The Babesia bovis VESA1 virulence factor subunit 1b is encoded by the 1beta branch of the ves multigene family.

ABSTRACT: Babesia bovis, an intraerythrocytic parasite of cattle, establishes persistent infections of extreme duration. This is accomplished, at least in part, through rapid antigenic variation of a heterodimeric virulence factor, the variant erythrocyte surface antigen-1 (VESA1) protein. Previously, the VESA1a subunit was demonstrated to be encoded by a 1alpha member of the ves multigene family. Since its discovery the 1beta branch of this multigene family has been hypothesized to encode the VESA1b polypeptide, but formal evidence for this connection has been lacking. Here, we provide evidence that products of ves1beta genes are rapidly variant in antigenicity and size-polymorphic, matching known VESA1b polypeptides. Importantly, the ves1beta-encoded antigens are co-precipitated with VESA1a during

SUBMITTER: Xiao YP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2856709 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature