Babesia bovis expresses a neutralization-sensitive antigen that contains a microneme adhesive repeat (MAR) domain

Marta G Silva; Massaro W Ueti; Junzo Norimine; Monica Florin-Christensen; Reginaldo G Bastos; Will L Goff; Wendy C Brown; Abel Oliva; Carlos E Suarez

doi:10.1016/j.parint.2010.03.004

Babesia bovis expresses a neutralization-sensitive antigen that contains a microneme adhesive repeat (MAR) domain

Parasitol Int. 2010 Jun;59(2):294-7. doi: 10.1016/j.parint.2010.03.004. Epub 2010 Mar 19.

Authors

Marta G Silva¹, Massaro W Ueti, Junzo Norimine, Monica Florin-Christensen, Reginaldo G Bastos, Will L Goff, Wendy C Brown, Abel Oliva, Carlos E Suarez

Affiliation

¹ Biomolecular Diagnostic Laboratory, ITQB/IBET, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da Republica, Apt 12, Oeiras, Portugal. [email protected]

PMID: 20304092
DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2010.03.004

Abstract

A gene coding for a protein with sequence similarity to the Toxoplasma gondii micronemal 1 (MIC1) protein that contains a copy of a domain described as a sialic acid-binding micronemal adhesive repeat (MAR) was identified in the Babesia bovis genome. The single copy gene, located in chromosome 3, contains an open reading frame encoding a putative 181 amino acid protein, which is highly conserved among distinct B. bovis strains. Antibodies against both recombinant protein and synthetic peptides mimicking putative antigenic regions in the B. bovis-MIC1 (Bbo-MIC1) protein bind to the parasite in immunofluorescence assays and significantly inhibit erythrocyte invasion in in vitro B. bovis cultures. Bbo-MIC1 is recognized by antibodies in serum from B. bovis infected cattle, demonstrating expression and immunogenicity during infection. Overall, the results suggest that Bbo-MIC1 protein is a viable candidate for development of subunit vaccines.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Antibodies, Protozoan / immunology*
Antibodies, Protozoan / metabolism*
Antigens, Protozoan* / chemistry
Antigens, Protozoan* / genetics
Antigens, Protozoan* / immunology
Antigens, Protozoan* / metabolism
Babesia bovis / immunology
Babesia bovis / metabolism*
Babesia bovis / pathogenicity
Babesiosis / parasitology
Babesiosis / veterinary
Cattle
Cattle Diseases / parasitology
Cell Adhesion Molecules
Erythrocytes / metabolism
Erythrocytes / parasitology
Molecular Sequence Data
N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / metabolism
Neutralization Tests
Organelles / metabolism*
Protozoan Proteins / chemistry
Protozoan Proteins / genetics
Protozoan Proteins / immunology
Protozoan Proteins / metabolism
Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
Recombinant Proteins / genetics
Recombinant Proteins / immunology
Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
Sequence Alignment

Substances

Antibodies, Protozoan
Antigens, Protozoan
Cell Adhesion Molecules
MIC1 protein, Toxoplasma gondii
Protozoan Proteins
Recombinant Proteins
N-Acetylneuraminic Acid