Expression of Babesia gibsoni thrombospondin-related adhesive protein in Toxoplasma gondii and evaluation of its antigenicity and immunogenicity

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A gene encoding Babesia gibsoni thrombospondin-related adhesive protein (BgTRAP), known as a vaccine candidate, was stably expressed in Toxoplasma gondii (Tg/BgTRAP). The molecular weight and the antigenic reaction of recombinant BgTRAP expressed by the Tg/BgTRAP were similar to the original ones expressed by B. gibsoni. To evaluate the antigenicity of the recombinant BgTRAP expressed by T. gondii, the lysates of the recombinant parasite tachyzoites were intraperitoneally injected into mice. The serum collected from Tg/BgTRAP-immunized mouse could react to B. gibsoni parasites, while the serum collected from wild-type T. gondii tachyzoites (Tg/wt)-immunized mice did not. These results indicate that T. gondii could provide a new tool to produce foreign antigens from other protozoan parasites and the recombinant BgTRAP expressed by T. gondii might be a useful antigen for developing a diagnostic reagent and vaccine to control canine babesiosis.