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ARAYASKUL N, ASADA M, FATHI A, ARIEFTA NR, KOMATSU K, SUGANUMA K, INOUE N, KAWAZU SI. Stable expression of red fluorescent protein-blasticidin deaminase fusion gene (rfp-bsd) as a selectable marker for DNA transfection in Babesia ovata. J Vet Med Sci 2024; 86:744-747. [PMID: 38749739 PMCID: PMC11251815 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.24-0111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The red fluorescent protein (rfp)-blasticidin deaminase (bsd) fusion gene was transfected into Babesia ovata by electroporation with the plasmid DNA and selected with 15 μg/mL of blasticidin S under the in vitro culture condition. The transfected parasite with episomal DNA was selected and cultured for further analysis based on the presence of the rfp-bsd fusion gene by PCR and expression of the fusion protein by immunofluorescence antibody test under fluorescence microscopy for 2 months after the transfection. The results are the first, to our knowledge, to demonstrate the expression and stability of the episomal rfp-bsd fusion gene under the control of actin promoter as a selectable marker for the transfection system in B. ovata.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nada ARAYASKUL
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Masahito ASADA
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Atefeh FATHI
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Nanang R ARIEFTA
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Kota KOMATSU
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Keisuke SUGANUMA
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Noboru INOUE
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Shin-ichiro KAWAZU
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
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Ochi A, Kidaka T, Hakimi H, Asada M, Yamagishi J. Chromosome-level genome assembly of Babesia caballi reveals diversity of multigene families among Babesia species. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:483. [PMID: 37620766 PMCID: PMC10463595 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09540-w] [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: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Babesia caballi is an intraerythrocytic parasite from the phylum Apicomplexa, capable of infecting equids and causing equine piroplasmosis. However, since there is limited genome information available on B. caballi, molecular mechanisms involved in host specificity and pathogenicity of this species have not been fully elucidated yet. RESULTS Genomic DNA from a B. caballi subclone was purified and sequenced using both Illumina and Nanopore technologies. The resulting assembled sequence consisted of nine contigs with a size of 12.9 Mbp, rendering a total of 5,910 protein-coding genes. The phylogenetic tree of Apicomplexan species was reconstructed using 263 orthologous genes. We identified 481 ves1-like genes and named "ves1c". In contrast, expansion of the major facilitator superfamily (mfs) observed in closely related B. bigemina and B. ovata species was not found in B. caballi. A set of repetitive units containing an open reading frame with a size of 297 bp was also identified. CONCLUSIONS We present a chromosome-level genome assembly of B. caballi. Our genomic data may contribute to estimating gene expansion events involving multigene families and exploring the evolution of species from this genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiro Ochi
- Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Taishi Kidaka
- International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Hassan Hakimi
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Masahito Asada
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Junya Yamagishi
- International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
- Global Station for Zoonosis Control, GI-CoRE, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
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Liu Q, Guan XA, Li DF, Zheng YX, Wang S, Xuan XN, Zhao JL, He L. Babesia gibsoni Whole-Genome Sequencing, Assembling, Annotation, and Comparative Analysis. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0072123. [PMID: 37432130 PMCID: PMC10434002 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00721-23] [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: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The intracellular protozoan parasite Babesia gibsoni infects canine erythrocytes and causes babesiosis. The hazards to animal health have increased due to the rise of B. gibsoni infections and medication resistance. However, the lack of high-quality full-genome sequencing sets has expanded the obstacles to the development of pathogeneses, drugs, and vaccines. In this study, the whole genome of B. gibsoni was sequenced, assembled, and annotated. The genomic size of B. gibsoni was 7.94 Mbp in total. Four chromosomes with the size of 0.69 Mb, 2.10 Mb, 2.77 Mb, and 2.38 Mb, respectively, 1 apicoplast (28.4 Kb), and 1 mitochondrion (5.9 Kb) were confirmed. KEGG analysis revealed 2,641 putative proteins enriched on 316 pathways, and GO analysis showed 7,571 annotations of the nuclear genome in total. Synteny analysis showed a high correlation between B. gibsoni and B. bovis. A new divergent point of B. gibsoni occurred around 297.7 million years ago, which was earlier than that of B. bovis, B. ovata, and B. bigemina. Orthology analysis revealed 22 and 32 unique genes compared to several Babesia spp. and apicomplexan species. The metabolic pathways of B.gibsoni were characterized, pointing to a minimal size of the genome. A species-specific secretory protein SA1 and 19 homologous genes were identified. Selected specific proteins, including apetala 2 (AP2) factor, invasion-related proteins BgAMA-1 and BgRON2, and rhoptry function proteins BgWH_04g00700 were predicted, visualized, and modeled. Overall, whole-genome sequencing provided molecular-level support for the diagnosis, prevention, clinical treatment, and further research of B. gibsoni. IMPORTANCE The whole genome of B. gibsoni was first sequenced, annotated, and disclosed. The key part of genome composition, four chromosomes, was comparatively analyzed for the first time. A full-scale phylogeny evolution analysis based on the whole-genome-wide data of B. gibsoni was performed, and a new divergent point on the evolutionary path was revealed. In previous reports, molecular studies were often limited by incomplete genomic data, especially in key areas like life cycle regulation, metabolism, and host-pathogen interaction. With the whole-genome sequencing of B. gibsoni, we provide useful genetic data to encourage the exploration of new terrain and make it feasible to resolve the theoretical and practical problems of babesiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xing-Ai Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Dong-Fang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Ya-Xin Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Sen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xue-Nan Xuan
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Jun-Long Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lan He
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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Yamagishi J, Ceylan O, Xuan X, Sevinc F. Whole genome sequence and diversity in multigene families of Babesia ovis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1194608. [PMID: 37662008 PMCID: PMC10471129 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1194608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovine babesiosis, caused by Babesia ovis, is an acute, lethal, and endemic disease worldwide and causes a huge economic loss to animal industry. Pathogen genome sequences can be utilized for selecting diagnostic markers, drug targets, and antigens for vaccine development; however, those for B. ovis have not been available so far. In this study, we obtained a draft genome sequence for B. ovis isolated from an infected sheep in Turkey. The genome size was 7.81 Mbp with 3,419 protein-coding genes. It consisted of 41 contigs, and the N50 was 526 Kbp. There were 259 orthologs identified among eight Babesia spp., Plasmodium falciparum, and Toxoplasma gondii. A phylogeny was estimated on the basis of the orthologs, which showed B. ovis to be closest to B. bovis. There were 43 ves genes identified using hmm model as well. They formed a discriminating cluster to other ves multigene family of Babesia spp. but showed certain similarities to those of B. bovis, B. caballi, and Babesia sp. Xinjiang, which is consistent with the phylogeny. Comparative genomics among B. ovis and B. bovis elucidated uniquely evolved genes in these species, which may account for the adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junya Yamagishi
- International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Global Station for Zoonosis Control, GI-CoRE, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Onur Ceylan
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Selcuk, Konya, Türkiye
| | - Xuenan Xuan
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Ferda Sevinc
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Selcuk, Konya, Türkiye
