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Wang Y, Zhang Q, Zhang W, Chen J, Dai J, Zhou X. A conserved protein of Babesia microti elicits partial protection against Babesia and Plasmodium infection. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:306. [PMID: 37649042 PMCID: PMC10469411 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05825-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The protozoan parasite Babesia microti that causes the zoonotic disease babesiosis resides in the erythrocytes of its mammalian host during its life-cycle. No effective vaccines are currently available to prevent Babesia microti infections. METHODS We previously identified a highly seroactive antigen, named Bm8, as a B. microti conserved erythrocyte membrane-associated antigen, by high-throughput protein chip screening. Bioinformatic and phylogenetic analysis showed that this membrane-associated protein is conserved among apicomplexan hemoprotozoa, such as members of genera Babesia, Plasmodium and Theileria. We obtained the recombinant protein Bm8 (rBm8) by prokaryotic expression and purification. RESULTS Immunofluorescence assays confirmed that Bm8 and its Plasmodium homolog were principally localized in the cytoplasm of the parasite. rBm8 protein was specifically recognized by the sera of mice infected with B. microti or P. berghei. Also, mice immunized with Bm8 polypeptide had a decreased parasite burden after B. microti or P. berghei infection. CONCLUSIONS Passive immunization with Bm8 antisera could protect mice against B. microti or P. berghei infection to a certain extent. These results lead us to hypothesize that the B. microti conserved erythrocyte membrane-associated protein Bm8 could serve as a novel broad-spectrum parasite vaccine candidate since it elicits a protective immune response against Babesiosis and Plasmodium infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Wang
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, No.199 Renai Road, Suzhou, 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Qianqian Zhang
- Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Soochow University, No.199 Renai Road, Suzhou, 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Wanruo Zhang
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, No.199 Renai Road, Suzhou, 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Junhu Chen
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Diseases Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China (NHC), World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Jianfeng Dai
- Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Soochow University, No.199 Renai Road, Suzhou, 215123, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xia Zhou
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, No.199 Renai Road, Suzhou, 215123, People's Republic of China.
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Lizarazo-Zuluaga AP, Carvajal-Gamez BI, Wilkowsky S, Cravero S, Trangoni M, Mosqueda J. Development and standardization of a Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) test for the detection of Babesia bigemina. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:1056355. [DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1056355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bovine babesiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Babesia. Babesia bigemina is one of the most prevalent and economically important parasite species that infects cattle because of its impact on the meat and milk production industry. Effective disease control strategies should include detection of reservoir animals and early and specific pathogen detection using rapid, economical, sensitive, and specific detection techniques. The loop-mediated isothermal amplification technique (LAMP) is a one-step molecular reaction that amplifies DNA sequences with high sensitivity and specificity under isothermal conditions and requires no special equipment. The results can be observed by the naked eye as color changes. The aim of this work was to develop and standardize the LAMP technique for B. bigemina detection and its visualization using hydroxynaphtol blue. For this situation, primers were designed from the conserved sequences of the B. bigemina ama-1 gene. The results showed that at 63 °C in 1 h and under standardized conditions, this technique could amplify B. bigemina DNA as indicated by the characteristic colorimetric change. Sensitivity evaluation indicated that DNA was amplified at a 0.00000001% parasitemia, and it was demonstrated that this technique specifically amplified the DNA of B. bigemina. Additionally, this technique could amplify DNA from 10 strains of B. bigemina from three different countries. It is concluded that the LAMP technique as modified in our case could specifically amplify B. bigemina DNA and shows high sensitivity, does not cross-react with related organisms, and the product is observed by 60 min of reaction time based on color changes. This report is the first LAMP report that uses sequences that are conserved between strains of the ama-1 gene, demonstrates the results by color changes using hydroxynaphtol blue. We propose LAMP as a rapid and economical alternative method for the molecular detection of B. bigemina.
