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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » Animal Disease Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #214285
Title: Search for Babesia bovis vaccine candidates

Author
item FLORIN-CHRISTENSEN, M - CICV-INTA, ARGENTINA
item SCHNITTGER, L - CICV-INTA, ARGENTINA
item DOMINGUEZ, M - CICV-INTA, ARGENTINA
item MESPLET, M - CICV-INTA, ARGENTINA
item RODRIGUEZ, A - CICV-INTA, ARGENTINA
item FERRERI, L - CICV-INTA, ARGENTINA
item ASENZO, G - CICV-INTA, ARGENTINA
item WILKOWSKY, S - CICV-INTA, ARGENTINA
item FARBER, M - CICV-INTA, ARGENTINA
item ECHAIDE, I - EEA-INTA-RAFAELA, ARGENTI
item Suarez, Carlos

Submitted to: Parassitologia
Publication Type: Monograph
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2007
Publication Date: 5/1/2007
Citation: Florin-Christensen, M., Schnittger, L., Dominguez, M., Mesplet, M., Rodriguez, A., Ferreri, L., Asenzo, G., Wilkowsky, S., Farber, M., Echaide, I., Suarez, C.E. 2007. Search for Babesia bovis vaccine candidates. Parassitologia. 49(Suppl. 1):9-12.

Interpretive Summary: Babesia bovis is a tick borne apicomplexan pathogen that remains an important constrain for the development of cattle industries worldwide. Effective control can be achieved by vaccination with attenuated forms of the parasite, but they have several drawbacks and thus the development of alternative subunit vaccines, either based in recombinant versions of full size proteins or in recombinant or synthetic peptides containing combinations of protective B-cell and T-cell epitopes is needed. Our current strategies for the identification of vaccine candidate antigens include the identification of functionally relevant antigens, bioinformatics, and comparative genomics using the recently sequenced B. bovis genome. We already defined a number of candidate antigens for vaccine development, but identification of additional protective antigens is needed. Work in progress is focused in defining additional epitopes, and to determine whether they are neutralization sensitive. These approaches might unravel useful vaccine candidates for B. bovis and will increase our understanding of the pathogenicity mechanisms of these and related hemoparasites.

Technical Abstract: Babesia bovis is a tick borne apicomplexan pathogen that remains an important constrain for the development of cattle industries worldwide. Effective control can be achieved by vaccination with attenuated forms of the parasite, but they have several drawbacks and thus the development of alternative subunit vaccines, either based in recombinant versions of full size proteins or in recombinant or synthetic peptides containing combinations of protective B-cell and T-cell epitopes is needed. Our current strategies for the identification of vaccine candidate antigens include the identification of functionally relevant antigens, bioinformatics, and comparative genomics using the recently sequenced B. bovis genome. These led us to the functional and immunological characterization of members of the VMSA gene family, a group of well conserved putative cysteine and serine proteases, and to the definition of a surface exposed B-cell epitope present in the Merozoite Surface Antigen 2-c. Work in progress is focused in defining additional epitopes, and to determine whether they are neutralization sensitive. These approaches might unravel useful vaccine candidates for B. bovis and will increase our understanding of the pathogenicity mechanisms of these and related hemoparasites.