Vivaxin genes encode highly immunogenic, non-variant antigens on the Trypanosoma vivax cell-surface.

ABSTRACT: Trypanosoma vivax is a unicellular hemoparasite, and a principal cause of animal African trypanosomiasis (AAT), a vector-borne and potentially fatal livestock disease across sub-Saharan Africa. Previously, we identified diverse T. vivax-specific genes that were predicted to encode cell surface proteins. Here, we examine the immune responses of naturally and experimentally infected hosts to these unique parasite antigens, to identify immunogens that could become vaccine candidates. Immunoprofiling of host serum shows that one particular family (Fam34) elicits a consistent IgG antibody response. This gene family, which we now call Vivaxin, encodes at least 124 transmembrane glycoproteins that display quite distinct expression profiles and patterns of genetic variation. We focused on one gene

SUBMITTER: Romero-Ramirez A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9529106 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature