WO1995026402A1 - Vaccines against helminthic parasites - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a protective helminth parasite antigen obtainable from adult helminths characterised by: (i) in native form being an integral membrane protein; (ii) having a native localisation in the parasite gut; (iii) being capable of binding to a thiol affinity medium; and (iv) being recognised by sera from immunised animal hosts, containing antibodies capable of inhibiting parasite growth and/or development, or a functionally-equivalent variant, or antigenic fragment or precursor thereof, its preparation from adult helminths, its use in vaccine compositions, DNA sequences encoding it and its production by recombinant means.

Description

Vaccines against helminthic parasites

This invention relates to novel helminth antigens and their use in the control of disease caused by helminth parasites, particularly parasitic nematodes of the gastro-intestinal tract of mammals.

Helminth parasites, particularly nematodes, infect or infest a wide range of animals, including man, and are a widespread and significant source of disease and ill-thrift, not only in animals, but also in man. Such parasites thus represent a considerable worldwide drain on economic resources. This is particularly true in animal husbandry, where parasite infections of grazing animals, such as sheep and cattle, are often difficult and expensive to control and may result in significant economic losses.

Particular mention may be made in this regard of the blood-sucking nematode Haemonchus contortus, a parasite of ruminants, most notably sheep. H. contortus (or other Haemonchus species including H. placei) also parasitises cattle. Infection with Haemonchus leads to a condition known as haemonchosis, which is frequently fatal if untreated and represents one of the major helminth infections causing problems in animal husbandry today.

Also worthy of particular mention from the economic viewpoint are the non-blood feeding nematodes Ostertagia ostertagi and Ostertagia (Teladorsagia) circumcincta (O. circumcincta has recently been reclassified as

T.circumcincta, although the new name is not yet in wide usage).

Other parasitic helminths of economic importance include the various species of the following helminth families:- Trichostrongylus, Nematodirus, Dictyocaulus,

Cooperia, Ascaris, Dirofilaria, Trichuris, Strongylus,

Fasciola, Oesophagostomum, Bunostomum Metastrongylus, Necator, Ancylostoma, and schistosomes.

At present, control of helminth parasites of grazing livestock relies primarily on the use of

anthelmintic drugs, combined with pasture management. Such techniques have not proved entirely satisfactory however, due to their expense and inconvenience and to a rapid increase in drug resistance. Antihelmintic drugs need to be administered frequently and appropriate pasture management is often not possible on some farms and even where it is, it can place constraints on the best use of available grazing.

To overcome these problems, attempts have been made to achieve immunological means of control. Although there has been some success in identifying certain protective antigens as potential vaccine candidates, most notably in Haemonchus, this approach has proved difficult and, other than for the cattle lungworm

Dictyocaulus viviparus, has yet to come to commercial fruition.

EP-A-0434909 describes a 35kd cysteine proteinase which forms part of a high molecular weight

fibrinogenolytic protein complex present in glycerol extracts of Haemonchus contortus. Although proposed as a potential vaccine candidate, protective immune

responses elicited by this antigen can be seen to be inconsistent and statistically insignificant.

The most success to date has been achieved with the protein doublet H110D, an integral membrane protein isolated from the gut of H. contortus and described by Munn in WO88/00835. H110D now represents the most promising vaccine candidate to date.

Munn has also described and proposed as a vaccine, contortin, a helical polymeric extracellular protein associated with the luminal surface of H. contortus

intestinal cells (Munn et al., Parasitology 94: 385-397, 1987). A further Haemonchus gut membrane protein with protective antigenic properties has also been discovered and termed H45 (Munn and Smith, WO90/11086).

WO94/02169 describes, inter alia, the antigen termed H-gal-GP, also an integral gut membrane protein of Haemonchus. This antigen is a galactose-containing glycoprotein complex and has been shown to confer protective immunity in animals against Haemonchus.

As far as other helminth genera, particularly non-blood feeding helminth species, are concerned, there are fewer reports in the literature of successful

immunisation. In the case of O.circumcincta,

McGillivery et al. have reported the identification of a 31kd protective antigen, isolated from 3rd stage larvae using sera from sheep which developed immunity after infection (McGillivery et al., 1990, Int. J. Parasitol., 20: 87-93, and WO91/01150). However, only partial protection of sheep against challenge infection could be demonstrated.

Whilst proteins such as H110D, H45 and H-gal-GP can be used as the basis for a vaccine against Haemonchus. there is nonetheless a continuing need for new and improved helminth parasite vaccines and in particular for a vaccine which may be used across a broad range of helminth genera. There is especially a need for a vaccine which may be used against non-blood feeding helminths such as Ostertagia.

The present invention accordingly seeks to provide novel antigens for use as helminth parasite vaccines and in particular as protective immunogens in the control of diseases caused by helminth parasites.

More specifically, the present invention is based on the finding that extracts of helminth parasites containing integral membrane proteins having thiol-binding activity are capable of conferring protective immunity against the parasites in animals. Such

proteins, when liberated from the membranes in which they are bound, for example by the use of detergents, are novel and of use in the manufacture of vaccines against helminth infections.

According to one aspect, the present invention thus provides a protective helminth parasite antigen

obtainable from adult helminths by chromatography of a Triton X-100 extract of whole parasites on a thiol affinity medium, and characterised by

(i) in native form being an integral membrane

protein;

(ii) having a native localisation in the parasite

gut;

(iii) being capable of binding to a thiol affinity

medium; and

(iv) being recognised by sera from immunised animal hosts, containing antibodies capable of inhibiting parasite growth and/or development, or a functionally-equivalent variant, or antigenic fragment or precursor thereof.

A further aspect of the invention provides such protective antigens, and functionally-equivalent

variants, antigenic fragments or precursors thereof, for use in stimulating an immune response against helminth parasites in a human or non-human, preferably mammalian, especially preferably ruminant, animal.

A precursor for the antigen in question may be a larger protein which is processed, eg. by proteolysis, to yield the antigen per se. Such precursors may take the form of zymogens ie. inactive precursors of enzymes, activated by proteolytic cleavage, for example analogous to the pepsin/pepsinogen system or the well known zymogens involved in the blood clotting cascade.

The novel antigens of the invention are not

recognised by sera from naturally immune animals. In other words, they are not normally, in native form, accessible to the immune system of the infected host and are thus "hidden", "concealed" or "cryptic" antigens. The term "protective antigens" or "protective antigenic activity" as used herein defines those

antigens and their fragments or precursors, capable of generating a host-protective, ie. immunogenic, immune response, that is a response by the host which leads to generation of immune effector molecules, antibodies or cells which damage, inhibit or kill the parasite and thereby "protect" the host from clinical or sub-clinical disease and loss of productivity. Such a protective immune response may commonly be manifested by the generation of antibodies which are able to inhibit the metabolic function of the parasite, leading to stunting, lack of egg production and/or death.

As mentioned above, included within the scope of the invention are functionally-equivalent variants of the novel antigens and their fragments and precursors. "Functionally-equivalent" is used herein to define proteins related to or derived from the native protein, where the amino acid sequence has been modified by single or multiple amino acid substitution, addition and/or deletion and also sequences where the amino acids have been chemically modified, including by

deglycosylation or glycosylation, but which nonetheless retain protective antigenic activity eg. are capable of raising host protective antibodies and/or functional immunity against the parasites. Within the meaning of "addition" variants are included amino and/or carboxy terminal fusion proteins or polypeptides, comprising an additional protein or polypeptide fused to the antigen sequence. Such functionally-equivalent variants

mentioned above include natural biological variations (eg. allelic variants or geographical variations within a species) and derivatives prepared using known

techniques. For example, functionally-equivalent proteins may be prepared either by chemical peptide synthesis or in recombinant form using the known

techniques of site-directed mutagenesis including deletion, random mutagenesis, or enzymatic cleavage and/or ligation of nucleic acids. Functionally-equivalent variants according to the invention also include analogues in different parasite genera or species.

It has been shown that there is no immunological cross-reactivity between antigens of the invention and proteins contained in glycerol or other water-soluble extracts of helminth parasites. More particularly, it has been shown that proteins present in glycerol

extracts of H. contortus prepared according to EP-A-0434909 do not cross-react with sera raised against, and reactive with, antigens according to the present

invention. However, there is immunological cross-reactivity between antigens of the invention of

different parasite origin.

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) studies carried out on the antigens of the invention have shown differing behaviour on reducing and non-reducing gels. In particular, under reducing conditions, the antigens resolve into a more complex set of bands. Similarities in the band profiles under different conditions are however apparent between antigens of different parasite origin. Thus for example broad similarities may be observed between antigens of H. contortus and Ostertagia circumcincta.

In the case of the nematode worm H. contortus.

preferred antigens of the invention have the following molecular weights as determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) under reducing and non-reducing conditions:

(a) about 60kd, 97-120kd and 205kd or greater (10% gel, non-reducing); and

(b) about 37-38, 51, 52, 56, 62, 70, 77, 100, 120, 160 and 175-180kd (10% gel, reducing). Preferred antigens of the nematode worm

O.circumcinta have the following molecular weights as determined by SDS-PAGE under reducing and non-reducing conditions:

(a) about 45 and 60kd (10% gel, non-reducing); and

(b) about 29, 37, 51, 52, 56, 66, 70, 77, 100, 120,

175kd (10% gel, reducing).

Substrate gel analysis, described in more detail below, shows the following molecular weights (7.5% gelatin substrate gel, non-reducing):

H. contortus

(a) about 37-38, 52, 70 and 100kd (pH 5);

(b) about 77 and 88kd (pH 8.5).

