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Mosqueda J, Hernandez-Silva DJ, Ueti MW, Cruz-Reséndiz A, Marquez-Cervantez R, Valdez-Espinoza UM, Dang-Trinh MA, Nguyen TT, Camacho-Nuez M, Mercado-Uriostegui MA, Aguilar-Tipacamú G, Ramos-Aragon JA, Hernandez-Ortiz R, Kawazu SI, Igarashi I. Spherical Body Protein 4 from Babesia bigemina: A Novel Gene That Contains Conserved B-Cell Epitopes and Induces Cross-Reactive Neutralizing Antibodies in Babesia ovata. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12030495. [PMID: 36986418 PMCID: PMC10051436 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12030495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Bovine babesiosis is a tick-transmitted disease caused by intraerythrocytic protozoan parasites of the genus Babesia. Its main causative agents in the Americas are Babesia bigemina and Babesia bovis, while Babesia ovata affects cattle in Asia. All Babesia species secrete proteins stored in organelles of the apical complex, which are involved in all steps of the invasion process of vertebrate host cells. Unlike other apicomplexans, which have dense granules, babesia parasites instead have large, round intracellular organelles called spherical bodies. Evidence suggests that proteins from these organelles are released during the process of invading red blood cells, where spherical body proteins (SBPs) play an important role in cytoskeleton reorganization. In this study, we characterized the gene that encodes SBP4 in B. bigemina. This gene is transcribed and expressed in the erythrocytic stages of B. bigemina. The sbp4 gene consists of 834 nucleotides without introns that encode a protein of 277 amino acids. In silico analysis predicted a signal peptide that is cleaved at residue 20, producing a 28.88-kDa protein. The presence of a signal peptide and the absence of transmembrane domains suggest that this protein is secreted. Importantly, when cattle were immunized with recombinant B. bigemina SBP4, antibodies identified B. bigemina and B. ovata merozoites according to confocal microscopy observations and were able to neutralize parasite multiplication in vitro for both species. Four peptides with predicted B-cell epitopes were identified to be conserved in 17 different isolates from six countries. Compared with the pre-immunization sera, antibodies against these conserved peptides reduced parasite invasion in vitro by 57%, 44%, 42%, and 38% for peptides 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively (p < 0.05). Moreover, sera from cattle infected with B. bigemina cattle contained antibodies that recognized the individual peptides. All these results support the concept of spb4 as a new gene in B. bigemina that should be considered a candidate for a vaccine to control bovine babesiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Mosqueda
- Immunology and Vaccines Laboratory, C. A. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro, Carretera a Chichimequillas, Ejido Bolaños, Queretaro 76140, Mexico
- C.A. Salud Animal y Microbiologia Ambiental, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro, Av. de las Ciencias s/n Col Juriquilla, Queretaro 76230, Mexico
| | - Diego Josimar Hernandez-Silva
- Immunology and Vaccines Laboratory, C. A. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro, Carretera a Chichimequillas, Ejido Bolaños, Queretaro 76140, Mexico
- Ph.D. Program in Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Av. de las Ciencias s/n Col Juriquilla, Queretaro 76230, Mexico
| | - Massaro W Ueti
- Animal Diseases Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Adolfo Cruz-Reséndiz
- Immunology and Vaccines Laboratory, C. A. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro, Carretera a Chichimequillas, Ejido Bolaños, Queretaro 76140, Mexico
- Veterinary Medicine Program, College of Natural Sciences, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Av. de las Ciencias s/n Col Juriquilla, Queretaro 76230, Mexico
| | - Ricardo Marquez-Cervantez
- Immunology and Vaccines Laboratory, C. A. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro, Carretera a Chichimequillas, Ejido Bolaños, Queretaro 76140, Mexico
- Veterinary Medicine Program, College of Natural Sciences, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Av. de las Ciencias s/n Col Juriquilla, Queretaro 76230, Mexico
| | - Uriel Mauricio Valdez-Espinoza
- Immunology and Vaccines Laboratory, C. A. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro, Carretera a Chichimequillas, Ejido Bolaños, Queretaro 76140, Mexico
- Master's Program in Animal Health and Production, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Av. Universidad 3000, Edificio A, Delegacion Coyoacan, Col. Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
- CENID-Salud Animal e Inocuidad/INIFAP, Carretera Federal Cuernavaca-Cuautla #8534, Col. Progreso, Jiutepec 62574, Mexico
| | - Minh-Anh Dang-Trinh
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan
| | - Thu-Thuy Nguyen
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan
| | - Minerva Camacho-Nuez
