Journal article
Expression and strain variation of the novel “small open reading frame” (smorf) multigene family in Babesia bovis
International journal for parasitology, Vol.42(2), pp.131-138
02/2012
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/110460
PMCID: PMC3459096
PMID: 22138017
Abstract
[Display omitted]
► The smorf gene family is the second largest in Babesia bovis. ► Smorf genes have a large hypervariable insertion in 20 of the 44 genes. ► The smorf gene repertoire varies between strains, with both conserved and unique genes in each strain. ► Multiple smorf genes are transcribed and expressed in merozoites.
Small open reading frame (smorf) genes comprise the second largest Babesia bovis multigene family. All known 44 variant smorf genes are located in close chromosomal proximity to ves1 genes, which encode proteins that mediate cytoadhesion and contribute to immune evasion. In this study, we characterised the general topology of smorf genes and investigated the gene repertoire, transcriptional profile and SMORF expression in two distinct strains, T2Bo and Mo7. Sequence analysis using degenerate primers identified additional smorf genes in each strain and demonstrated that the smorf gene repertoire varies between strains, with conserved and unique genes in both. Smorf genes have multiple semi-conserved and variable blocks, and a large hypervariable insertion in 20 of the 44 genes defines two major branches of the family, termed smorf A and smorf B. A total of 32 smorf genes are simultaneously transcribed in T2Bo strain B. bovis merozoites obtained from deep brain tissue of an acutely infected animal. SMORF peptide-specific antiserum bound in immunoblots to multiple proteins with a range of sizes predicted by smorf genes, confirming translation of smorf gene products from these transcripts. These results indicate that the smorf multigene family is larger than previously described and demonstrate that smorf genes are expressed and are undergoing variation, both within strains and in a lineage-specific pattern independent of strain specificity. The function of these novel proteins is unknown.
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Details
- Title
- Expression and strain variation of the novel “small open reading frame” (smorf) multigene family in Babesia bovis
- Creators
- Lucas M Ferreri - Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology and School for Global Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6040, USAKelly A Brayton - Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology and School for Global Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6040, USAKerry S Sondgeroth - Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology and School for Global Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6040, USAAudrey O.T Lau - Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology and School for Global Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6040, USACarlos E Suarez - Animal Disease Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, WA 99164, USATerry F McElwain - Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology and School for Global Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6040, USA
- Publication Details
- International journal for parasitology, Vol.42(2), pp.131-138
- Academic Unit
- Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Department of; Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Identifiers
- 99900547054501842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article