Construction of a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing Babesia gibsoni thrombospondin-related anonymous protein and evaluation of its immunogenicity in mice.

摘要

Previously, we have identified a gene encoding thrombospondin-related anonymous protein of Babesia gibsoni (BgTRAP), and have shown that the antisera raised against recombinant BgTRAP expressed in Escherichia coli inhibited the growth of parasites. In the present study, a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the BgTRAP (VV/BgTRAP) was constructed. A specific band corresponding to a molecular mass of 80 kDa, which was similar to that of native BgTRAP on the merozoites of B. gibsoni, was detected in the supernatant of VV/BgTRAP-infected RK13 cells. Moreover, mice inoculated with VV/BgTRAP produced antibody that specifically reacted with the native BgTRAP on parasites. These results indicated that the recombinant vaccinia virus expressing BgTRAP might be a vaccine candidate against canine B. gibsoni infection.