Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T10:29:09.017Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Molecular characterization of a novel 32-kDa merozoite antigen of Babesia gibsoni with a better diagnostic performance by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2007

G. O. ABOGE
Affiliation:
National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
H. JIA
Affiliation:
National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
K. KURIKI
Affiliation:
Kyoritsu Seiyaku Corporation, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0073, Japan
J. ZHOU
Affiliation:
National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
Y. NISHIKAWA
Affiliation:
National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
I. IGARASHI
Affiliation:
National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
K. FUJISAKI
Affiliation:
National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
H. SUZUKI
Affiliation:
National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
X. XUAN*
Affiliation:
National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
*
*Corresponding author: National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan. Tel: +81 155 49 5648. Fax: +81 155 49 5643. E-mail: gen@obihiro.ac.jp

Summary

We cloned and expressed a novel gene encoding a 32-kDa merozoite protein of Babesia gibsoni (BgP32). The length of nucleotide sequence of the cDNA was 1464 bp with an open reading frame of 969 bp. The truncated recombinant BgP32 (rBgP32) without a signal peptide and C-terminal hydrophobic sequence was expressed in Escherichia coli as a soluble glutathione-S-transferase (GST) fusion protein. Western blotting demonstrated that the native protein was 32-kDa, consistent with molecular weight of the predicted mature polypeptide. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using rBgP32 detected specific antibodies from 8 days to 541 days post-infection in the sequential sera from a dog experimentally infected with B. gibsoni. Moreover, the antigen did not cross-react with B. canis subspecies and closely related protozoan parasites, indicating that rBgP32 is a specific diagnostic antigen. Analysis of 47 sera taken from dogs with anaemic signs revealed that rBgP32 detected a higher proportion of B. gibsoni seropositive samples (77%) than its previously identified rBgP50 (68%) homologue. These results indicate that the BgP32 is a novel immunodominant antigen of B. gibsoni, and rBgP32 might be useful for diagnosis of B. gibsoni infection.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Ano, H., Makimura, S. and Harasawa, R. (2001). Detection of Babesia species from infected dog blood by polymerase chain reaction. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science 63, 111113.Google Scholar
Baneth, G., Breitschwerdt, E. B., Hegarty, B. C., Pappalardo, B. and Ryan, J. (1998). A survey of tick-borne bacteria and protozoa in naturally exposed dogs from Israel. Veterinary Parasitology 74, 133142.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Birkenheuer, A. J., Correa, M. T., Levy, M. G. and Breitschwerdt, E. B. (2005). Geographic distribution of babesiosis among dogs in the United States and association with dog bites: 150 cases (2000–2003). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 227, 942947.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Birkenheuer, A. J., Levy, M. G., Stebbins, M., Poore, M. and Breitschwerdt, E. (2003 a). Serosurvey of anti-Babesia antibodies in stray dogs and American Pit Bull Terriers and American Staffordshire Terriers from North Carolina. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 39, 551557.Google Scholar
Birkenheuer, A. J., Levy, M. G. and Breitschwerdt, E. B. (2003 b). Development and evaluation of a semi-nested PCR for detection and differentiation of Babesia gibsoni (Asian genotype) and B. canis DNA in canine blood samples. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 41, 41724177.Google Scholar
Boonchit, S., Xuan, X., Yokoyama, N., Goff, W. L., Wagner, G. and Igarashi, I. (2002). Evaluation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with recombinant rhoptry-associated protein 1 antigen against Babesia bovis for the detection of specific antibodies in cattle. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 40, 37713775.Google Scholar
Boozer, L. A. and Macintire, D. K. (2003). Canine babesiosis. Veterinary Clinics Small Animal Practice 33, 885904.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Corad, P., Thomford, J., Yamane, I., Whiting, J., Bosma, L., Uno, T., Holshuh, H. J. and Shelly, S. (1991). Haemolytic anaemia caused by Babesia gibsoni infection in dogs. Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association 199, 601605.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fukumoto, S., Suzuki, H., Igarashi, I. and Xuan, X. (2005). Fatal experimental transplacental Babesia gibsoni infections in dogs. International Journal for Parasitology 35, 10311035.Google Scholar
Fukumoto, S., Xuan, X., Inoue, N., Igarashi, I., Sugimoto, C., Fujisaki, K., Nagasawa, H., Mikami, T. and Suzuki, H. (2003 a). Molecular characterization of a gene encoding a 29-kDa cytoplasmic protein of Babesia gibsoni and evaluation of its diagnostic potentiality. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 131, 129136.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fukumoto, S., Xuan, X., Kadota, K., Igarashi, I., Sugimoto, C., Fujisaki, K., Nagasawa, H., Mikami, T. and Suzuki, H. (2003 b). High-level expression of truncated surface antigen P50 of Babesia gibsoni in insect cells by baculovirus and evaluation of its immunogenicity and antigenicity. Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology 10, 596601.Google Scholar
Fukumoto, S., Xuan, X., Nishikawa, Y., Inoue, N., Igarashi, I., Nagasawa, H., Fujisaki, K. and Mikami, T. (2001 a). Identification and expression of a 50-kilodalton surface antigen of Babesia gibsoni and evaluation of its diagnostic potential in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 39, 26032609.Google Scholar
Fukumoto, S., Xuan, X., Shigeno, S., Kimbita, E., Igarashi, I., Nagasawa, H., Fujisaki, K. and Mikami, T. (2001 b). Development of a polymerase chain reaction method for diagnosing Babesia infection in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science 63, 97981.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gonzalez-Sapienza, G., Lorenzo, C. and Nieto, A. (2000). Improved immunodiagnosis of cystic hydatid disease by using a synthetic peptide with higher diagnostic value than that of the parent protein, Echinococcus granulosus antigen B. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 38, 39793983.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ikada, H., Xuan, X., Igarashi, I., Tanaka, S., Kanemaru, T., Nagasawa, H., Fujisaki, K., Suzuki, N. and Mikami, T. (1999). Cloning and expression of a 48-kiloDalton Babesia caballi merozoite rhoptry protein and potential use of the recombinant antigen in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 37, 34753480.Google Scholar
Kjemtrup, A. M., Kocan, A. A., Whitworth, L., Meinkoth, J., Birkenheuer, A. J., Cummings, J., Boudreaux, M. K., Stockman, S. L., Irizarry-Rovira, A. and Conrad, P. A. (2000). There are at least three genetically distinct small piroplasms from dogs. International Journal for Parasitology 30, 15011505.Google Scholar
Kyte, J. and Doolittle, R. F. (1982). A simple method for displaying the hydropathic character of a protein. Journal of Molecular Biology 157, 105132.Google Scholar
Sambrook, J. and Russell, D. W. (2001). Molecular Cloning – A Laboratory Manual. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, NY.Google Scholar
Stegeman, J. R., Birkenheuer, A. J., Kruger, J. M. and Breitschwerdt, E. B. (2003). Transfusion-associated Babesia gibsoni infection in a dog. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 222, 959963.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Verdida, R. A., Hara, O. A., Xuan, X., Fukumoto, S., Igarashi, I., Zhang, S., Dong, J., Inokuma, H., Kabeya, H., Sato, Y., Moritomo, T., Maruyama, S., Claveria, F. and Nagasawa, H. (2004). Serodiagnosis of Babesia gibsoni infection in dogs by an improved enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with recombinant truncated P50. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science 66, 15171521.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Verdida, R. A., Xuan, X., Fukumoto, S., Huang, X., Zhou, J., Igarashi, I., Claveria, F. G. and Nagasawa, H. (2005). Development of a practical immunochromatographic test with recombinant P50 for the diagnosis of Babesia gibsoni infection in dogs. Parasitology 131, 769774.Google Scholar
Yamane, I., Gardner, I. A., Ryan, C. P., Levy, M., Urrico, J. and Conrad, P. A. (1994). Serosurvey of Babesia canis, Babesia gibsoni and Erhlichia canis in pound dogs in California, USA. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 18, 293304.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yamane, I., Thomford, J. W., Gardner, I. A., Dubey, J. P., Levy, M. and Conrad, P. A. (1993). Evaluation of the indirect fluorescent antibody test for diagnosis of Babesia gibsoni infections in dogs. American Journal of Veterinary Research 54, 15791584.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zhou, J., Fukumoto, S., Jia, H., Yokoyama, N., Zhang, G., Fujisaki, K., Lin, J. and Xuan, X. (2006). Characterization of the Babesia gibsoni P18 as homologue of thrombospondin related adhesive protein. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 148, 190198.Google Scholar