Characterization of a papain-like cysteine protease essential for the survival of Babesia ovis merozoites.

Babesia ovis, a tick-transmitted intraerythrocytic protozoan parasite, causes severe infections in small ruminants from Southern Europe, Middle East, and Northern Africa. With the aim of finding potential targets for the development of control methods against this parasite, sequence analysis of its genome led to the identification of four putative cysteine proteases of the C1A family. Orthology between B.

Babesia bovis: effect of Albumax II and orotic acid in a low-serum in vitro culture.

Bovine serum is an essential factor for the continuous in vitro growth of Babesia bovis parasites. Culture media typically contain 40% (v/v) of bovine serum. In the present study assays with low-serum media were performed.

Dielectrophoretic sorting on a microfabricated flow cytometer: label free separation of Babesia bovis infected erythrocytes.

Dielectrophoresis is a method that has demonstrated great potential in cell discrimination and isolation. In this study, the dielectrophoretic sorting of normal and Babesia bovis infected erythrocytes was performed using a microfabricated flow cytometer. Separation was possible through exploitation of the dielectric differences between normal and infected erythrocytes, essentially due to the higher ionic membrane permeability of B.

Continuous separation of cells by balanced dielectrophoretic forces at multiple frequencies.

We present a particle-sorting device based on the opposition of dielectrophoretic forces. The forces are generated by an array of electrode chambers located in both sidewalls of a main flow channel. Particles with different dielectric response perceive different force magnitudes and are therefore continuously focused to different streamlines in the flow channel.

Label-free detection of Babesia bovis infected red blood cells using impedance spectroscopy on a microfabricated flow cytometer.

Impedance spectroscopy is a powerful tool for label-free analysis and characterisation of living cells. In this work, we achieved the detection of Babesia bovis infected red blood cells using impedance spectroscopy on a microfabricated flow cytometer. The cellular modifications caused by the intracellular parasite result in a shift in impedance which can be measured dielectrically.

Identification of homologous genes of T. annulata proteins in the genome of Theileria sp. (China).

Homologues to previously described Theileria (T.) annulata genes (T. annulata surface protein [TaSP], putative T.

Establishment of optimal conditions for long-term culture of erythrocytic stages of Theileria uilenbergi.

Objective: To establish optimal conditions for long-term culture of the erythrocytic stage of Theileria uilenbergi.

Sample Population: Red blood cells from 3 splenectomized sheep experimentally infected with a blood stabilate of T uilenbergi.

Procedures: Cultures of T uilenbergi were initiated by use of blood from experimentally infected sheep collected when parasites were detected in Giemsa-stained thin blood smears.

Spherical vs. granular immobilization support selection and performance on an optical flow cell immunosensor based on the fluorescence of Cyanine-5.

A spherical porous glass support Trisoperl (TRISO) with four pore diameters (ø 47.8; 55.9; 102.

Identification of antigenic proteins of a Theileria species pathogenic for small ruminants in China recognized by antisera of infected animals.

The antigenic proteins of the piroplasm stage of Theileria species (China), the causative agent of theilerosis of small ruminants in China, were analyzed by Western blot, revealing several specific immunoreactive proteins of different predicted molecular weights. Furthermore, sera from Theileria species (China)-infected animals were probed for reactivity with the TaSP protein of T. annulata, for which a homologue has been described in Theileria species (China).

Immunosensors for diagnostic applications.

Immunosensors can play an important role in the improvement of veterinary diagnostics in areas such as the diagnosis of diseases, drug detection and food quality control, by providing applications with rapid detection, high sensitivity and specificity. Associated with advances in biochemistry, biotechnology, electronics and microfabrication, new transduction devices that translate a biological interaction into an electrical signal have been developed. An overview of the current immunoassay techniques used in standard diagnosis is presented.