- Posgrado en Ciencias Genomicas, Universidad Autonoma de la Ciudad de Mexico, San Lorenzo 290, Esquina Roberto Gayol, Col. del Valle Sur, Delegacion Benito Juarez, Mexico City 03100, Mexico
| | - Miguel Angel Mercado-Uriostegui
- Immunology and Vaccines Laboratory, C. A. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro, Carretera a Chichimequillas, Ejido Bolaños, Queretaro 76140, Mexico
- C.A. Salud Animal y Microbiologia Ambiental, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro, Av. de las Ciencias s/n Col Juriquilla, Queretaro 76230, Mexico
| | - Gabriela Aguilar-Tipacamú
- C.A. Salud Animal y Microbiologia Ambiental, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro, Av. de las Ciencias s/n Col Juriquilla, Queretaro 76230, Mexico
| | - Juan Alberto Ramos-Aragon
- CENID-Salud Animal e Inocuidad/INIFAP, Carretera Federal Cuernavaca-Cuautla #8534, Col. Progreso, Jiutepec 62574, Mexico
| | - Ruben Hernandez-Ortiz
- CENID-Salud Animal e Inocuidad/INIFAP, Carretera Federal Cuernavaca-Cuautla #8534, Col. Progreso, Jiutepec 62574, Mexico
| | - Shin-Ichiro Kawazu
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan
| | - Ikuo Igarashi
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan
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Advances in Babesia Vaccine Development: An Overview. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12020300. [PMID: 36839572 PMCID: PMC9962624 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Babesiosis is a tick-borne zoonotic disease, which is caused by various species of intracellular Babesia parasite. It is a problem not only for the livestock industry but also for global health. Significant global economic losses, in particular in cattle production, have been observed. Since the current preventive measures against babesiosis are insufficient, there is increasing pressure to develop a vaccine. In this review, we survey the achievements and recent advances in the creation of antibabesiosis vaccine. The scope of this review includes the development of a vaccine against B. microti, B. bovis, B. bigemina, B. orientalis and B. divergens. Here, we present different strategies in their progress and evaluation. Scientists worldwide are still trying to find new targets for a vaccine that would not only reduce symptoms among animals but also prevent the further spread of the disease. Molecular candidates for the production of a vaccine against various Babesia spp. are presented. Our study also describes the current prospects of vaccine evolution for successful Babesia parasites elimination.
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Kim MJ, Chu KB, Lee SH, Kang HJ, Yoon KW, Ahmed MA, Quan FS. Recombinant Vaccinia Virus Expressing Plasmodium berghei Apical Membrane Antigen 1 or Microneme Protein Enhances Protection against P. berghei Infection in Mice. Trop Med Infect Dis 2022; 7:350. [PMID: 36355892 PMCID: PMC9698705 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7110350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Recombinant vaccinia viruses (rVV) are effective antigen delivery vectors and are researched widely as vaccine platforms against numerous diseases. Apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) is one of the candidate antigens for malaria vaccines but rising concerns regarding its genetic diversity and polymorphism have necessitated the need to search for an alternative antigen. Here, we compare the efficacies of the rVV vaccines expressing either AMA1 or microneme protein (MIC) of Plasmodium berghei in mice. Mice (BALB/c) were immunized with either rVV-AMA1 or rVV-MIC and subsequently challenge-infected with P. berghei. Compared to the control group, both antigens elicited elevated levels of parasite-specific antibody responses. Immunization with either one of the two vaccines induced high levels of T cells and germinal center B cell responses. Interestingly, rVV-MIC immunization elicited higher levels of cellular immune response compared to rVV-AMA1 immunization, and significantly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine productions were observed from the former vaccine. While differences in parasitemia and bodyweight changes were negligible between rVV-AMA1 and rVV-MIC immunization groups, prolonged survival was observed for the latter of the two. Based on these results, our findings suggest that the rVV expressing the P. berghei MIC could be a vaccine-candidate antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Ju Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Ki-Back Chu
- Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, School of Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Su-Hwa Lee
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Hae-Ji Kang
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Keon-Woong Yoon
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Md Atique Ahmed
- ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, NE Region, Dibrugarh 786010, Assam, India
| | - Fu-Shi Quan
- Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, School of Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
