Title:  Ringworm vaccine

United States Patent:  6,428,789

Issued:  August 6, 2002

Inventors:  Strobel; Michael (Northfield, MN); Werner; Mark (Northfield, MN)

Assignee:  Jefferson Labs, Inc. (Northfield, MN)

Appl. No.:  592417

Filed:  June 13, 2000

A ringworm vaccine is disclosed comprising antigen isolated from at least one dermatophyte and a suitable carrier. The "antigen" can include a single antigen from a dermatophyte or a plurality of antigens as long as at least one antigen is included which will produce a sufficient immune response to confer resistance to ringworm infection upon the recipient of the vaccine. The antigen can also be isolated from more than one dermatophyte. If a preparation from more than one dermatophyte is made the antigen can include antigens which are common to all species of dermatophytes employed and/or antigens which are only specific to certain species. A method of producing such a ringworm vaccine is also disclosed. The method comprises making an antigen preparation comprising the dermatophyte antigen described above and combining the antigen preparation with a suitable carrier. Methods of treating a patient are also disclosed employing the vaccine of the present invention and vaccines produced according to the method of the present invention. Methods are also disclosed for treating a pregnant patient with such vaccines such that the progeny of the pregnancy exhibit resistance to ringworm infection at birth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a ringworm vaccine is disclosed comprising antigen from at least one dermatophyte and a suitable carrier. The "antigen" can include a single antigen from a dermatophyte or a plurality of antigens as long as at least one antigen is included which will produce a sufficient immune response to confer resistance to ringworm infection upon the recipient of the vaccine. The antigen can also be from more than one dermatophyte. If a preparation from more than one dermatophyte is made the antigen can include antigens which are common to all species of dermatophytes employed and/or antigens which are only specific to certain species. The antigen can be "from a dermatophyte" in that it has at least one epitope which is immunologically identical to or cross-reactive with an epitope which is found in the structure of a dermatophyte or in the structure of substances produced by the dermatophyte during infection (e.g. toxins which are produced and/or secreted by the organism during infection).

Suitable carriers for administration of vaccines are well known in the art and can include buffers, gels, microparticles, implantable solids, solvents, other adjuvants or any other means by which the antigen of the vaccine can be introduced into a patient and be made sufficiently available to produce an immune response to the antigen. In the preferred embodiments of the present invention the carrier is a lactose-containing solution of Lactated Ringers Solution (or other isotonic solution), aluminum hydroxide gel and formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is added to the preferred embodiments to serve as an agent that will kill dermatophytes and prevent contamination of non-specific fungus or bacteria. Other such agents can also be employed in formulating antigen preparations and vaccines of the present invention.

method of producing such a ringworm vaccine is also disclosed. The method comprises making an antigen preparation comprising the dermatophyte antigen described above and combining the antigen preparation with a suitable carrier. The antigen preparation can be prepared by any available means for obtaining antigen in a form which can be added to the carrier. Antigen can be isolated for use in such preparations by any available means, including without limitation homogenization of dermatophytes or portions of dermatophytes, fractionation of dermatophyte preparations, production of dermatophyte antigen by recombinant DNA technology, isolation of dermatophyte secretions and culturing of material from ringworm lesions. In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the antigen preparation is made from homogenized cultures of appropriate dermatophytes. Preferably, all the dermatophytes in the culture are killed before the culture is homogenized (e.g., by the addition of formaldehyde or other agent which kills dermatophytes). The preferred embodiments also aspirate or filter the homogenized culture before it is added to the carrier. Finally, the antigen preparation is added to the carrier such that antigen is present in a concentration sufficient to produce an immune response and/or confer resistance upon administration of the vaccine to a patient.

Methods of treating a patient are also disclosed employing the vaccine of the present invention and vaccines produced according to the method of the present invention. Treatment can be for the purpose of producing immunity to ringworm infection (e.g., prophylactic treatment) or for the purpose of irradicating existing infection. Such patient can be a mammal of any species which is susceptible to infection by dermatophytes. Methods are also disclosed for treating a pregnant patient with such vaccines such that the progeny of the pregnancy exhibit resistance to ringworm infection at birth.

Claim 1 of 7 Claims

We claim:

1. A method comprising the administration of a ringworm vaccine to a domesticated animal for the purpose of producing immunity to ringworm infection, said ringworm vaccine comprising an effective amount of a homogenized, chemical agent-killed pure Microsporum canis culture provided in a carrier.
 

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