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Nan Hou
Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College Institute of Pathogen Biology
Corresponding Author
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Background: Erythrocyte invasion by merozoites is an important stage in the life cycle of Babesia microti. Several merozoite proteins have previously been demonstrated to play important roles in this process.
Methods and Results: We identified a novel merozoite protein of B. microti with structural characteristics similar to those of the thioredoxin (Trx)-like domain of the Trx family and named it as BmiTrx-like protein. Western blot assays demonstrated that this protein was continuously expressed throughout the erythrocyte phase and peaked on the 11th day post-infection. Immunofluorescence assay showed that the protein might mainly be expressed on the membrane of B. microti merozoites. BmiTrx-like protein had both heparin- and erythrocyte-binding properties, which are critical functions of the invasion-related proteins. Immunization with recombinant BmiTrx-like protein imparted considerable protection against B. microti infection in mice.
Conclusions: These results suggest that the novel merozoite protein, BmiTrx-like protein, is an important molecule in the invasion process of B. microti and may be a possible target for the design of babesiosis vaccines.
Keywords
Babesia microti, merozoite, invasion, thioredoxin
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This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Research
Nan Hou
Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College Institute of Pathogen Biology
Corresponding Author
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
History
CURRENT STATUS: Posted
Version 1
Posted 27 Jan, 2021
No community comments so far
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Parasitology
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background: Erythrocyte invasion by merozoites is an important stage in the life cycle of Babesia microti. Several merozoite proteins have previously been demonstrated to play important roles in this process.
Methods and Results: We identified a novel merozoite protein of B. microti with structural characteristics similar to those of the thioredoxin (Trx)-like domain of the Trx family and named it as BmiTrx-like protein. Western blot assays demonstrated that this protein was continuously expressed throughout the erythrocyte phase and peaked on the 11th day post-infection. Immunofluorescence assay showed that the protein might mainly be expressed on the membrane of B. microti merozoites. BmiTrx-like protein had both heparin- and erythrocyte-binding properties, which are critical functions of the invasion-related proteins. Immunization with recombinant BmiTrx-like protein imparted considerable protection against B. microti infection in mice.
Conclusions: These results suggest that the novel merozoite protein, BmiTrx-like protein, is an important molecule in the invasion process of B. microti and may be a possible target for the design of babesiosis vaccines.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
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