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The GP-45 Protein, a Highly Variable Antigen from Babesia bigemina, Contains Conserved B-Cell Epitopes in Geographically Distant Isolates. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11050591. [PMID: 35631112 PMCID: PMC9144247 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11050591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In B. bigemina, the 45 kilodaltons glycoprotein (GP-45) is the most studied. GP-45 is exposed on the surface of the B. bigemina merozoite, it is believed to play a role in the invasion of erythrocytes, and it is characterized by a high genetic and antigenic polymorphism. The objective of this study was to determine if GP-45 contains conserved B-cell epitopes, and if they would induce neutralizing antibodies. The comparative analysis of nucleotide and amino acids sequences revealed a high percentage of similarity between field isolates. Antibodies against peptides containing conserved B-cell epitopes of GP-45 were generated. Antibodies present in the sera of mice immunized with GP-45 peptides specifically recognize B. bigemina by the IFAT. More than 95% of cattle naturally infected with B. bigemina contained antibodies against conserved GP-45 peptides tested by ELISA. Finally, sera from rabbits immunized with GP-45 peptides were evaluated in vitro neutralization tests and it was shown that they reduced the percentage of parasitemia compared to sera from rabbits immunized with adjuvant. GP-45 from geographically distant isolates of B. bigemina contains conserved B-cell epitopes that induce neutralizing antibodies suggesting that this gene and its product play a critical role in the survival of the parasite under field conditions.
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Barreda D, Hidalgo-Ruiz M, Hernandez-Ortiz R, Ramos JA, Galindo-Velasco E, Mosqueda J. Identification of conserved peptides containing B-cell epitopes of Babesia bovis AMA-1 and their potential as diagnostics candidates. Transbound Emerg Dis 2019; 67 Suppl 2:60-68. [PMID: 31231975 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2018] [Revised: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA-1) is a protein of the micronemes that is present in all organisms of the phylum Apicomplexa; it has been shown that AMA-1 plays an essential role for parasite invasion to target cells. It has been reported that AMA-1 is conserved among different isolates of Babesia; however, it is unknown whether the protein contains conserved B-cell epitopes and whether these epitopes are recognized by antibodies from cattle in endemic areas. In this research, using an in silico analysis, four peptides were designed containing exposed and conserved linear B-cell epitopes from the extracellular region of Babesia bovis AMA-1. The selected peptides were chemically synthesized, and then each peptide was emulsified and used to immunize two bovines per peptide. The antibodies produced against these peptides were able to recognize intra-erythrocytic parasites in an IFAT, except peptide 4, which was insoluble. The synthetic peptides were covalently fixed to the wells of an ELISA plate and incubated with sera from B. bovis naturally infected cattle. Peptides P2AMA and P3AMA were recognized by the sera of naturally infected cattle from different regions of Mexico. Statistical analysis showed that the ELISA test for peptides P2AMA and P3AMA had a concordance of 91.2% and 61.1% compared to the IFAT, a sensitivity of 94.56% and 71.74%, and a specificity of 76.19% and 14.2%, respectively. The presence of antibodies in bovine sera from endemic areas that bind to the identified peptides indicates that AMA-1 from B. bovis has conserved B-cell epitopes involved in the immune response under natural conditions. However, to propose their use as vaccine or diagnostics candidates, a further characterization of the humoral immune response elicited in cattle by these peptides is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dante Barreda
- Immunology and Vaccines Laboratory, C. A. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Queretaro, Mexico.,Maestría en Ciencias de la Producción y de la Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Mario Hidalgo-Ruiz
- Immunology and Vaccines Laboratory, C. A. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Queretaro, Mexico
| | | | | | | | - Juan Mosqueda
- Immunology and Vaccines Laboratory, C. A. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Queretaro, Mexico
