AUTHOR=El-Sayed Shimaa Abd El-Salam , Rizk Mohamed Abdo , Eldoumani Haitham , Sorour Shimaa Sobhy , Terkawi Mohamad Alaa , AbouLaila Mahmoud , Igarashi Ikuo , Sayed-Ahmed Mohamed Z. 

TITLE=Identification and Characterization of P0 Protein as a Vaccine Candidate Against Babesia divergens, Blood Parasite of Veterinary and Zoonotic Importance

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.795906

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2021.795906

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<p>The molecular identification and antigenic characterization of P0 protein in <italic>Babesia divergens</italic>, a blood parasite of veterinary and zoonotic importance, were carried out in this study for use in developing subunit vaccines against <italic>B. divergens</italic> infection. Recombinant protein encoding P0 (BdP0) was developed in <italic>Escherichia coli</italic>, and its antiserum was generated in mice for further molecular characterization. Anti-rBdP0 serum had a specific interaction with the corresponding legitimate <italic>B. divergens</italic> protein, as confirmed by Western blotting and indirect fluorescent antibody tests. ELISA was used to assess the immunogenicity of BdP0 in a group of 68 bovine field samples, and significant immunological reactivity was found in 19 and 20 positive samples of rBdp0 and <italic>B. divergens</italic> lysate, respectively. The <italic>in vitro</italic> growth of <italic>B. divergens</italic> cultures treated with anti-rBdP0 serum was significantly inhibited (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, after 6 h of incubation with 2 mg/ml anti-rBdP0 serum, the ability of pre-incubated free merozoites to invade bovine erythrocytes was reduced by 59.88%. The obtained data suggest the possible use of rBdP0 as diagnostic antigen and may serve as a vaccine candidate against babesiosis caused by <italic>B. divergens</italic> either in animal or human.</p>