Patent ID: 7279276
Filing Date: 2007-10-09
Classification: A61P,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for identifying a receptor or ligand with a biological function in a mammalian host organism, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a sample of biological material of a mammalian host organism that is suspected of containing the receptor or ligand, wherein said biological material is a heterogenous protein preparation of a biological fluid, wherein said biological fluid is blood, lymph or cerebrospinal fluid, or a protein expression library, wherein said protein expression library is a wound site library, a lambda wound site expression library or a phage display library; (b) bringing said sample of biological material from a mammalian host organism that is suspected of containing the receptor or ligand into contact with a preparation of saliva or salivary glands of a tick, wherein said preparation comprises a plurality of proteins and peptides and said plurality of proteins and peptides is immobilized to a support or tagged to aid in isolation of complexes formed by tick salivary gland proteins or peptides and mammalian receptors or ligands; and (c) isolating from the heterogenous protein preparation, one or more mammalian receptors or ligands that bind to a parasite salivary protein or peptide of the preparation.