title: Asexual growth of Babesia bovis is inhibited by specific sulfated glycoconjugates.
abstract: In the present study, inhibitory effects of several sulfated and nonsulfated glycoconjugates were evaluated on the in vitro asexual growth of Babesia bovis. Among the selected sulfated glycoconjugates, dextran sulfate, heparin, heparan sulfate, fucoidan, and chondroitin sulfate B strongly inhibited the parasitic growth, and all but chondroitin sulfate B induced a significant accumulation of extracellular merozoites in culture. In contrast, chondroitin sulfate A, keratan sulfate, and protamine sulfate, as well as nonsulfated dextran and hyaluronic acid, did not influence the growth. These findings indicate that the asexual growth of B. bovis merozoites is inhibited by specific sulfated glycoconjugates, possibly providing us with an important insight into the molecular interaction(or interactions) during the process of the erythrocyte invasion by B. bovis merozoites.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, University of Munich, 80802 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bork
authors.forename: Naoaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Shintaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hashiba
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takabatake
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okamura
authors.forename: Yuzuru
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ikehara
authors.forename: Ikuo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Igarashi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016793:Babesia bovis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D002417:Cattle; D016264:Dextran Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology; D003911:Dextrans / Q000494:pharmacology; D006001:Glycoconjugates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013431:Sulfates / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D003911:Dextrans; D006001:Glycoconjugates; D013431:Sulfates; D016264:Dextran Sulfate