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Guo J, Yang F, Wang L, Xuan X, Zhao J, He L. A novel promising diagnostic candidate selected by screening the transcriptome of Babesia gibsoni (Wuhan isolate) asexual stages in infected beagles. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:362. [PMID: 36217160 PMCID: PMC9549657 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05468-4] [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: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Babesia gibsoni is one of the causative agents of canine babesiosis worldwide. Some dogs infected with B. gibsoni show severe clinical signs with progressive anemia, hemoglobinuria and splenomegaly. However, most infected dogs present a state of chronic infection and thereby may be a persistent pathogen carrier, increasing the risk of pathogen spreading. To date, little is known about this pathogen, with genomic and transcriptomic data in particular generally unavailable. This lack of knowledge extensively limits the development of effective diagnostic strategies and vaccines. METHODS High-throughput RNA sequencing of total RNA of B. gibsoni asexual stages collected from infected beagles was performed. The unigenes were annotated in seven databases. The genes were sorted according to their fragments per kilobase per million (FPKM) value, which was used as an indicator for expression level. The gene with the highest FPKM value was cloned from the genome of B. gibsoni and further tested for immunogenicity, cellular localization and efficacy as a potential diagnostic candidate for detecting B. gibsoni in sera collected from beagles. RESULTS A total of 62,580,653 clean reads were screened from the 64,336,475 raw reads, and the corresponding 70,134 transcripts and 36,587 unigenes were obtained. The gene with the highest FPKM value was screened from the unigenes; its full length was 1276 bp, and it was named BgP30. The BgP30 gene comprised three exons and two introns, with a 786-bp open reading frame, and encoded 261 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 30 kDa. The cellular localization assay confirmed the existence of P30 protein in B. gibsoni parasites. Moreover, P30 was detected in the serum of experimentally B. gibsoni-infected beagles, from 15 days up to 422 days post-infection, suggesting its usefulness as a diagnostic candidate for both acute and chronic infections. CONCLUSIONS We sequenced the transcriptome of B. gibsoni asexual stages for the first time. The BgP30 gene was highly expressed in the transcriptome screening experiments, with further studies demonstrating that it could induce immune response in B. gibsoni-infected dogs. These results lead us to suggest that bgP30 may be a good diagnostic candidate marker to detect both acute and chronic B. gibsoni infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaying Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China.,Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150000, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Furong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Lingna Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Xuenan Xuan
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Junlong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Lan He
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China. .,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China.
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Hakimi H, Yamagishi J, Kawazu SI, Asada M. Advances in understanding red blood cell modifications by Babesia. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010770. [PMID: 36107982 PMCID: PMC9477259 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Babesia are tick-borne protozoan parasites that can infect livestock, pets, wildlife animals, and humans. In the mammalian host, they invade and multiply within red blood cells (RBCs). To support their development as obligate intracellular parasites, Babesia export numerous proteins to modify the RBC during invasion and development. Such exported proteins are likely important for parasite survival and pathogenicity and thus represent candidate drug or vaccine targets. The availability of complete genome sequences and the establishment of transfection systems for several Babesia species have aided the identification and functional characterization of exported proteins. Here, we review exported Babesia proteins; discuss their functions in the context of immune evasion, cytoadhesion, and nutrient uptake; and highlight possible future topics for research and application in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Hakimi
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail: (HH); (MA)
| | - Junya Yamagishi
- Division of Collaboration and Education, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Shin-ichiro Kawazu
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Masahito Asada
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
- * E-mail: (HH); (MA)
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Rezvani Y, Keroack CD, Elsworth B, Arriojas A, Gubbels MJ, Duraisingh MT, Zarringhalam K. Comparative single-cell transcriptional atlases of Babesia species reveal conserved and species-specific expression profiles. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001816. [PMID: 36137068 PMCID: PMC9531838 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Babesia is a genus of apicomplexan parasites that infect red blood cells in vertebrate hosts. Pathology occurs during rapid replication cycles in the asexual blood stage of infection. Current knowledge of Babesia replication cycle progression and regulation is limited and relies mostly on comparative studies with related parasites. Due to limitations in synchronizing Babesia parasites, fine-scale time-course transcriptomic resources are not readily available. Single-cell transcriptomics provides a powerful unbiased alternative for profiling asynchronous cell populations. Here, we applied single-cell RNA sequencing to 3 Babesia species (B. divergens, B. bovis, and B. bigemina). We used analytical approaches and algorithms to map the replication cycle and construct pseudo-synchronized time-course gene expression profiles. We identify clusters of co-expressed genes showing "just-in-time" expression profiles, with gradually cascading peaks throughout asexual development. Moreover, clustering analysis of reconstructed gene curves reveals coordinated timing of peak expression in epigenetic markers and transcription factors. Using a regularized Gaussian graphical model, we reconstructed co-expression networks and identified conserved and species-specific nodes. Motif analysis of a co-expression interactome of AP2 transcription factors identified specific motifs previously reported to play a role in DNA replication in Plasmodium species. Finally, we present an interactive web application to visualize and interactively explore the datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasaman Rezvani
- Department of Mathematics, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Caroline D. Keroack
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Brendan Elsworth
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Argenis Arriojas
- Department of Mathematics, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Physics, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Marc-Jan Gubbels
- Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Manoj T. Duraisingh
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Kourosh Zarringhalam
- Department of Mathematics, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Center for Personalized Cancer Therapy, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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Sivakumar T, Tuvshintulga B, Otgonsuren D, Batmagnai E, Ahedor B, Kothalawala H, Vimalakumar SC, Silva SSP, Yamagishi J, Yokoyama N. Phylogenetic analyses of the mitochondrial, plastid, and nuclear genes of Babesia sp. Mymensingh and its naming as Babesia naoakii n. sp. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:299. [PMID: 36002908 PMCID: PMC9404586 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05374-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The recently discovered Babesia sp. Mymensingh, which causes clinical bovine babesiosis, has a wide geographical distribution. We investigated the phylogenetic position of Babesia sp. Mymensingh using its mitochondrial, plastid, and nuclear genes. Based on morphological and molecular data, Babesia sp. Mymensingh is a unique species and we named it as Babesia naoakii n. sp. METHODS A blood DNA sample from a Babesia sp. Mymensingh-infected cow was subjected to genome sequencing to obtain the sequences of mitochondrial, plastid, and nuclear genes. Six phylogenetic trees were then constructed with (1) concatenated amino acid sequences of cytochrome oxidase subunit I, cytochrome oxidase subunit III, and cytochrome b genes of the mitochondrial genome; (2) 16S rRNA of the plastid genome; (3) nucleotide sequences of the elongation factor Tu gene of the plastid genome; (4) ITS1-5.8S rRNA-ITS2; (5) concatenated nucleotide sequences of 89 nuclear genes; and (6) concatenated amino acid sequences translated from the 89 nuclear genes. RESULTS In all six phylogenetic trees, B. naoakii n. sp. formed a sister clade to the common ancestor of Babesia bigemina and B. ovata. The concatenated nuclear genes of B. naoakii n. sp. and their translated amino acid sequences shared lower identity scores with the sequences from B. bigemina (82.7% and 84.7%, respectively) and B. ovata (83.5% and 85.5%, respectively) compared with the identity scores shared between the B. bigemina and B. ovata sequences (86.3% and 87.9%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Our study showed that B. naoakii n. sp. occupies a unique phylogenetic position distinct from existing Babesia species. Our findings, together with morphological differences, identify B. naoakii n. sp. as a distinct parasite species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thillaiampalam Sivakumar
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Bumduuren Tuvshintulga
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Davaajav Otgonsuren
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Enkhbaatar Batmagnai
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Believe Ahedor
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan
| | | | | | | | - Junya Yamagishi
- Division of Collaboration and Education, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Naoaki Yokoyama
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan.