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Bonsergent C, de Carné MC, de la Cotte N, Moussel F, Perronne V, Malandrin L. The New Human Babesia sp. FR1 Is a European Member of the Babesia sp. MO1 Clade. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10111433. [PMID: 34832590 PMCID: PMC8618789 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10111433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In Europe, Babesia divergens is responsible for most of the severe cases of human babesiosis. In the present study, we describe a case of babesiosis in a splenectomized patient in France and report a detailed molecular characterization of the etiological agent, named Babesia sp. FR1, as well as of closely related Babesia divergens, Babesia capreoli and Babesia sp. MO1-like parasites. The analysis of the conserved 18S rRNA gene was supplemented with the analysis of more discriminant markers involved in the red blood cell invasion process: rap-1a (rhoptry-associated-protein 1) and ama-1 (apical-membrane-antigen 1). The rap-1a and ama-1 phylogenetic analyses were congruent, placing Babesia sp. FR1, the new European etiological agent, in the American cluster of Babesia sp. MO1-like parasites. Based on two additional markers, our analysis confirms the clear separation of B. divergens and B. capreoli. Babesia sp. MO1-like parasites should also be considered as a separate species, with the rabbit as its natural host, differing from those of B. divergens (cattle) and B. capreoli (roe deer). The natural host of Babesia sp. FR1 remains to be discovered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Bonsergent
- BIOEPAR, INRAE, Oniris, 44300 Nantes, France;
- Correspondence: (C.B.); (L.M.)
| | - Marie-Charlotte de Carné
- Service de Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Hôpital F. Quesnay, 78200 Mantes-la Jolie, France; (M.-C.d.C.); (V.P.)
| | | | - François Moussel
- Laboratoire de Biologie Médicale, Hôpital F. Quesnay, 78200 Mantes-la-Jolie, France;
| | - Véronique Perronne
- Service de Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Hôpital F. Quesnay, 78200 Mantes-la Jolie, France; (M.-C.d.C.); (V.P.)
| | - Laurence Malandrin
- BIOEPAR, INRAE, Oniris, 44300 Nantes, France;
- Correspondence: (C.B.); (L.M.)
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Djokic V, Rocha SC, Parveen N. Lessons Learned for Pathogenesis, Immunology, and Disease of Erythrocytic Parasites: Plasmodium and Babesia. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:685239. [PMID: 34414129 PMCID: PMC8369351 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.685239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria caused by Plasmodium species and transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes affects large human populations, while Ixodes ticks transmit Babesia species and cause babesiosis. Babesiosis in animals has been known as an economic drain, and human disease has also emerged as a serious healthcare problem in the last 20–30 years. There is limited literature available regarding pathogenesis, immunity, and disease caused by Babesia spp. with their genomes sequenced only in the last decade. Therefore, using previous studies on Plasmodium as the foundation, we have compared similarities and differences in the pathogenesis of Babesia and host immune responses. Sexual life cycles of these two hemoparasites in their respective vectors are quite similar. An adult Anopheles female can take blood meal several times in its life such that it can both acquire and transmit Plasmodia to hosts. Since each tick stage takes blood meal only once, transstadial horizontal transmission from larva to nymph or nymph to adult is essential for the release of Babesia into the host. The initiation of the asexual cycle of these parasites is different because Plasmodium sporozoites need to infect hepatocytes before egressed merozoites can infect erythrocytes, while Babesia sporozoites are known to enter the erythrocytic cycle directly. Plasmodium metabolism, as determined by its two- to threefold larger genome than different Babesia, is more complex. Plasmodium replication occurs in parasitophorous vacuole (PV) within the host cells, and a relatively large number of merozoites are released from each infected RBC after schizogony. The Babesia erythrocytic cycle lacks both PV and schizogony. Cytoadherence that allows the sequestration of Plasmodia, primarily P. falciparum in different organs facilitated by prominent adhesins, has not been documented for Babesia yet. Inflammatory immune responses contribute to the severity of malaria and babesiosis. Antibodies appear to play only a minor role in the resolution of these diseases; however, cellular and innate immunity are critical for the clearance of both pathogens. Inflammatory immune responses affect the severity of both diseases. Macrophages facilitate the resolution of both infections and also offer cross-protection against related protozoa. Although the immunosuppression of adaptive immune responses by these parasites does not seem to affect their own clearance, it significantly exacerbates diseases caused by coinfecting bacteria during coinfections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitomir Djokic
- Department for Bacterial Zoonozes, Laboratory for Animal Health, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety, UPEC, University Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Sandra C Rocha
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Nikhat Parveen
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
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Rittipornlertrak A, Nambooppha B, Muenthaisong A, Punyapornwithaya V, Tiwananthagorn S, Chung YT, Tuvshintulga B, Sivakumar T, Yokoyama N, Sthitmatee N. Structural and immunological characterization of an epitope within the PAN motif of ectodomain I in Babesia bovis apical membrane antigen 1 for vaccine development. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11765. [PMID: 34316404 PMCID: PMC8288113 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Bovine babesiosis caused by Babesia bovis (B. bovis) has had a significant effect on the mobility and mortality rates of the cattle industry worldwide. Live-attenuated vaccines are currently being used in many endemic countries, but their wide use has been limited for a number of reasons. Although recombinant vaccines have been proposed as an alternative to live vaccines, such vaccines are not commercially available to date. Apical membrane antigen-1 (AMA-1) is one of the leading candidates in the development of a vaccine against diseases caused by apicomplexan parasite species. In Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) AMA-1 (PfAMA-1), several antibodies against epitopes in the plasminogen, apple, and nematode (PAN) motif of PfAMA-1 domain I significantly inhibited parasite growth. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to predict an epitope from the PAN motif of domain I in the B. bovis AMA-1 (BbAMA-1) using a combination of linear and conformational B-cell epitope prediction software. The selected epitope was then bioinformatically analyzed, synthesized as a peptide (sBbAMA-1), and then used to immunize a rabbit. Subsequently, in vitro growth- and the invasion-inhibitory effects of the rabbit antiserum were immunologically characterized. Results Our results demonstrated that the predicted BbAMA-1 epitope was located on the surface-exposed α-helix of the PAN motif in domain I at the apex area between residues 181 and 230 with six polymorphic sites. Subsequently, sBbAMA-1 elicited antibodies capable of recognizing the native BbAMA-1 in immunoassays. Furthermore, anti-serum against sBbAMA-1 was immunologically evaluated for its growth- and invasion-inhibitory effects on B. bovis merozoites in vitro. Our results demonstrated that the rabbit anti-sBbAMA-1 serum at a dilution of 1:5 significantly inhibited (p < 0.05) the growth of B. bovis merozoites by approximately 50–70% on days 3 and 4 of cultivation, along with the invasion of merozoites by approximately 60% within 4 h of incubation when compared to the control groups. Conclusion Our results indicate that the epitope predicted from the PAN motif of BbAMA-1 domain I is neutralization-sensitive and may serve as a target antigen for vaccine development against bovine babesiosis caused by B. bovis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Boondarika Nambooppha
- Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Muang, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Anucha Muenthaisong
- Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Muang, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Veerasak Punyapornwithaya
- Department of Food Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Muang, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Saruda Tiwananthagorn
- Department of Veterinary Bioscience and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Muang, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Yang-Tsung Chung
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Bumduuren Tuvshintulga
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Thillaiampalam Sivakumar
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Naoaki Yokoyama
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Nattawooti Sthitmatee
- Department of Veterinary Bioscience and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Muang, Chiang Mai, Thailand
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Torina A, Blanda V, Villari S, Piazza A, La Russa F, Grippi F, La Manna MP, Di Liberto D, de la Fuente J, Sireci G. Immune Response to Tick-Borne Hemoparasites: Host Adaptive Immune Response Mechanisms as Potential Targets for Therapies and Vaccines. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21228813. [PMID: 33233869 PMCID: PMC7699928 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21228813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick-transmitted pathogens cause infectious diseases in both humans and animals. Different types of adaptive immune mechanisms could be induced in hosts by these microorganisms, triggered either directly by pathogen antigens or indirectly through soluble factors, such as cytokines and/or chemokines, secreted by host cells as response. Adaptive immunity effectors, such as antibody secretion and cytotoxic and/or T helper cell responses, are mainly involved in the late and long-lasting protective immune response. Proteins and/or epitopes derived from pathogens and tick vectors have been isolated and characterized for the immune response induced in different hosts. This review was focused on the interactions between tick-borne pathogenic hemoparasites and different host effector mechanisms of T- and/or B cell-mediated adaptive immunity, describing the efforts to define immunodominant proteins or epitopes for vaccine development and/or immunotherapeutic purposes. A better understanding of these mechanisms of host immunity could lead to the assessment of possible new immunotherapies for these pathogens as well as to the prediction of possible new candidate vaccine antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Torina
- Area Diagnostica Sierologica, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (A.T.); (F.G.)
- Laboratorio di Riferimento OIE Theileriosi, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Valeria Blanda
- Laboratorio di Riferimento OIE Theileriosi, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy
- Laboratorio di Entomologia e Controllo Vettori Ambientali, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (S.V.); (A.P.); (F.L.R.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Sara Villari
- Laboratorio di Entomologia e Controllo Vettori Ambientali, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (S.V.); (A.P.); (F.L.R.)
| | - Antonio Piazza
- Laboratorio di Entomologia e Controllo Vettori Ambientali, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (S.V.); (A.P.); (F.L.R.)
| | - Francesco La Russa
- Laboratorio di Entomologia e Controllo Vettori Ambientali, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (S.V.); (A.P.); (F.L.R.)
| | - Francesca Grippi
- Area Diagnostica Sierologica, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (A.T.); (F.G.)
| | - Marco Pio La Manna
- Central Laboratory of Advanced Diagnostic and Biological Research (CLADIBIOR), BIND, University Hospital “Paolo Giaccone”, Università degli studi di Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90100 Palermo, Italy; (M.P.L.M.); (D.D.L.); (G.S.)
| | - Diana Di Liberto
- Central Laboratory of Advanced Diagnostic and Biological Research (CLADIBIOR), BIND, University Hospital “Paolo Giaccone”, Università degli studi di Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90100 Palermo, Italy; (M.P.L.M.); (D.D.L.); (G.S.)
| | - José de la Fuente
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain;
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - Guido Sireci
- Central Laboratory of Advanced Diagnostic and Biological Research (CLADIBIOR), BIND, University Hospital “Paolo Giaccone”, Università degli studi di Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90100 Palermo, Italy; (M.P.L.M.); (D.D.L.); (G.S.)
