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The GP-45 Protein, a Highly Variable Antigen from Babesia bigemina, Contains Conserved B-Cell Epitopes in Geographically Distant Isolates. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11050591. [PMID: 35631112 PMCID: PMC9144247 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11050591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In B. bigemina, the 45 kilodaltons glycoprotein (GP-45) is the most studied. GP-45 is exposed on the surface of the B. bigemina merozoite, it is believed to play a role in the invasion of erythrocytes, and it is characterized by a high genetic and antigenic polymorphism. The objective of this study was to determine if GP-45 contains conserved B-cell epitopes, and if they would induce neutralizing antibodies. The comparative analysis of nucleotide and amino acids sequences revealed a high percentage of similarity between field isolates. Antibodies against peptides containing conserved B-cell epitopes of GP-45 were generated. Antibodies present in the sera of mice immunized with GP-45 peptides specifically recognize B. bigemina by the IFAT. More than 95% of cattle naturally infected with B. bigemina contained antibodies against conserved GP-45 peptides tested by ELISA. Finally, sera from rabbits immunized with GP-45 peptides were evaluated in vitro neutralization tests and it was shown that they reduced the percentage of parasitemia compared to sera from rabbits immunized with adjuvant. GP-45 from geographically distant isolates of B. bigemina contains conserved B-cell epitopes that induce neutralizing antibodies suggesting that this gene and its product play a critical role in the survival of the parasite under field conditions.
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Response of Leucine-Rich Repeat Domain-Containing Protein in Haemaphysalis longicornis to Babesia microti Infection and Its Ligand Identification. Infect Immun 2021; 89:IAI.00268-20. [PMID: 33593890 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00268-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Haemaphysalis longicornis is a blood-feeding hard tick known for transmitting a variety of pathogens, including Babesia How the parasites in the imbibed blood become anchored in the midgut of ticks is still unknown. Leucine-rich repeat domain (LRR)-containing protein, which is associated with the innate immune reaction and conserved in many species, has been detected in H. longicornis and has previously been indicated in inhibiting the growth of Babesia gibsoni However, the detailed mechanism is unknown. In this study, one of the ligands for LRR from H. longicornis (HlLRR) was identified in Babesia microti, designated BmActin, using glutathione transferase (GST) pulldown experiments and immunofluorescence assays. Moreover, RNA interference of HlLRR led to a decrease in the BmActin mRNA expression in the midgut of fully engorged ticks which fed on B. microti-infected mice. We also found that the expression level of the innate immune molecules in H. longicornis, defensin, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), and lysozyme, were downregulated after the knockdown of HlLRR. However, subolesin expression was upregulated. These results indicate that HlLRR not only recognizes BmActin but may also modulate innate immunity in ticks to influence Babesia growth, which will further benefit the development of anti-Babesia vaccines or drugs.
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Zheng W, Umemiya-Shirafuji R, Zhang Q, Okado K, Adjou Moumouni PF, Suzuki H, Chen H, Liu M, Xuan X. Porin Expression Profiles in Haemaphysalis longicornis Infected With Babesia microti. Front Physiol 2020; 11:502. [PMID: 32508681 PMCID: PMC7249857 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00502] [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: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The porin gene is widely disseminated in various organisms and has a pivotal role in the regulation of pathogen infection in blood-sucking arthropods. However, to date, information on the porin gene from the Haemaphysalis longicornis tick, an important vector of human and animal diseases, remains unknown. In this study, we identified the porin gene from H. longicornis and evaluated its expression levels in Babesia microti-infected and -uninfected H. longicornis ticks at developmental stages. We also analyzed porin functions in relation to both tick blood feeding and Babesia infection and the relationship between porin and porin-related apoptosis genes such as B-cell lymphoma (Bcl), cytochrome complex (Cytc), caspase 2 (Cas2), and caspase 8 (Cas8). The coding nucleotide sequence of H. longicornis porin cDNA was found to be 849 bp in length and encoded 282 amino acids. Domain analysis showed the protein to contain six determinants of voltage gating and two polypeptide binding sites. Porin mRNA levels were not significantly different between 1-day-laid and 7-day-laid eggs. In the nymphal stage, higher porin expression levels were found in unfed, 12-h-partially-fed (12 hPF), 1-day-partially-fed (1 dPF), 2 dPF nymphs and nymphs at 0 day post-engorgement (0 dAE) vs. nymphs at 2 dAE. Cytc and Cas2 mRNA levels were higher in 2 dPF nymphs in contrast to nymphs at 2 dAE. Porin expression levels appeared to be higher in the infected vs. uninfected nymphs during blood feeding except at 1 dPF and 0–1 dAE. Especially, the highest B. microti burden negatively affected porin mRNA levels in both nymphs and female adults. Porin knockdown affected body weight and Babesia infection levels and significantly downregulated the expression levels of Cytc and Bcl in H. longicornis female ticks. In addition, this study showed that infection levels of the B. microti Gray strain in nymphal and female H. longicornis peaked at or around engorgement from blood feeding to post engorgement. Taken together, the research conducted in this study suggests that H. longicornis porin might interfere with blood feeding and B. microti infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiqing Zheng
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan.,The Collaboration Unit for Field Epidemiology of State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal-origin and Vector-Borne Diseases, Nanchang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanchang, China
| | - Rika Umemiya-Shirafuji
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Qian Zhang
- The Ophthalmology Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Kiyoshi Okado
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Paul Franck Adjou Moumouni
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Suzuki
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Haiying Chen
- The Collaboration Unit for Field Epidemiology of State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal-origin and Vector-Borne Diseases, Nanchang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanchang, China
| | - Mingming Liu
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Xuenan Xuan
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
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Ortega-Sánchez R, Camacho-Nuez M, Castañeda-Ortiz EJ, Martínez-Benítez MB, Hernández-Silva DJ, Aguilar-Tipacamú G, Mosqueda J. Vaccine efficacy of recombinant BmVDAC on Rhipicephalus microplus fed on Babesia bigemina-infected and uninfected cattle. Vaccine 2020; 38:3618-3625. [PMID: 31928853 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.12.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Rhipicephalus microplus is the most widely distributed tick worldwide and causes significant economic losses in the livestock industry. It directly affects hosts (especially in large infestations) by feeding on blood and piercing the skin and indirectly affects hosts as a vector of pathogens that cause infectious diseases, such as bovine babesiosis. Current research on the control of ticks is focused on integrated tick control programmes, including vaccination treatment with acaricides and completely blocking pathogen transmission. Our previous studies showed that R. microplus VDAC (BmVDAC) expression is modulated by Babesia bigemina infection. VDAC is a mitochondrial protein with multiple functions in addition to its primary role as a central component of the apoptotic machinery. In this paper, we evaluated BmVDAC as an anti-tick vaccine and its capacity to block the infection of Babesia bigemina in ticks. Our results demonstrate that rBmVDAC is immunogenic and that antibodies specifically recognize the native protein from midguts of R. microplus. Immunization with rBmVDAC afforded an 82% efficacy against R. microplus infestation in the group of vaccinated cattle compared with the control group. In contrast, rBmVDAC showed a lower efficacy of 34% against tick infestation in cattle vaccinated with rBmVDAC, infested with R. microplus and infected with B. bigemina. The main effect on ticks fed in vaccinated and infected cattle was a 34% reduction in egg fertility (DF) compared to ticks fed on the control group. There was no reduction in the B. bigemina parasite levels of ticks fed on rBmVDAC-vaccinated cattle. These results suggest that the rBmVDAC protein could be tested as a vaccine for the control of tick infestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reyna Ortega-Sánchez
- Immunology and Vaccines Laboratory, C.A. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Carretera a Chichimequillas, Ejido Bolaños, Queretaro Queretaro 76140, Mexico; Maestria en Salud y Producción Animal Sustentable, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Querétaro, Qro, Mexico
| | - Minerva Camacho-Nuez
- Posgrado en Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México, San Lorenzo Núm. 290, esquina Roberto Gayol, colonia del Valle Sur, delegación Benito Juárez, México D.F. C.P. 03100, Mexico.
| | - Elizabeth Jacqueline Castañeda-Ortiz
- Posgrado en Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México, San Lorenzo Núm. 290, esquina Roberto Gayol, colonia del Valle Sur, delegación Benito Juárez, México D.F. C.P. 03100, Mexico
| | - Máximo Berto Martínez-Benítez
- Posgrado en Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México, San Lorenzo Núm. 290, esquina Roberto Gayol, colonia del Valle Sur, delegación Benito Juárez, México D.F. C.P. 03100, Mexico
| | - Diego Josimar Hernández-Silva
- Immunology and Vaccines Laboratory, C.A. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Carretera a Chichimequillas, Ejido Bolaños, Queretaro Queretaro 76140, Mexico
| | - Gabriela Aguilar-Tipacamú
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Av. de las Ciencias s/n, Col Juriquilla C.P. 76230, Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Juan Mosqueda
- Immunology and Vaccines Laboratory, C.A. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Carretera a Chichimequillas, Ejido Bolaños, Queretaro Queretaro 76140, Mexico; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Av. de las Ciencias s/n, Col Juriquilla C.P. 76230, Queretaro, Mexico.
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RON2, a novel gene in Babesia bigemina, contains conserved, immunodominant B-cell epitopes that induce antibodies that block merozoite invasion. Parasitology 2019; 146:1646-1654. [PMID: 31452491 PMCID: PMC6786967 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182019001161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Bovine babesiosis is the most important protozoan disease transmitted by ticks. In Plasmodium falciparum, another Apicomplexa protozoan, the interaction of rhoptry neck protein 2 (RON2) with apical membrane antigen-1 (AMA-1) has been described to have a key role in the invasion process. To date, RON2 has not been described in Babesia bigemina, the causal agent of bovine babesiosis in the Americas. In this work, we found a ron2 gene in the B. bigemina genome. RON2 encodes a protein that is 1351 amino acids long, has an identity of 64% (98% coverage) with RON2 of B. bovis and contains the CLAG domain, a conserved domain in Apicomplexa. B. bigemina ron2 is a single copy gene and it is transcribed and expressed in blood stages as determined by RT-PCR, Western blot, and confocal microscopy. Serum samples from B. bigemina-infected bovines were screened for the presence of RON2-specific antibodies, showing the recognition of conserved B-cell epitopes. Importantly, in vitro neutralization assays showed an inhibitory effect of RON2-specific antibodies on the red blood cell invasion by B. bigemina. Therefore, RON2 is a novel antigen in B. bigemina and contains conserved B-cell epitopes, which induce antibodies that inhibit merozoite invasion.
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Artigas-Jerónimo S, De La Fuente J, Villar M. Interactomics and tick vaccine development: new directions for the control of tick-borne diseases. Expert Rev Proteomics 2018; 15:627-635. [PMID: 30067120 DOI: 10.1080/14789450.2018.1506701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Ticks are obligate hematophagous arthropod ectoparasites that transmit pathogens responsible for a growing number of tick-borne diseases (TBDs) throughout the world. Vaccines have been shown to be the most efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly approach for the control of ticks and the prevention of TBDs. Although at its infancy, interactomics has shown the possibilities that the knowledge of the interactome offers in understanding tick biology and the molecular mechanisms involved in pathogen infection and transmission. Furthermore, interactomics has provided information for the identification of candidate vaccine protective antigens. Areas covered: In this special report, we review the different approaches used for the study of protein-protein physical and functional interactions, and summarize the application of interactomics to the characterization of tick biology and tick-host-pathogen interactions, and the possibilities that offers to vaccine development for the control of ticks and TBDs. Expert commentary: The combination of interacting proteins in antigen formulations may increase vaccine efficacy. In the near future, the combination of interactomics with other omics approaches such as transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and regulomics together with intelligent Big Data analytic techniques will improve the high throughput discovery and characterization of vaccine protective antigens for the prevention and control of TBDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Artigas-Jerónimo
- a SaBio. Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM , Ciudad Real , Spain
| | - José De La Fuente
- a SaBio. Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM , Ciudad Real , Spain.,b Department of Veterinary Pathobiology , Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University , Stillwater OK , USA
| | - Margarita Villar
- a SaBio. Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM , Ciudad Real , Spain
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Antunes S, Rosa C, Couto J, Ferrolho J, Domingos A. Deciphering Babesia-Vector Interactions. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:429. [PMID: 29034218 PMCID: PMC5627281 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding host-pathogen-tick interactions remains a vitally important issue that might be better understood by basic research focused on each of the dyad interplays. Pathogens gain access to either the vector or host during tick feeding when ticks are confronted with strong hemostatic, inflammatory and immune responses. A prominent example of this is the Babesia spp.—tick—vertebrate host relationship. Babesia spp. are intraerythrocytic apicomplexan organisms spread worldwide, with a complex life cycle. The presence of transovarial transmission in almost all the Babesia species is the main difference between their life cycle and that of other piroplasmida. With more than 100 species described so far, Babesia are the second most commonly found blood parasite of mammals after trypanosomes. The prevalence of Babesia spp. infection is increasing worldwide and is currently classified as an emerging zoonosis. Babesia microti and Babesia divergens are the most frequent etiological agents associated with human babesiosis in North America and Europe, respectively. Although the Babesia-tick system has been extensively researched, the currently available prophylactic and control methods are not efficient, and chemotherapeutic treatment is limited. Studying the molecular changes induced by the presence of Babesia in the vector will not only elucidate the strategies used by the protozoa to overcome mechanical and immune barriers, but will also contribute toward the discovery of important tick molecules that have a role in vector capacity. This review provides an overview of the identified molecules involved in Babesia-tick interactions, with an emphasis on the fundamentally important ones for pathogen acquisition and transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Antunes
