Targeted mutagenesis in Anaplasma marginale to define virulence and vaccine development against bovine anaplasmosis.

ABSTRACT: Tick-borne Anaplasma species are obligate, intracellular, bacterial pathogens that cause important diseases globally in people, agricultural animals, and dogs. Targeted mutagenesis methods are yet to be developed to define genes essential for these pathogens. In addition, vaccines conferring protection against diseases caused by Anaplasma species are not available. Here, we describe a targeted mutagenesis method for deletion of the phage head-to-tail connector protein (phtcp) gene in Anaplasma marginale. The mutant did not cause disease and exhibited attenuated growth in its natural host (cattle). We then assessed its ability to confer protection against wild-type A. marginale infection challenge. Additionally, we compared vaccine protection with the mutant to that of whole cell A. margina

SUBMITTER: Hove P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9135337 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature