FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
PLoS neglected tropical diseases2016; 10(11); e0004983; doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004983

Comparative Bioinformatics Analysis of Transcription Factor Genes Indicates Conservation of Key Regulatory Domains among Babesia bovis, Babesia microti, and Theileria equi.

Abstract: Apicomplexa tick-borne hemoparasites, including Babesia bovis, Babesia microti, and Theileria equi are responsible for bovine and human babesiosis and equine theileriosis, respectively. These parasites of vast medical, epidemiological, and economic impact have complex life cycles in their vertebrate and tick hosts. Large gaps in knowledge concerning the mechanisms used by these parasites for gene regulation remain. Regulatory genes coding for DNA binding proteins such as members of the Api-AP2, HMG, and Myb families are known to play crucial roles as transcription factors. Although the repertoire of Api-AP2 has been defined and a HMG gene was previously identified in the B. bovis genome, these regulatory genes have not been described in detail in B. microti and T. equi. In this study, comparative bioinformatics was used to: (i) identify and map genes encoding for these transcription factors among three parasites' genomes; (ii) identify a previously unreported HMG gene in B. microti; (iii) define a repertoire of eight conserved Myb genes; and (iv) identify AP2 correlates among B. bovis and the better-studied Plasmodium parasites. Searching the available transcriptome of B. bovis defined patterns of transcription of these three gene families in B. bovis erythrocyte stage parasites. Sequence comparisons show conservation of functional domains and general architecture in the AP2, Myb, and HMG proteins, which may be significant for the regulation of common critical parasite life cycle transitions in B. bovis, B. microti, and T. equi. A detailed understanding of the role of gene families encoding DNA binding proteins will provide new tools for unraveling regulatory mechanisms involved in B. bovis, B. microti, and T. equi life cycles and environmental adaptive responses and potentially contributes to the development of novel convergent strategies for improved control of babesiosis and equine piroplasmosis.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2016-11-10 PubMed ID: 27832060PubMed Central: PMC5104403DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004983Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article
  • Review

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research provides a detailed comparative analysis of the transcription factor genes found in the Babesia bovis, Babesia microti, and Theileria equi parasites. The findings reveal that certain functional domains and general structural features of these genes are conserved across the three species, potentially influencing how these parasites adapt to their environment and progress through their life cycles.

Introduction and Context

  • The research focuses on three tick-borne parasites of the Apicomplexa genus – Babesia bovis, Babesia microti, and Theileria equi. These parasites cause severe diseases in humans and livestock, with substantial health and economic consequences.
  • In spite of their significance, numerous gaps exist in current understanding of the mechanisms these parasites use for gene regulation.

Research Objectives and Methods

  • The researchers conducted a comparative bioinformatics analysis to identify and map genes involved in transcription regulation among the three parasite genomes.
  • These included genes from the Api-AP2, HMG, and Myb families, which encode for DNA-binding proteins acting as transcription factors.
  • Specific objectives included the identification of a previously unknown HMG gene in B. microti and the definition of a set of eight conserved Myb genes.

Results

  • The study revealed patterns in the transcription of these gene families in B. bovis erythrocyte stage parasites, offering insights into the parasite’s life cycle.
  • There is conservation of key functional domains and general architecture in the AP2, Myb, and HMG proteins among the three parasites.

Implications

  • Understanding the role of DNA-binding proteins in these parasites could provide new tools for deciphering the regulation mechanisms involved in their life cycles and environmental responses.
  • This new knowledge can potentially contribute to the development of new strategies for better control of diseases caused by these parasites, such as babesiosis and equine piroplasmosis.

Cite This Article

APA
Alzan HF, Knowles DP, Suarez CE. (2016). Comparative Bioinformatics Analysis of Transcription Factor Genes Indicates Conservation of Key Regulatory Domains among Babesia bovis, Babesia microti, and Theileria equi. PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 10(11), e0004983. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0004983

Publication

PLoS neglected tropical diseases
ISSN: 1935-2735
NlmUniqueID: 101291488
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 11
Pages: e0004983
PII: e0004983

Researcher Affiliations

Alzan, Heba F
  • Parasitology and Animal Diseases Department, National Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
  • Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America.
Knowles, Donald P
  • Animal Disease Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, WSU, Pullman, Washington, United States of America.
  • Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America.
Suarez, Carlos E
  • Animal Disease Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, WSU, Pullman, Washington, United States of America.
  • Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Babesia bovis / genetics
  • Babesia microti / genetics
  • Babesiosis / parasitology
  • Base Sequence
  • Cattle
  • Computational Biology / methods
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Genome, Protozoan
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
  • Horses / parasitology
  • Humans
  • Life Cycle Stages / genetics
  • Phylogeny
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Theileria / genetics
  • Theileriasis / parasitology
  • Transcription Factors / genetics