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Catarina Rosa
- Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Joana Couto
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Joana Ferrolho
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Domingos
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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He L, Hu X, Zhu M, Liang Z, Chen F, Zhu L, Kuang S, Cao G, Xue R, Gong C. Identification and characterization of vp7 gene in Bombyx mori cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus. Gene 2017; 627:343-350. [PMID: 28668346 PMCID: PMC7173298 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2017.06.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2016] [Revised: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The genome of Bombyx mori cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (BmCPV) contains 10 double stranded RNA segments (S1-S10). The segment 7 (S7) encodes 50kDa protein which is considered as a structural protein. The expression pattern and function of p50 in the virus life cycle are still unclear. In this study, the viral structural protein 7 (VP7) polyclonal antibody was prepared with immunized mouse to explore the presence of small VP7 gene-encoded proteins in Bombyx mori cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus. The expression pattern of vp7 gene was investigated by its overexpression in BmN cells. In addition to VP7, supplementary band was identified with western blotting technique. The virion, BmCPV infected cells and midguts were also examined using western blotting technique. 4, 2 and 5 bands were detected in the corresponding samples, respectively. The replication of BmCPV genome in the cultured cells and midgut of silkworm was decreased by reducing the expression level of vp7 gene using RNA interference. In immunoprecipitation experiments, using a polyclonal antiserum directed against the VP7, one additional shorter band in BmCPV infected midguts was detected, and then the band was analyzed with mass spectrum (MS), the MS results showed thatone candidate interacted protein (VP7 voltage-dependent anion-selective channel-like isoform, VDAC) was identified from silkworm. We concluded that the novel viral product was generated with a leaky scanning mechanism and the VDAC may be an interacted protein with VP7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei He
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Xiaolong Hu
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Min Zhu
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Zi Liang
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Fei Chen
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Liyuan Zhu
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Sulan Kuang
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Guangli Cao
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Renyu Xue
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Chengliang Gong
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
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Villar M, Marina A, de la Fuente J. Applying proteomics to tick vaccine development: where are we? Expert Rev Proteomics 2017; 14:211-221. [PMID: 28099817 DOI: 10.1080/14789450.2017.1284590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Ticks are second to mosquitoes as a vector of human diseases and are the first vector of animal diseases with a great impact on livestock farming. Tick vaccines represent a sustainable and effective alternative to chemical acaricides for the control of tick infestations and transmitted pathogens. The application of proteomics to tick vaccine development is a fairly recent area, which has resulted in the characterization of some tick-host-pathogen interactions and the identification of candidate protective antigens. Areas covered: In this article, we review the application and possibilities of various proteomic approaches for the discovery of tick and pathogen derived protective antigens, and the design of effective vaccines for the control of tick infestations and pathogen infection and transmission. Expert commentary: In the near future, the application of reverse proteomics, immunoproteomics, structural proteomics, and interactomics among other proteomics approaches will likely contribute to improve vaccine design to control multiple tick species with the ultimate goal of controlling tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarita Villar
- a Sabio. Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM , Ciudad Real , Spain
| | - Anabel Marina
- b Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa CBM-SO (CSIC-UAM) , Cantoblanco , Spain
| | - José de la Fuente
- a Sabio. Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM , Ciudad Real , Spain.,c Department of Veterinary Pathobiology , Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University , Stillwater , OK , USA
