| Babesia bovis is a parasite that causes an economically important disease of cattle. The long-term objective of our laboratory is to develop a recombinant vaccine for babesiosis that is safe, effective and inexpensive. Live-attenuated vaccines are available, but these are typically ineffective against heterologous strains, and they are difficult to produce and distribute to remote areas of Third World countries—the areas that need them the most. Our primary strategy for identifying potential vaccine targets has been to focus on the genes and their protein products that may be related to ability of the parasite to cause severe disease and death. Identifying genetic markers of virulence-related genes in the genome allows the identification of pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains of parasites without extensive testing in cattle. This dissertation analyzed two genetic markers, BabR and pK5, for their relationship, if any, to virulence; it also analyzed two potential virulence-related genes, the Babesia bovis glutamic acid-rich protein (Bbgarp) and the proline-rich protein (PRP). Our studies concluded that BabR is a genetic marker for virulence in the population of parasites that we studied, but pK5 is not. We also concluded that Bbgarp and PRP are not virulence-related genes. However, Bbgarp is a previously unidentified, novel gene of Babesia bovis that could in the future be used as a target for drug therapy. The research presented in this dissertation can further the development of new live attenuated vaccines as well as recombinant vaccines and drugs for the treatment of babesiosis. |
