[Research progress of Babesia rhoptry associated proteins]

Abstract

Babesia parasites are obligate intracellular apicomplexan protozoa and important pathogens causing babesiosis of humans and animals. They have conserved subcellular structures and invasion mechanism. Rhoptry-associated proteins, which are released into the host cell, are considered to be the key molecules of invasion and replication of parasites in the host cell and are immunosuppressive factors of the host cell mediated immunity in the stage of parasitophorous vacuole (PV) formation. The knowledge about rhoptry-associated proteins has made a great progress with the development of genomics and proteomics, so we review the research progress in rhoptry-associated proteins of different Babesia including Babesia bovis, B. ovine, B. gibsoni, B. bigemina and B. orientalis, etc.

Keywords: Babesia; Immune; Invasion; Rhoptry-associated protein.