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Wang H, Wang Y, Huang J, Xu B, Chen J, Dai J, Zhou X. Babesia microti Protein BmSP44 Is a Novel Protective Antigen in a Mouse Model of Babesiosis. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1437. [PMID: 32733477 PMCID: PMC7358449 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Babesiosis caused by Babesia species imposes an increasing threat to public-health and so far, there is no effective vaccine to prevent Babesia infections. Babesia surface antigen may participate in the invasion of erythrocytes. In our previous study, a surface antigen of B. microti merozoites, named as BmSP44 was identified as a dominant reactive antigen by protein microarray screening. To evaluate its potential applications in diagnosis and prevention of Babesiosis, the open reading frame encoding BmSP44 was cloned and the recombinant protein was expressed. In consistent with the protein microarray result, recombinant BmSP44 (rBmSP44) can be recognized by sera from B. microti infected mice. Immunofluorescence assays (IFA) confirmed that BmSP44 is a secreted protein and localized principally in the cytoplasm of the parasites. The parasitemia and Babesia gene copies were lower in mice administered rBmSP44 antisera compared with normal controls. Active immunization with rBmSP44 also afforded protection against B. microti infection. The concentrations of hemoglobin in rBmSP44 immunization group were higher than those in the control group. Importantly, vaccination of mice with rBmSP44 resulted in a Th1/Th2 mixed immune response with significantly elevated IL-10 and IFN-γ levels during the early stage of infection. Taken together, our results indicated that rBmSP44 can induce a protective immune response against Babesia infection. Thus, BmSP44 can be used as both a diagnosis marker and a vaccine candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- School of Biology and Medical Science, Soochow University Medical College, Suzhou, China
| | - Yao Wang
- School of Biology and Medical Science, Soochow University Medical College, Suzhou, China
| | - Jilei Huang
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology of the Chinese Ministry of Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Bin Xu
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology of the Chinese Ministry of Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Junhu Chen
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology of the Chinese Ministry of Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianfeng Dai
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xia Zhou
- School of Biology and Medical Science, Soochow University Medical College, Suzhou, China
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Bilgic HB, Hacilarlioglu S, Bakirci S, Kose O, Unlu AH, Aksulu A, Pekagirbas M, Ahmed J, Deschermeier C, Langley G, Karagenc T. Comparison of protectiveness of recombinant Babesia ovis apical membrane antigen 1 and B. ovis-infected cell line as vaccines against ovine babesiosis. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 11:101280. [PMID: 31506224 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Babesiosis is a disease complex caused by unicellular Babesia parasites and among them, malignant ovine babesiosis caused by B. ovis has a devastating economical impact on the small ruminant industry. The control of disease is mainly based on chemotherapy and preventing animals from tick infestation and to date no vaccine is available against ovine babesiosis. The requirement for vaccination against B. ovis infection in endemically unstable regions is necessary for implementation of effective disease control measures. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of different immunisation protocols against disease in sheep experimentally vaccinated with recombinant B. ovis apical membrane antigen-1 (rBoAMA-1) and/or live, a B. ovis-infected cell line. Sheep were divided into four experimental groups, plus a control group. Animals were immunised either with the B. ovis stabilate, or with rBoAMA-1, or with both rBoAMA-1 and the B. ovis stabilate. Western blots and ELISAs indicated that immunisation with rBoAMA-1 resulted in generation of a specific response against the recombinant protein, but the degree of antibody response did not correlate with the level of induced protection against challenge. The strongest immune response was induced in animals co-immunised with the live B. ovis stabilate plus rBoAMA-1. Both the hematological and parasitological findings indicated that this co-immunisation regimen has vaccine potential to limit losses incurred by ovine babesiosis in endemic countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huseyin Bilgin Bilgic
- Aydin Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology, 09016, Isikli/Aydin, Turkey.
| | - Selin Hacilarlioglu
- Aydin Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology, 09016, Isikli/Aydin, Turkey.
| | - Serkan Bakirci
- Aydin Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology, 09016, Isikli/Aydin, Turkey.
| | - Onur Kose
- Aydin Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology, 09016, Isikli/Aydin, Turkey; Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology, 15030, Istiklal Yerleskesi, Burdur, Turkey.
| | - Ahmet Hakan Unlu
- Aydin Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology, 09016, Isikli/Aydin, Turkey; Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Vocational High School of Gevas, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Programme of Laboratorian and Veterinary Health, 65700, Van, Turkey.
| | - Ayca Aksulu
- Aydin Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology, 09016, Isikli/Aydin, Turkey.
| | - Metin Pekagirbas
- Aydin Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology, 09016, Isikli/Aydin, Turkey.
| | - Jabbar Ahmed
- Institue for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Free University of Berlin, Germany.
| | - Christina Deschermeier
- Diagnostics Development Laboratory, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Gordon Langley
- Laboratoire de Biologie Comparative des Apicomplexes, Institut Cochin, Inserm U1016, Cnrs UMR 8104, Faculte de Medecine - Universite Paris Descartes, 27, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Jacques, 75014 Paris, France.
| | - Tulin Karagenc
- Aydin Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology, 09016, Isikli/Aydin, Turkey.
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Tarigo JL, Kelly LS, Brown HM, Peterson DS. Limited genetic variability of Cytauxzoon felis apical membrane antigen-1 (ama1) from domestic cats and bobcats. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:115. [PMID: 30890166 PMCID: PMC6423858 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3347-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cytauxzoon felis is a tick-transmitted apicomplexan that causes cytauxzoonosis in domestic cats (Felis catus). Even with intensive care, the mortality rate of acute cytauxzoonosis approaches 40% in domestic cats, while bobcats (Lynx rufus), the natural intermediate host of C. felis, remain clinically asymptomatic. However, multiple reports of domestic cats surviving acute disease without any treatment exist. One hypothesis for survival of these cats is infection with unique C. felis genotypes of lower pathogenicity. Prior studies have identified genetically distinct C. felis isolates containing polymorphisms within internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS) of the rRNA operon. However, these polymorphisms do not correlate with the clinical outcome of cytauxzoonosis, and so additional genetic markers are needed to test this hypothesis. We selected C. felis apical membrane antigen-1 (ama1) as a potential genetic marker of differential pathogenicity. AMA1 is a vaccine candidate for relatives of C. felis within Plasmodium spp.; however its historically high level of genetic polymorphism has resulted in escape from vaccine-induced immunity. While such diversity has hindered vaccine development, the expected polymorphism within the ama1 gene may be useful to evaluate population genetics. Results A 677 bp sequence of the C. felis ama1 gene was PCR-amplified from 84 domestic cats and 9 bobcats and demonstrated 99.9% sequence identity across all samples. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was identified in domestic cats and bobcats with evidence for co-infection with both genotypes identified in two domestic cats. The prevalence of the two genotypes varied with geographical distribution in domestic cats. Nucleotide diversity (π) and haplotype diversity (H) were calculated for C. felis ama1 and ama1 of related apicomplexans to assess genetic diversity. Based on these values (π = 0.00067 and H = 0.457), the diversity of the C. felis ama1 gene region analyzed is considerably lower than what is documented in related apicomplexans. Conclusions In surprising contrast to related apicomplexans, our results support that the sequence of the C. felis ama1 gene is highly conserved. While lack of genetic diversity limits utility of C. felis AMA1 as a genetic marker for clinical outcome, it supports further investigation as a vaccine candidate for cytauxzoonosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime L Tarigo
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Lisa S Kelly
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | | | - David S Peterson
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
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Sivakumar T, Tuvshintulga B, Zhyldyz A, Kothalawala H, Yapa PR, Kanagaratnam R, Vimalakumar SC, Abeysekera TS, Weerasingha AS, Yamagishi J, Igarashi I, Silva SSP, Yokoyama N. Genetic Analysis of Babesia Isolates from Cattle with Clinical Babesiosis in Sri Lanka. J Clin Microbiol 2018; 56:e00895-18. [PMID: 30158190 PMCID: PMC6204690 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00895-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 08/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bovine babesiosis is a serious threat to the cattle industry. We prepared blood DNA samples from 13 cattle with clinical babesiosis from the Badulla (n = 8), Jaffna (n = 3), and Kilinochchi (n = 2) districts in Sri Lanka. These DNA samples tested positive in PCR assays specific for Babesiabovis (n = 9), Babesia bigemina (n = 9), and Babesiaovata (n = 1). Twelve cattle were positive for B. bovis and/or B. bigemina One cow was negative for the tested Babesia species but was positive for Babesia on microscopic examination; the phylogenetic positions of 18S rRNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit III gene sequences suggested that the cow was infected with Babesia sp. Mymensingh, which was recently reported from a healthy cow in Bangladesh. We then developed a novel Babesia sp. Mymensingh-specific PCR assay and obtained positive results for one other sample. Analysis of gene sequences from the cow with positive B. ovata-specific PCR results demonstrated that the animal was infected not with B. ovata but with Babesia sp. Hue-1, which was recently reported from asymptomatic cattle in Vietnam. The virulence of Babesia sp. Hue-1 is unclear, as the cow was coinfected with B. bovis and B. bigemina However, Babesia sp. Mymensingh probably causes severe clinical babesiosis, as it was the sole Babesia species detected in a clinical case. The present study revealed the presence of two bovine Babesia species not previously reported in Sri Lanka, plus the first case of severe bovine babesiosis caused by a Babesia species other than B. bovis, B. bigemina, and Babesiadivergens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thillaiampalam Sivakumar
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
- Veterinary Research Institute, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
| | - Bumduuren Tuvshintulga
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Atambekova Zhyldyz
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Junya Yamagishi
- Division of Collaboration and Education, Hokkaido University Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
- Global Station for Zoonosis Control, GI-CoRE, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Ikuo Igarashi
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
| | | | - Naoaki Yokoyama
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
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Rittipornlertrak A, Nambooppha B, Simking P, Punyapornwithaya V, Tiwananthagorn S, Jittapalapong S, Chung YT, Sthitmatee N. Low levels of genetic diversity associated with evidence of negative selection on the Babesia bovis apical membrane antigen 1 from parasite populations in Thailand. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2017; 54:447-454. [PMID: 28807856 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2017.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Revised: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Babesia bovis, a parasite infecting cattle and buffalo, continues to spread throughout the developing world. The babesial vaccine was developed to be a sustainable alternative treatment to control the parasite. However, genetic diversity is a major obstacle for designing and developing a safe and effective vaccine. The apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA-1) is considered to be a potential vaccine candidate antigen among immunogenic genes of B. bovis. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of B. bovis AMA-1 (BbAMA-1), three B. bovis DNA samples were randomly selected to characterize in order to explore genetic diversity and natural selection and to predict the antigen epitopes. The sequence analysis revealed that BbAMA-1 has a low level of polymorphism and is highly conserved (95.46-99.94%) among Thai and global isolates. The majority of the polymorphic sites were observed in domains I and III. Conversely, domain II contained no polymorphic sites. We report the first evidence of strong negative or purifying selection across the full length of the gene, especially in domain I, by demonstrating a significant excess of the average number of synonymous (dS) over the non-synonymous (dN) substitutions. Finally, we also predict the linear and conformational B-cell epitope. The predicted B-cell epitopes appeared to be involved with the amino acid changes. Collectively, the results suggest that the conserved BbAMA-1 may be used to detect regional differences in the B. bovis parasite. Importantly, the limitation of BbAMA-1 diversity under strong negative selection indicates strong functional constraints on this gene. Thus, the gene could be a valuable target vaccine candidate antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Pacharathon Simking
- Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Pathumthani 12110, Thailand
| | | | | | | | - Yang-Tsung Chung
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Nattawooti Sthitmatee
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand; Excellent Center in Veterinary Bioscience, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand.
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Molecular cloning, characterization and antigenicity ofBabesiasp. BQ1 (Lintan) (Babesiacf.motasi) apical membrane antigen-1 (AMA-1). Parasitology 2016; 144:641-649. [DOI: 10.1017/s0031182016002304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARYApical membrane antigen-1 (AMA-1) has been described as a potential vaccine candidate in apicomplexan parasites. Here we characterize theama-1gene. The full-lengthama-1gene ofBabesiasp. BQ1 (Lintan) (BLTAMA-1) is 1785 bp, which contains an open reading frame (ORF) encoding a 65-kDa protein of 594 amino acid residues; by definition, the 5′ UTR precedes the first methionine of the ORF. Phylogenetic analysis based on AMA-1 amino acid sequences clearly separated Piroplasmida from other Apicomplexa parasites. TheBabesiasp. BQ1 (Lintan) AMA-1 sequence is most closely associated with that ofB. ovataandB. bigemina, with high bootstrap value. A recombinant protein encoding a conserved region and containing ectodomains I and II of BLTAMA-1 was constructed. BLTrAMA-1-DI/DII proteins were tested for reactivity with sera from sheep infected byBabesiasp. BQ1 (Lintan). In Western-blot analysis, nativeBabesiasp. BQ1 (Lintan) AMA-1 proteins were recognized by antibodies raised in rabbits against BLTrAMA-1in vitro. The results of this study are discussed in terms of gene characterization, taxonomy and antigenicity.
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13
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Gotia HT, Munro JB, Knowles DP, Daubenberger CA, Bishop RP, Silva JC. Absolute Quantification of the Host-To-Parasite DNA Ratio in Theileria parva-Infected Lymphocyte Cell Lines. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0150401. [PMID: 26930209 PMCID: PMC4773007 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2015] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Theileria parva is a tick-transmitted intracellular apicomplexan pathogen of cattle in sub-Saharan Africa that causes East Coast fever (ECF). ECF is an acute fatal disease that kills over one million cattle annually, imposing a tremendous burden on African small-holder cattle farmers. The pathology and level of T. parva infections in its wildlife host, African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), and in cattle are distinct. We have developed an absolute quantification method based on quantitative PCR (qPCR) in which recombinant plasmids containing single copy genes specific to the parasite (apical membrane antigen 1 gene, ama1) or the host (hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase 1, hprt1) are used as the quantification reference standards. Our study shows that T. parva and bovine cells are present in similar numbers in T. parva-infected lymphocyte cell lines and that consequently, due to its much smaller genome size, T. parva DNA comprises between 0.9% and 3% of the total DNA samples extracted from these lines. This absolute quantification assay of parasite and host genome copy number in a sample provides a simple and reliable method of assessing T. parva load in infected bovine lymphocytes, and is accurate over a wide range of host-to-parasite DNA ratios. Knowledge of the proportion of target DNA in a sample, as enabled by this method, is essential for efficient high-throughput genome sequencing applications for a variety of intracellular pathogens. This assay will also be very useful in future studies of interactions of distinct host-T. parva stocks and to fully characterize the dynamics of ECF infection in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanzel T. Gotia
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 801 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore Maryland, United States of America
| | - James B. Munro
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 801 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore Maryland, United States of America
| | - Donald P. Knowles
- Animal Disease Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology & Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Claudia A. Daubenberger
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Richard P. Bishop
- International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
| | - Joana C. Silva
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 801 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Identification of piroplasm infection in questing ticks by RLB: a broad range extension of tick-borne piroplasm in China? Parasitol Res 2016; 115:2035-44. [PMID: 26896077 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-016-4947-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2016] [Accepted: 01/29/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Sensitive and specific diagnostic method for rapid and simultaneous detection and discrimination of the different species is needed for an effective control of piroplasmosis. Here, a reverse line blot (RLB) assay was developed for piroplasm detection. A general pair of primer based on 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene was used to amplify V4 region of 18S rRNA gene. General and specific probes for 13 piroplasm species were cited from previous publications or designed according to the alignment of 18S rRNA gene sequences. For sensitivity test of RLB assay, serially diluted plasmids of the different species were used to access the sensitivity of the RLB. Four hundred and fifty tick samples collected from grass from different provinces of China were then detected. The result indicated that the RLB assay is highly specific and sensitive, detecting up to 10(2) copies/μl of recombinant plasmid DNA. Multiple piroplasms were detected as single or mixed infection from tick species. Eight piroplasm species, most of which were Theileria annulata (33/450, 7.3 %) or Babesia sp. Xinjiang (30/450, 6.7 %), were found to infect with 89 tick samples in four tick species; no infections with Babesia major, Babesia ovata, Babesia bigemina, Theileria sergenti, or Theileria equi were detected. The piroplasms species-specific RLB assay may have potential clinical application in the simultaneous detection and differentiation of Babesia and Theileria species.
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