Establishment of an evaluation system for erythrocyte invasion by bovine Babesia parasite

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K14862
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Veterinary medical science
• Research Institution: Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Yokoyama Naoaki 帯広畜産大学, 原虫病研究センター, 教授 (80301802)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: バベシア / 赤血球 / 侵入 / 評価系 / ワクチン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The Babesia bovis culture was subjected to a cold treatment to induce the release of merozoites from infected erythrocytes, and the free merozoites were collected. Next, an erythrocyte invasion assay for Babesia was established using these free merozoites. Subsequently, the erythrocyte invasion assay was used to investigate the role of Babesia bovis BOV57 antigen in the erythrocyte invasion by merozoites. The findings showed that the antibodies specific to BOV57 antigen significantly inhibit the invasion of merozoites into bovine erythrocytes. This observation suggested that the BOV57 antigen plays an important role in the invasion of merozoites into erythrocytes. Therefore, BOV57 is a potential candidate antigen for the development of subunit vaccines against bovine babesiosis.

Free Research Field

獣医原虫病学