O. circumcincta

(a) about 40, 50, 70 and >300kd (pH 5);

(b) about 70, 85 and 97kd (pH 8.5).

Lectin binding studies have shown that some, but not all, of the antigens of the invention may be

glycosylated. In particular, for antigens from H.

contortus binding of concanavalin A, wheatgerm, Helix pomatia, jacalin and peanut lectins has been observed, but not with Dolichos bifluorous agglutinin and soybean lectins.

Of the preferred H. contortus antigens mentioned above, those having molecular weights of 52, 56, 62, 77, 120 and 175kd (determined by SDS-PAGE on a 10% gel under reducing conditions) bound to lectin, indicating the presence of glycosylated structures.

In the case of O. circumcincta, lesser degrees of glycosylation are observed, with only concanavalin A binding to a group of antigens at 55-70 kd. Thus, the pattern of glycosylation may vary between antigens of different parasite origin. A preferred feature of antigens according to the invention is proteolytic activity. This may be

demonstrated using general proteinase substrates such as gelatin and azocasein. However, more particular

proteinase activities may also be observed, most notably cysteine proteinase-like, serine protease-like and metalloproteinase-like activities. Such activities may be demonstrated both by spectrophotometric assay of thiol-binding detergent extracts containing antigens of the invention and by substrate gel analysis. As will be described in more detail below, in the case of the latter, broadly similar activity profiles may be

observed between antigens of different parasite origin. In contrast, antigens according to the invention show no aminopeptidase, aspartate proteinase or neutral

endopeptidase activity.

Whilst not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that blockage of enzymic activity of such antigens by antibodies may contribute to the protective antigenic response.

As mentioned above, and as will be described in more detail below, antigens of the invention may be prepared by extracting whole adult worms with a

detergent capable of extracting integral membrane proteins, and subjecting the detergent extracts to chromatography on a thiol affinity medium e.g. thiol Sepharose.

Extractability with strong detergents, particularly non-ionic detergents such as Triton, indicates the integral membrane nature of the antigens. Retention of the antigens on thiol affinity medium indicates that the antigens have thiol binding character ie. they are integral membrane thiol binding proteins.

Thus, the invention also provides a process for the preparation of the above-mentioned antigens of the invention which comprises the steps of subjecting a crude extract of a helminth parasite, preferably Haemonchus contortus or Ostertagia sp., to detergent extraction using a detergent capable of solubilising integral membrane proteins, followed by chromatography of the detergent extract on a thiol affinity medium and elution of the bound antigens.

The crude extract of the helminth parasite may be prepared using conventional biochemical and surgical techniques eg. by homogenisation of the whole or a portion of the parasite. Thus, for example the

parasites may be subjected to homogenisation in a suitable buffer or medium such as phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and the insoluble material (ie. the pellet) may be recovered by centrifugation, whereby to form the required crude extract. If desired, a preliminary detergent extraction step, employing a gentle detergent such as Tween (which removes membrane-associated

proteins but will not solubilise integral membrane proteins) may also be used in preparing the crude extract to remove contaminating membrane associated proteins.

Thiol affinity chromatography techniques are well known in the art and are defined herein to include all forms of chromatography using media having affinity for free thiol groups. Such techniques includes for

example, in addition to the "classical" thiol affinity media, also covalent chromatography eg. metal chelate chromatography. A range of thiol affinity media are available (for example from Pharmacia or Sigma).

Mention may be made of thiol Sepharose and thiolpropyl Sepharose.

Protection trials using antigens prepared by Triton extraction and Thiol Sepharose chromatography have shown that immunity may be induced in animals against

challenge by the helminth parasites.

Viewed from a different aspect, the invention can also be seen to provide use of a helminth parasite antigen as hereinbefore defined, and fragments, precursors and functionally-equivalent variants thereof, for the preparation of a vaccine composition for use in stimulating an immune response against helminth

parasites in a human or non-human, animal.

The invention also provides a vaccine composition for stimulating an immune response against helminth parasites in a human or non-human animal comprising one or more antigens, antigenic fragments, precursors or functionally-equivalent variants thereof, as defined above, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent, and a method of stimulating an immune response against helminth parasites in a human or non-human animal, comprising administering to said animal a vaccine composition as defined above.

The animal preferably is mammalian and more

preferably a ruminant. Especially preferred animals are sheep, cattle and goats.

Antigens according to the invention may be obtained from a range of helminth parasite genera. Preferably, however the helminths will be nematodes, especially preferably gastro-intestinal nematodes including for example Haemonchus and Ostertagia sp. (For the

avoidance of doubt, the term "Ostertagia" as used herein includes Teladorsagia sp.). Such antigens may be used to prepare vaccines against a range of helminth

parasites including any of those mentioned above.

Preferred are those antigens, so called "broad spectrum" antigens, which are capable of stimulating host

protective immune responses against, in addition to the parasite from which they were isolated, a broad range of other parasites.

As mentioned above, one of the ways in which the antigens of the invention may exert their host

protective effects is by raising inhibitory antibodies which inhibit the growth, maintenance and/or development of the parasite. Such antibodies and their antigen-binding fragments (eg. F(ab)₂, Fab and Fv fragments ie. fragments of the "variable" region of the antibody, which comprises the antigen binding site) which may be mono- or polyclonal, form a further aspect of the invention, as do vaccine compositions containing them and their use in the preparation of vaccine compositions for use in immunising hosts against parasites. Such inhibitory antibodies may be raised by use of idiotypic antibodies. Anti-idiotypic antibodies may be used as immunogens in vaccines.

In addition to the extraction and isolation

techniques mentioned above, the antigens may be prepared by recombinant DNA technology using standard techniques, such as those described for example by Sambrook et al., 1989, (Molecular Cloning, a laboratory manual 2nd

Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Press).

Nucleic acid molecules comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the antigens of the invention thus form further aspects of the invention.

Nucleic acid molecules according to the invention may be single or double stranded DNA, cDNA or RNA, preferably DNA, and include degenerate, substantially homologous and hybridising sequences which are capable of coding for the antigen or antigen fragment or

precursor concerned. By "substantially homologous" is meant sequences displaying at least 60%, preferably at least 70% or 80% sequence homology. Hybridising

sequences included within the scope of the invention are those binding under non-stringent conditions (6 x

SSC/50% formamide at room temperature) and washed under conditions of low stringency (2 x SSC, room temperature, more preferably 2 x SCC, 42°C) or conditions of higher stringency eg. 2 x SSC, 65°C (where SSC = 0.15M NaCl, 0.015M sodium citrate, pH 7.2), as well as those which, but for the degeneracy of the code, would hybridise under the above-mentioned conditions.

Derivatives of nucleotide sequences capable of encoding antigenically active antigens or antigen variants according to the invention may be obtained by using conventional methods well known in the art.

cDNA fragments encoding cysteine proteinases have been obtained from H. contortus by PCR amplification (as described in more detail below) and have been sequenced. The nucleotide sequences, and corresponding predicted amino acid sequences of such fragments, identified as DM.1, DM.2, DM.3, DM.4, DM.4a and DM.5, are shown in Figures 16 to 21 respectively. These sequences, and their degenerate and allelic variants, and fragments thereof, form a further aspect of the invention.

Antigens according to the invention may be prepared in recombinant form by expression in a host cell

containing a recombinant DNA molecule which comprises a nucleotide sequence as broadly defined above,

operatively linked to an expression control sequence, or a recombinant DNA cloning vehicle or vector containing such a recombinant DNA molecule. Alternatively the polypeptides may be expressed by direct injection of a naked DNA molecule into the host cell. Synthetic polypeptides expressed in this manner form a further aspect of this invention (the term "polypeptide" is used herein to include both full-length protein and shorter length peptide sequences).

The antigen so expressed may be a fusion

polypeptide comprising all or a portion of an antigen according to the invention and an additional polypeptide coded for by the DNA of the recombinant molecule fused thereto. This may for example be β-galactosidase, glutathione-S-transferase, hepatitis core antigen or any of the other polypeptides commonly employed in fusion proteins in the art. Such fusion proteins may also comprise the antigen in a form, eg. a pro-enzyme, which may be secreted ie. the antigen may be expressed

together with signal and secretion-directing sequences.

Other aspects of the invention thus include cloning and expression vectors containing the DNA coding for an antigen of the invention and methods for preparing recombinant nucleic acid molecules according to the invention, comprising inserting nucleotide sequences encoding the antigen into vector nucleic acid, eg.

vector DNA. Such expression vectors include appropriate control sequences such as for example translational (eg. start and stop codons, ribosomal binding sites) and transcriptional control elements (eg. promoter-operator regions, termination stop sequences) linked in matching reading frame with the nucleic acid molecules of the invention. Optional further components of such vectors include secretion signalling and processing sequences.

Vectors according to the invention may include plasmids and viruses (including both bacteriophage and eukaryotic viruses) according to techniques well known and documented in the art, and may be expressed in a variety of different expression systems, also well known and documented in the art. Suitable viral vectors include baculovirus and also adenovirus, herpes and vaccinia/pox viruses, preferably non-permissive pox viruses. Many other viral vectors are described in the art.

A variety of techniques are known and may be used to introduce such vectors into prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells for expression, or into germ line or somatic celis to form transgenic animals. Suitable transformation or transfection techniques are well described in the literature.

The invention also includes transformed or

transfected prokaryotic or eukaryotic host cells, or transgenic organisms containing a nucleic acid molecule according to the invention as defined above. Such host cells may for example include prokaryotic cells such as E.coli, eukaryotic cells such as yeasts or the

baculovirus-insect cell system, transformed mammalian cells and transgenic animals and plants. Particular mention may be made of transgenic nematodes (see for example Fire, 1986, EMBO J., 5. 2673 for a discussion of a transgenic system for the nematode Caenorhabditis).

