ARS | Publication request: Selection for Simple Major Surface Protein 2 Variants during Anaplasma marginale Transmission to Immunologically Naive Animals

Submitted to: Infection and Immunity
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: December 7, 2006
Publication Date: March 5, 2007
Citation: Palmer, G.H., Futse, J.E., Leverich, C.K., Knowles Jr, D.P., Rurangirwa, F.R., Brayton, K.A. 2007. Selection for Simple Major Surface Protein 2 Variants during Anaplasma marginale Transmission to Immunologically Naive Animals. Infection and Immunity. 75(3):1502-1506.

Interpretive Summary: This manuscript evaluates the relationship between the complexity of Anaplasma marginale components which play a role is persistent infection and escaping specific immune responses and their selection under the presence and absence of immunity. The data shows that when not under immune pressure the simple components are selective for, most likely through an advantage in replication efficiency.

Technical Abstract: Anaplasma marginale, a rickettsial pathogen, evades clearance in the animal host by antigenic variation. Under immune selection, A. marginale expresses complex MSP2 mosaics, derived from multiple donor sequences. However, these mosaics have a selective advantage only in the presence of adaptive immunity and are rapidly replaced by simple variants following transmission.