Patent ID: 7807810

Claim:
An isolated polynucleotide encoding a Group 44 outer membrane protein of the human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) causative agent, said Group 44 protein having a molecular weight of about 45 kDa or less and consisting of: a) a hypervariable region consisting of about 83 to 103 amino acids, wherein said hypervariable region has an isoelectric point of from about 7.1 to about 9.2 and an Mr of from about 8.5 kDa to about 11 kDa; b) a first conserved region consisting of about 38 to 62 amino acids linked directly or through a linker of from 1 to about 10 amino acids to the N-terminus of the hypervariable region; c) a second conserved region consisting of about 43 to 67 amino acids linked directly or through a linker of from 1 to about 10 amino acids to the C terminus of said hypervariable region; wherein said hypervariable region has a hydrophilicity index of from about 0.45 to 0.95, an antigenic index of from about 0.65 to 1.5, and a surface probability index of from about 1.0 to 1.55.