Functional Genomics of Tick Vectors Challenged with the Cattle Parasite Babesia bigemina

Domingos, Ana; Antunes, Sandra; Villar, Margarita; Fuente, José de la

doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-2004-4_32

Cited by 3 publications

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“…Bovine babesiosis is a parasitic disease caused by the intraerythrocytic protozoa of the genus Babesia [ 1 ]. In the Americas, it is transmitted mainly by Rhipicephalus microplus and R. annulatus ticks [ 2 ]. In addition to Babesia species causing economic losses and deaths in cattle, there are also species that can parasitize humans, small ruminants [ 3 ], domestic animals and wildlife [ 4 ].…”

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confidence: 99%

The GP-45 Protein, a Highly Variable Antigen from Babesia bigemina, Contains Conserved B-Cell Epitopes in Geographically Distant Isolates

et al. 2022

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In B. bigemina, the 45 kilodaltons glycoprotein (GP-45) is the most studied. GP-45 is exposed on the surface of the B. bigemina merozoite, it is believed to play a role in the invasion of erythrocytes, and it is characterized by a high genetic and antigenic polymorphism. The objective of this study was to determine if GP-45 contains conserved B-cell epitopes, and if they would induce neutralizing antibodies. The comparative analysis of nucleotide and amino acids sequences revealed a high percentage of similarity between field isolates. Antibodies against peptides containing conserved B-cell epitopes of GP-45 were generated. Antibodies present in the sera of mice immunized with GP-45 peptides specifically recognize B. bigemina by the IFAT. More than 95% of cattle naturally infected with B. bigemina contained antibodies against conserved GP-45 peptides tested by ELISA. Finally, sera from rabbits immunized with GP-45 peptides were evaluated in vitro neutralization tests and it was shown that they reduced the percentage of parasitemia compared to sera from rabbits immunized with adjuvant. GP-45 from geographically distant isolates of B. bigemina contains conserved B-cell epitopes that induce neutralizing antibodies suggesting that this gene and its product play a critical role in the survival of the parasite under field conditions.

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