- OIE Reference Laboratory for Bovine Babesiosis, National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan.
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Skobel O, Kosovsky G, Glazko V. Candidate vectors of horizontal transfer of BovB retrotransposon. BIO WEB OF CONFERENCES 2022. [DOI: 10.1051/bioconf/20224301014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The horizontal transfer of retrotransposons has a significant impact on the regulatory system of a multicellular organism, but the biological basis of horizontal transfer has been sufficiently studied up to date. Earlier, we identified the conserved sequence of retrotransposons recombination products of the bovine chromosome 1 nucleotide sequence region. This conserved sequence has a high percent identity with LINE BovB, which is widely known as horizontal transfer participant. The current study analyzes the presence of the conserved sequence of retrotransposons recombination products of cattle in members of different taxonomic groups to detect potential vectors of horizontal transfer. It was shown that the conserved sequence with a high percent identity can be found in 43 members of different species, including eukaryotes, prokaryotes and viruses. The identified potential vectors of horizontal retrotransposon transfer associated with various diseases of farm animals are of particular interest. Such potential vectors are hemiparasites Babesia ovata and Babesia bigemina (pathogens causing babesiosis), bacterium Clostridium botulinum (the causative agent of botulism), Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (the causative agent of lung cancer in sheep). They all have regions with a high percent identity (not lower than 95%) to the studied bovine conserved sequence. Thus, we identify new potential vectors of horizontal retrotransposon transfer as well as the possible influence of retrotransposons on regulatory networks affecting host protection from infectious diseases.
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10
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Bastos RG, Thekkiniath J, Ben Mamoun C, Fuller L, Molestina RE, Florin-Christensen M, Schnittger L, Alzan HF, Suarez CE. Babesia microti Immunoreactive Rhoptry-Associated Protein-1 Paralogs Are Ancestral Members of the Piroplasmid-Confined RAP-1 Family. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10111384. [PMID: 34832541 PMCID: PMC8624774 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10111384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Babesia, Cytauxzoon and Theileria are tick-borne apicomplexan parasites of the order Piroplasmida, responsible for diseases in humans and animals. Members of the piroplasmid rhoptry-associated protein-1 (pRAP-1) family have a signature cysteine-rich domain and are important for parasite development. We propose that the closely linked B. microti genes annotated as BMR1_03g00947 and BMR1_03g00960 encode two paralogue pRAP-1-like proteins named BmIPA48 and Bm960. The two genes are tandemly arranged head to tail, highly expressed in blood stage parasites, syntenic to rap-1 genes of other piroplasmids, and share large portions of an almost identical ~225 bp sequence located in their 5' putative regulatory regions. BmIPA48 and Bm960 proteins contain a N-terminal signal peptide, share very low sequence identity (<13%) with pRAP-1 from other species, and harbor one or more transmembrane domains. Diversification of the piroplasmid-confined prap-1 family is characterized by amplification of genes, protein domains, and a high sequence polymorphism. This suggests a functional involvement of pRAP-1 at the parasite-host interface, possibly in parasite adhesion, attachment, and/or evasion of the host immune defenses. Both BmIPA48 and Bm960 are recognized by antibodies in sera from humans infected with B. microti and might be promising candidates for developing novel serodiagnosis and vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reginaldo G. Bastos
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA;
- Correspondence: (R.G.B.); (C.E.S.)
| | - Jose Thekkiniath
- Fuller Laboratories, 1312 East Valencia Drive, Fullerton, CA 92831, USA; (J.T.); (L.F.)
| | - Choukri Ben Mamoun
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA;
| | - Lee Fuller
- Fuller Laboratories, 1312 East Valencia Drive, Fullerton, CA 92831, USA; (J.T.); (L.F.)
| | - Robert E. Molestina
- Protistology Laboratory, American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, VA 10801, USA;
| | - Monica Florin-Christensen
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina; (M.F.-C.); (L.S.)
- Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria, CICVyA, INTA-Castelar, Hurlingham, Buenos Aires C1033AAE, Argentina
| | - Leonhard Schnittger
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina; (M.F.-C.); (L.S.)
- Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria, CICVyA, INTA-Castelar, Hurlingham, Buenos Aires C1033AAE, Argentina
| | - Heba F. Alzan
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA;
- Parasitology and Animal Diseases Department, National Research Center, Dokki, Giza 12622, Egypt
- Tick and Tick-Borne Disease Research Unit, National Research Center, Dokki, Giza 12622, Egypt
| | - Carlos E. Suarez
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA;
- Animal Disease Research Unit, United States Department of Agricultural—Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
- Correspondence: (R.G.B.); (C.E.S.)
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11
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Recent Advances in Molecular Genetic Tools for Babesia. Vet Sci 2021; 8:vetsci8100222. [PMID: 34679052 PMCID: PMC8541370 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci8100222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Development of in vitro culture and completion of genome sequencing of several Babesia parasites promoted the efforts to establish transfection systems for these parasites to dissect the gene functions. It has been more than a decade since the establishment of first transfection for Babesia bovis, the causative agent of bovine babesiosis. However, the number of genes that were targeted by genetic tools in Babesia parasites is limited. This is partially due to the low efficiencies of these methods. The recent adaptation of CRISPR/Cas9 for genome editing of Babesia bovis can accelerate the efforts for dissecting this parasite’s genome and extend the knowledge on biological aspects of erythrocytic and tick stages of Babesia. Additionally, glmS ribozyme as a conditional knockdown system is available that could be used for the characterization of essential genes. The development of high throughput genetic tools is needed to dissect the function of multigene families, targeting several genes in a specific pathway, and finally genome-wide identification of essential genes to find novel drug targets. In this review, we summarized the current tools that are available for Babesia and the genes that are being targeted by these tools. This may draw a perspective for the future development of genetic tools and pave the way for the identification of novel drugs or vaccine targets.