A further aspect of the invention provides a method for preparing an antigen of the invention as

hereinbefore defined, which comprises culturing a host cell containing a nucleic acid molecule encoding all or a portion of said antigen or precursor thereof, under conditions whereby said antigen is expressed and

recovering said antigen thus produced.

The antigens of the invention and functionally equivalent antigen variants may also be prepared by chemical means, such as the well known Merrifield solid phase synthesis procedure.

Water soluble derivatives of the novel antigens discussed above form a further aspect of the invention. Such soluble forms may be obtained, for example, by proteolytic digestion.

A vaccine composition may be prepared according to the invention by methods well known in the art of vaccine manufacture. Traditional vaccine formulations may comprise one or more antigens or antibodies

according to the invention together, where appropriate, with one or more suitable adjuvants eg. aluminium hydroxide, saponin, quil A, or more purified forms thereof, muramyl dipeptide, mineral or vegetable oils, Novasomes or non-ionic block co-polymers or DEAE

dextran, in the presence of one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or diluents. Suitable carriers include liquid media such as saline solution appropriate for use as vehicles to introduce the peptides or

polypeptides into an animal or patient. Additional components such as preservatives may be included.

An alternative vaccine formulation may comprise a virus or host cell eg. a microorganism (eg. vaccinia or pox virus, adenovirus or Salmonella) which may be live, killed or attenuated, having inserted therein a nucleic acid molecule (eg. a DNA molecule) according to this invention for stimulation of an immune response directed against polypeptides encoded by the inserted nucleic acid molecule.

Vaccination may also take place by direct injection of a naked DNA molecule according to the invention, for in situ expression of the antigens.

Administration of the vaccine composition may take place by any of the conventional routes, eg. orally or parenterally such as by intramuscular injection,

optionally at intervals eg. two injections at a 7-35 day interval.

The antigens may be used according to the invention in combination with other protective antigens obtained from the same or different parasite species. Thus a vaccine composition according to the invention may comprise one or more of the antigens defined above together with the antigens H110D and H45 mentioned above. Such a combined vaccine composition may contain smaller amounts of the various antigens than an

individual vaccine preparation, containing just the antigen in question. Combined vaccines are beneficial where there is a likelihood that "adaptive selection" of the parasite may occur when a single antigen vaccine is used.

The invention will now be described in more detail with particular reference to the isolation of thiol binding proteins from H. contortus and

O. circumcincta. In the following non-limiting Examples, the drawings represent:

Figure 1 shows molecular weights of Thiol-Sepharose binding integral membrane proteins (TSBP) from adult H. contortus.

TSBP were fractionated in 10% polyacrylamide gel slabs under non-reducing (Lane 2, Figure 1a) and

reducing conditions (Lane 2, Figure 1b). Molecular weight markers are shown in Lane 1, Figure 1a & b;

Figure 2 shows gelatin-substrate gel analysis of proteinases in TSBP from adult H. contortus.

TSBP, in the absence or presence of specific

proteinase inhibitors, were fractionated using 7.5% gelatin-substrate gel analysis and zones of proteolysis visualised as described in Example 2. The pH refers to the incubation buffer and Lane 1, pH 5 or pH 8.5 is a control, Lane 2 pH 5, Lane 2 and 3 - pH 8.5 were

incubated in the presence of E64 (100μM), PMSF (1.0mM) or EDTA (1.0mM) respectively prior to Coomassie staining;

Figure 3 shows reactivity of biotinylated lectins with TSBP from H. contortus.

TSBP were fractionated by 10% reducing SDS-PAGE and blot transferred to Immobilon-P. The blot was cut into strips and blot strips probed with 1) Dolichos bifluorus agglutinin, 2) Soybean, 3) Wheatgerm, 4) Helix Pomatia, 5) Concanavalin A, 6) Jacalin and 7) Peanut biotinylated lectins;

Figure 4 shows cryostat sections of adult H.

contortus probed with serum from sheep immunised with TSBP.

Sections were incubated with sera from TSBP

immunised lambs (A) and sera from control lambs

immunised with adjuvant alone (B);

Figure 5 shows circulating antibody responses in lambs immunised with TSBP.

TSBP were fractionated by 10% reducing SDS-PAGE and blot-transferred to Immobilon P. The blot was cut into strips and half (Lanes 1 to 8) were treated with

periodate and the remainder used untreated (Lanes 9 to 16). Blot strips were probed with sera from lambs immunised with TSBP prior to Haemonchus challenge or with sera from challenge controls (Lanes 7, 8, 15 & 16);

Figure 6 shows cryostat sections of adult H.

contortus probed with fluorescein isothiocyanate

conjugated anti-ovine immunoglobulin.

Worms in panel A were retrieved from lambs which had been immunised with TSBP prior to Haemonchus challenge. Worms in panel B were from challenge

controls;

Figure 7 shows Faecal Egg Output from lambs

immunised with TSBP (-∇-), with TSBP from a saline/Tween extract (-•-), or with challenge controls (-□-)

following challenge with 5000 H. contortus infective L3;

Figure 8 shows reactivity of anti-TSBP antibody with adult H. contortus antigen extracted in an

aqueous/glycerol buffer.

Western blot strips of TSBP (Lane 1), or an H.

contortus extract prepared as described by Cox et al, 1991 (Lane 2) were probed with anti-TSBP antiserum.

Figure 9 shows gelatin-substrate gel analysis of TSBP proteinases which were either unbound (Lane 2) or bound to Mono Q and eluted with 100mM (Lane 3), 200mM (lanes 4 & 5), 300mM (Lane 6) or 1M (Lane 7) NaCl. Lane 6 shows the starting TSBP profile and panel A was incubated at pH 5, panel B at pH 8.5.

Figure 10 shows molecular weights of Thiol-Sepharose binding integral membrane proteins from adult Ostertagia circumcincta.

TSBP were fractionated in 10% SDS-polyacrylamide gel slabs under non-reducing (Figure 9A) and reducing (Figure 9B) conditions. In Figures 9A & B, Lanes 1 and 2 are TSBP extracted from adult O. circumcincta and

H. contortus respectively;

Figure 11 shows gelatin-substrate gel analysis of proteinases in Thiol-Sepharose binding integral membrane proteins from adult Ostertagia circumcincta.

TSBP, in the absence or presence of class-specific proteinase inhibitors, were fractionated in gelatin-substrate gels and, after extensive washing and

overnight incubation in buffer of appropriate pH, zones of proteolysis visualised by Coomassie blue

counterstaining;

Figure 12 shows circulating antibody responses in lambs immunised with TSBP from O. circumcincta.

TSBP were fractionated in 10% SDS-PAGE gel slabs under reducing conditions prior to blot transfer to Immobilon-P. The blot was cut into strips and probed with pooled sera from the protection trial described in Example 12 (Figure 12A) or using individual sera from the same trial (Figure 12B);

Figure 13 shows cyrostat sections of adult

Ostertagia circumcincta probed with fluorescein

isothiocyanate conjugated anti-ovine immunoglobulin.

Panels A and B show transverse sections of worms retrieved from TSBP immunised lambs (Panel A) and control lambs (Panel B); and

Figure 14 shows group mean faecal egg output from lambs immunised with TSBP from O. circumcincta as well as adjuvant only controls.

Figure 15 (A) shows the nucleotide sequence of oligonucleotide PCR primers used in amplification of H. contortus cysteine proteinase gene fragments. The active site cysteine and asparagine residues as well as the peripheral conserved glycine residue are shown in bold type. Restriction enzyme recognition sites were added to the 5' ends of all the primers, (except 550J), to allow rapid directional cloning of amplified

products. Figure 15(B) shows the distribution of the primers along the gene length. Arrows indicate the direction in which DNA amplification is initiated from each primer.

Figure 16 shows the nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences of cysteine proteinase encoding cDNA fragment DM.1;

Figure 17 shows the nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences of cysteine proteinase encoding cDNA fragment DM.2;

Figure 18 shows the nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences of cysteine proteinase encoding cDNA fragment DM.3; Figure 19 shows the nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences of cysteine proteinase encoding cDNA fragment DM.4;

Figure 20 shows the nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences of cysteine proteinase encoding cDNA fragment DM.4a;

Figure 21 shows the nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences of cysteine proteinase encoding cDNA fragment DM.5;

Figure 22 shows the alignment of the predicted amino acid sequences from PCR-amplified cDNA fragments encoding cysteine proteinases isolated from adult H. contortus with the published amino acid sequence of AC-1 of Cox et al. 1990, Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 41, 25-34, which encodes a dominant 35kDa cystein proteinase isolated from a North American strain of H. contortus. Using AC-1 as the reference sequence, only regions of divergent amino acids are shown. Potential

glycosylation sites (N-X-T/S) are underlined. * denotes end of sequence data with ** indicating termination codons. Direct alignment indicated that one amino acid had been deleted in the predicted sequence for DM.3 as compared with the other predicted sequences. To

maintain alignment, a gap (indicated by ) has been included in the DM.3 sequence. The boxed region

indicates the position of primer 550J, the sequence of which corresponds to AC-1;

Figure 23 shows an autoradiograph of a Southern blot in which adult H. contortus genomic DNA digested with HaeIII (Ha), HindIII (H) or EcoRI (E) was probed with ³²P dATP labelled cysteine proteinase-encoding PCR fragments DM.1 (lane 1), DM.2 (lane 4), DM.3 (lane 2) and DM.4 (lane 6). Dm.2a, which differs in nucleotide sequence from DM.2 by 3%, and DM.3a, which differs from DM.3 by 1% were also used as probes and are shown in lanes 5 and 3 respectively, 1kbp DNA molecular weight standards (Gibco BRL) are shown in lane 7; Figure 24 shows an autoradiograph of a Northern blot in which adult H. contortus total RNA (T) and mRNA

(m) was probed with ³²P dATP labelled cysteine

proteinase-encoding PCR fragments DM.1 (lane 1), DM.2

(lane 3), DM.3 (lane 2) and DM.4 (lane 4). RNA markers

(Gibco BRL) are shown in lane 5.

