Molecular cloning, characterization and antigenicity ofBabesiasp. BQ1 (Lintan) (Babesiacf.motasi) apical membrane antigen-1 (AMA-1)

Parasitology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 144 (5) ◽  
pp. 641-649 ◽  
Author(s):  
QINGLI NIU ◽  
ZHIJIE LIU ◽  
JIFEI YANG ◽  
GUIQUAN GUAN ◽  
YUPING PAN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Apical Membrane ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Gene Characterization ◽  
Reading Frame ◽  
Apical Membrane Antigen 1 ◽  
Apical Membrane Antigen ◽  
Potential Vaccine

SUMMARYApical membrane antigen-1 (AMA-1) has been described as a potential vaccine candidate in apicomplexan parasites. Here we characterize theama-1gene. The full-lengthama-1gene ofBabesiasp. BQ1 (Lintan) (BLTAMA-1) is 1785 bp, which contains an open reading frame (ORF) encoding a 65-kDa protein of 594 amino acid residues; by definition, the 5′ UTR precedes the first methionine of the ORF. Phylogenetic analysis based on AMA-1 amino acid sequences clearly separated Piroplasmida from other Apicomplexa parasites. TheBabesiasp. BQ1 (Lintan) AMA-1 sequence is most closely associated with that ofB. ovataandB. bigemina, with high bootstrap value. A recombinant protein encoding a conserved region and containing ectodomains I and II of BLTAMA-1 was constructed. BLTrAMA-1-DI/DII proteins were tested for reactivity with sera from sheep infected byBabesiasp. BQ1 (Lintan). In Western-blot analysis, nativeBabesiasp. BQ1 (Lintan) AMA-1 proteins were recognized by antibodies raised in rabbits against BLTrAMA-1in vitro. The results of this study are discussed in terms of gene characterization, taxonomy and antigenicity.

scholarly journals Specificity of the Protective Antibody Response to Apical Membrane Antigen 1

2001 ◽  
Vol 69 (5) ◽  
pp. 3286-3294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony N. Hodder ◽  
Pauline E. Crewther ◽  
Robin F. Anders
Keyword(s):  
Apical Membrane ◽  
Affinity Purification ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Apical Membrane Antigen 1 ◽  
Apical Membrane Antigen ◽  
Potential Vaccine ◽  
Inhibitory Antibodies ◽  
Domain I ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT Apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) is considered one of the leading candidates for inclusion in a vaccine against blood stages ofPlasmodium falciparum. Although the ama1 gene is relatively conserved compared to those for some other potential vaccine components, numerous point mutations have resulted in amino acid substitutions at many sites in the polypeptide. The polymorphisms in AMA1 have been attributed to the diversifying selection pressure of the protective immune responses. It was therefore of interest to investigate the impact of sequence diversity in P. falciparum AMA1 on the ability of anti-AMA1 antibodies to inhibit the invasion of erythrocytes in vitro by P. falciparummerozoites. For these studies, we used antibodies to recombinantP. falciparum 3D7 AMA1 ectodomain, which was prepared for testing in early clinical trials. Antibodies were raised in rabbits to the antigen formulated in Montanide ISA720, and human antibodies to AMA1 were isolated by affinity purification from the plasma of adults living in regions of Papua New Guinea where malaria is endemic. Both rabbit and human anti-AMA1 antibodies were found to be strongly inhibitory to the invasion of erythrocytes by merozoites from both the homologous and two heterologous lines of P. falciparum. The inhibitory antibodies targeted both conserved and strain-specific epitopes within the ectodomain of AMA1; however, it appears that the majority of these antibodies reacted with strain-specific epitopes in domain I, the N-terminal disulfide-bonded domain, which is the most polymorphic region of AMA1.

scholarly journals A Diversity-Covering Approach to Immunization with Plasmodium falciparum Apical Membrane Antigen 1 Induces Broader Allelic Recognition and Growth Inhibition Responses in Rabbits

2008 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 2660-2670 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edmond J. Remarque ◽  
Bart W. Faber ◽  
Clemens H. M. Kocken ◽  
Alan W. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Growth Inhibition ◽  
Apical Membrane ◽  
Recombinant Expression ◽  
Methylotrophic Yeast ◽  
Apical Membrane Antigen 1 ◽  
Apical Membrane Antigen ◽  
Amino Acid Variability

