Calcium-ions are involved in erythrocyte invasion by equine Babesia parasites.
Abstract: Ethylene glycol bis (beta-aminoethylether)-N,N,N,N-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) is a chelating agent capable of binding to positively-charged metal ions, including a calcium-ion (Ca2+). Here, we demonstrated the inhibitory effect of the chemical on the in vitro asexual growth of the equine protozoan parasites, Babesia caballi and Babesia equi. The growth of both B. caballi and B. equi was significantly inhibited in the presence of EGTA (IC50=1.27 and 2.25 mM, respectively). Under microscopical observation, increased percentages of extracellular merozoites in the total parasites were detected in both of the cultures treated with high concentrations of EGTA. In contrast, further addition of Ca2+ to the EGTA-treated cultures prevented the parasites from clearing and the percentages of extracellular merozoites from increasing. As for B. caballi, an invasion test using high-voltage pulsing proved that EGTA has an inhibitory effect to their erythrocyte invasion. These results suggest that Ca2+ is involved in erythrocyte invasion by equine Babesia parasites.
Publication Date: 2006-06-02 PubMed ID: 16740183DOI: 10.1017/S0031182006000436Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research article discusses the role of calcium ions in the process of red blood cell invasion by equine Babesia parasites, as evidenced by the inhibitory effect of a chemical that binds to these ions.
Introduction
- The study is focused on the impact of the chelating agent Ethylene glycol bis (beta-aminoethylether)-N,N,N-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) on the growth of two types of equine protozoan parasites: Babesia caballi and Babesia equi.
- EGTA binds to positively-charged metal ions like calcium ion (Ca2+) and the researchers used this property to understand the role of Ca2+ in the life cycle of these parasites.
EGTA’s Inhibitory Effect on Parasite Growth
- When EGTA was applied in the lab, the growth of both parasites was significantly barred suggesting that certain ions being bound by EGTA are crucial to the parasites’ development.
- The inhibitory concentration (IC50 values) were 1.27mM for B.caballi and 2.25mM for B.equi, meaning that the concentration of EGTA required to inhibit the growth of 50% of the parasites was lower for B. caballi compared to B. equi.
Microscopic Observations
- Microscopic observations revealed that higher concentrations of EGTA led to an increase in the percentage of parasites found outside of red blood cells (extracellular merozoites).
- This suggests that EGTA could be obstructing the parasites’ ability to invade erythrocytes (red blood cells).
Role of Calcium Ions In Erythrocyte Invasion
- Adding more Ca2+ back into the cultures that had been treated with EGTA stopped the increase in extracellular merozoites, implying the critical role of these ions in the invasion of red blood cells by the parasites.
- Also, the invasion test conducted on B. caballi using high-voltage pulsing confirmed the inhibitory effect of EGTA on the parasite’s ability to invade erythrocytes.
- The above observations thus suggest that Ca2+ is implicated in the process of erythrocyte invasion by these equine Babesia parasites.
Conclusion
- In conclusion, this research indicates that Ca2+ plays a crucial role in the life cycle of Babesia parasites, specifically their invasion of red blood cells. It also signals the potential of targeting this mechanism for the development of antiparasitic therapies.
Cite This Article
APA
Okubo K, Wilawan P, Bork S, Okamura M, Yokoyama N, Igarashi I.
(2006).
Calcium-ions are involved in erythrocyte invasion by equine Babesia parasites.
Parasitology, 133(Pt 3), 289-294.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182006000436 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Babesia / drug effects
- Babesia / growth & development
- Babesiosis / parasitology
- Babesiosis / veterinary
- Calcium / metabolism
- Calcium / physiology
- Cells, Cultured
- Chelating Agents / pharmacology
- Egtazic Acid / pharmacology
- Erythrocytes / cytology
- Erythrocytes / parasitology
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
- Inhibitory Concentration 50
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Elsworth B, Duraisingh MT. A framework for signaling throughout the life cycle of Babesia species.. Mol Microbiol 2021 May;115(5):882-890.
- Chakraborty S, Roy S, Mistry HU, Murthy S, George N, Bhandari V, Sharma P. Potential Sabotage of Host Cell Physiology by Apicomplexan Parasites for Their Survival Benefits.. Front Immunol 2017;8:1261.
- Mossaad E, Asada M, Nakatani D, Inoue N, Yokoyama N, Kaneko O, Kawazu S. Calcium ions are involved in egress of Babesia bovis merozoites from bovine erythrocytes.. J Vet Med Sci 2015 Jan;77(1):53-8.
- Aboulaila M, Munkhjargal T, Sivakumar T, Ueno A, Nakano Y, Yokoyama M, Yoshinari T, Nagano D, Katayama K, El-Bahy N, Yokoyama N, Igarashi I. Apicoplast-targeting antibacterials inhibit the growth of Babesia parasites.. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2012 Jun;56(6):3196-206.
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