EXAMPLE 1

Materials and Methods

1) Preparation of membrane-bound extract from adult parasites of H. contortus

Clean adult parasites (21 days old) were harvested from the abomasa of donor lambs which had been raised under worm-free conditions and experimentally infected with a pure strain of H. contortus. The harvested parasites were homogenised in 15g aliquots in 100ml ice-cold phosphate buffered saline, pH 7.4 containing phenylmethane-sulphonylfluoride (PMSF), N-ethylmaleimide and EDTA, all at 1mM, after which the homogenate was centrifuged at 10,000g and 4ºC for 15 minutes. The resultant pellet was re-extracted in 80ml of the same buffer containing 0.1% v/v Tween 20. Following

centrifugation at 10,000g for 15 minutes at 4ºC the supernatant was removed. This step was repeated and the pellet extracted for 2 hours at 4°C in 40ml 2% reduced Triton X-100. This extract was centrifuged at 100,000g for 1 hour at 4ºC and the supernatant containing the solubilised membrane proteins retained. The supernatant was filtered (0.22μM) and then diluted by the addition of 3 volumes 0.5M NaCl, 10mM Tris, pH 7.4 containing Ca²⁺ and Mn²⁺ at 10OμM and 10μM respectively and immediately applied to a column containing Thiol-Sepharose. 2) Chromatography on Thiol-Sepharose

A 5ml bed volume Thiol-Sepharose (Pharmacia, U.K.) column was equilibrated in 0.5% reduced Triton X-100 (Aldrich), 10mM Tris, 0.5M NaCl, pH 7.4 containing CaCl₂ (100μM) and MnCl₂ (10μM) respectively. The supernatant, described above, was then applied to the Thiol-Sepharose column at a rate of 5ml/h and the elution of

proteinaceous material was monitored by measuring the eluate absorbance at 280nm. Unbound material was eluted by washing the column with 10 to 20 volumes of column equilibration buffer. When the OD₂₈₀ had returned to a steady base-line, bound materials were eluted from the column by washing with equilibration buffer containing 50mM dithiothreitol (DTT). The peak fractions were pooled and DTT was removed by passage through a

Sephadex-G25 column which was equilibrated in 10mM Tris, 0.1% reduced Triton X-100, 0.1% sodium azide, pH 7.4. The protein peak fractions were again pooled and the protein content determined by the B.C.A. method (Pierce, U.K.). The eluates were supplemented with iodoacetate (lmM final concentration) and stored at -70ºC prior to innoculation into lambs. The proteins present in these eluates are, henceforth, referred to as Thiol Sepharose binding proteins (TSBP).

EXAMPLE 2

1. Molecular weight of Thiol-Sepharose binding

integral membrane proteins (TSBP) of H. contortus

Approximately 2μg TSBP, extracted from adult H.

contortus were fractionated using 10% SDS-PAGE (Laemmli, 1977) under reducing and non-reducing conditions. Gels were stained using a sensitive silver staining procedure (BioRad, U.K.). Results :

Typical profiles obtained are shown in Figure la (non-reduced) and Figure 1b (reduced).

TSBP were fractionated under non-reducing

conditions into a prominent band at 60kDa as well as a strongly staining zone above 205kDa (Lane 2, Figure la) which, in some gels resolved partially as three

components. In addition, faintly staining material was evident between 97 and 120kDa (Lane 2, Figure 1a).

Under reducing conditions TSBP were fractionated into a more complex banding pattern (Lane 2, Figure 1b) and the molecular weight of these components was calculated by reference to the marker track (Lane, 1, Figure 1b) and the outcome of this analysis is summarised in Table 1.

Table 1 The molecular weights of TSBP fractionated using 10% SDS-PAGE and reducing conditions.

175-180, 160, 120, 100, 77, 70, 62, 56, 52, 51 and 37-38kDa

The 62 and 37-38kDa peptides were the most

prominent peptides observed (Lane 2, Figure 1b).

EXAMPLE 3

Proteinase properties of TSBP of H. contortus

Proteinase activity associated with TSBP was monitored using both a spectrophotometric assay with azocasein as substrate to estimate total proteinase activity as well as gelatin-substrate analysis to enable the characterisation of individual proteinases.

Methods:- a) Spectrophotometric assay

TSBP (2μg protein in 10μl) were mixed with 100μl sterile buffer (0.1M acetate, pH5) and 20μl azocasein (1mg/ml) in the same buffer. The reaction mixture was supplemented with penicillin (500 iu/ml) and

streptomycin (5mg/ml), vortexed briefly and then

incubated overnight at 37°C. Undigested protein was precipitated by the addition of 1M perchloric acid

(130μl) and incubation on ice for 30 minutes. Following centrifugation at 11,000g for 5 minutes the OD₄₀₅ of the resulting supernatant was determined. Blank reactions, containing sterile water instead of TSBP, were run in parallel. The optimal pH for enzyme activity was determined in a series of reactions using buffers over the pH range 3 to 10.

The effects of various proteinase inhibitors on TSBP proteinases were monitored by incubating TSBP with buffer supplemented with inhibitor for 30 minutes prior to addition of azocasein and antibiotics. Inhibitors tested and the final reaction concentrations were phenylmethanesulphonylfluoride (PMSF, 1.0mM), L-transepoxysuccinyl-L-leucylamido-(4-guanidino)-butane (E64, 100μM), ethylenediaminetetraacetic-acid (EDTA, 1.0mM) and pepstatin (10μM). b) Gelatin-substrate gel analysis

TSBP were fractionated by non-reducing SDS-PAGE in 7.5% gel slabs containing 0.1% gelatin. The electrode buffer (Laemmli, 1977) was chilled on ice prior to use. After electrophoresis, SDS was eluted from the gel by extensive washing with 2.5% Triton X-100 for 30 minutes. Gel slabs were incubated overnight at 37°C in 0.1M acetate buffer pH 5, 2mM with respect to DTT or 0.1M Tris, pH 8.5. For some experiments TSBP were incubated with proteinase inhibitors prior to electrophoresis and inhibitors were also included in the incubation buffer at the final concentrations indicated above.

Proteinases were visualised by Coomassie blue counter-staining. Results : -

Analyses indicated that passage of membrane bound extracts of adult H. contortus over Thiol Sepharose resulted in an 8 or 24 fold enrichment of proteinase activity against azocasein respectively as determined at pH 5. At pH 8.5 enrichment could not be quantified because activity in the start material was low.

TSBP proteinase activity at pH 5 was eliminated by the class specific cysteine proteinase inhibitor, E64 and relatively unaffected by the serine, PMSF (28%); metallo, EDTA (11%) or aspartate, Pepstatin (6%)

proteinase inhibitors where (X%) represents the percent activity lost in comparison to a control preparation in the absence of the inhibitor. At pH 8.5 proteolysis was weak and was markedly reduced in the presence of PMSF or EDTA (52 and 43% respectively).

At pH 5 (Lane 1, pH 5, Figure 2), two prominent zones of proteolysis at 37-38 and 52kDa were visualised by gelatin-substrate gel analysis as well as faint bands around 70 and 100kDa. These activities were abolished by E64 (Lane 2, pH5, Figure 2). At pH 8.5, proteinase activity resolved as two sharp bands at 70 and 88kDA (Lane 2, pH 8.5, Figure 2) the latter activity being completely inhibited by both PMSF and EDTA (Lanes 2 & 3 respectively, pH 8.5, Figure 2) while the former

activity was markedly reduced in the presence of either of these compounds.

These results indicated that TSBP contained several cysteine proteinases active at acidic pH and

serine/metallo proteinases active at alkaline pH. EXAMPLE 4

Lectin binding properties of TSBP glycans from

H. contortus

Methods:-

TSBP (25μg in 5μl) were fractionated using 10% SDS-PAGE and reducing conditions. Fractionated proteins were blot transferred onto Immobilon P nylon membranes (Millipore) and the blot subsequently blocked overnight in 2% globin free bovine serum albumin (BSA, Sigma) dissolved in TBST (50mM Tris base, 150mM NaCl, 0.05% Tween 20, pH 7.5). Blots were extensively washed in TBST and then cut into strips. Individual blot strips were incubated with a 10 μg/ml final concentration of the following biotinylated lectins (Vector Laboratories, U.K.) in 2% BSA in TBST for 1 hour. Lectins tested were Dolichos bifluorus Agglutinin, Soybean, Peanut, Wheat germ, Helix Pomatia, Concanavalin A and

Jacalin. Following incubation with the lectins, the blot strips were extensively washed prior to incubation (1h) with streptavidin horse radish peroxidase which had been diluted 1:500 in BSA/TSBT. After further thorough washing in TSBT the blot strips were incubated in diaminobenzidine tetra-hydrochloride (30mg/50ml TSBT containing 50μl 30% hydrogen peroxide) substrate

solution.

Results:-

Concanavalin A (Lane 5, Figure 3) bound to the broadest range of glycoproteins, MWts 175-180, 120, 62, 56 and 52kDa, while Wheat germ, Helix Pomatia, Jacalin and Peanut (Lanes 3, 4, 6 and 7 respectively, Figure 3) all bound to a single band at l75-180kDa. Dolichhs (Lane 1, Figure 3) bound to a 77kDa glycoprotein giving a weak signal. These data indicated that some, but not all, components of TSBP were glycosylated. Example 5

Localisation of TSBP in H. contortus

Methods:

Cryostat sections of adult H. contortus were incubated with sera from sheep which had been immunised with TSBP in Freund's complete adjuvant or from control sheep immunised with adjuvant alone. After extensive washing the parasite sections were incubated with fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated horse antibodies with specificity for sheep immunoglobulin. After further extensive washing the sections were viewed using a UV fluorescence microscope and photographed.

Results:-

Sections incubated with anti-TSBP sera showed pronounced fluorescence at the intestinal brush border membrane as well as a limited region of the subcutis (Panel A, Figure 4). No specific staining was evident in sections which were incubated with sera from control sheep (Panel B, Figure 4). These results suggested that TSBP were mainly localised in the intestinal brush border membrane and, to some extent, in the subcuticular region.

EXAMPLE 6

Antibody responses of sheep immunised with TSBP of

H. contortus

Methods:

The antibody responses of lambs immunised with TSBP prior to challenge with H. contortus (see Example 7) were evaluated by Western blotting. TSBP were run on 10% SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions and then blot transferred onto Immobilon P. The blots were cut in half and one half was treated with sodium periodate to block carbohydrate epitopes while the other was used untreated. The blot sections were then cut into strips and probed with sera (diluted 1/200 in TBST) from individual experimental lambs. Antigen recognition was defined by using a periodate-treated and untreated blot strip for each individual lamb serum.

In addition, cryostat sections were prepared from adult H. contortus which had been recovered from sheep immunised either with TSBP in Freund's complete adjuvant or with adjuvant alone. The sections were incubated with fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugated antibodies specific for sheep immunoglobulin and, after thorough washing, viewed under a UV fluorescence microscope and photographed.

Results:

Following immunisation with TSBP, sera from

vaccinated sheep recognised a variety of antigens on non-periodate treated blots with particularly strong signals evident at 35-40 and 60-62kDa (Lanes 9 to 14, Figure 5). In addition, a group of antigens in the 50-55 kDa region was recognised to a varying degree as well as an antigen at 120kDa. Both control lamb sera (Lanes 15 & 16, Figure 5) reacted with a 70kDa antigen.

Periodate treatment markedly reduced the variety of antigens recognised by immunised lamb sera (Compare Lanes 1 to 6 (+ periodate) with 9 to 14 (no periodate), Figure 5). A prominent antigen at about 60-62kDa was recognised by all sera from immunised lambs as well as a group of antigens around 50-55kDa Lanes 1 to 6, + periodate, Figure 5). Reactivity with the 35-40kDa antigen was abolished by periodate treatment. Control lamb sera again recognised an antigen at 70kDa (Lanes 7 & 8, periodate, Figure 5).

Sheep immunoglobulin was detected on the luminal surface of the gut of parasites retrieved from sheep immunised with TSBP (Arrowed, Panel A, Figure 6) but not in parasites retrieved from challenge controls (Panel B, Figure 6) indicating that an element of the protective response stimulated by immunisation with TSBP was directed at components on the gut surface of the

parasite.

EXAMPLE 7

Protection Trials: H. contortus

Sheep: Greyface/Suffolk cross lambs 3 to 4 months of age at the start of the experiment were allocated into two groups balanced for sex and weight. The lambs had been reared indoors from birth in conditions designed to exclude accidental infection with nematode parasites. Infective larvae were from a strain which had been maintained at the Moredun Institute, Edinburgh by repeated passage of Haemonchus contortus through worm-free donor lambs.

Group No. of Antigen Dose/lamb* Challenge

lambs

1 6 TSBP 3 × 200μg 5000 L3 2wks 2 6 Adjuvant - after final

alone immunisation

* Total protein injected at each immunisation. Lambs were killed 30 days after challenge.

TSBP were emulsified in Freund's complete adjvant and control preparations were prepared in the same way except that phosphate buffered saline was substituted for antigen. Two ml of "vaccine" were injected

intramuscularily into each hind leg. Lambs were immunised on three occasions at 3 weekly intervals and antibody responses were assessed by Western blotting immediately prior to challenge. Blood samples for assessment of antibody titres were taken before and at regular intervals during the experiment by jugular venepuncture. The establishment of challenge infection was assessed by determining faecal egg counts from 15 days post-infection until the lambs were killed 30 days post-infection. Worms were retrieved from the abomasa as described below and the total worm number was

estimated.

Parasitological techniques:-

Faecal egg counts were performed using a modified McMaster technique and expressed as eggs per gram fresh faeces. Worm counts were performed on aliquots of gastric washings and mucosal digests. Counted worms were sexed and classified by their stage of development.

Results:- a) Antibody responses

The circulating antibody responses of lambs

immunised with TSBP are described in Example 5 above. b) Faecal egg counts

Group mean faecal egg outputs are plotted in Figure 7 and individual counts are shown in Table 2.

Table 2

Days post infection

Group Sheep 15 17 20 22 24 27 29

1179 0 6 36 225 567 749 666

TSBP 1805 0 12 27 63 324 504 531

Immunised 1812 3 6 116 477 81 9 15

1151 3 9 3 6 60 141 153

1836 0 6 21 33 39 414 90

1178 3 0 0 129 252 405 279

Mean 1 7 34 156 221 370 289

1058 9 639 3393 2412 3753 2637 2133

1140 0 1170 1584 2592 4500 3249 2556

Challenge 499 0 756 2799 2700 5535 3861 2619

Controls 1106 3 729 2313 4590 6309 4302 4185

1175 0 441 2646 2781 6822 4464 4824

1035 6 27 1917 4446 6255 5220 6993

Mean 3 627 2442 3254 5529 3956 3885

From day 17, the mean faecal egg count of lambs

immunised with TSBP was always significantly lower

(p<0.01; Two Sample T-test) than those of the controls c) Final worm burdens Table 3

Group Sheep Total Worms Males Females

1179 2729 1563 1166

TSBP 1805 2600 1655 945

Immunised 1812 136 74 62

1151 1592 1061 531

1836 1381 887 494

1178 1528 960 568

Mean 1661 1033 628

1058 3912 1955 1957

1140 3072 1657 1415

Challenge 499 3158 1614 1544 controls 1106 3810 1864 1946

1175 3468 1814 1654

1035 3401 1635 1766

Mean 3470 1757 1714

Final worm burdens are summarised in Table 3.

Lambs immunised with TSBP had significantly reduced (53%, p<0.01) final worm burdens compared to the controls, with the female parasites being markedly more susceptible. No immature stages of the parasite were observed.

EXAMPLE 8

Evidence that Thiol Sepharose binding proteins from H. Contortus differs from the cysteine proteinase of EP-A-0434909

Sera from lambs immunised with TSBP (Figure 5) did not recognise any periodate-treated antigens at 35kDa while lambs immunised with the ACl containing complex (EP-A-0434909) strongly recognised a 35kDa antigen. In addition, these sera also recognised recombinant ACl expressed in a non-glycosylated form in a bacterial expression vector confirming that protein epitopes of the native protein were antigenic. Here (Figure 5), no proteins in the size range 29 to 40kDa were recognised by anti-TSBP sera on periodate treated Western blots. Finally, H. contortus were extracted in an aqueous glycerol buffer as described in EP-A-0434909 and the proteins solubilised by this procedure probed with anti-TSBP serum (Figure 8) on periodate treated Western blots. Anti-TSBP serum did not recognise any components present in the aqueous/glycerol extract (Lane 2, Figure 8) indicating that TSBP are quite distinct from the ACl fibrinogenase complex.

In a separate group pooled saline (S1) and Tween 20 (S2) extraction supernatants (see Example 1) were applied to Thiol-Sepharose and the resultant bound proteins used to immunise a group of lambs prior to challenge with H. contortus. The results shown in

Figure 7 and in Tables 4 and 5 demonstrated that these components were not protective.

Table 4

Individual faecal egg counts for lambs immunised with

S1/S2 TSBP

Days after challenge

Group Sheep 15 17 20 22 24 27 29

1074 0 945 1098 1557 2592 1737 1800

1069 6 1269 1503 2403 3501 1593 1017

1833 9 1242 4716 5130 6588 3303 4158

S1/S2 1813 6 1296 1692 1647 3465 3447 3267

TSBP 1022 6 693 2196 1404 2250 2520 2871

1182 0 828 1665 2700 4626 4491 3681

Mean 4 1046 2145 2474 3837 2849 2799

1058 9 639 3393 2412 3753 2637 2133

1140 0 1170 1584 2592 4500 3249 2556

499 0 756 2799 2700 5535 3861 2619controls 1106 3 729 2313 4590 6309 4302 4185

1175 0 441 2646 2781 6822 4464 4824

1035 6 27 1917 4446 6255 5220 6993

Mean 3 627 2442 3254 5529 3956 3885

Table 5

Summary of the contrasting effects of immunisation of lambs with S1/S2 or Triton X-100 extracted (S3) TSBP from H. contortus on worm burdens following challenge with the same parasite

Group Mean Worm protection % Male (SE)

Count (SE)

S1/S2 3202 (328) 7.7 55.5 (2.2)

TSBP

S3 1661 (385) 53.1 61.5 (2.0)

TSBP

Control 3470 (138) ... 50.7 (0.8) EXAMPLE 9

Evidence that cysteine protease activity within the thiol sepharose hindinσ proteins of H. contortus is associated with the protective capacity of these

proteins

Haemonchus TSBP were separated by ion exchange chromatography on a column containing MonoQ medium.