ABSTRACT Plasmodium falciparum apical membrane antigen 1 (PfAMA1), a candidate malaria vaccine, is polymorphic. This polymorphism is believed to be generated predominantly under immune selection pressure and, as a result, may compromise attempts at vaccination. Alignment of 355 PfAMA1 sequences shows that around 10% of the 622 amino acid residues can vary between alleles and that linkages between polymorphic residues occur. Using this analysis, we have designed three diversity-covering (DiCo) PfAMA1 sequences that take account of these linkages and, when taken together, on average incorporate 97% of amino acid variability observed. For each of the three DiCo sequences, a synthetic gene was constructed and used to transform the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris, allowing recombinant expression. All three DiCo proteins were reactive with the reduction-sensitive monoclonal antibody 4G2, suggesting the DiCo sequences had conformations similar to those of naturally occurring PfAMA1. Rabbits were immunized with FVO strain PfAMA1 or with the DiCo proteins either individually or as a mixture. Antibody titers and the ability to inhibit parasite growth in vitro were determined. Animals immunized with the DiCo mix performed similarly to animals immunized with FVO AMA1 when measured against FCR3 strain parasites but outperformed animals immunized with FVO AMA1 when assessed against other strains. The levels of growth inhibition (∼70%) induced by the mix of three DiCo proteins were comparable for FVO, 3D7, and HB3, suggesting that a considerable degree of diversity in AMA1 is adequately covered. This suggests that vaccines based upon the DiCo mix approach provide a broader functional immunity than immunization with a single allele.

scholarly journals The Most Polymorphic Residue on Plasmodium falciparum Apical Membrane Antigen 1 Determines Binding of an Invasion-Inhibitory Antibody

2006 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 2628-2636 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Coley ◽  
K. Parisi ◽  
R. Masciantonio ◽  
J. Hoeck ◽  
J. L. Casey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Apical Membrane ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Supporting Evidence ◽  
Inhibitory Antibody ◽  
Apical Membrane Antigen 1 ◽  
Apical Membrane Antigen ◽  
Immune Pressure ◽  
Polymorphic Residue

ABSTRACT Apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) is currently one of the leading malarial vaccine candidates. Anti-AMA1 antibodies can inhibit the invasion of erythrocytes by Plasmodium merozoites and prevent the multiplication of blood-stage parasites. Here we describe an anti-AMA1 monoclonal antibody (MAb 1F9) that inhibits the invasion of Plasmodium falciparum parasites in vitro. We show that both reactivity of MAb 1F9 with AMA1 and MAb 1F9-mediated invasion inhibition were strain specific. Site-directed mutagenesis of a fragment of AMA1 displayed on M13 bacteriophage identified a single polymorphic residue in domain I of AMA1 that is critical for MAb 1F9 binding. The identities of all other polymorphic residues investigated in this domain had little effect on the binding of the antibody. Examination of the P. falciparum AMA1 crystal structure localized this residue to a surface-exposed α-helix at the apex of the polypeptide. This description of a polymorphic inhibitory epitope on AMA1 adds supporting evidence to the hypothesis that immune pressure is responsible for the polymorphisms seen in this molecule.

scholarly journals Replication Specificity Elements of the Worland Strain of Beet Curly Top Virus Are Compatible with Those of the CFH Strain But Not Those of the Cal/Logan Strain

1998 ◽  
Vol 88 (11) ◽  
pp. 1174-1178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Drake C. Stenger
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Separate Species ◽  
Rep Protein ◽  
Reading Frame ◽  
Replication Assay ◽  
Beet Curly Top Virus ◽  
Rep Proteins ◽  
Cis And Trans

Cloned genomes of the CFH, Worland, and Cal/Logan strains of beet curly top virus (BCTV) served as helper viruses to trans-replicate defective (D) DNAs that are incapable of self-replication due to deletions within the C1 open reading frame encoding the replication initiator (Rep) protein. The Logan Rep protein could trans-replicate a Logan-derived D DNA in a transient replication assay conducted in Nicotiana benthamiana leaf disks. However, the Logan Rep protein was unable to trans-replicate D DNAs derived from the CFH or Worland strains. In contrast, the Rep proteins of the CFH and Worland strains could trans-replicate CFH or Worland D DNAs, but not a Logan D DNA. These results indicate that the cis- and trans-acting replication specificity elements of the CFH and Worland strains are compatible and that the three strains of BCTV may be divided into two groupings based upon replication specificity determinants. A comparison of amino acid sequences of the Rep protein for the three BCTV strains suggests that the trans-acting replication specificity element may reside in one or more of 12 amino acid residues that are identical; in two amino acid residues that are chemically similar among the CFH and Worland Rep proteins, yet are different in the Logan Rep protein; or in both. Properties including replication specificity, nucleotide sequence identity, and symptom expression were used as criteria to propose separate species designations for each of the three BCTV strains. In this proposal, the Cal/ Logan strain retains the name BCTV, CFH and the closely related Iranian isolate are designated beet severe curly top virus, and Worland is designated beet mild curly top virus.

Purification, Characterization, Gene Cloning, Sequencing, and Overexpression of Aminopeptidase N from Streptococcus thermophilus A

1999 ◽  
Vol 65 (7) ◽  
pp. 3001-3007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederic Chavagnat ◽  
Michael G. Casey ◽  
Jacques Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Gel Filtration ◽  
Streptococcus Thermophilus ◽  
Maximal Activity ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Small Peptides ◽  
T7 Promoter ◽  
Reading Frame ◽  
Endopeptidase Activity

ABSTRACT The general aminopeptidase PepN from Streptococcus thermophilus A was purified to protein homogeneity by hydroxyapatite, anion-exchange, and gel filtration chromatographies. The PepN enzyme was estimated to be a monomer of 95 kDa, with maximal activity on N-Lys–7-amino-4-methylcoumarin at pH 7 and 37°C. It was strongly inhibited by metal chelating agents, suggesting that it is a metallopeptidase. The activity was greatly restored by the bivalent cations Co2+, Zn2+, and Mn2+. Except for proline, glycine, and acidic amino acid residues, PepN has a broad specificity on the N-terminal amino acid of small peptides, but no significant endopeptidase activity has been detected. The N-terminal and short internal amino acid sequences of purified PepN were determined. By using synthetic primers and a battery of PCR techniques, the pepN gene was amplified, subcloned, and further sequenced, revealing an open reading frame of 2,541 nucleotides encoding a protein of 847 amino acids with a molecular weight of 96,252. Amino acid sequence analysis of thepepN gene translation product shows high homology with other PepN enzymes from lactic acid bacteria and exhibits the signature sequence of the zinc metallopeptidase family. The pepN gene was cloned in a T7 promoter-based expression plasmid and the 452-fold overproduced PepN enzyme was purified to homogeneity from the periplasmic extract of the host Escherichia coli strain. The overproduced enzyme showed the same catalytic characteristics as the wild-type enzyme.

scholarly journals Isolation, characterization and sequence analysis of a full-length cDNA clone encoding acetohydroxy acid reductoisomerase from spinach chloroplasts

1991 ◽  
Vol 277 (2) ◽  
pp. 469-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Dumas ◽  
M Lebrun ◽  
R Douce
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Amino Acid Sequence ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Open Reading Frame ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Protein Precursor ◽  
Reading Frame ◽  
Full Length Cdna

Acetohydroxy acid reductoisomerase (AHRI), the second enzyme in the parallel isoleucine/valine-biosynthetic pathway, catalyses an unusual two-step reaction in which the substrate, either 2-acetolactate or 2-aceto-2-hydroxybutyrate, is converted via an alkyl migration and an NADPH-dependent reduction to give 2,3-dihydroxy-3-methylbutyrate or 2,3-dihydroxy-3-methylvalerate respectively. We have isolated and characterized a full-length cDNA from a lambda gt11 spinach library encoding the complete acetohydroxy acid reductoisomerase protein precursor. The 2050-nucleotide sequence contains a 1785-nucleotide open reading frame. The derived amino acid sequence indicates that the protein precursor consists of 595 amino acid residues including a presequence peptide of 72 amino acid residues. The N-terminal sequence of the first 16 amino acid residues of the purified AHRI confirms the identity of the cDNA. The derived amino acid sequence from this open reading frame shows 23% identity with the deduced amino acid sequences of the Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae AHRI proteins. There are two blocks of conserved amino acid residues in these three proteins. One of these is a sequence similar to the ‘fingerprint’ region of the NAD(P)H-binding site found in a large number of NAD(P)H-dependent oxidoreductases. The other, a short sequence (Lys-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Ser-His-Gly-Phe) containing the amino acids lysine and histidine, could well be the catalytic site of the first step of the AHRI reaction. Southern-blot analysis indicated that AHRI is encoded by a single gene per haploid genome of about 7.5 kbp containing at least four introns.

scholarly journals Highly Conserved Configuration of Catalytic Amino Acid Residues among Calicivirus-Encoded Proteases

2007 ◽  
Vol 81 (13) ◽  
pp. 6798-6806 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomoichiro Oka ◽  
Mami Yamamoto ◽  
Masaru Yokoyama ◽  
Satoko Ogawa ◽  
Grant S. Hansman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Proteolytic Processing ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Reading Frame ◽  
Binding Cleft ◽  
Viral Polyprotein ◽  
Mutant Forms

ABSTRACT A common feature of caliciviruses is the proteolytic processing of the viral polyprotein catalyzed by the viral 3C-like protease encoded in open reading frame 1 (ORF1). Here we report the identification and structural characterization of the protease domains and amino acid residues in sapovirus (SaV) and feline calicivirus (FCV). The in vitro expression and processing of a panel of truncated ORF1 polyproteins and corresponding mutant forms showed that the functional protease domain is 146 amino acids (aa) in SaV and 154 aa in FCV. Site-directed mutagenesis of the protease domains identified four amino acid residues essential to protease activities: H31, E52, C116, and H131 in SaV and H39, E60, C122, and H137 in FCV. A computer-assisted structural analysis showed that despite high levels of diversity in the primary structures of the protease domains in the family Caliciviridae, the configurations of the H, E, C, and H residues are highly conserved, with these residues positioned closely along the inner surface of the potential binding cleft for the substrate. These results strongly suggest that the H, E, C, and H residues are involved in the formation of a conserved catalytic surface of the SaV and FCV 3C-like proteases.

scholarly journals Primary structure of the cytosolic β-glucosidase of guinea pig liver

1996 ◽  
Vol 319 (3) ◽  
pp. 829-837 ◽  
Author(s):  
William S HAYS ◽  
Steven A. JENISON ◽  
Takashi YAMADA ◽  
Andrzej PASTUSZYN ◽  
Robert H. GLEW
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Amino Acid Sequence ◽  
Guinea Pig ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Pig Liver ◽  
Reading Frame ◽  
Degenerate Oligonucleotide ◽  
Guinea Pig Liver

The cytosolic β-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21) present in the livers of mammalian species is distinguished by its broad specificity for sugars and its preference for hydrophobic aglycones. We purified the cytosolic β-glucosidase from guinea pig liver and sequenced 142 amino acid residues contained within 12 trypsin digest fragments. Using degenerate oligonucleotide primers deduced from the peptide sequences, a 622 bp cytosolic β-glucosidase cDNA was amplified by reverse-transcriptase PCR, using total guinea pig liver RNA as template. The ‘rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE)’ method [Frohman (1993) Methods Enzymol. 218, 340–356] was used to synthesize the remaining segments of the full-length cDNA. The complete cDNA contained 1671 nucleotides with an open reading frame coding for 469 amino acid residues. The amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNA sequence included the amino acid sequences of all 12 trypsin digest fragments derived from the purified enzyme. Amino acid sequence analysis indicates that the guinea pig liver cytosolic β-glucosidase is a Family 1 β-glycosidase and that it is most closely related to mammalian lactase-phlorizin hydrolase. These results suggest that the cytosolic β-glucosidase and lactase-phlorizin hydrolase diverged from a common evolutionary precursor.

scholarly journals In Immunization with Plasmodium falciparum Apical Membrane Antigen 1, the Specificity of Antibodies Depends on the Species Immunized

2007 ◽  
Vol 75 (12) ◽  
pp. 5827-5836 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazutoyo Miura ◽  
Hong Zhou ◽  
Olga V. Muratova ◽  
Andrew C. Orcutt ◽  
Birgitte Giersing ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Growth Inhibition ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Apical Membrane ◽  
Rabbit Model ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Allelic Polymorphism ◽  
Apical Membrane Antigen 1 ◽  
Apical Membrane Antigen

ABSTRACT At least a million people, mainly African children under 5 years old, still die yearly from malaria, and the burden of disease and death has increased. Plasmodium falciparum apical membrane antigen 1 (PfAMA1) is one of the most promising blood-stage malarial vaccine candidates. However, the allelic polymorphism observed in this protein is a potential stumbling block for vaccine development. To overcome the polymorphism- and strain-specific growth inhibition in vitro, we previously showed in a rabbit model that vaccination with a mixture of two allelic forms of PfAMA1 induced parasite growth-inhibitory antisera against both strains of P. falciparum parasites in vitro. In the present study, we have established that, in contrast to a single-allele protein, the antigen mixture elicits primarily antibodies recognizing antigenic determinants common to the two antigens, as judged by an antigen reversal growth inhibition assay (GIA). We also show that a similar reactivity pattern occurs after immunization of mice. By contrast, sera from rhesus monkeys do not distinguish the two alleles when tested by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or by GIA, regardless of whether the immunogen is a single AMA1 protein or the mixture. This is the first report that a malarial vaccine candidate induced different specificities of functional antibodies depending on the animal species immunized. These observations, as well as data available on human immune responses in areas of endemicity, suggest that polymorphism in the AMA1 protein may not be as formidable a problem for vaccine development as anticipated from studies with rabbits and mice.

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