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Wang J, Chen K, Ren Q, Zhang Y, Liu J, Wang G, Liu A, Li Y, Liu G, Luo J, Miao W, Xiong J, Yin H, Guan G. Systematic Comparison of the Performances of De Novo Genome Assemblers for Oxford Nanopore Technology Reads From Piroplasm. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:696669. [PMID: 34485177 PMCID: PMC8415751 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.696669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Emerging long reads sequencing technology has greatly changed the landscape of whole-genome sequencing, enabling scientists to contribute to decoding the genetic information of non-model species. The sequences generated by PacBio or Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) be assembled de novo before further analyses. Some genome de novo assemblers have been developed to assemble long reads generated by ONT. The performance of these assemblers has not been completely investigated. However, genome assembly is still a challenging task. Methods and Results We systematically evaluated the performance of nine de novo assemblers for ONT on different coverage depth datasets. Several metrics were measured to determine the performance of these tools, including N50 length, sequence coverage, runtime, easy operation, accuracy of genome and genomic completeness in varying depths of coverage. Based on the results of our assessments, the performances of these tools are summarized as follows: 1) Coverage depth has a significant effect on genome quality; 2) The level of contiguity of the assembled genome varies dramatically among different de novo tools; 3) The correctness of an assembled genome is closely related to the completeness of the genome. More than 30× nanopore data can be assembled into a relatively complete genome, the quality of which is highly dependent on the polishing using next generation sequencing data. Conclusion Considering the results of our investigation, the advantage and disadvantage of each tool are summarized and guidelines of selecting assembly tools are provided under specific conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinming Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, China
| | - Kai Chen
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiaoyun Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Functional Genomics and Molecular Diagnosis, Lanzhou Baiyuan Gene Technology Co., Ltd, Lanzhou, China
| | - Junlong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, China
| | - Guangying Wang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Aihong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, China
| | - Youquan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, China
| | - Guangyuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jianxun Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, China
| | - Wei Miao
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Jie Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Hong Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Guiquan Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, China
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Ren Y, MacPhillamy C, To TH, Smith TPL, Williams JL, Low WY. Adaptive selection signatures in river buffalo with emphasis on immune and major histocompatibility complex genes. Genomics 2021; 113:3599-3609. [PMID: 34455036 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2021.08.021] [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: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
River buffalo is an agriculturally important species with many traits, such as disease tolerance, which promote its use worldwide. Highly contiguous genome assemblies of the river buffalo, goat, pig, human and two cattle subspecies were aligned to study gene gains and losses and signs of positive selection. The gene families that have changed significantly in river buffalo since divergence from cattle play important roles in protein degradation, the olfactory receptor system, detoxification and the immune system. We used the branch site model in PAML to analyse single-copy orthologs to identify positively selected genes that may be involved in skin differentiation, mammary development and bone formation in the river buffalo branch. The high contiguity of the genomes enabled evaluation of differences among species in the major histocompatibility complex. We identified a Babesia-like L1 LINE insertion in the DRB1-like gene in the river buffalo and discuss the implication of this finding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Ren
- The Davies Research Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA 5371, Australia
| | - Callum MacPhillamy
- The Davies Research Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA 5371, Australia
| | - Thu-Hien To
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences: NMBU, Universitetstunet 3, 1430 Ås, Norway
| | | | - John L Williams
- The Davies Research Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA 5371, Australia; Dipartimento di Scienze Animali, della Nutrizione e degli Alimenti, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy
| | - Wai Yee Low
- The Davies Research Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA 5371, Australia.
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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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15
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Paoletta MS, Laughery JM, Arias LSL, Ortiz JMJ, Montenegro VN, Petrigh R, Ueti MW, Suarez CE, Farber MD, Wilkowsky SE. The key to egress? Babesia bovis perforin-like protein 1 (PLP1) with hemolytic capacity is required for blood stage replication and is involved in the exit of the parasite from the host cell. Int J Parasitol 2021; 51:643-658. [PMID: 33753093 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Bovine babesiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by apicomplexan parasites of the Babesia genus that represents a major constraint to livestock production worldwide. Currently available vaccines are based on live parasites which have archetypal limitations. Our goal is to identify candidate antigens so that new and effective vaccines against Babesia may be developed. The perforin-like protein (PLP) family has been identified as a key player in cell traversal and egress in related apicomplexans and it was also identified in Babesia, but its function in this parasite remains unknown. The aim of this work was to define the PLP family in Babesia and functionally characterize PLP1, a representative member of the family in Babesia bovis. Bioinformatic analyses demonstrate a variable number of plp genes (four to eight) in the genomes of six different Babesia spp. and conservation of the family members at the secondary and tertiary structure levels. We demonstrate here that Babesia PLPs contain the critical domains present in other apicomplexan PLPs to display the lytic capacity. We then focused on the functional characterization of PLP1 of B. bovis, both in vitro and in vivo. PLP1 is expressed and exposed to the host immune system during infection and has high hemolytic capacity under a wide range of conditions in vitro. A B. bovis plp1 knockout line displayed a decreased growth rate in vitro compared with the wild type strain and a peculiar phenotype consisting of multiple parasites within a single red blood cell, although at low frequency. This phenotype suggests that the lack of PLP1 has a negative impact on the mechanism of egression of the parasite and, therefore, on its capacity to proliferate. It is possible that PLP1 is associated with other proteins in the processes of invasion and egress, which were found to have redundant mechanisms in related apicomplexans. Future work will be focused on unravelling the network of proteins involved in these essential parasite functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Soledad Paoletta
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular (IABIMO) INTA - CONICET, De Los Reseros y Dr. Nicolás Repetto s/n, P.O. Box 25 (B1712WAA), Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jacob Michael Laughery
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Ludmila Sol López Arias
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular (IABIMO) INTA - CONICET, De Los Reseros y Dr. Nicolás Repetto s/n, P.O. Box 25 (B1712WAA), Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - José Manuel Jaramillo Ortiz
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular (IABIMO) INTA - CONICET, De Los Reseros y Dr. Nicolás Repetto s/n, P.O. Box 25 (B1712WAA), Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Valeria Noely Montenegro
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular (IABIMO) INTA - CONICET, De Los Reseros y Dr. Nicolás Repetto s/n, P.O. Box 25 (B1712WAA), Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Romina Petrigh
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular (IABIMO) INTA - CONICET, De Los Reseros y Dr. Nicolás Repetto s/n, P.O. Box 25 (B1712WAA), Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Massaro W Ueti
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA; Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Washington State University, 3003 ADBF, P.O. Box 646630, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Carlos Esteban Suarez