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Rodríguez-Hernández E, Mosqueda J, León-Ávila G, Castañeda-Ortiz EJ, Álvarez-Sánchez ME, Camacho AD, Ramos A, Camacho-Nuez M. BmVDAC upregulation in the midgut of Rhipicephalus microplus, during infection with Babesia bigemina. Vet Parasitol 2015; 212:368-74. [PMID: 26141408 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Revised: 06/12/2015] [Accepted: 06/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The molecular mechanisms involved during the infection of Rhipicephalus microplus midgut cells by Babesia bigemina are of great relevance and currently unknown. In a previous study, we found a voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC)-like protein (BmVDAC) that may participate during parasite invasion of midgut cells. In this work, we investigated BmVDAC expression at both mRNA and protein levels and examined BmVDAC localization in midgut cells of ticks infected with B. bigemina at different times post-repletion. Based on the RT-PCR results, Bmvdac expression levels were significantly higher in infected ticks compared to uninfected ones, reaching their highest values at 24h post-repletion (p<0.0001). Similar results were obtained at the protein level (p<0.0001). Interestingly, BmVDAC immunolocalization showed that there was an important differential expression and redistribution of BmVDAC protein between the midgut cells of infected and uninfected ticks, which was more evident 24h post-repletion of infected ticks. This is the first report of BmVDAC upregulation and immunolocalization in R. microplus midgut cells during B. bigemina infection. Further studies regarding the function of BmVDAC during the infection may provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms between B. bigemina and its tick vector and could result in its use as an anti-tick and transmission-blocking vaccine candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elba Rodríguez-Hernández
- Posgrado en Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México, San Lorenzo Núm. 290, esquina Roberto Gayol, colonia del Valle Sur, delegación Benito Juárez, México D.F. C.P. 03100, Mexico
| | - Juan Mosqueda
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Av de las Ciencias s/n, Juriquilla Querétaro, C.P. 76230, Mexico
| | - Gloria León-Ávila
- Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Prolongación de Carpio y Plan de Ayala s/n, Col. Santo Tomas, Delegación Miguel Hidalgo, México D.F. C.P. 11340, Mexico
| | - Elizabeth J Castañeda-Ortiz
- Posgrado en Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México, San Lorenzo Núm. 290, esquina Roberto Gayol, colonia del Valle Sur, delegación Benito Juárez, México D.F. C.P. 03100, Mexico
| | - María Elizbeth Álvarez-Sánchez
- Posgrado en Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México, San Lorenzo Núm. 290, esquina Roberto Gayol, colonia del Valle Sur, delegación Benito Juárez, México D.F. C.P. 03100, Mexico
| | - Alejandro D Camacho
- Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Prolongación de Carpio y Plan de Ayala s/n, Col. Santo Tomas, Delegación Miguel Hidalgo, México D.F. C.P. 11340, Mexico
| | - Alberto Ramos
- Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria en Parasitología Veterinaria, Carretera Federal Cuernavaca-Cuautla Núm. 8534, Colonia Progreso, Jiutepec, Morelos C.P. 62550, Mexico
| | - Minerva Camacho-Nuez
- Posgrado en Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México, San Lorenzo Núm. 290, esquina Roberto Gayol, colonia del Valle Sur, delegación Benito Juárez, México D.F. C.P. 03100, Mexico.
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Florin-Christensen M, Suarez CE, Rodriguez AE, Flores DA, Schnittger L. Vaccines against bovine babesiosis: where we are now and possible roads ahead. Parasitology 2014; 141:1-30. [PMID: 25068315 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182014000961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
SUMMARY Bovine babesiosis caused by the tick-transmitted haemoprotozoans Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina and Babesia divergens commonly results in substantial cattle morbidity and mortality in vast world areas. Although existing live vaccines confer protection, they have considerable disadvantages. Therefore, particularly in countries where large numbers of cattle are at risk, important research is directed towards improved vaccination strategies. Here a comprehensive overview of currently used live vaccines and of the status quo of experimental vaccine trials is presented. In addition, pertinent research fields potentially contributing to the development of novel non-live and/or live vaccines are discussed, including parasite antigens involved in host cell invasion and in pathogen-tick interactions, as well as the protective immunity against infection. The mining of available parasite genomes is continuously enlarging the array of potential vaccine candidates and, additionally, the recent development of a transfection tool for Babesia can significantly contribute to vaccine design. However, the complication and high cost of vaccination trials hinder Babesia vaccine research, and have so far seriously limited the systematic examination of antigen candidates and prevented an in-depth testing of formulations using different immunomodulators and antigen delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carlos E Suarez
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology,Washington State University,Pullman, WA 99164-7040,USA
| | - Anabel E Rodriguez
- Instituto de Patobiologia,CICVyA, INTA-Castelar, 1686 Hurlingham,Argentina
| | - Daniela A Flores
- Instituto de Patobiologia,CICVyA, INTA-Castelar, 1686 Hurlingham,Argentina
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Antunes S, Merino O, Mosqueda J, Moreno-Cid JA, Bell-Sakyi L, Fragkoudis R, Weisheit S, Pérez de la Lastra JM, Alberdi P, Domingos A, de la Fuente J. Tick capillary feeding for the study of proteins involved in tick-pathogen interactions as potential antigens for the control of tick infestation and pathogen infection. Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:42. [PMID: 24450836 PMCID: PMC3900739 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-42] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2013] [Accepted: 01/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Ticks represent a significant health risk to animals and humans due to the variety of pathogens they can transmit during feeding. The traditional use of chemicals to control ticks has serious drawbacks, including the selection of acaricide-resistant ticks and environmental contamination with chemical residues. Vaccination with the tick midgut antigen BM86 was shown to be a good alternative for cattle tick control. However, results vary considerably between tick species and geographic location. Therefore, new antigens are required for the development of vaccines controlling both tick infestations and pathogen infection/transmission. Tick proteins involved in tick-pathogen interactions may provide good candidate protective antigens for these vaccines, but appropriate screening procedures are needed to select the best candidates. Methods In this study, we selected proteins involved in tick-Anaplasma (Subolesin and SILK) and tick-Babesia (TROSPA) interactions and used in vitro capillary feeding to characterize their potential as antigens for the control of cattle tick infestations and infection with Anaplasma marginale and Babesia bigemina. Purified rabbit polyclonal antibodies were generated against recombinant SUB, SILK and TROSPA and added to uninfected or infected bovine blood to capillary-feed female Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus ticks. Tick weight, oviposition and pathogen DNA levels were determined in treated and control ticks. Results The specificity of purified rabbit polyclonal antibodies against tick recombinant proteins was confirmed by Western blot and against native proteins in tick cell lines and tick tissues using immunofluorescence. Capillary-fed ticks ingested antibodies added to the blood meal and the effect of these antibodies on tick weight and oviposition was shown. However, no effect was observed on pathogen DNA levels. Conclusions These results highlighted the advantages and some of the disadvantages of in vitro tick capillary feeding for the characterization of candidate tick protective antigens. While an effect on tick weight and oviposition was observed, the effect on pathogen levels was not evident probably due to high tick-to-tick variations among other factors. Nevertheless, these results together with previous results of RNA interference functional studies suggest that these proteins are good candidate vaccine antigens for the control of R. microplus infestations and infection with A. marginale and B. bigemina.
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Affiliation(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.
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Merino O, Antunes S, Mosqueda J, Moreno-Cid JA, Pérez de la Lastra JM, Rosario-Cruz R, Rodríguez S, Domingos A, de la Fuente J. Vaccination with proteins involved in tick-pathogen interactions reduces vector infestations and pathogen infection. Vaccine 2013; 31:5889-96. [PMID: 24084474 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.09.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2013] [Revised: 09/09/2013] [Accepted: 09/18/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Tick-borne pathogens cause diseases that greatly impact animal health and production worldwide. The ultimate goal of tick vaccines is to protect against tick-borne diseases through the control of vector infestations and reducing pathogen infection and transmission. Tick genetic traits are involved in vector-pathogen interactions and some of these molecules such as Subolesin (SUB) have been shown to protect against vector infestations and pathogen infection. Based on these premises, herein we characterized the efficacy of cattle vaccination with tick proteins involved in vector-pathogen interactions, TROSPA, SILK, and Q38 for the control of cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus infestations and infection with Anaplasma marginale and Babesia bigemina. SUB and adjuvant/saline placebo were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. The results showed that vaccination with Q38, SILK and SUB reduced tick infestations and oviposition with vaccine efficacies of 75% (Q38), 62% (SILK) and 60% (SUB) with respect to ticks fed on placebo control cattle. Vaccination with TROSPA did not have a significant effect on any of the tick parameters analyzed. The results also showed that vaccination with Q38, TROSPA and SUB reduced B. bigemina DNA levels in ticks while vaccination with SILK and SUB resulted in lower A. marginale DNA levels when compared to ticks fed on placebo control cattle. The positive correlation between antigen-specific antibody titers and reduction of tick infestations and pathogen infection strongly suggested that the effect of the vaccine was the result of the antibody response in vaccinated cattle. Vaccination and co-infection with A. marginale and B. bigemina also affected the expression of genes encoding for vaccine antigens in ticks fed on cattle. These results showed that vaccines using tick proteins involved in vector-pathogen interactions could be used for the dual control of tick infestations and pathogen infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Octavio Merino
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain
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