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Molecular Characterization of Babesia bovis Strains Using PCR Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis of the msa2‐a/b Genes
Author(s) -
Wilkowsky Silvina,
Farber M.,
Gil G.,
Echaide I.,
Mosqueda J.,
Alcaraz E.,
Suarez C. E.,
FlorinChristensen M.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1428.074
Subject(s) - babesia bovis , biology , restriction fragment length polymorphism , genotype , gene , genetics , virology , babesia
The merozoite surface antigen‐2 (msa‐2) family of Babesia bovis is a group of variable genes that share conserved 5′ and 3′ ends and encode for membrane‐anchored glycoproteins that have been postulated as vaccine candidates. In this work, we analyzed the sequences of three of these genes ( msa‐2a1, a2, and 2b ) from two geographically distant strains and detected a certain degree of genotypic diversity that could be exploited to work out new molecular tools for the discrimination of B. bovis field samples. Here we describe a PCR restriction assay that was developed based on this observation and tested on several B. bovis strains and isolates. The results show a strain‐specific band pattern in geographically distant isolates, indicating the presence of differentially located Bsp MI restriction sites. This approach provides a simple method for the differentiation of American B. bovis strains.