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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » Animal Disease Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #125798
Title: EXPRESSION OF POLYMORPHIC MSP1B GENES DURING ACUTE ANAPLASMA MARGINALE RICKETTSEMIA

Author
item CAMACHO-NUEZ, M. - DEPT DE GENETICA Y BIOLO
item LOURDES MUNOZ, M. - DEPT DE GENETICA Y BIOLO
item Suarez, Carlos
item MC GUIRE, T. - WASHINGTON STATE UNIV
item BROWN, W. - WASHINGTON STATE UNIV
item PALMER, G. - WASHINGTON STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Infection and Immunity
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/20/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Immunization of cattle with native MSP1, containing MSP-1a and multiple and undefined MSA-1b peptides, induces protection against Anaplasma marginale. In this manuscript we describe the identification of polymorphic variants of the MSP-1b peptide that are transcribed in acute A. marginale infection and characterize the nature of the sequence polymorphisms. Our data support testing recombinant vaccines composed of the multiple antigenically and structurally unique MSP1b proteins combined with MSP1a in order to mimic the efficacy of native MSP1 immunization.

Technical Abstract: Immunization of cattle with native MSP1 induces protection against Anaplasma marginale. The native immunogen is composed of a single MSP1a protein and multiple, undefined MSP1b polypeptides. In addition to the originally sequenced gene, designated msp1beta(F1), we identified three complete msp1beta genes in the Florida strain: msp1beta(F2), msp1beta(F3), and msp1beta(F4). Each of these polymorphic genes encodes a structurally unique MSP1b protein, and unique transcripts can be identified during acute A. marginale rickettsemia. The structural polymorphism is clustered in discrete variable regions, and each MSP1b protein results from a unique mosaic of five variable regions. Although each of the MSP1b proteins in the Florida strain contains epitopes recognized by serum antibody induced by protective immunization with the native MSP1 complex, the variable regions also include epitopes expressed by some but not all of the MSP1b proteins. These data support testing recombinant vaccines composed of the multiple antigenically and structurally unique MSP1b proteins combined with MSP1a in order to mimic the efficacy of native MSP1 immunization.