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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » Animal Disease Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #216713
Title: Taking advantage of the polymorphism of the MSA-2 family for Babesia bovis strain characterization

Author
item WILKOWSKY, S - INTA-ARGENTINA
item FARBER, M - INTA-ARGENTINA
item ECHAIDE, I - INTA-ARGENTINA
item MOSQUEDA, J - INTA-ARGENTINA
item ALCARAZ, E - INTA-ARGENTINA
item Suarez, Carlos
item FLORIN-CHRISTENSEN, M - INTA-ARGENTINA

Submitted to: Parassitologia
Publication Type: Monograph
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2007
Publication Date: 5/1/2007
Citation: Wilkowsky, S., Farber, M., Echaide, I., Mosqueda, J., Alcaraz, E., Suarez, C.E., Florin-Christensen, M. 2007. Taking advantage of the polymorphism of the MSA-2 family for Babesia bovis strain characterization. Parassitologia. 49(Suppl. 1):63-66.

Interpretive Summary: The Merozoite Surface Antigen-2 (MSA-2) family of Babesia bovis is a group of variable genes which share conserved sequence. In this work, we have analyzed the sequences of the msa-2a1, a2 and 2b genes in two geographically distant strains from Mexico and Argentina and detected a certain degree of genotypic diversity that can be exploited for the development of a new molecular tool for the discrimination of B. bovis field samples. Here, we describe a PCR restriction assay based on the msa2-a1, -a2 and -2b genes of B. bovis. When field strains from Argentina, Mexico and USA were analyzed, the results showed a strain-specific band pattern indicating the presence of differentially located BspMI restriction sites. This approach provides a simple method for the genotyping/strain differentiation of B. bovis field samples.

Technical Abstract: The Merozoite Surface Antigen-2 (MSA-2) family of Babesia bovis is a group of variable genes which share conserved 5' and 3' conserved ends. These genes encode membrane anchored glycoproteins, named MSA-2a1, a2, b and c, which are immunodominant antigens located on the surface of sporozoites and merozoites. In this work, we have analyzed the sequences of the msa-2a1, a2 and 2b genes in two geographically distant strains from Mexico and Argentina and detected a certain degree of genotypic diversity that can be exploited for the development of a new molecular tool for the discrimination of B. bovis field samples. Here, we describe a PCR restriction assay based on the msa2-a1, -a2 and -2b genes of B. bovis. When field strains from Argentina, Mexico and USA were analyzed, the results showed a strain-specific band pattern indicating the presence of differentially located BspMI restriction sites. This approach provides a simple method for the genotyping/strain differentiation of B. bovis field samples