Title of the invention: A Bacterial lipid modification of a filarial protein to enhance the immunoprophylactic efficacy in animals and humans

Date of filing                        : 15/06/2011
    Application No                     : 2035/CHE/2011
    Name of the applicant          : REGISTRAR, ANNA UNIVERSITY, CHENNAI
                                                    and M.SREERAM ARVIKAR
    Name of inventor                 : Kaliraj et al
                                                    and M.SREERAM ARVIKAR

Abstract:

The present invention provides a process for the post-translational lipid modification of a filarial protein ALT-2 (Abundant Larval Transcript-2) using genetically engineered plasmid, pLEV-II, comprising cloning the filarial alt gene in Escherichia coli cells, expressing the lipid-modified form, its purification and confirming its lipid modification. This bacterial lipid-modified filarial protein, when tested in the animal model Mastomys coucha, gave a better immunoprotection when compared to the the unmodified ALT-2, protein. The process for covalent lipid-modification, described in this invention, is significant for enhancing the immunoprophylactic efficacy of filarial and other parasitic proteins by acting as molecular adjuvant..