherein the polynucleotide is operably linked to a promoter selected from the group consisting of H6 vaccinia promoter, I3L vaccinia promoter, 42K poxyiral promoter, 7.5K vaccinia promoter, and Pi vaccinia promoter. 
     
     
         55 . An isolated host cell transformed with the vector of any one of  claims 51  to  54 . 
     
     
         56 . A method for inducing a protective immunological response in an animal comprising administering to the animal an effective amount of the composition of  claim 48 . 
     
     
         57 . A method of vaccinating an animal susceptible to African Horse Sickness comprising administering at least one dose of the composition of  claim 48 . 
     
     
         58 . 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. 
     
     
         59 . An isolated polypeptide having the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, 30, 44 or 49. 
     
     
         60 . An isolated nucleic acid having the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4, 18, 28, 42 or 48. 
     
     
         61 . The nucleic acid of  claim 60  having the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:28.