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA; Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Washington State University, 3003 ADBF, P.O. Box 646630, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Marisa Diana Farber
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular (IABIMO) INTA - CONICET, De Los Reseros y Dr. Nicolás Repetto s/n, P.O. Box 25 (B1712WAA), Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Silvina Elizabeth Wilkowsky
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular (IABIMO) INTA - CONICET, De Los Reseros y Dr. Nicolás Repetto s/n, P.O. Box 25 (B1712WAA), Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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16
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The repertoire of serine rhomboid proteases of piroplasmids of importance to animal and human health. Int J Parasitol 2021; 51:455-462. [PMID: 33610524 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Revised: 10/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Babesia, Theileria and Cytauxzoon are tick-borne apicomplexan protozoans of the order Piroplasmida, notorious for the diseases they cause in livestock, pets and humans. Host cell invasion is their Achilles heel, allowing for the development of drug or vaccine-based therapies. In other apicomplexans, cleavage of the transmembrane domain of adhesins by the serine rhomboid proteinase ROM4 is required for successful completion of invasion. In this study, we record and classify the rhomboid repertoire encoded in the genomes of 10 piroplasmid species pertaining to the lineages Babesia sensu stricto (s.s., Clade VI), Theileria sensu stricto (Clade IV), Theileria equi (Clade IV), Cytauxzoon felis (Clade IIIb) and Babesia microti (Clade I), as defined by Schnittger et al. (2012). Fifty-six piroplasmid rhomboid-like proteins were assigned by phylogenetic analysis and bidirectional best hit to the ROM4, ROM6, ROM7 or ROM8 groups, and their crucial motifs for conformation and function were identified. Forty-four of these rhomboids had either been incorrectly classified or misannotated. Babesia s.s. encode five or three ROM4 proteinase paralogs, whereas the remaining piroplasmids encode two ROM4 paralogs. All piroplasmids encode a single ROM6, ROM7 and ROM8. Thus, an increased paralog number of ROM4 is the only feature distinguishing Babesia s.s. from other piroplasmid lineages. Piroplasmid ROM6 is related to the mammalian mitochondrial rhomboid and, accordingly, N-terminal mitochondrial targeting signal sequences was found in some cases. ROM6 is the only rhomboid encoded by piroplasmids that is ubiquitous in other organisms. ROM8 represents a pseudoproteinase that is highly conserved between studied piroplasmids, suggesting that it is important in regulatory functions. ROM4, ROM6, ROM7 and ROM8 are exclusively present in Aconoidasida, which comprises piroplasmids and Plasmodium, suggesting a relevant functional role in erythrocyte invasion. The correct classification and designation of piroplasmid rhomboids presented in this study facilitates an informed choice for future in-depth study of their functions.
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Florin-Christensen M, Rodriguez AE, Suárez CE, Ueti MW, Delgado FO, Echaide I, Schnittger L. N-Glycosylation in Piroplasmids: Diversity within Simplicity. Pathogens 2021; 10:50. [PMID: 33429911 PMCID: PMC7826898 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10010050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
N-glycosylation has remained mostly unexplored in Piroplasmida, an order of tick-transmitted pathogens of veterinary and medical relevance. Analysis of 11 piroplasmid genomes revealed three distinct scenarios regarding N-glycosylation: Babesia sensu stricto (s.s.) species add one or two N-acetylglucosamine (NAcGlc) molecules to proteins; Theileria equi and Cytauxzoon felis add (NAcGlc)2-mannose, while B. microti and Theileria s.s. synthesize dolichol-P-P-NAcGlc and dolichol-P-P-(NAcGlc)2 without subsequent transfer to proteins. All piroplasmids possess the gene complement needed for the synthesis of the N-glycosylation substrates, dolichol-P and sugar nucleotides. The oligosaccharyl transferase of Babesia species, T. equi and C. felis, is predicted to be composed of only two subunits, STT3 and Ost1. Occurrence of short N-glycans in B. bovis merozoites was experimentally demonstrated by fluorescence microscopy using a NAcGlc-specific lectin. In vitro growth of B. bovis was significantly impaired by tunicamycin, an inhibitor of N-glycosylation, indicating a relevant role for N-glycosylation in this pathogen. Finally, genes coding for N-glycosylation enzymes and substrate biosynthesis are transcribed in B. bovis blood and tick stages, suggesting that this pathway is biologically relevant throughout the parasite life cycle. Elucidation of the role/s exerted by N-glycans will increase our understanding of these successful parasites, for which improved control measures are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Florin-Christensen
- Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria (INTA-CONICET), CICVyA, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Hurlingham 1686, Argentina; (A.E.R.); (F.O.D.); (L.S.)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina
| | - Anabel E. Rodriguez
- Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria (INTA-CONICET), CICVyA, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Hurlingham 1686, Argentina; (A.E.R.); (F.O.D.); (L.S.)
| | - Carlos E. Suárez
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99163, USA; (C.E.S.); (M.W.U.)
- Animal Disease Research Unit, United States Department of Agricultural-Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, WA 99163, USA
| | - Massaro W. Ueti
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99163, USA; (C.E.S.); (M.W.U.)
- Animal Disease Research Unit, United States Department of Agricultural-Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, WA 99163, USA
| | - Fernando O. Delgado
- Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria (INTA-CONICET), CICVyA, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Hurlingham 1686, Argentina; (A.E.R.); (F.O.D.); (L.S.)
| | - Ignacio Echaide
- Estación Experimental Agrícola INTA-Rafaela, Santa Fe, Provincia de Buenos Aires S2300, Argentina;
| | - Leonhard Schnittger
- Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria (INTA-CONICET), CICVyA, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Hurlingham 1686, Argentina; (A.E.R.); (F.O.D.); (L.S.)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina
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18
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Maboko BB, Featherston J, Sibeko-Matjila KP, Mans BJ. Whole genome sequencing of Theileria parva using target capture. Genomics 2020; 113:429-438. [PMID: 33370583 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2020.12.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Protozoan parasite isolation and purification are laborious and time-consuming processes required for high quality genomic DNA used in whole genome sequencing. The objective of this study was to capture whole Theileria parva genomes directly from cell cultures and blood samples using RNA baits. Cell culture material was bait captured or sequenced directly, while blood samples were all captured. Baits had variable success in capturing T. parva genomes from blood samples but were successful in cell cultures. Genome mapping uncovered extensive host contamination in blood samples compared to cell cultures. Captured cell cultures had over 81 fold coverage for the reference genome compared to 0-33 fold for blood samples. Results indicate that baits are specific to T. parva, are a good alternative to conventional methods and thus ideal for genomic studies. This study also reports the first whole genome sequencing of South African T. parva.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boitumelo B Maboko
- Agricultural Research Council, Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort, 0110 Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Vector and Vector-borne Disease Research Programme, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110 Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Jonathan Featherston
- Agricultural Research Council, Biotechnology Platform, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort, 0110 Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Kgomotso P Sibeko-Matjila
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Vector and Vector-borne Disease Research Programme, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110 Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Ben J Mans
- Agricultural Research Council, Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort, 0110 Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Vector and Vector-borne Disease Research Programme, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110 Pretoria, South Africa; School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa; Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida 1709, South Africa.
