Antigenic variation of Anaplasma marginale and expression of major surface proteins

• Grant number: 12/21371-4
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: February 01, 2013 - January 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal researcher: Rosangela Zacarias Machado
• Grantee: Rosangela Zacarias Machado
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Antigenic variation in membrane proteins of pathogens is a strategy used by Anaplasma marginale to evade the immune system, thus providing an efficient process of immune evasion. Persistent infection caused by A. marginale is characterized by repetitive rickettsemic cycles that reflect the emergence of antigenic variants of the major surface proteins (MSPs). Among the MSPs, particular interest has been given to MSP1 to be involved in the interaction with cells of the vertebrate and invertebrate hosts, MSP2 and MSP3 for having antigenicity and ability to perform antigenic variation. Thus, because of the high prevalence and economic losses caused by this agent to the cattle herd in Brazil, the study aims to assess the genetic diversity and antigenic variation in expression of A. marginale - MSP1 and MSP2 in endemic areas of the state of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. A longitudinal study involving 40 animals will be performed. For A. marginale infection diagnosis molecular (quantitative Real Time PCR and Conventional PCR [Polymerase Chain Reaction]) and serological (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Competitive [cELISA] and Indirect [iELISA] and Immunofluorescence assay [IFA]) techniques will be performed. To check diversity and variation genetics will be used sequencing of the genes coding for MSP1 and MSP2. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

OBREGON, DASIEL; CABEZAS-CRUZ, ALEJANDRO; ARMAS, YASMANI; SILVA, JENEVALDO B.; FONSECA, ADIVALDO H.; ANDRE, MARCOS R.; ALFONSO, PASTOR; OLIVEIRA, MARCIA C. S.; MACHADO, ROSANGELA Z.; CORONA-GONZALEZ, BELKIS. High co-infection rates of Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina, and Anaplasma marginale in water buffalo in Western Cuba. Parasitology Research, v. 118, n. 3, p. 955-967, MAR 2019. Web of Science Citations: 0.

DA SILVA, JENEVALDO BARBOSA; ANDRE, MARCOS ROGERIO; MACHADO, ROSANGELA ZACARIAS. Low genetic diversity of Anaplasma marginale in calves in an endemic area for bovine anaplasmosis in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES, v. 7, n. 1, p. 20-25, 2016. Web of Science Citations: 5.

SILVA, JENEVALDO BARBOSA; GONCALVES, LUIZ RICARDO; VARANI, ALESSANDRO DE MELLO; ANDRE, MARCOS ROGERIO; MACHADO, ROSANGELA ZACARIAS. Genetic diversity and molecular phylogeny of Anaplasma marginale studied longitudinally under natural transmission conditions in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES, v. 6, n. 4, p. 499-507, 2015. Web of Science Citations: 10.