Abstract: The present invention relates to tissue cement proteins produced by certain species of blood-feeding ectoparasites. These proteins and compositions comprising these proteins are particularly useful for the temporary or permanent bonding of animal tissues to each other or to other biomaterials. The present invention also relates to the use of tissue cement proteins in the production of vaccines that protect animals against the bite of blood-sucking ectoparasites and the transmission of viruses, bacteria and other pathogens by such ectoparasites.

Abstract: A vasoactive amine binding protein (VABP) that binds to vasoactive amines with a dissociation constant of less than 10−7 M, has a sequence homology to the VABP clones male specific histamine binding protein 1 (MS-HBP1), female specific histamine binding protein 1 (FS-HBP1), female specific histamine binding protein 2 (FS-HBP2), and Dermacenter reticularis 6 (D.RET6), such that 40% or more of the amino acids of the VABP clones that are completely conserved as identical residues when said VABP clones are in alignment with each other, are still completely conserved when said VABP is included in said alignment; and that contains a sequence motif selected from the group consisting of the motif D/E A W K/R; the motif Y/C E/D L/I W; and the motifs D/E A W K/R and Y/C E/D L/I W.