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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » Animal Disease Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #218598
Title: Genome Sequence of Babesia bovis and Camparative Analysis of Apicomplexan Hemoprotozoa

Author
item BRAYTON, KELLY
item LAU, AUDREY
item Herndon, David
item HANNICK, LINDA
item Kappmeyer, Lowell
item BERENS, SHAWN
item BIDWELL, SHELBY
item BROWN, WENDY
item CRABTREE, JONATHAN
item FADROSH, DOUG
item FELDBLUM, TAMARA
item FORBERGER, HEATHER
item HAAS, BRIAN
item Freeman, Jeanne
item KHOURI, HODA
item KOO, HEAN
item MANN, DAVID
item NORIMINE, JUNZO
item PAULSEN, IAN
item RADUNE, DIANA
item REN, QINGHU
item SMITH, ROGER
item Suarez, Carlos
item WHITE, OWEN
item WORTMAN, JENNIFER
item Knowles Jr, Donald
item MCELWAIN, TERRY
item NENE, VISHVANATH

Submitted to: PLoS Pathogens
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/30/2007
Publication Date: 10/19/2007
Citation: Brayton, K., Lau, A.O., Herndon, D.R., Hannick, L., Kappmeyer, L.S., Berens, S.J., Bidwell, S.L., Brown, W.C., Crabtree, J., Fadrosh, D., Feldblum, T., Forberger, H.A., Haas, B.J., Howell, J.M., Khouri, H., Koo, H., Mann, D.J., Norimine, J., Paulsen, I.T., Radune, D., Ren, Q., Smith, R.K., Suarez, C.E., White, O., Wortman, J.R., Knowles Jr, D.P., Mcelwain, T.F., Nene, V.M. 2007. Genome Sequence of Babesia bovis and Camparative Analysis of Apicomplexan Hemoprotozoa. PLoS Pathogens. 3(10):1401-1413.

Interpretive Summary: The future of vaccine development for infectious diseases of domestic animals, such as those causes by complex parasites (protozoan) such as Babesia bovis require detailed information about pathogen genetics. This manuscript reports the completed annotated sequence of Babesia bovis. Babesia bovis causes disease effecting red blood cells of cattle.

Technical Abstract: Babesia bovis is an apicomplexan tick-transmitted pathogen of cattle imposing a global risk and severe constraints to livestock health and economic development. The complete genome sequence was undertaken to facilitate vaccine antigen discovery, and to allow for comparative analysis with the related apicomplexan hemoprotozoa Theileria parva and Plasmodium falciparum. At 8.2 Mbp, the B. bovis genome is similar in size to that of Theileria spp. Structural features of the B. bovis and T. parva genomes are remarkably similar, and extensive synteny is present despite several chromosomal rearrangements. In contrast, B. bovis and P. falciparum, which have similar clinical and pathological features, have major differences in genome size, chromosome number, and gene complement. Chromosomal synteny with P. falciparum is limited to microregions. The B. bovis genome sequence has allowed wide scale analyses of the polymorphic variant erythrocyte surface antigen protein (ves1 gene) family that, similar to the P. falciparum var genes, is postulated to play a role in cytoadhesion, sequestration, and immune evasion. The ;150 ves1 genes are found in clusters that are distributed throughout each chromosome, with an increased concentration adjacent to a physical gap on chromosome 1 that contains multiple ves1-like sequences. ves1 clusters are frequently linked to a novel family of variant genes termed smorfs that may themselves contribute to immune evasion, may play a role in variant erythrocyte surface antigen protein biology, or both. Initial expression analysis of ves1 and smorf genes indicates coincident transcription of multiple variants. B. bovis displays a limited metabolic potential, with numerous missing pathways, including two pathways previously described for the P. falciparum apicoplast. This reduced metabolic potential is reflected in the B. bovis apicoplast, which appears to have fewer nuclear genes targeted to it than other apicoplast containing organisms. Finally, comparative analyses have identified several novel vaccine candidates including a positional homolog of p67 and SPAG-1, Theileria sporozoite antigens targeted for vaccine development. The genome sequence provides a greater understanding of B. bovis metabolism and potential avenues for drug therapies and vaccine development.