Ticks and tick-borne diseases (TTBDs) are considered major causes of economic loss in the livestock sector which incur an annual control cost estimated at US$ 498.7 million in India. Among these diseases, babesiosis, theileriosis and anaplasmosis are listed among the top ten livestock diseases in India and cause significant mortality and morbidity among cattle. However, molecular characterization of bovine Babesia and Anaplasma species are scant; thus, the aim of this study is to perform molecular characterization of field isolates of Babesia spp. and Anaplasma spp. infecting bovines in Kerala, South India. Blood smears and whole blood samples were collected from a total of 199 apparently healthy adult female cattle in Kerala. Based on microscopy, Babesia spp., Theileria orientalis and Anaplasma spp. organisms were detected in 9 (4.5%), 40 (20%) and 6 (3%) samples, respectively. Genus-specific polymerase chain reactions for amplification of 18S rRNA of Babesia spp. and 16S rRNA of Anaplasma spp. revealed positive results with 18 (9%) and 14 (7%) samples. The phylogenetic analysis of 18S rRNA gene sequences of Babesia spp. confirmed the existence of two different populations of Babesia spp. circulating in the blood of infected cattle viz., Babesia bigemina and a Babesia sp. genetically related to Babesia ovata. Further phylogenetic analysis using rap-1a sequences of isolates of B. bigemina revealed higher levels of genetic heterogeneity. However, the field isolates of B. bigemina displayed only slight heterogeneity when the rap-1c gene was examined. Polymerase chain reaction followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene of Anaplasma spp. revealed the existence of Anaplasma marginale, Anaplasma bovis and Anaplasma platys in bovines in South India. Based on msp4 gene sequences, all the field isolates of A. marginale from Kerala were clustered in a single clade with others isolated from around the world. To our knowledge, this study forms the first report on occurrence of B. ovata-like parasites and A. platys in cattle from India.
Sucrose synthase is a key regulatory protein, and a potential biomarker for abiotic stress response in plants. These metabolic enzymes have been extensively examined for their varied functional roles. The upregulation of this P i-and adenylate-independent glycolytic enzyme in different environmental contexts has also been extensively characterized. Here we present an analysis of the evolutionary features of sucrose synthases in an effort to correlate variations in sequence to the structure and function of this protein and its potential implication for the stress response mechanism in plants as evidenced from transcript distribution studies. An analysis of the evolutionary characteristics of this enzyme is useful given the role of this protein in sugar sensing, sugar import to sink tissues and plant development. Based on the secondary structural features of sucrose synthases and mapping of sequence variations in the context of the fold of these proteins, we note evolutionarily conserved amino acids of potential functional significance. In addition, we also observe the presence of target peptides in some of these proteins suggesting potential cellular localization. The results presented in this manuscript could aid ongoing studies on this protein as a potential biomarker and candidate gene for environmental stress.
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