Antigenic proteins and vaccines containing them for prevention of coccidiosis caused by eimeria Eimeria necatrix and Eimeria tenella

摘要

A purified antigenic protein has been obtained which is capable of inducing in a chicken an immune response conferring protection against infection by Eimeria necatrix or Eimeria tenella. The protein has a molecular weight of about 26,000 and is composed of two polypeptides joined by a disulfide bond. The two polypeptide subunits have molecular weights of about 18,000 and about 8,000, respectively. The gene encoding the protein has been sequenced and the amino acid sequence of the protein deduced therefrom.PPThe protein and antigenic polypeptides having an amino acid sequence included within the protein may be incorporated into a vaccine for conferring upon a chicken active immunity against infection by E. necatrix or E. tenella.