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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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Identification of a novel variant erythrocyte surface antigen-1 (VESA1) in Babesia orientalis. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:2863-2872. [PMID: 34219188 PMCID: PMC8255115 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07194-9] [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: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Babesia orientalis, belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa, is mainly accountable for water buffalo babesiosis, which adversely affected the livestock industry in China. Variant erythrocyte surface antigen-1 (VESA1), an antigen that helps infected erythrocytes to escape from host immune responses, was first reported in Babesia bovis. Various VESA1 proteins have also been characterized in other Babesia species. Nevertheless, there is no research on the identification and characterization of VESA1 proteins in Babesia orientalis. In this study, the BoVESA1 gene was amplified from both gDNA and cDNA. The results revealed that it is an intronless gene with a full length of 753 bp, encoding a protein of 250 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 28 kDa. The coding sequence (CDS) was cloned into the pGEX-6p-1 vector using a homologous recombination kit and expressed as a glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-fusion protein with a molecular weight of 53 kDa. The tertiary structure of BoVESA1 was predicted using the I-TASSER software. The recombinant protein was subjected to western blotting; the immunogenicity of recombinant BoVESA1 (rBoVESA1) was identified by incubating it with B. orientalis-positive serum. The native BoVESA1 was identified using the lysates of B. orientalis-infected water buffalo erythrocytes incubated with the anti-rBoVESA1 mouse serum. The results showed a band of ~ 28 kDa, which is similar to the predicted size. Immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using anti-rBoVESA1 serum probed indicated a strong signal in the infected RBCs, while the negative control showed no signal. In conclusion, the VESA1 protein was first identified in B. orientalis. This study facilitated further investigation of B. orientalis, and the results indicated that BoVESA1 may serve as a potential candidate antigen for diagnosis and detection of B. orientalis infection.
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Nie Z, Ao Y, Wang S, Shu X, Li M, Zhan X, Yu L, An X, Sun Y, Guo J, Zhao Y, He L, Zhao J. Erythrocyte Adhesion of Merozoite Surface Antigen 2c1 Expressed During Extracellular Stages of Babesia orientalis. Front Immunol 2021; 12:623492. [PMID: 34079537 PMCID: PMC8165267 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.623492] [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: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Babesia orientalis, a major infectious agent of water buffalo hemolytic babesiosis, is transmitted by Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides. However, no effective vaccine is available. Essential antigens that are involved in parasite invasion of host red blood cells (RBCs) are potential vaccine candidates. Therefore, the identification and the conduction of functional studies of essential antigens are highly desirable. Here, we evaluated the function of B. orientalis merozoite surface antigen 2c1 (BoMSA-2c1), which belongs to the variable merozoite surface antigen (VMSA) family in B. orientalis. We developed a polyclonal antiserum against the purified recombinant (r)BoMSA-2c1 protein. Immunofluorescence staining results showed that BoMSA-2c1 was expressed only on extracellular merozoites, whereas the antigen was undetectable in intracellular parasites. RBC binding assays suggested that BoMSA-2c1 specifically bound to buffalo erythrocytes. Cytoadherence assays using a eukaryotic expression system in vitro further verified the binding and inhibitory ability of BoMSA-2c1. We found that BoMSA-2c1 with a GPI domain was expressed on the surface of HEK293T cells that bound to water buffalo RBCs, and that the anti-rBoMSA2c1 antibody inhibited this binding. These results indicated that BoMSA-2c1 was involved in mediating initial binding to host erythrocytes of B. orientalis. Identification of the occurrence of binding early in the invasion process may facilitate understanding of the growth characteristics, and may help in formulating strategies for the prevention and control of this parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan, China
| | - Yangsiqi Ao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan, China
| | - Sen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiang Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan, China
| | - Muxiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan, China
| | - Xueyan Zhan
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan, China
| | - Long Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaomeng An
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan, China
| | - Yali Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiaying Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan, China
| | - Yangnan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan, China
| | - Lan He
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, China
| | - Junlong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, China
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Shu X, Guo J, Nie Z, Xia Y, He L, Zhao J. A novel 53 kDa protein (BoP53) in Babesia orientalis poses the immunoreactivity using the infection serum. Parasitol Int 2020; 78:102152. [PMID: 32512049 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2020.102152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Babesia orientalis (B. orientalis) is responsible for water buffalo babesiosis, which caused serious economic losses in the south of China. Although the invasion process has been roughly described, there are still some unknown molecules that have not yet been identified. Recently, an invasion-related protein BOV57 has been identified in the Babesia bovis. However, there is no report available about the gene in B. orientalis. B. orientalis P53 (BoP53) sequence was obtained by blast BOV57 sequence in B. orientalis genome database, and the full length of the BoP53 gene is 1599 bp. BoP53 gene was cloned into a pGEX-6P-1 expression vector and expressed as a GST-tag fusion protein. The tertiary structure of BoP53 was predicted with the I-TASSER software. The native BoP53 was identified from of B. orientalis lysate incubation with mouse antiserum against rBoP53. BoP53 as a novel identified protein promotes the study of B. orientalis, the reaction of rBoP53 with the serum of B. orientalis-infected water buffalo but not with healthy buffalo serum indicated its good antigenicity. It may be a candidate antigen for the diagnosis of B. orientalis infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemical Disease and Infectious Zoonoses, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Jiaying Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemical Disease and Infectious Zoonoses, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Zheng Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemical Disease and Infectious Zoonoses, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Yingjun Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemical Disease and Infectious Zoonoses, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Lan He
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemical Disease and Infectious Zoonoses, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China.
| | - Junlong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemical Disease and Infectious Zoonoses, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China.
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