title: Identification and characterization of profilin antigen among Babesia species as a common vaccine candidate against babesiosis.
abstract: We have characterized a member of the profilin (PROF) family protein as a common antigen in three pathogens-Babesia bovis (B. bovis), Babesia bigemina (B. bigemina), and Babesia microti (B. microti)-and evaluated its immunogenic and cross-protective properties against a challenge infection with B. microti in BALB/c mice. The recombinant PROF proteins of B. bovis, B. bigemina, and B. microti were successfully expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli) as soluble GST fusion proteins (rBboPROF, rBbigPROF, and rBmPROF, respectively), and they were found to be antigenic. On probing with mouse anti-rPROF serum, green fluorescence was observed on the parasites' cytosols by confocal laser microscopy. Immunization regimes in BALB/c mice using rPROFs induced cross-protective immunity against B. microti infection based on high levels of cytokines and immunoglobulin (IgG) titers, a reduction in peak parasitemia levels, and earlier clearance of the parasite as compared with control mice. The findings of the present study indicate that PROF is a common antigen among bovine and murine Babesia parasites, and it might be used as a common vaccine candidate against babesiosis.
authors.affiliation: National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan; Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Zaisan, 17042, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
authors.forename: Tserendorj
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Munkhjargal
authors.affiliation: National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, 29053-00625, Kenya.
authors.forename: Gabriel Oluga
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Aboge
authors.affiliation: National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan; Horonobe Research Institute for the Subsurface Environment, Northern Advancement Center for Science and Technology, Horonobe-cho, Teshio-gun, Hokkaido, 098-3221, Japan.
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ueno
authors.affiliation: National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan; Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sadat City, Sadat City 32511, Minoufiya, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aboulaila
authors.affiliation: National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.affiliation: National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan. Electronic address: igarcpmi@obihiro.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Ikuo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Igarashi
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001403:Babesia / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002417:Cattle; D019295:Computational Biology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D010802:Phylogeny; D051304:Profilins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines; D016053:RNA, Protozoan / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016415:Sequence Alignment
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D051304:Profilins; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines; D016053:RNA, Protozoan
keywords: Immunization; Mice; Protozoa; Recombinant protein