Identification, cloning and characterization of BmP41, a common antigenic protein of Babesia microti.

Babesia microti is a rodent tick-borne blood parasite and the major causative agent of emerging human babesiosis. Here, we identified a candidate of common antigenic protein BmP41 of B. microti by serological screening of cDNA library of human-pathogenic Gray strain with antisera against rodent Munich strain.

Molecular and immunological characterization of a novel 32-kDa secreted protein of Babesia microti.

A cDNA encoding the Babesia microti 32-kDa protein was identified by serological immunoscreening of a cDNA expression library and designated as BmP32. The full length of BmP32 contains an open reading frame of 918 base pairs consisting of 306 amino acids having a significant homology with B. microti secreted antigen 1.

A double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of secreted antigen 1 of Babesia microti using hamster model.

A double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) targeting secreted antigen 1 of Babesia microti (BmSA1) was developed for detection of B. microti infection. The optimized DAS-ELISA was sensitive enough to detect circulating BmSA1 by day 2 post-infection, in sequential sera of a hamster infected with B.

Macrophages are critical for cross-protective immunity conferred by Babesia microti against Babesia rodhaini infection in mice.

Although primary infection of mice with Babesia microti has been shown to protect mice against subsequent lethal infection by Babesia rodhaini, the mechanism behind the cross-protection is unknown. To unravel this mechanism, we investigated the influence of primary infection of mice with nonlethal B. microti using different time courses on the outcome of subsequent lethal B.

Identification and characterization of a novel secreted antigen 1 of Babesia microti and evaluation of its potential use in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunochromatographic test.

Here, we identified a novel secreted antigen designated as Babesia microti secreted antigen 1 (BmSA1) by immunoscreening a B. microti cDNA expression library using the sera from hamsters immunized with plasma, putatively containing secreted antigens, from B. microti-infected hamsters.

Babesia microti: molecular and antigenic characterizations of a novel 94-kDa protein (BmP94).

A novel gene, BmP94, encoding 94-kDa protein of Babesia microti was identified by immunoscreening of the cDNA expression library. The full-length of BmP94 was expressed in Escherichia coli (rBmP94), which resulted in insoluble form with low yield, and the truncated hydrophilic C-terminus region of the gene was expressed as a soluble protein (rBmP94/CT) with improved productivity. Antiserum raised against rBmP94/CT recognized the 94-kDa native protein in the parasite extract by Western blot analysis.

Artesunate, a potential drug for treatment of Babesia infection.

The effects of artesunate, a water-soluble artemisinin derivative, against Babesia species, including Babesia bovis, Babesia gibsoni and Babesia microti were studied. Cultures of B. bovis and B.