2009 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

A study for a mechanism of iron uptake in Babesia gisboni

Research Project

Project/Area Number	20780225
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Research Field	Clinical veterinary science
Research Institution	Tottori University
Principal Investigator	AYA Matsuu Tottori University, 農学部, 准教授 (40348595)
Project Period (FY)	2008 – 2009
Keywords	Babesia gibsoni / 鉄取込み / 治療 / 感染症
Research Abstract	B. gibsoni is a canine intraerythrocytic apicomplexan parasite. We performed some experiment associated with iron uptake activity in B. gibsoni. First, we evaluated the growth effect of deferoxamine (iron chelator), Transferrin(Tf) and Lactoferrin (Lf) on the in vitro growth of B. gibsoni. The growth of this parasite was significantly suppressed in containing deferoxamine, but was not inhibited in containing Tf or Lf. Next, 59Fe uptake activity was detected in both infected and uninfected erythrocytes, but 59Fe-Tf was not taken up by both erythrocytes. Finally, we performed far-western blotting to detect Tf-binding or Lf-binding protein from B. gibsoni. In the result, we could not confirm significant protein binding to Tf or Lf. In conclusion iron uptake activity of B. gibsoni may not dependent to host Tf or Lf.