Expression of Babesia equi merozoite antigen-2 by recombinant baculovirus and its use in the ELISA

Int J Parasitol. 1999 Nov;29(11):1803-8. doi: 10.1016/s0020-7519(99)00146-0.

Abstract

In this study, the gene encoding Babesia equi merozoite antigen-2 was inserted into a baculovirus transfer vector, and a recombinant virus expressing B. equi merozoite antigen-2 was isolated. Two B. equi merozoite antigen-2-related recombinant baculovirus-expressed peptides of 25 and 30 kDa were detected with a murine anti serum against B. equi merozoite antigen-2; these corresponded to the native B. equi merozoite antigen-2 and were secreted into the supernatants of insect cell cultures. Recombinant B. equi merozoite antigen-2 was not effected by tunicamycin treatment, indicating that B. equi merozoite antigen-2 was not glycosylated. The potential of recombinant B. equi merozoite antigen-2 for use in the ELISA was evaluated by measuring the antibody response to B. equi merozoite antigen-2 in horses experimentally infected with B. equi.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
  • Antigens, Protozoan* / chemistry
  • Antigens, Protozoan* / genetics
  • Antigens, Protozoan* / immunology
  • Babesia / genetics
  • Babesia / immunology*
  • Babesia / metabolism
  • Babesiosis / diagnosis
  • Baculoviridae / genetics*
  • Baculoviridae / metabolism*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Line
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay*
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horses
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protozoan Proteins / chemistry
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics
  • Protozoan Proteins / immunology*
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Spodoptera

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Antigens, Protozoan
  • EMA-2 protein, Babesia equi
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AB013725