This column was equilibrated in 10mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.4 containing 0.1% reduced Triton X-100. TSBP diluted in this buffer was applied to the column and after the unbound fraction had been collected, bound material was sequentially eluted with the following concentrations of NaCl in the same buffer:- 100mM, 200mM, 300mM and 1M. Analysis by conventional and gelatin substrate SDS-PAGE revealed that the predominant polypeptide of about 60kd was mainly eluted with 200mM NaCl, whereas the protease activity was mostly eluted before (10OmM NaCl) or after this (300mM and 1M NaCl). The fractions were pooled as follows:-

1) the fraction which did not bind to the column

2) those fractions which were enriched for the 60kd protein, and

3) those fractions which were enriched for

protease activity.

The protease profiles are shown in Figure 9. The protective capacity of these fractions were compared with unfractionated TSBP in a sheel trial using the techniques described in Example 7.

Thirty five 3-4 month old Greyface × Suffolk worm-free lambs were allocated to 5 equal groups balanced for sex and weight. Group 1 was immunised with TSBP, Group 2 was immunised with the fraction which did not bind to MonoQ, Group 3 was immunised with the fraction enriched for protease activity, Group 4 was immunised with the fraction enriched for the 60kd protein, whereas Group 5 received adjuvant and phosphate buffered saline only. The dose of antigen used for group 1 was 200 μg protein per injection. Groups 2, 3 and 4 each received an amount equivalent to 200 μg of TSBP separated into the respective fractions.

The antigens were given as three injections at 3 weekly intervals. All immunogens were emulsified in an equal volume of Freund's complete adjuvant for the first injection but an equal volume of incomplete Freund's adjuvant was used for the booster doses. The first vaccine dose was administered as 4 subcutaneous

injections each of 0.5 ml, 2 on each flank, whereas the boosters were given intramuscularly as two 2ml

injections, one into each back leg.

As in Example 7, blood samples were obtained for serology. Two weeks after the final immunisation all sheep were challenged with 5,000 infective H. contortus larvae each. Faecal egg counts were determined 3 times a week from 14 days after challenge until the sheep were killed for worm counts 34 days after infection.

The results are summarised in Table 6. One sheep in Group 2 died of causes unrelated to the experiment before it was challenged.

The egg count of the control sheep averaged over the experiment ranged from 2057 to 3791 eggs per gm. There was evidence that Group 1 sheep were partially protected as their egg counts were significantly lower (p<0.02 Students t test), with 4 of the 7 animals scoring less than 1000 epg. Mean total worm counts of Group 1 were also lower than those of the controls, although this differenve was not statistically

significant. However, the proportion of male worms was significantly higher (p<0.02 Students t test) in Group 1 compared to the controls.

When the same comparisons were made between either Group 2 or 4 and the controls, no significant

differences were found, but Group 3 sheep shed significantly fewer eggs and contained a significantly higher proportion of male worms, (p<0.02 Students t

test), a result identical to Group 1.

It was concluded that the protective component

within the TSBP used to immunise Group 1 was associated with the protease enriched fraction which served as the antigen for Group 3.

Table 6

Worm Total Mean egg count

Sex ratio Worm averaged over

Group Sheep No. (% male) Count experiment

1. Thiol binding 1426 70.8 1326 2897

1295 73.7 177 67

1481 50.5 2994 1652

1413 72.7 338 354

1507 53.0 3220 2990

1500 56.8 341 728

1390 74.3 1698 648

Mean 64.5 1442 1334

2. MonoQ-unbound 1509 52.8 3238 2125

1414 51.0 3452 2847

1379 47.9 3114 3090

1346 48.5 2922 3785

1543 53.5 2695 2859

1380 55.2 3480 2803

1367 died

Mean 51.5 3150 2918 3. Protease rich 1436 61.7 2195 1854 1480 74.1 950 952 1273 50.0 2820 2372 1374 80.6 523 383 1396 57.6 1631 1446 1418 80.2 977 557 1508 52.9 2828 1361 Mean 65.3 1703 1275

4. 60kd rich 1523 68.2 1301 2532

1486 56.6 2375 3676

1337 57.1 2490 2790

No Tag 63.0 3696 2478

1487 49.4 3183 3475

1358 49.8 2390 4111

1296 43.8 547 1058

Mean 55.4 2283 2874

5. Control 1282 48.1 3253 3807

1514 38.2 1056 2190 1375 45.8 2229 2084 1548 48.5 2866 2057 1405 50.7 2820 3207 1236 51.9 2867 3097 1421 53.4 2618 3791 Mean 48.1 2530 2890

EXAMPLE 10

Materials and Methods

Preparation of Thiol-Sepharose Binding Protein extract from adult Ostertagia circumcincta

A detergent extract of clean adult parasites obtained from the local abbatoir was prepared

following exactly the procedures described in step (1) of Example 1 .

2. Chromatography on Thiol-Sepharose

The supernatant from step (1) above was applied to a Thiol-Sepharose column and eluted as described in Example 1. Treatment and storage of the eluates was as described in Example 1.

EXAMPLE 11

Molecular weight of TSBP from Ostertagia circumcincta

Materials and Methods

The procedures described in Example 2, were followed exactly, except that the protein applied to the gel was less than 1 μg.

Results:

Typical profiles obtained are shown in Figure 10A (non-reduced) and Figure 10B (reduced).

TSBP were fractionated into a prominent 60kDa band (Lane 1, Figure 10A) and faintly defined banding in the 45kDa region. The profile obtained was

generally similar to a Haemonchus TSBP preparation (Lane 2, Figure 10A).

Under reducing conditions (Lane 1, Figure 10B) Ostertagia TSBP resolved into a complex set of bands which had broad similarities to the Haemonchus profile (Lane 2, Figure 10B). Indeed, this similarity was confirmed by the observations that antisera to TSBP of either parasite origin recognised many components in heterologous TSBP after periodate treatment. EXAMPLE 12

Proteinase Properties of TSBP of O. circumcincta

Proteinase activity associated with TSBP was monitored using gelatin-substrate gel analysis as described in Example 2 (paragraph (b)) to enable the characterisation of individual proteinases.

Results

At pH 5, two faint zones of proteolysis at approximately 40 and 50kDa as well as very faint activity at 70kDa and unresolved material at the stack/separating gel interface were observed (pH 5, Figure 11). Although indistinct, all these

proteinases appeared to be completely inhibited by the cysteine proteinase specific inhibitor, E64.

At pH 8.5 proteolysis was observed at 70, 85 and 97kDa and activity at 70 and 85kDa resolved,

indistinctly, into doublets (pH 8.5, Lane C, Figure 11). The 97kDa protease was inhibited by PMSF and the chelator, 1,10 Phe. The 85 kDa doublet was inhibited by PMSF only.

Together these data indicated that TSBP from O. circumcincta comprised a mixture of cysteine

proteinases active at acidic pH as well as

serine/metallo proteinases active at alkaline pH.

EMAMPLE 13

Lectin binding properties of TSBP glycans from O.

circumcincta

Methods

The procedures described in Example 4 were followed exactly, except that approximately 10 to 15μg of protein were fractionated prior to blot transfer and cutting into strips.

Results

Of the lectins tested only Concanavalin A bound to TSBP, albeit faintly, in the size range 55 to 70kDa.

EXAMPLE 14

Antibody responses of sheep immunised with TSBP

Methods

The procedures described in Example 6 were

followed. The blot strips were periodate treated.

Results

Immune lamb sera strongly recognised a group of five antigens between 55 and 70kDa (Figure 12A) and showed weak reactivity with antigens at about 29, 38 and 120kDa (arrowed in Figure). In addition, similar blots strips were probed with sera from the 4

individual lambs in the TSBP immunised group

(Protection trial - see Example 15). All sera

recognised the antigens in the size range 55 to 70kDa although the strength of recognition was variable.

Sheep immunoglobulin was detected on the luminal surface of the gut of parasites retrieved from sheep immunised with TSBP (arrowed, Panel A, Figure 13) but not in parasites from control lambs (Panel B, Figure 13) indicating that an element of the protective response was directed at components on the gut

surface. EXAMPLE 15

Protection of lambs against Ostertagiasis following immunisation with TSBP from O. circumcincta

Sheep: Greyface/Suffolk cross lambs (7 months old) were allocated to two groups balanced for sex and weight which had been reared indoors in conditions designed to exclude accidental infection with nematode parasites.

Parasites: Infective larvae were from a strain which had been maintained at Moredun by repeated passage of Ostertagia circumcincta through worm-free donor lambs.

Group No. Lambs Antigen Dose/lamb* challenge

1 4 TSBP 20ug 5000L3

2 wks after

2 8 Adjuvant - final

alone immunisation

* Total protein injected at each immunisation. Lambs were killed 35 days after challenge.

TSBP were emulsified with an equal volume of

Freund's Complete Adjuvant and control preparations were made in the same way except phosphate buffered saline was substituted for antigen. Two ml. of vaccine were injected intramuscularly into each hind leg. Lambs were immunised on three occasions at 3 weekly intervals and antibody titre evaluated by Western blotting immediately prior to challenge. Faecal egg counts were monitored from 15d post-infection until the end of the experiment at 35d post-infection. Worms were retrieved from the abomasa as described below and the total worm

burden/lamb estimated. Blood samples for the assessment of antibody titres were taken before and at regular intervals during the experiment by jugular venepuncture. Parasitolpgical techniques

Faecal egg counts were performed using the modified McMaster technique and expressed as eggs per gram fresh faeces. Worm counts were made on aliquots of both washings and mucosal digests. Counted worms were sexed and classified by their stage of development.