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Elsworth B, Duraisingh MT. A framework for signaling throughout the life cycle of Babesia species. Mol Microbiol 2020; 115:882-890. [PMID: 33274587 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Babesia species are tick-borne intracellular parasites that infect the red blood cells of their mammalian host, leading to severe or fatal disease. Babesia spp. infect a wide range of mammalian species and cause a significant economic burden globally, predominantly through disease in cattle. Several Babesia spp. are increasingly being recognized as zoonotic pathogens of humans. Babesia spp. have complex life cycles involving multiple stages in the tick and the mammalian host. The parasite utilizes complex signaling pathways during replication, egress, and invasion in each of these stages. They must also rapidly respond to their environment when switching between the mammalian and tick stages. This review will focus on the signaling pathways and environmental stimuli that Babesia spp. utilize in the bloodstream and for transmission to the tick, with an emphasis on the role of phosphorylation- and calcium-based signaling during egress and invasion. The expanding availability of in vitro and in vivo culture systems, genomes, transcriptomes, and transgenic systems available for a range of Babesia spp. should encourage further biological and translational studies of these ubiquitous parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan Elsworth
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Manoj T Duraisingh
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Hakimi H, Templeton TJ, Sakaguchi M, Yamagishi J, Miyazaki S, Yahata K, Uchihashi T, Kawazu SI, Kaneko O, Asada M. Novel Babesia bovis exported proteins that modify properties of infected red blood cells. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008917. [PMID: 33017449 PMCID: PMC7561165 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Babesia bovis causes a pathogenic form of babesiosis in cattle. Following invasion of red blood cells (RBCs) the parasite extensively modifies host cell structural and mechanical properties via the export of numerous proteins. Despite their crucial role in virulence and pathogenesis, such proteins have not been comprehensively characterized in B. bovis. Here we describe the surface biotinylation of infected RBCs (iRBCs), followed by proteomic analysis. We describe a multigene family (mtm) that encodes predicted multi-transmembrane integral membrane proteins which are exported and expressed on the surface of iRBCs. One mtm gene was downregulated in blasticidin-S (BS) resistant parasites, suggesting an association with BS uptake. Induced knockdown of a novel exported protein encoded by BBOV_III004280, named VESA export-associated protein (BbVEAP), resulted in a decreased growth rate, reduced RBC surface ridge numbers, mis-localized VESA1, and abrogated cytoadhesion to endothelial cells, suggesting that BbVEAP is a novel virulence factor for B. bovis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Hakimi
- Department of Protozoology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
- * E-mail: (HH); (MA)
| | - Thomas J. Templeton
- Department of Protozoology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Miako Sakaguchi
- Central Laboratory, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Junya Yamagishi
- Division of Collaboration and Education, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- International Collaboration Unit, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Shinya Miyazaki
- Department of Protozoology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Kazuhide Yahata
- Department of Protozoology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | | | - Shin-ichiro Kawazu
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Osamu Kaneko
- Department of Protozoology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Masahito Asada
- Department of Protozoology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
- * E-mail: (HH); (MA)
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21
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Ribeiro DM, Salama AAK, Vitor ACM, Argüello A, Moncau CT, Santos EM, Caja G, de Oliveira JS, Balieiro JCC, Hernández-Castellano LE, Zachut M, Poleti MD, Castro N, Alves SP, Almeida AM. The application of omics in ruminant production: a review in the tropical and sub-tropical animal production context. J Proteomics 2020; 227:103905. [PMID: 32712373 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2020.103905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The demand for animal products (e.g. dairy and beef) in tropical regions is expected to increase in parallel with the public demand for sustainable practices, due to factors such as population growth and climate change. The necessity to increase animal production output must be achieved with better management and production technologies. For this to happen, novel research methodologies, animal selection and postgenomic tools play a pivotal role. Indeed, improving breeder selection programs, the quality of meat and dairy products as well as animal health will contribute to higher sustainability and productivity. This would surely benefit regions where resource quality and quantity are increasingly unstable, and research is still very incipient, which is the case of many regions in the tropics. The purpose of this review is to demonstrate how omics-based approaches play a major role in animal science, particularly concerning ruminant production systems and research associated to the tropics and developing countries. SIGNIFICANCE: Environmental conditions in the tropics make livestock production harder, compared to temperate regions. Due to global warming, the sustainability of livestock production will become increasingly problematic. The use of novel omics technologies could generate useful information to understand adaptation mechanisms of resilient breeds and/or species. The application of omics to tropical animal production is still residual in the currently available literature. With this review, we aim to summarize the most notable results in the field whilst encouraging further research to deal with the future challenges that animal production in the tropics will need to face.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Ribeiro
- LEAF Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, University of Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ahmed A K Salama
- Group of Research in Ruminants (G2R), Department of Animal and Food Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana C M Vitor
- CIISA - Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. da Universidade Técnica, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Anastasio Argüello
- Animal Production and Biotechnology group, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413 Arucas, Spain
| | - Cristina T Moncau
- FZEA - Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Avenida Duque de Caxias Norte - 225, 13635-900 Pirassununga, SP, Brazil
| | - Edson M Santos
- Departamento de Zootecnia, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Areia, PB, Brazil
| | - Gerardo Caja
- Group of Research in Ruminants (G2R), Department of Animal and Food Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juliana S de Oliveira
- Departamento de Zootecnia, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Areia, PB, Brazil
| | - Júlio C C Balieiro
- FMVZ - School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Avenida Duque de Caxias Norte - 225, 13635-900 Pirassununga, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Maya Zachut
- Department of Ruminant Science, Institute of Animal Sciences Agricultural Research Organization/Volcani Center, Rishon Lezion 7505101, Israel
| | - Mirele D Poleti
- FZEA - Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Avenida Duque de Caxias Norte - 225, 13635-900 Pirassununga, SP, Brazil
| | - Noemi Castro
- Animal Production and Biotechnology group, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413 Arucas, Spain
| | - Susana P Alves
- CIISA - Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. da Universidade Técnica, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - André M Almeida
- LEAF Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, University of Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal.
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22
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González LM, Estrada K, Grande R, Jiménez-Jacinto V, Vega-Alvarado L, Sevilla E, de la Barrera J, Cuesta I, Zaballos Á, Bautista JM, Lobo CA, Sánchez-Flores A, Montero E. Comparative and functional genomics of the protozoan parasite Babesia divergens highlighting the invasion and egress processes. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007680. [PMID: 31425518 PMCID: PMC6715253 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Revised: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Babesiosis is considered an emerging disease because its incidence has significantly increased in the last 30 years, providing evidence of the expanding range of this rare but potentially life-threatening zoonotic disease. Babesia divergens is a causative agent of babesiosis in humans and cattle in Europe. The recently sequenced genome of B. divergens revealed over 3,741 protein coding-genes and the 10.7-Mb high-quality draft become the first reference tool to study the genome structure of B. divergens. Now, by exploiting this sequence data and using new computational tools and assembly strategies, we have significantly improved the quality of the B. divergens genome. The new assembly shows better continuity and has a higher correspondence to B. bovis chromosomes. Moreover, we present a differential expression analysis using RNA sequencing of the two different stages of the asexual lifecycle of B. divergens: the free merozoite capable of invading erythrocytes and the intraerythrocytic parasite stage that remains within the erythrocyte until egress. Comparison of mRNA levels of both stages identified 1,441 differentially expressed genes. From these, around half were upregulated and the other half downregulated in the intraerythrocytic stage. Orthogonal validation by real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR confirmed the differential expression. A moderately increased expression level of genes, putatively involved in the invasion and egress processes, were revealed in the intraerythrocytic stage compared with the free merozoite. On the basis of these results and in the absence of molecular models of invasion and egress for B. divergens, we have proposed the identified genes as putative molecular players in the invasion and egress processes. Our results contribute to an understanding of key parasitic strategies and pathogenesis and could be a valuable genomic resource to exploit for the design of diagnostic methods, drugs and vaccines to improve the control of babesiosis. Babesiosis has long been recognized as an economically important disease of cattle, but only in the last 40 years has Babesia been recognized as an important pathogen in humans. Babesiosis in humans is caused by one of several species (B. microti, B. divergens, B. duncani and B. venatorum). The complete Babesia lifecycle requires two hosts, the ixodid ticks and a vertebrate host. It is the parasite's ability to first recognize and then invade host erythrocytes that is central to the pathogenesis of babesiosis. Once inside the cell, the parasite begins a cycle of maturation and growth, resulting in merozoites that egress from the red blood cells (RBCs) and seek new, uninfected RBCs to invade, perpetuating the infection. To better understand this asexual lifecycle, the authors focused on the parasite genome and transcriptome of the asexual erythrocytic forms of B. divergens. Through this functional and comparative genomic approach, the authors have identified genes putatively involved in invasion, gliding motility, moving junction formation and egress, providing new insights into the molecular mechanisms of these processes necessary for B. divergens to survive and propagate during its life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Miguel González
- Laboratorio de Referencia e Investigación en Parasitología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, ISCIII Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Karel Estrada
- Unidad Universitaria de Secuenciación Masiva y Bioinformática, Instituto de Biotecnología, Cuernavaca, México
| | - Ricardo Grande
- Unidad Universitaria de Secuenciación Masiva y Bioinformática, Instituto de Biotecnología, Cuernavaca, México
| | - Verónica Jiménez-Jacinto
- Unidad Universitaria de Secuenciación Masiva y Bioinformática, Instituto de Biotecnología, Cuernavaca, México
| | | | - Elena Sevilla
- Laboratorio de Referencia e Investigación en Parasitología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, ISCIII Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge de la Barrera
- Unidad de Bioinformática, Área de Unidades Centrales Científico-Técnicas, ISCIII, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Cuesta
- Unidad de Bioinformática, Área de Unidades Centrales Científico-Técnicas, ISCIII, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ángel Zaballos
- Unidad de Genómica, Área de Unidades Centrales Científico-Técnicas, ISCIII, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Manuel Bautista
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology & Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cheryl A. Lobo
- Blood Borne Parasites, LFKRI, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Alejandro Sánchez-Flores
- Unidad Universitaria de Secuenciación Masiva y Bioinformática, Instituto de Biotecnología, Cuernavaca, México
- * E-mail: (ASF); (EM)
| | - Estrella Montero
- Laboratorio de Referencia e Investigación en Parasitología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, ISCIII Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
- * E-mail: (ASF); (EM)
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23
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Initiated Babesia ovata Sexual Stages under In Vitro Conditions Were Recognized by Anti-CCp2 Antibodies, Showing Changes in the DNA Content by Imaging Flow Cytometry. Pathogens 2019; 8:pathogens8030104. [PMID: 31319568 PMCID: PMC6789521 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens8030104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Sexual stage induction under in vitro conditions is useful for biological and molecular studies of Babesia parasites. Therefore, in the present study, we induced B. ovata tick stages using the chemical inducers: xanthurenic acid (XA), dithiothreitol (DTT) and tris (2-carboxyethyl) phosphine (TCEP) at 27 °C or 37 °C conditions. Cultures at low temperature (27 °C) or treated with XA/TCEP induced a large number of extra-erythrocytic merozoites, which transformed into round shape cells at 12-24 h post-induction (pi). However, typical forms of tick stages (aggregation forms and the spiky forms/ray bodies) were only observed in the cultures treated with 40 mM or 60 mM of DTT during 3-6 h pi. The induced cells were recognized by anti-CCp2 rabbit antisera. DNA content of the cell population treated with 40 mM of DTT was analyzed by imaging flow cytometry at 0, 12 and 48 h pi. The results indicated that the parasite population with diploid-like double DNA content increased at 48 h pi. Our observations on morphological and changes in the DNA content provide useful information for understanding the life cycle of B. ovata under in vitro conditions, which will facilitate further studies on basic biology and the development of transmission blocking vaccines against bovine babesiosis.
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24
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Abstract
Babesia bovis, the most virulent causative agent of bovine babesiosis, is prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Although the whole-genome sequence was released more than a decade ago, functional analysis of the genomics of this parasite is hampered by the limited breadth of genetic engineering tools. In this study, we implemented the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/Cas9 system for B. bovis and demonstrated its potential for genome editing. Cas9 and human dihydrofolate reductase (hDHFR) were simultaneously expressed by the B. bovis elongation factor-1α bidirectional promoter, and a single guide RNA was expressed via the B. bovis U6 spliceosomal RNA promoter. Using a single plasmid construct, we were able to add an epitope tag to spherical body protein 3 (SBP3), introduce a point mutation into thioredoxin peroxidase 1 (tpx-1) to impair the function of the product, and replace the tpx-1 open reading frame with the other protein. Epitope tagging of SBP3 was efficient using this system, with a negligible number of remaining wild-type parasites and a pure transgenic population produced by allelic replacement of tpx-1 This advancement in genetic engineering tools for B. bovis will aid functional analysis of the genome and underpin characterization of candidate drug and vaccine targets.IMPORTANCE Babesia bovis is the most virulent cause of bovine babesiosis worldwide. The disease consequences are death, abortion, and economical loss due to reduced milk and meat production. Available vaccines are not effective, treatment options are limited, and emergence of drug and acaricide resistance has been reported from different regions. There is an urgent need to identify new drug and vaccine targets. Greater than half of the genes in B. bovis genome, including several expanded gene families which are unique for Babesia spp., have no predicted function. The available genetic engineering tools are based on conventional homologous recombination, which is time-consuming and inefficient. In this study, we adapted the CRISPR/Cas9 system as a robust genetic engineering tool for B. bovis This advancement will aid future functional studies of uncharacterized genes.
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25
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Allred DR. Variable and Variant Protein Multigene Families in Babesia bovis Persistence. Pathogens 2019; 8:pathogens8020076. [PMID: 31212587 PMCID: PMC6630957 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens8020076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Revised: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cattle infected with Babesia bovis face a bifurcated fate: Either die of the severe acute infection, or survive and carry for many years a highly persistent but generally asymptomatic infection. In this review, the author describes known and potential contributions of three variable or highly variant multigene-encoded families of proteins to persistence in the bovine host, and the mechanisms by which variability arises among these families. Ramifications arising from this variability are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- David R Allred
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
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26
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Bohaliga GAR, Johnson WC, Taus NS, Hussein HE, Bastos RG, Suarez CE, Scoles GA, Ueti MW. Identification of proteins expressed by Babesia bigemina kinetes. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:271. [PMID: 31138276 PMCID: PMC6537212 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3531-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Babesia bigemina is an apicomplexan parasite transovarially transmitted via Rhipicephalus ticks that infect red blood cells and causes bovine babesiosis, a poorly controlled severe acute disease in cattle. New methods of control are urgently needed, including the development of transmission blocking vaccines (TBV). Babesia bigemina reproduces sexually in the gut of adult female R. microplus upon acquisition following a blood meal. Sexual reproduction results in zygotes that infect gut epithelial cells to transform into kinete stage parasites, which invade tick ovaries and infects the egg mass. The subsequent tick generation transmits B. bigemina upon feeding on bovine hosts. An important limitation for developing novel TBV is that the pattern of protein expression in B. bigemina tick stages, such as the kinete stage, remain essentially uncharacterized. Results We determined the protein expression profile of three B. bigemina putative tick stage candidates BbiKSP (BBBOND_0206730), CCp2 and CCp3. We found that BbiKSP expression was restricted to B. bigemina kinetes. CCp2 and CCp3, previously shown to be expressed by induced sexual stages, were also expressed by kinetes. Importantly, none of these proteins were expressed by B. bigemina blood stages. Conclusions Babesia bigemina kinetes express BbiKSP, CCp2 and CCp3 proteins, therefore, these proteins may play important roles during B. bigemina development within tick hemolymph and may serve as potential candidate targets for the development of TBV. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-019-3531-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gamila A R Bohaliga
- Program in Vector-borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Wendell C Johnson
- Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA, 99164-6630, USA
| | - Naomi S Taus
- Program in Vector-borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA.,Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA, 99164-6630, USA
| | - Hala E Hussein
- Program in Vector-borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA.,Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, 12613, Egypt
| | - Reginaldo G Bastos
- Program in Vector-borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Carlos E Suarez
- Program in Vector-borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA.,Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA, 99164-6630, USA
| | - Glen A Scoles
- Program in Vector-borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA.,Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA, 99164-6630, USA
| | - Massaro W Ueti
- Program in Vector-borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA. .,Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA, 99164-6630, USA. .,The Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-70403, USA.
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27
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Xu Z, Guo Y, Roellig DM, Feng Y, Xiao L. Comparative analysis reveals conservation in genome organization among intestinal Cryptosporidium species and sequence divergence in potential secreted pathogenesis determinants among major human-infecting species. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:406. [PMID: 31117941 PMCID: PMC6532270 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-5788-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cryptosporidiosis is a major cause of gastrointestinal diseases in humans and other vertebrates. Previous analyses of invasion-related proteins revealed that Cryptosporidium parvum, Cryptosporidium hominis, and Cryptosporidium ubiquitum mainly differed in copy numbers of secreted MEDLE proteins and insulinase-like proteases and sequences of mucin-type glycoproteins. Recently, Cryptosporidium chipmunk genotype I was identified as a novel zoonotic pathogen in humans. In this study, we sequenced its genome and conducted a comparative genomic analysis. Results The genome of Cryptosporidium chipmunk genotype I has gene content and organization similar to C. parvum and other intestinal Cryptosporidium species sequenced to date. A total of 3783 putative protein-encoding genes were identified in the genome, 3525 of which are shared by Cryptosporidium chipmunk genotype I and three major human-pathogenic Cryptosporidium species, C. parvum, C. hominis, and Cryptosporidium meleagridis. The metabolic pathways are almost identical among these four Cryptosporidium species. Compared with C. parvum, a major reduction in gene content in Cryptosporidium chipmunk genotype I is in the number of telomeric genes encoding MEDLE proteins (two instead of six) and insulinase-like proteases (one instead of two). Highly polymorphic genes between the two species are mostly subtelomeric ones encoding secretory proteins, most of which have higher dN/dS ratios and half are members of multiple gene families. In particular, two subtelomeric ABC transporters are under strong positive selection. Conclusions Cryptosporidium chipmunk genotype I possesses genome organization, gene content, metabolic pathways and invasion-related proteins similar to the common human-pathogenic Cryptosporidium species, reaffirming its human-pathogenic nature. The loss of some subtelomeric genes encoding insulinase-like proteases and secreted MEDLE proteins and high sequence divergence in secreted pathogenesis determinants could contribute to the biological differences among human-pathogenic Cryptosporidium species. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-019-5788-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixiao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Yaqiong Guo
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Dawn M Roellig
- Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Yaoyu Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China. .,Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
| | - Lihua Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
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28
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To kill a piroplasm: genetic technologies to advance drug discovery and target identification in Babesia. Int J Parasitol 2019; 49:153-163. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2018.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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