Project description:Secreted parasite factors from Babesia canis during acute infection were investigated using a LC-MS/MS assay which led to the discovery of potential pathogenicity factors. Combined data from genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics provide a first predicted and partially validated set of potential virulence factors exported during fatal infections.
Project description:Canine babesiosis, a tick-borne disease, is characterized by protozoan parasites invading red blood cells. It is rapidly expanding in many European countries. Examining extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their protein cargo has the potential to offer crucial insights into the response to Babesia canis infection, presenting opportunities for advancements in veterinary diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. In the present study, we have a) isolated small EVs (< 200 nm) from the serum of 15 healthy dogs and 15 dogs naturally infected with B. canis using size-exclusion chromatography (fraction 2 and 3 per each sample), (2) characterized isolated EVs by nanoparticle tracking analysis, transmission electron microscopy and Western blot (3) analysed the protein cargo of isolated EVs by mass spectrometry. We hypothesized that there will be a difference in EV characteristics (size, concentration, EV marker proteins) and profiles of luminal proteins between the two experimental groups. Our aim was to characterize proteins that can offer valuable insights into B. canis infection in dogs, thereby unravelling the complex mechanisms of B. canis infection.
Project description:To understand Babesia gene regulation during tick and mammalian host infection, we performed high throughput RNA-sequencing using samples collected from calves and Rhipicephalus microplus ticks infected with Babesia bigemina. We evaluated gene expression differences between B. bigemina kinetes and blood-stage parasites