Statistical analyses

Differences between the groups were analysed using the Student's T-test and analysis of variance.

Results:

Faecal egg counts

The group mean faecal egg outputs during the infection period for control and immunised lambs are plotted in Figure 14 and individual lamb egg outputs are shown in Table 7.

Mean faecal egg output from lambs immunised with TSBP was significantly (p<0.05) lower than that from control lambs at all sampling points except days 28 and 35. Individual responses to vaccination varied with lambs 57 and 60 (Lanes 1 and 4, Figure 12B) generally having the lowest egg outputs throughout the sampling period.

Worm burdens

Individual and group mean worm burdens are shown in Table 7. All worms found were mature adults. The number of worms retrieved from TSBP immunised lambs was significantly lower (p<0.05) than from the challenge controls. The response varied between individuals and worm burden reflected the egg output data described above. No difference in the sex ratio of worms

recovered from immunised or control lambs was noted. Table 7 - Individual faecal egg outputs final worm burdens

Days after challenge

Group Sheep 14 18 21 25 28 32 35 Worm burden

49 0 342 459 72 495 387 450 3830

Challenge 50 6 198 450 297 720 432 558 4979 controls 51 14 261 585 297 603 927 603 3292

52 11 432 441 252 252 693 612 3993

53 7 279 405 207 378 486 NS 3806

54 9 396 297 369 1134 495 459 4189

55 3 27 189 27 72 162 198 2088

56 27 333 486 450 288 551 639 4565

Means 10 284 414 257 493 514 503 3843

57 0 0 1 6 27 9 12 232

S3 Thiol- 58 2 117 165 60 189 279 270 2823 sepharose 59 3 81 288 90 9 234 450 2047 binding 60 0 _0 __2 _6 522 _36 _18 505

Means 1 50 114 41 187 140 188 645

EXAMPLE 16

Material and Methods

Genomic DNA preparation

Using a pestle and mortar (pre-chilled to -70ºC), 0.5g (wet wt) of adult H. contortus worms frozen in liquid nitrogen were powdered and solubilised in 5 ml extraction buffer (50 mM Tris.HCl, pH 7.5, 100 mM sodium chloride, 1 mM EDTA, 1% (w/v) SDS and 200 μg/ml proteinase K). The solution was mixed and incubated at 55°C for 15 minutes and then for 1 hour at 37ºC. DNase- free RNase (Pharmacia) was added to a final

concentration of 10 μg/ml and the solution incubated at 37°C for a further 15 minutes. An equal volume of phenol:chloroform (6:4) was added and the aqueous and organic phases separated by centrifugation at 10,000g for 15 minutes at 4°C. The aqueous phase was further extracted with an equal volume of chloroform: isoamyl alcohol (49:1). DNA was precipitated at -20°C by the addition of 0.1 vol of 3M sodium acetate, pH 4.5, and 2 vol of ethanol and, following centrifugation at 10,000g for 15 minutes at 4ºC, the resulting DNA pellet was dissolved in 1 ml T.E buffer (10 mM Tris.HCl, 1 mM EDTA, pH 7.5).

RNA extraction

Powdered adult worms, (0.5g wet wt), were

solubilised in 5 ml RNA extraction buffer (4M guanidine isothiocyanate, 25 mM sodium citrate, 0.5% (w/v)

sarcosyl and 0.7% (v/v) 2-mercaptoethanol) in a sterile 30 ml Corex centrifuge tube. After the addition of 5 ml phenol (equilibrated with T.E.) and 1 ml chloroform the solution was shaken vigorously for 5 minutes and

incubated on ice for 10 minutes. Aqueous and organic phases were separated by centrifugation at 10,000g for 30 minutes _* at 4ºC. The aqueous phase was retained and, following addition of 5 ml isopropanol, stored at -20ºC for 1 hour to precipitate the RNA. PNA was pelleted by centrifugation at 10,000g for 30 minutes at 4°C,

dissolved in 0.5 ml RNA extraction buffer and

reprecipitated in an equal volume of isopropanol at -20°C for 1 hour. The precipitate was pelleted by centrifugation, washed extensively with 70% ethanol and dissolved in 0.5 ml distilled H₂O. Messenger RNA (mRNA) was isolated by chromatography on oligo(dT)-cellulose (one passage) as described in Maniatis [Maniatis, T., Fritsch, E.F. and Sambrook, J. (1982) Molecular cloning. A laboratory manual. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, p197-198, p368-369]. cDNA synthesis

cDNA was synthesised according to the

manufacturer's instructions using the Amersham "cDNA synthesis system plus" kit (Cat. No. RPN 1256). First-strand synthesis was primed with random hexanucleotide primers.

Oligonucleotide primer construction

Oligonucleotide primers (Fig 15) directed to the consensus sequences flanking the active-site cysteine (5' sense, 508G) and asparagine (3' antisense, 303H) residues, and a peripheral conserved glycine residue (3' antisense, 509G) within the canonical cysteine

proteinase molecule, were based on previously published sequences [Sakanari, J.A., Staunton, C.E., Eakin, A.E., Craik, C.S. and McKerrow, J.H. (1989), Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86, 4863-4867; and Eakin, A.E., Bouvier, J., Sakanari, J.A.. Craik, C.S. and McKerrow, J.H. (1990), Mol. Biochem. Parasito. 39, 1-8]. In addition, a PolyT primer (3' antisense, Poly T) was constructed to exploit the structure of mRNA, thereby allowing amplification of the 3' terminus of gene sequences [Froham, M.A., Dush, M.K. and Martin, G.R. (1988), Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.

USA. 85, 8998-9002]. Primer 550J (3' antisense)

corresponds to a region of the AC-1 gene [Cox, G.N., Pratt, D., Hageman, R. and Roisvenue, R.J. (1990), Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 41, 25-34] which showed minimal homology with sequences Dm.2 and DM.4 reported here. Primer 699N corresponded to the 5' region of the AC-1 sequence. In order to minimise the degeneracy of the primers and to increase their ability to form stable hybrids, inosine (I) was incorporated in positions where any one of the 4 bases could be present in the triplet codon. Restriction enzyme recognition sites were added to the 5' ends of primers, (except 550J), to allow rapid and easy cloning of amplification products in a known orientation. Oligonucleotides were synthesised by the Oswell DNA Service (University of Edinburgh, Scotland).

Polymerase chain reaction

Reaction conditions were based on those described by Eakin et al (supra) with 200 ng of genomic DNA or cDNA being used in a total reaction volume of 50 μl. Primers were annealed at 25ºC and DNA amplified in 30 cycles.

Cloning and sequencing of PCR products

Amplified products were separated on 1.0% agarose gels containing 0.5 μg/ml ethidium bromide. DNA was visualised by UV illumination and amplified fragments of the predicted sizes excised and extracted from the gel using the Geneclean (Stratagene) method. Following restriction with EcoRI and HindIII/XhoI, fragments were cloned into either the Bluescribe or Bluescript plasmid vectors (Stratagene). Plasmid DNA was isolated using the alkaline lysis method (Maniatis, supra) and

sequenced with both M13 forward and reverse primers using the Pharmacia T7 sequencing kit (Catalogue No. 27-1682-01).

Southern blot analysis

Genomic DNA (2 μg) was digested with 12 units of either EcoRI, HindIII or HaeIII for 5 hours at 37°C and the digestion products separated on a 0.8% (w/v) agarose gel. DNA was blotted onto Hybond membrane (Amersham) under standard conditions [Southern, E.M. (1975), J. Mol. Biol. 98, 503-517]. Hybridisations were performed at 42ºC in 2xSSC (1xSSC: 150 mM sodium chloride, 15 mM sodium citrate, pH 7.0), 0.5% (w/v) SDS, 5x Denhardt's solution [5x: 1% (w/v) ficoll, 1% (w/v)

polyvinylpyrrolidone, 1% (w/v) BSA (Pharmacia)], 0.1 mg/ml salmon sperm, 50% (v/v) formamide using ³²PαdATP-labelled PCR amplification products as probes.

Membranes were washed in 1xSSC/0.1% (w/v) SDS for 10 minutes at room temperature with one change of buffer followed by 2 X 15 minute washes in 0.1xSSC/0.1% (w/v) SDS at 42ºC. Membranes were autoradiographed for 48-72 hours at -70°C.

Northern blot analysis

Adult-worm total RNA (4 μg) and mRNA (2 μg) were fractionated on a 1% (w/v) denaturing formaldehyde gel as described [Fourney, R.M., Miyakashi, J., Day III, R.S. and Patterson, M.C. (1989), Bethesda Research

Laboratory Focus 10(1), 5-7] and blotted onto Hybond membrane (Amersham). Hybridisations were carried out as described above.

RESULTS

Amplification and cloning of PCR products

The size and designation of the PCR products amplified from an adult H. contortus cDNA preparation are shown in Table 8. The 5' sense primer was the same in all reactions but was combined with different 3' antisense primers. PCR products were cloned into either the EcoRI/HindIII sites of the plasmid vector Bluescribe

[Stratagene (DM.1, DM.2 and DM.2a)] or the EcoRI/SmaI or EcoRI/XhoI sites of the plasmid vector Bluescript SK⁺

[Stratagene (DM.3, DM.3a and DM.4 respectively)]. DM.2a was derived from the same PCR and cloning reaction as DM.2 but represents a different recombinant. DM.3a was derived using the same primer pairings as for DM.3 (i.e. 508G/550J) but in a higher stringency PCR reaction where the primer-annealing temperature was raised to 55°C.

