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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » Animal Disease Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #188397

Title: PROSPECTS FOR RECOMBINANT VACCINES AGAINST BOVINE BABESIOSIS.

Author
item BROWN, W - WSU
item NORIMINE, J - WSU
item Goff, Willard
item Suarez, Carlos
item MCELWAIN, T - WSU

Submitted to: Parasite Immunology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/30/2006
Publication Date: 6/27/2006
Citation: Brown, W.C., Norimine, J., Goff, W.L., Suarez, C.E., Mcelwain, T.F. 2006. Prospects for recombinant vaccines against bovine babesiosis. 2006. Parasite Immunology. 28:315-327.

Interpretive Summary: This is a review of our collaborative research and that of others dealing with the development of improved vaccines for babesiosis, a tick-transmitted disease of cattle. It includes a review of research identifying immune mechanisms involved in a protective response and that must be induced with a vaccine. In addition, the review includes information on how the pathogen evades and regulates the immune response.

Technical Abstract: Babesial parasites infect cattle in tropical and temperate regions of the world and cause significant morbidity and mortality. Discovery of protective antigens that could be used in a killed vaccine has been slow and to date there are few promising vaccine candidates for cattle Babesia. Information pertaining to the mechanisms of protective innate and adaptive immune responses to babesial parasites and different strategies to identify potentially protective protein antigens of B. bovis, B. bigemina, and B. divergens are included in this review. Successful parasites often cause persistent infection, and information about how Babesia evade and regulate the immune response to promote survival of the parasite in the host is also included. Development of successful non-living recombinant vaccines will depend on increased understanding of protective immune mechanisms and availability of parasite genomes.