The MEP pathway in Babesia orientalis apicoplast, a potential target for anti-babesiosis drug development.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The apicomplexan parasite Babesia orientalis, the causative agent of water buffalo babesiosis in China, is widespread in central and south China, resulting in a huge economic loss annually. Currently, there is no effective vaccine or drug against this disease. Babesia bovis and Plasmodium falciparum were reported to possess an apicoplast which contains the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway inhibitable by fosmidomycin, suggesting that the pathway could serve as a drug target for screening new drugs. However, it remains unknown in B. orientalis.

Methods

Primers were designed according to the seven MEP pathway genes of Babesia microti and Babesia bovis. The genes were cloned, sequenced and analyzed. The open reading frames (ORFs) of the first two enzyme genes,

SUBMITTER: He L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6090808 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature