Expression of 6-Cys Gene Superfamily Defines Babesia bovis Sexual Stage Development within Rhipicephalus microplus.
Babesia bovis, an intra-erythrocytic tick-borne apicomplexan protozoan, is one of the causative agents of bovine babesiosis. Its life cycle includes sexual reproduction within cattle fever ticks, Rhipicephalus spp. Six B. bovis 6-Cys gene superfamily members were previously identified (A, B, C, D, E, F) where their orthologues in Plasmodium parasite have been shown to encode for proteins required for the development of sexual stages. The current study identified four additional 6-Cys genes (G, H, I, J) in the B. bovis genome. These four genes are described in the context of the complete ten 6-Cys gene superfamily. The proteins expressed by this gene family are predicted to be secreted or surface membrane directed. Genetic analysis comparing the 6-Cys superfamily among five distinct B. bovis strains shows limited sequence variation. Additionally, A, B, E, H, I and J genes were transcribed in B. bovis infected tick midgut while genes A, B and E were also transcribed in the subsequent B. bovis kinete stage. Transcription of gene C was found exclusively in the kinete. In contrast, transcription of genes D, F and G in either B. bovis infected midguts or kinetes was not detected. None of the 6-Cys transcripts were detected in B. bovis blood stages. Subsequent protein analysis of 6-Cys A and B is concordant with their transcript profile. The collective data indicate as in Plasmodium parasite, certain B. bovis 6-Cys family members are uniquely expressed during sexual stages and therefore, they are likely required for parasite reproduction. Within B. bovis specifically, proteins encoded by 6-Cys genes A and B are markers for sexual stages and candidate antigens for developing novel vaccines able to interfere with the development of B. bovis within the tick vector.
Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States of America.|Parasitology and Animal Diseases Department, National Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
Heba F
HF
Alzan
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 5601 Fishers Lane, MSC 9823, Bethesda, MD, United States of America.
Audrey O T
AO
Lau
Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States of America.|Animal Disease Research Unit, United States Department of Agricultural-Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, WA, United States of America.
Donald P
DP
Knowles
Animal Disease Research Unit, United States Department of Agricultural-Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, WA, United States of America.
David R
DR
Herndon
Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States of America.|Animal Disease Research Unit, United States Department of Agricultural-Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, WA, United States of America.
Massaro W
MW
Ueti
Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States of America.|Animal Disease Research Unit, United States Department of Agricultural-Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, WA, United States of America.
Glen A
GA
Scoles
Animal Disease Research Unit, United States Department of Agricultural-Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, WA, United States of America.
Lowell S
LS
Kappmeyer
Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States of America.|Animal Disease Research Unit, United States Department of Agricultural-Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, WA, United States of America.
Carlos E
CE
Suarez
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