Through the use of a universal anti-tick antigens, multiple tick-borne diseases that occur over a significant area can be targeted for eradication. The novel reservoir targeted anti-tick treatment is designed to reduce tick numbers and thereby blocking transmission of tick-borne diseases.

In various aspects and embodiments the invention provides methods and compositions for generating tick immunity.

The present invention relates to immunogenic polypeptides, immunogenic fragments thereof and compositions comprising same, for use in eliciting an immune response in a subject to a tick. The invention also provides for methods of using said compositions and polypeptides.

Antigenic polypeptides derived from a naturally occurring horn fly protein, and nucleic acid molecules encoding the polypeptides, are described. The polypeptides elicit an immune response which, in turn, produces detrimental effects in horn flies feeding on vaccinated cattle. Thus, the present disclosure provides a novel horn fly vaccine.

The present invention encompasses a vaccine composition and method of use for treating heartworm infestation in mammals. The vaccine composition includes chimeric antigens engineered and manufactured using the genetic code (i.e., the amino acid or protein sequence) of the target sequence. After introduction of the vaccine composition containing the target antigen into the host (e.g., a canine), the host will generate antibodies as part of its robust immune response to the antigen. As the antibodies circulate through the host's plasma, heartworm larvae will consume the antibodies as they feed on the plasma. The antibodies will then act on internal targets of the worm recognized as antigens.

The invention relates to novel polypeptides which are recognized by anti-Trichinella antibodies. Said polypeptides can be used particularly for detecting anti-Trichinella antibodies and in trichinosis prevention.

Neorickettsia helminthoeca is an obligate intra-cytoplasmic bacterium that causes salmon poisoning disease (SPD), an acute, febrile, fatal disease of dogs. Disclosed are compositions and methods for the immunodetection of N. helminthoeca in a canine subject. Also disclosed are immunogenic N. helminthoeca peptides that can be used in a vaccine for N. helminthoeca.

The invention relates to helminthic parasite preparations and their use for treatment or prevention of GVHD in a subject that has undergone a transplant. The invention also related to helminthic parasite preparations and their use for prevention of GVHD in a subject prior to a transplant.

Thrombostasin is an anti-clotting protein found in saliva of Haematobia irritans. Disclosed herein are studies testing blood uptake of horn flies feeding on cattle which confirm the association of ts genotype with blood uptake of horn flies. Blood uptake volumes of homozygous ts10 horn flies were lower than those of other ts genotypes when fed on control cattle. Cattle vaccinated with recombinant protein isoforms rTS9 or rTB8 resisted horn fly feeding by yielding lower blood volumes compared to flies feeding on control cattle. The impact of vaccination varied by ts genotype of flies. Cattle vaccinated with isoforms rTS9 resisted flies of ts2, ts9, and tb8 genotype. Vaccination with isoforms rTB8 produced resistance to ts8, ts9 and tb8 genotype flies. Horn flies of genotype ts10 were not affected with either TS isoforms and fed well on rTS9 and rTB9 vaccinated as on control-vaccinated cattle.

The present invention describes vaccine compositions for treatment and/or prevention against sea lice infestation in salmon. The present invention further describes nucleic acids, host cells, vectors and methods of using said vaccine for the prevention and/or treatment of sea lice infestation in salmon.