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

References

This article includes 36 references

Citations

This article has been cited 19 times.
  1. Santos JHM, Siddle HV, Raza A, Stanisic DI, Good MF, Tabor AE. Exploring the landscape of Babesia bovis vaccines: progress, challenges, and opportunities. Parasit Vectors 2023 Aug 10;16(1):274.
    doi: 10.1186/s13071-023-05885-zpubmed: 37563668google scholar: lookup
  2. Liu Q, Guan XA, Li DF, Zheng YX, Wang S, Xuan XN, Zhao JL, He L. Babesia gibsoni Whole-Genome Sequencing, Assembling, Annotation, and Comparative Analysis. Microbiol Spectr 2023 Aug 17;11(4):e0072123.
    doi: 10.1128/spectrum.00721-23pubmed: 37432130google scholar: lookup
  3. Masterson HE, Taus NS, Johnson WC, Kappmeyer L, Capelli-Peixoto J, Hussein HE, Mousel MR, Hernandez-Silva DJ, Laughery JM, Mosqueda J, Ueti MW. Thrombospondin-Related Anonymous Protein (TRAP) Family Expression by Babesia bovis Life Stages within the Mammalian Host and Tick Vector. Microorganisms 2022 Nov 2;10(11).
    doi: 10.3390/microorganisms10112173pubmed: 36363765google scholar: lookup
  4. Johnson WC, Hussein HE, Capelli-Peixoto J, Laughery JM, Taus NS, Suarez CE, Ueti MW. A Transfected Babesia bovis Parasite Line Expressing eGFP Is Able to Complete the Full Life Cycle of the Parasite in Mammalian and Tick Hosts. Pathogens 2022 May 27;11(6).
    doi: 10.3390/pathogens11060623pubmed: 35745477google scholar: lookup
  5. Cruz-Bustos T, Feix AS, Ruttkowski B, Joachim A. Sexual Development in Non-Human Parasitic Apicomplexa: Just Biology or Targets for Control?. Animals (Basel) 2021 Oct 4;11(10).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11102891pubmed: 34679913google scholar: lookup
  6. Gubbels MJ, Coppens I, Zarringhalam K, Duraisingh MT, Engelberg K. The Modular Circuitry of Apicomplexan Cell Division Plasticity. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021;11:670049.
    doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.670049pubmed: 33912479google scholar: lookup
  7. Elsworth B, Duraisingh MT. A framework for signaling throughout the life cycle of Babesia species. Mol Microbiol 2021 May;115(5):882-890.
    doi: 10.1111/mmi.14650pubmed: 33274587google scholar: lookup
  8. Huo D, Sun L, Storey KB, Zhang L, Liu S, Sun J, Yang H. The regulation mechanism of lncRNAs and mRNAs in sea cucumbers under global climate changes: Defense against thermal and hypoxic stresses. Sci Total Environ 2020 Mar 20;709:136045.
    doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136045pubmed: 31905562google scholar: lookup
  9. Bohaliga GAR, Johnson WC, Taus NS, Hussein HE, Bastos RG, Suarez CE, Scoles GA, Ueti MW. Identification of proteins expressed by Babesia bigemina kinetes. Parasit Vectors 2019 May 28;12(1):271.
    doi: 10.1186/s13071-019-3531-7pubmed: 31138276google scholar: lookup
  10. Suarez CE, Alzan HF, Silva MG, Rathinasamy V, Poole WA, Cooke BM. Unravelling the cellular and molecular pathogenesis of bovine babesiosis: is the sky the limit?. Int J Parasitol 2019 Feb;49(2):183-197.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2018.11.002pubmed: 30690089google scholar: lookup
  11. Jalovecka M, Hajdusek O, Sojka D, Kopacek P, Malandrin L. The Complexity of Piroplasms Life Cycles. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018;8:248.
    doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00248pubmed: 30083518google scholar: lookup
  12. Man S, Fu Y, Guan Y, Feng M, Qiao K, Li X, Gao H, Cheng X. Evaluation of a Major Surface Antigen of Babesia microti Merozoites as a Vaccine Candidate against Babesia Infection. Front Microbiol 2017;8:2545.
    doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02545pubmed: 29312230google scholar: lookup
  13. Salim B, Alasmari S, Bakheit MA. Genetic resistance to vector-borne hemoprotozoa in livestock: molecular markers, host-parasite interactions, and implications for breeding and control. J Vet Sci 2025 Sep;26(5):e60.
    doi: 10.4142/jvs.25125pubmed: 40936275google scholar: lookup
  14. Rahman SMR, Alzan HF, Laughery JM, Bastos RG, Ueti MW, Suarez CE. Structural and antigenic characterization of Babesia Bovis HAP2 domains. Sci Rep 2025 Mar 5;15(1):7781.
    doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-91359-4pubmed: 40044720google scholar: lookup
  15. Fang T, Mohseni A, Lonardi S, Ben Mamoun C. Properties and predicted functions of large genes and proteins of apicomplexan parasites. NAR Genom Bioinform 2024 Jun;6(2):lqae032.
    doi: 10.1093/nargab/lqae032pubmed: 38584870google scholar: lookup
  16. Santamaria RM, Estrada K, López ME, Rojas E, Martínez G, Alcalá Y, Rojas C, Álvarez JA, Lira JJ, Santamaria TV, Sánchez-Flores A, Figueroa JV. Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Babesia bigemina Attenuated Vaccine and Virulent Strains of Mexican Origin. Vaccines (Basel) 2024 Mar 15;12(3).
    doi: 10.3390/vaccines12030309pubmed: 38543943google scholar: lookup
  17. Cuellar P, Castañeda-Ortiz EJ, Rosales-Zarza C, Martínez-Rodríguez CE, Canela-Pérez I, Rodríguez MA, Valdés J, Azuara-Liceaga E. Genome-Wide Classification of Myb Domain-Containing Protein Families in Entamoeba invadens. Genes (Basel) 2024 Feb 2;15(2).
    doi: 10.3390/genes15020201pubmed: 38397191google scholar: lookup
  18. Schwarz D, Lourido S. The multifaceted roles of Myb domain-containing proteins in apicomplexan parasites. Curr Opin Microbiol 2023 Dec;76:102395.
    doi: 10.1016/j.mib.2023.102395pubmed: 37866202google scholar: lookup
  19. Silva MG, Bastos RG, Laughery JM, Alzan HF, Rathinasamy VA, Cooke BM, Suarez CE. Vaccination of cattle with the Babesia bovis sexual-stage protein HAP2 abrogates parasite transmission by Rhipicephalus microplus ticks. NPJ Vaccines 2023 Sep 27;8(1):140.
    doi: 10.1038/s41541-023-00741-8pubmed: 37758790google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,658 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.