Anil-Babesia rodhaini Monoclonal Antibodies: Effect against Babesia rodhaini and Cross-reactivity with Human Starin of Babesia microti

Abstract

Anti-Babesia rodhaini monoclonal antibodies (mAb), namely: 1-E7, 2-H2 and 3-B8, significantly suppressed the development of high parasitemia in BALB/c mice infected with B. rodhaini and all mAb-treated mice survived the infection. While, only monoclonal antibody 3-B8 showed some inhibitory effect against Babesia microti, with mice showing high parasitemia of 18.04 ± 2.69 %, at 9 days post-exposure. Westernblot analysis of B. rodhaini and B. microti parasite extract reacted with anti-B. rodhaini monoclonal antibodies showed cross-reactive bands of molecular weights 62 and 55 kilodaltons. Comparison of the antigenic components of B. rodhaini and B. microti using polyspecific sera revealed several shared or common parasite antigens of molecular weights 62, 55, 45-47, 41, 30-31 and 26-28 kilodaltons.