Abstract: The present invention relates to flea serine protease and aminopeptidase proteins; to flea serine protease and aminopeptidase nucleic acid molecules, including those that encode such proteins; to antibodies raised against such proteins; and to compounds that inhibit flea serine protease and/or aminopeptdiase activities. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins, nucleic acid moelcules, antibodies, and inhibitors. Also included in the present invention are therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and/or inhibitors as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to protect a host animal from flea infestation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to flea serine protease proteins, aminopeptidase proteins and flea cysteine protease proteins; to flea serine protease, aminopeptidase and cysteine protease nucleic acid molecules, including those that encode such proteins; to antibodies raised against such proteins; and to compounds that inhibit flea serine protease, aminopeptidase and/or cysteine protease activities. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and inhibitors. Also included in the present invention are therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and/or inhibitors as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to protect a host animal from flea infestation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to parasitic helminth proteins of about 39 kD (i.e., P39 proteins); to parasitic helminth P39 nucleic acid molecules, including those that encode such proteins; and to antibodies raised against such proteins. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, and antibodies. Also included in the present invention are therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, and/or antibodies as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to protect animals from diseases caused by parasitic helminths.

Abstract: The present invention relates to feline Fc epsilon receptor alpha chain nucleic acid molecules, proteins encoded by such nucleic acid molecules, antibodies raised against such proteins, and inhibitors of such proteins. The present invention also includes methods to detect IgE using such proteins and antibodies. Also included in the present invention are therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies and/or inhibitory compounds as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to mediate Fc epsilon receptor-mediated biological responses.

Abstract: The present invention relates to parasitic helminth PLA2 proteins; to parasitic helminth PLA2 nucleic acid molecules, including those that encode such proteins; to antibodies raised against such proteins; and to compounds that inhibit parasitic helminth phospholipase A.sub.2 activity. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and inhibitors. Also included in the present invention are therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and/or inhibitors as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to protect animals from diseases caused by parasitic helminths.

Abstract: The present invention relates to flea serine protease proteins, aminopeptidase proteins and flea cysteine protease proteins; to flea serine protease, aminopeptidase and cysteine protease nucleic acid molecules, including those that encode such proteins; to antibodies raised against such proteins; and to compounds that inhibit flea serine protease, aminopeptidase and/or cysteine protease activities. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and inhibitors. Also included in the present invention are therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and/or inhibitors as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to protect a host animal from flea infestation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to parasitic helminth PLA2 proteins; to parasitic helminth PLA2 nucleic acid molecules, including those that encode such proteins; to antibodies raised against such proteins; and to compounds that inhibit parasitic helminth phospholipase A.sub.2 activity. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and inhibitors. Also included in the present invention are therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and/or inhibitors as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to protect animals from diseases caused by parasitic helminths.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method to detect canine IgE using a canine Fc epsilon receptor (Fc.sub..epsilon. R) to detect canine IgE antibodies in a biological sample from a canid. The present invention also relates to kits to perform such methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to parasitic helminth proteins of about 39 kD (i.e., P39 proteins); to parasitic helminth P39 nucleic acid molecules, including those that encode such proteins; and to antibodies raised against such proteins. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, and antibodies. Also included in the present invention are therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, and/or antibodies as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to protect animals from diseases caused by parasitic helminths.