Table 8

Size and designation of PCR products amplified from a cDNA preparation of adult H. contortus in separate reactions and using different 5'/3' primer pairings. Primer Amplified product size Sequence pairing (5'/3') (excluding primers)

designation

508G/509G 114bp DM.1

508G/303H 552bp DM.2/DM.2a

508G/550J 255bp DM.3/DM.3a

508G/PolyT 711bp DM.4/DM.4a

699N/303H 742bp DM.5

Sequence analysis of PCR products

Nucleotide and amino acid sequence analyses are shown in Figures 16 to 21 and in Table 9. The predicted amino acid sequences of the cysteine proteinase-encoding PCR fragments DM.1, DM.2, DM.3 and DM.4 were aligned with each other and with the published sequence of AC-1 (Cox, supra) as shown in Figure 22. The amino acid sequences could be directly aligned with each other, except for the deletion of one amino acid (Fig. 22) in the predicted sequence for DM.3. In addition, the position of the termination codon in DM.4 (Fig. 22) indicated that it was five amino acids shorter than the AC-1 sequence. It should also be noted that DM.4, the product of PCR using the 5' cysteine and 3' poly T primer pairing, contained 42bp of the non-coding 3' end of the gene which are not shown. Using AC-1 as the reference sequence, many amino acid differences were observed and were distributed along the gene length. Analysis of nucleotide sequence homology (Table 9) showed that the sequences could be divided into two groups with DM.1 and DM.2 sharing 75% nucleotide

homology, as did DM.3 and DM.4. The latter sequences were more similar to that of AC-1 having 70% and 67% nucleotide sequence homology respectively, than were DM.1 and DM.2, both of which shared 56% homology with AC-1. The position and number of potential

glycosylation sites were also found to differ between AC-1 and the other sequences. Of the sequences isolated from the UK strain of adult H . contortus only DM.2 and DM.3 were found to possess single glycosylation sites, the positions of which corresponded directly to

different glycosylation sites in AC-1. The nucleotide sequences of DM.2a and DM.3a were found to share 97% and 99% homology with DM.2 and DM.3 respectively.

Table 9

Percent nucleotide sequence homology between the coding regions of cloned PCR products amplified from a cDNA preparation of adult H. contortus. Sequences were also compared to the published nucleotide sequence of the cysteine proteinase-encoding cDNA fragment AC-1 Cox (supra) isolated from an American strain of H.

contortus.

DM . 1 DM . 2 DM . 2a DM . 3 DM . 3a DM . 4 AC- 1

DM.1 - 74% 75% 52% 52% 54% 56% (114bp)

DM.2 74% - 97% 56% 56% 55% 56% (552bp)

DM.2a 75% 97% - 56% 56% 55% 56% (552bp)

DM.3 52% 56% 56% - 99% 75% 70% (255bp)

DM.3a 52% 56% 56% 99% - 74% 70% (255bp)

DM.4 54% 55% 55% 75% 74% - 67% (669bp)

AC-1 56% 56% 56% 70% 70% 67% -

Southern blot analysis

Cysteine proteinase-encoding fragments DM.1, DM.2, DM.2a, DM.3, DM.3a and DM.4 were used as probes in

Southern blot hybridisations of adult H. contortus

genomic DNA which had been digested with HaeIII, HindIII or EcoRI. The results are shown in Fig. 23. Each of the 4 fragments DM.1, DM.2, DM.3 and DM.4 gave different hybridisation profiles, whilst DM.2a and DM.3a gave profiles indistinguishable from DM.2 and DM.3

respectively.

Northern blot analysis

The size of the mRNA transcripts encoding the gene fragments DM.1, DM.2, DM.3 and DM.4, amplified by PCR, was determined by Northern blot analysis (Fig. 24). All 4 fragments hybridised at 1.3kbp.

Claims

Claims :

1. A protective helminth parasite antigen obtainable from adult helminths characterised by:

(i) in native form being an integral membrane

protein;

(ii) having a native localisation in the parasite gut; (iii) being capable of binding to a thiol affinity

medium; and

(iv) being recognised by sera from immunised animal hosts, containing antibodies capable of

inhibiting parasite growth and/or development, or a functionally-equivalent variant, or antigenic fragment or precursor thereof.

2. An antigen, functionally-equivalent variant, antigenic fragment or precursor thereof as claimed in claim 1 wherein the antigen is further characterised by possessing proteolytic activity.

3. An antigen, functionally-equivalent variant, antigenic fragment or precursor thereof as claimed in claim 2 wherein the proteolytic activity is cysteine proteinase-like, and/or serine proteinase-like and/or metalloproteinase-like.

4. An antigen, functionally-equivalent variant, antigenic fragment or precursor thereof as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, obtainable from helminths of the genera Haemonchus or Ostertagia.

5. An antigen, functionally-equivalent variant, antigenic fragment or precursor thereof as claimed in claim 4, obtainable from helminths of the species

Haemonchus Contortus or Ostertagia circumcincta.

6. An antigen, functionally-equivalent variant, antigenic fragment or precursor thereof as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the source parasite is Haemonchus contortus, having a molecular weight of 60, 97 to 120, or 205kDa or greater on a 10% gel under non-reducing SDS-PAGE or 37 to 38, 51, 52, 56, 62, 70, 77, 100, 120, 160 or 175-180kDa on a 10% gel under reducing SDS-PAGE.

7. An antigen, functionally-equivalent variant, antigenic fragment or precursor thereof as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the source parasite is Ostertagia circumcincta, having a molecular weight of 45 or 60kDa on a 10% gel under non-reducing SDS-PAGE or 29, 37, 51, 52, 56, 66, 70, 77, 100, 120 or 175kDa on a 10% gel under reducing SDS-PAGE.

8. An antigen, functionally-equivalent variant, antigenic fragment or precursor thereof as claimed in claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein the source parasite is

Haemonchus contortus, having proteinase activity and a molecular weight of 37 to 38, 52, 70 or 100kDa on a 7.5% gelatin substrate gel under non-reducing conditions at pH 5 or 77 or 88kDa on a 7.5% gelatin substrate gel under non-reducing conditions at pH 8.5.

9. An antigen, functionally-equivalent variant, antigenic fragment or precursor thereof as claimed in claim 4, 5 or 7, wherein the source parasite is

Ostertagia circumcincta, having proteinase activity and a molecular weight of 40, 50, 70 or greater than 300kDa on a 7.5% gelatin substrate gel under non-reducing conditions at pH 5 or 70, 85 or 97kDa on a 7.5% gelatin substrate gel under non-reducing conditions at pH 8.5.

10. An antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, which is capable of selectively binding to an antigen, functionally-equivalent variant, antigenic fragment or precursor thereof as defined in any one of claims 1 to 9, or to the idiotype of a said antigen-binding

antibody.

11. An antigen, functionally-equivalent variant, antigenic fragment or precursor thereof as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 or antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof as defined in claim 10, for use in stimulating an immune response against helminth

parasites in a human or non-human animal.

12. Use of a helminth parasite antigen, functionally-equivalent variant, antigenic fragment or precursor thereof as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 or antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof as defined in claim 10, for the preparation of a vaccine

composition for use in stimulating an immune response against helminth parasites in a human or non-human animal.

13. A vaccine composition for stimulating an immune response against helminth parasites in a human or non-human animal comprising one or more antigens,

functionally-equivalent variants, antigenic fragments or precursors thereof as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 or antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof as defined in claim 10, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

14. A composition as claimed in claim 13, comprising one or more of the said antigens or antibodies together with one or more additional antigens selected from the antigens, H110D, H45, H-gal-GP and their components.

15. A method of stimulating an immune response against helminth parasites in a human or non-human animal, comprising administering to said animal a vaccine composition as defined in claim 13 or 14.

16. A process for the preparation of an antigen as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 which comprises the steps of subjecting a crude extract of a helminth parasite to extraction using a detergent capable of extracting integral membrane proteins, followed by chromatography on a thiol affinity medium and elution of the bound antigens.

17. A process as claimed in claim 16 wherein the thiol affinity medium is thiol sepharose.

18. A process as claimed in claim 16 or 17 wherein the detergent is Triton.

19. A process for the preparation of a vaccine for use in immunising a human or non-human animal against helminth parasites, said process comprising the

preparation of an antigen as defined in any one of claims 16 to 18.

20. An antigen, use, composition, method or process as defined in any one of claims 1 to 19 wherein the animal is mammalian.

21. An antigen, use, composition, method or process as defined in claim 20 wherein the mammal is a ruminant.

22. An antigen, use, composition, method or process as defined in claim 21 wherein the ruminant is a sheep, cow or goat.

23. A nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding an antigen, functionally-equivalent variant, antigenic fragment or precursor thereof as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 or a sequence which is degenerate or substantially homologous with or which hybridises with said sequence.

24. A nucleic acid molecule as claimed in claim 23 which comprises one or more nucleotide sequences

substantially corresponding to all or a portion of the nucleotide sequence shown in any one of Figures 16 to 21 or their degenerate or allelic variants, and fragments thereof.

25. An expression or cloning vector comprising a nucleic acid molecule as claimed in claim 23 or 24.

26. A method for preparing a recombinant nucleic acid molecule as claimed in claim 25, comprising inserting a nucleotide sequence as claimed in claim 23 or 24 into vector DNA.

27. A host cell or a transgenic organism containing a nucleic acid molecule as defined in claim 23 or 24.

28. A method for preparing an antigen, functionally-equivalent variant, antigenic fragment or precursor thereof as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, which comprises culturing a host cell containing a nucleic acid molecule encoding all or a portion of said antigen or precursor thereof, under conditions whereby said antigen is expressed and recovering said antigen thus produced.

29. A polypeptide produced by the method as defined in claim 28.