Molecular characterization of Tritrichomonas foetus surface proteins

RIVERO, MARÍA BELÉN; ABDALA, MARIA EUGENIA; LUQUE, MELCHOR EMILIO; LUNA, BRUNO ELÍAS; DI LULLO, DAVID; CARRANZA, PEDRO GABRIEL; RIVERO, FERNANDO DAVID

MAR DEL PLATA

Congreso; REUNIÓN ANUAL DE SOCIEDADES DE BIOCIENCIA; 2019

SAIC, SAFE, SAB,SAP, AACYTAL, NANOMED-ar, HCS

Bovine Trichomonosis, whose causative agent is the protozoan Tritrichomonas foetus (T. foetus), is one of the most common endemic infections of the reproductive tract of livestock. Its diagnosis is difficult due to lack of trained people and effective tools that allow early detection to prevent its spread. Little is known about the molecular biology of this parasite and its potential antigen targets. In this sense, the study of its surface proteins is of great interest to identify new diagnostic targets as well as to elucidate possible mechanisms of evasion of the immune response. The aim of this work was to characterize different surface antigens of T. foetus. Six candidate proteins for surface proteins were selected and the search for these genes in the genome of T. foetus was performed. Their presence in the genome of the isolates and that of their transcripts was confirmed by the use of specific primers by PCR and RT-PCR respectively. To study the presence of the translation products, plasma membrane proteins were purified by subcellular fractionation and analysed by mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF). The 6 selected genes were found in the genome of the isolates as well as their transcripts. Membrane protein analysis showed the presence of only 3 of them. They represent useful tools for the design of new diagnostic methods through the evaluation of their antigenic characteristics and the development of antibodies that allow them to be detected quickly and specifically.