Abstract: The present invention relates to flea serine protease and aminopeptidase proteins; to flea serine protease and aminopeptidase nucleic acid molecules, including those that encode such proteins; to antibodies raised against such proteins; and to compounds that inhibit flea serine protease and/or aminopeptidase activities. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and inhibitors. Also included in the present invention are therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and/or inhibitors as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to protect a host animal from flea infestation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to flea serine protease and aminopeptidase proteins; to flea serine protease and aminopeptidase nucleic acid molecules, including those that encode such proteins; to antibodies raised against such proteins; and to compounds that inhibit flea serine protease and/or aminopeptidase activities. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and inhibitors. Also included in the present invention are therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and/or inhibitors as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to protect a host animal from flea infestation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to feline Fc epsilon receptor alpha chain nucleic acid molecules, proteins encoded by such nucleic acid molecules, antibodies raised against such proteins, and inhibitors of such proteins. The present invention also includes methods to detect IgE using such proteins and antibodies. Also included in the present invention are therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies and/or inhibitory compounds as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to mediate Fc epsilon receptor-mediated biological responses.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method to detect IgE using a human Fc epsilon receptor (Fc.sub..epsilon. R) to detect IgE antibodies in a biological sample from a cat, a dog, or a horse. The present invention also relates to kits to perform such methods.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel product and method for isolating ectoparasite saliva proteins, and a novel product and method for detecting and/or treating allergic dermatitis in an animal. The present invention includes a saliva protein collection apparatus capable of collecting ectoparasite saliva proteins substantially free of contaminating material. The present invention also relates to ectoparasite saliva proteins, nucleic acid molecules having sequences that encode such proteins, and antibodies raised against such proteins. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins and to use such proteins to identify animals susceptible to or having allergic dermatitis. The present invention also includes therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins and their use to treat animals susceptible to or having allergic dermatitis.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel product and method for isolating ectoparasite saliva proteins, and a novel product and method for detecting and/or treating allergic dermatitis in an animal. The present invention includes a saliva protein collection apparatus capable of collecting ectoparasite saliva proteins substantially free of contaminating material. The present invention also relates to ectoparasite saliva proteins, nucleic acid molecules having sequences that encode such proteins, and antibodies raised against such proteins. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins and to use such proteins to identify animals susceptible to or having allergic dermatitis. The present invention also includes therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins and their use to treat animals susceptible to or having allergic dermatitis.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel product and method for isolating ectoparasite saliva proteins, and a novel product and method for detecting and/or treating allergic dermatitis in an animal. The present invention includes a saliva protein collection apparatus capable of collecting ectoparasite saliva proteins substantially free of contaminating material. The present invention also relates to ectoparasite saliva proteins, nucleic acid molecules having sequences that encode such proteins, and antibodies raised against such proteins. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins and to use such proteins to identify animals susceptible to or having allergic dermatitis. The present invention also includes therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins and their use to treat animals susceptible to or having allergic dermatitis.

Abstract: Immunogens derived from proteins isolatable from the L3 and L4 larval stages of nematodes parasitic in mammals, and including a protein of about 20.5 kD, are disclosed. The proteins of the invention are identified using biological materials verified to destroy or impair the parasitic nematode in an in vivo incubator. Cells, serum or fractions thereof obtained from immune natural hosts are validated in a method wherein a recoverable implant of the parasitic nematodes is used to assess the protective effect when these materials are provided passively to the animal incubator.

Abstract: The present invention provides for filariid nematode cysteine protease proteins; to filariid nematode cysteine protease nucleic acid molecules, in particular, Dirofilaria immitis L3 larval cysteine protease nucleic acid molecules and Onchocerca volvulus L3 larval cysteine protease nucleic acid molecules; to antibodies raised against such proteins, and to compounds that inhibit filariid nematode cysteine protease activity. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies and/or inhibitors. The present invention also includes therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies and/or inhibitors, and the use of such compositions to protect an animal from disease caused by parasitic helminths.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel product and method for isolating ectoparasite saliva proteins, and a novel product and method for detecting and/or treating allergic dermatitis in an animal. The present invention includes a saliva protein collection apparatus capable of collecting ectoparasite saliva proteins substantially free of contaminating material. The present invention also relates to ectoparasite saliva proteins, nucleic acid molecules having sequences that encode such proteins, and antibodies raised against such proteins. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins and to use such proteins to identify animals susceptible to or having allergic dermatitis. The present invention also includes therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins and their use to treat animals susceptible to or having allergic dermatitis.

Abstract: The present invention provides for filariid nematode cysteine protease proteins; to filariid nematode cysteine protease nucleic acid molecules, in particular, Dirofilaria immitis L3 larval cysteine protease nucleic acid molecules and Onchocerca volvulus L3 larval cysteine protease nucleic acid molecules; to antibodies raised against such proteins, and to compounds that inhibit filariid nematode cysteine protease activity. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies and/or inhibitors. The present invention also includes therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies and/or inhibitors, and the use of such compositions to protect an animal from disease caused by parasitic helminths.