Taking advantage of the polymorphism of the MSA-2 family for Babesia bovis strain characterization.
The Merozoite Surface Antigen-2 (MSA-2) family of Babesia bovis is a group of variable genes which share conserved 5' and 3' conserved ends. These genes encode membrane anchored glycoproteins, named MSA-2a1, a2, b and c, which are immunodominant antigens located on the surface of sporozoites and merozoites. In this work, we have analyzed the sequences of the msa-2a1, a2 and 2b genes in two geographically distant strains from Mexico and Argentina and detected a certain degree of genotypic diversity that can be exploited for the development of a new molecular tool for the discrimination of B. bovis field samples. Here, we describe a PCR restriction assay based on the msa2-a1, -a2 and -2b genes of B. bovis. When field strains from Argentina, Mexico and USA were analyzed, the results showed a strain-specific band pattern indicating the presence of differentially located BspMI restriction sites. This approach provides a simple method for the genotyping/strain differentiation of B. bovis field samples.
Wilkowsky
S
S
CICVyA, Castelar, INTA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Farber
M
M
Echaide
I
I
Mosqueda
J
J
Alcaraz
E
E
Suarez
C
C
Florin-Christensen
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D001118:Argentina; D016793:Babesia bovis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008800:Mexico; D010274:Parasitology / Q000379:methods*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D013045:Species Specificity
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D000939:Epitopes; C476548:MSA-2 protein, Babesia bovis; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins