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. 2010 Jan;106(2):471-9.
doi: 10.1007/s00436-009-1689-1. Epub 2009 Nov 27.

Identification and characterization of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus candidate protective antigens for the control of cattle tick infestations

Consuelo Almazán  1 , Rodolfo Lagunes, Margarita Villar, Mario Canales, Rodrigo Rosario-Cruz, Frans Jongejan, José de la Fuente
Affiliations

Identification and characterization of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus candidate protective antigens for the control of cattle tick infestations

Consuelo Almazán et al. Parasitol Res. 2010 Jan.

Abstract

The cattle ticks, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) spp., affect cattle production in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Tick vaccines constitute a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to tick control. The recombinant Rhipicephalus microplus Bm86 antigen has been shown to protect cattle against tick infestations. However, variable efficacy of Bm86-based vaccines against geographic tick strains has encouraged the research for additional tick-protective antigens. Herein, we describe the analysis of R. microplus glutathione-S transferase, ubiquitin (UBQ), selenoprotein W, elongation factor-1 alpha, and subolesin (SUB) complementary DNAs (cDNAs) by RNA interference (RNAi) in R. microplus and Rhipicephalus annulatus. Candidate protective antigens were selected for vaccination experiments based on the effect of gene knockdown on tick mortality, feeding, and fertility. Two cDNA clones encoding for UBQ and SUB were used for cattle vaccination and infestation with R. microplus and R. annulatus. Control groups were immunized with recombinant Bm86 or adjuvant/saline. The highest vaccine efficacy for the control of tick infestations was obtained for Bm86. Although with low immunogenic response, the results with the SUB vaccine encourage further investigations on the use of recombinant subolesin alone or in combination with other antigens for the control of cattle tick infestations. The UBQ peptide showed low immunogenicity, and the results of the vaccination trial were inconclusive to assess the protective efficacy of this antigen. These experiments showed that RNAi could be used for the selection of candidate tick-protective antigens. However, vaccination trials are necessary to evaluate the effect of recombinant antigens in the control of tick infestations, a process that requires efficient recombinant protein production and formulation systems.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Antibody response in vaccinated cattle. Bovine serum antibody titers to recombinant antigens were determined by ELISA in cattle vaccinated with ubiquitin, subolesin, Bm86, and adjuvant/saline control. Antibody titers in immunized cattle were expressed as the OD450 nm value for the highest serum dilution (1:1,000) and compared between vaccinated and control cattle using an ANOVA test (*P < 0.05). The time of vaccination shots (arrows) and tick infestation are indicated
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