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Hidalgo-Ruiz M, Suarez CE, Mercado-Uriostegui MA, Hernandez-Ortiz R, Ramos JA, Galindo-Velasco E, León-Ávila G, Hernández JM, Mosqueda J. Babesia bovis RON2 contains conserved B-cell epitopes that induce an invasion-blocking humoral immune response in immunized cattle. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:575. [PMID: 30390674 PMCID: PMC6215676 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3164-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Babesia bovis belongs to the phylum Apicomplexa and is the major causal agent of bovine babesiosis, the most important veterinary disease transmitted by arthropods. In apicomplexan parasites, the interaction between AMA1 and RON2 is necessary for the invasion process, and it is a target for vaccine development. In B. bovis, the existence of AMA1 has already been reported; however, the presence of a homolog of RON2 is unknown. The aim of this study was to characterize RON2 in B. bovis. Results The B. bovis ron2 gene has a similar synteny with the orthologous gene in the B. bigemina genome. The entire ron2 gene was sequenced from different B. bovis strains showing > 99% similarity at the amino acid and nucleotide level among all the sequences obtained, including the characteristic CLAG domain for cytoadherence in the amino acid sequence, as is described in other Apicomplexa. The in silico transcription analysis showed similar levels of transcription between attenuated and virulent B. bovis strains, and expression of RON2 was confirmed by western blot in the B. bovis T3Bo virulent strain. Four conserved peptides, containing predicted B-cell epitopes in hydrophilic regions of the protein, were designed and chemically synthesized. The humoral immune response generated by the synthetic peptides was characterized in bovines, showing that anti-RON2 antibodies against peptides recognized intraerythrocytic merozoites of B. bovis. Only peptides P2 and P3 generated partially neutralizing antibodies that had an inhibitory effect of 28.10% and 21.42%, respectively, on the invasion process of B. bovis in bovine erythrocytes. Consistently, this effect is additive since inhibition increased to 42.09% when the antibodies were evaluated together. Finally, P2 and P3 peptides were also recognized by 83.33% and 87.77%, respectively, of naturally infected cattle from endemic areas. Conclusions The data support RON2 as a novel B. bovis vaccine candidate antigen that contains conserved B-cell epitopes that elicit partially neutralizing antibodies. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-3164-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Hidalgo-Ruiz
- Immunology and Vaccines Laboratory, C. A. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Carretera a Chichimequillas, Ejido Bolaños, 76140, Queretaro, Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Carlos E Suarez
- Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, 3003 ADBF, WSU, P. O. Box 647030, Pullman, WA, 99164-6630, USA
| | - Miguel A Mercado-Uriostegui
- Immunology and Vaccines Laboratory, C. A. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Carretera a Chichimequillas, Ejido Bolaños, 76140, Queretaro, Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Ruben Hernandez-Ortiz
- CENID-Parasitologia Veterinaria / INIFAP, Carretera federal Cuernavaca-Cuautla #8534, Col. Progreso, 62550, Jiutepec, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Juan Alberto Ramos
- CENID-Parasitologia Veterinaria / INIFAP, Carretera federal Cuernavaca-Cuautla #8534, Col. Progreso, 62550, Jiutepec, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Edelmira Galindo-Velasco
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad de Colima, Km. 40 carretera Colima-Manzanillo, 28100, Tecoman, Colima, Mexico
| | - Gloria León-Ávila
- Departamento de Zoología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Carpio y Plan de Ayala, Col. Casco de Santo Tomás, 11340, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - José Manuel Hernández
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. IPN 2508, Col. San Pedro Zacatenco, 07360, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Juan Mosqueda
- Immunology and Vaccines Laboratory, C. A. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Carretera a Chichimequillas, Ejido Bolaños, 76140, Queretaro, Queretaro, Mexico.
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Report from the 'One Health' 9 th Tick and Tick-Borne Pathogen Conference and the 1 st Asia-Pacific Rickettsia Conference, Cairns, Australia, 27 th August-1 st September 2017. Vet Sci 2018; 5:vetsci5040085. [PMID: 30279400 PMCID: PMC6313921 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci5040085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The 9th Tick and Tick-borne Pathogen (TTP9) Conference was held in conjunction with the first Asia Pacific Rickettsia Conference (APRC1) in Cairns, Australia from 27 August until 1 September in 2017. This MDPI Veterinary Sciences Special Issue has been dedicated to selected veterinary science articles from the conference associated with the control of animal diseases in the context of ticks and tick-borne pathogens, including Rickettsia species. The articles presented in this Special Issue include novel developments for the future control of ticks and tick-borne diseases. This editorial describes the meeting content, the plenaries, the TTP awards, the MDPI Veterinary Science Special Issue articles, and serves as a legacy report for TTP9APRC1.
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