A conserved protein of Babesia microti elicits partial protection against Babesia and Plasmodium infection

Parasites & Vectors

Research

Jianfeng Dai¹  Qianqian Zhang¹  Junhu Chen²  Xia Zhou³  Wanruo Zhang³  Yao Wang³ 

[1] Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Soochow University, No.199 Renai Road, 215123, Suzhou, People’s Republic of China;National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Diseases Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (NHC), World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, 200025, Shanghai, China;School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, No.199 Renai Road, 215123, Suzhou, People’s Republic of China;

关键词: Babesia microti;    Conserved protein;    Vaccine;    Bioinformatic analysis;    Antigens;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13071-023-05825-x

 received in 2023-03-02, accepted in 2023-05-28,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe protozoan parasite Babesia microti that causes the zoonotic disease babesiosis resides in the erythrocytes of its mammalian host during its life-cycle. No effective vaccines are currently available to prevent Babesia microti infections.MethodsWe previously identified a highly seroactive antigen, named Bm8, as a B. microti conserved erythrocyte membrane-associated antigen, by high-throughput protein chip screening. Bioinformatic and phylogenetic analysis showed that this membrane-associated protein is conserved among apicomplexan hemoprotozoa, such as members of genera Babesia, Plasmodium and Theileria. We obtained the recombinant protein Bm8 (rBm8) by prokaryotic expression and purification.ResultsImmunofluorescence assays confirmed that Bm8 and its Plasmodium homolog were principally localized in the cytoplasm of the parasite. rBm8 protein was specifically recognized by the sera of mice infected with B. microti or P. berghei. Also, mice immunized with Bm8 polypeptide had a decreased parasite burden after B. microti or P. berghei infection.ConclusionsPassive immunization with Bm8 antisera could protect mice against B. microti or P. berghei infection to a certain extent. These results lead us to hypothesize that the B. microti conserved erythrocyte membrane-associated protein Bm8 could serve as a novel broad-spectrum parasite vaccine candidate since it elicits a protective immune response against Babesiosis and Plasmodium infection.Graphical Abstract

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2023

【 图 表 】

Fig. 5

Fig. 4

Fig. 2

13690_2023_1151_Article_IEq15.gif

13690_2023_1151_Article_IEq3.gif

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Fig. 1

40517_2023_266_Article_IEq29.gif

Fig. 6