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.
Publication Date: 2016-11-10 PubMed ID: 27832060PubMed Central: PMC5104403DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004983Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Review
Summary
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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
Researcher Affiliations
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 12 times.- 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.
- 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.
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- 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).
- 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).
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- 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.
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