Immunization effect of recombinant P27/30 protein expressed in Escherichia coli against the hard tick Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) in rabbits

Korean J Parasitol. 2004 Dec;42(4):195-200. doi: 10.3347/kjp.2004.42.4.195.

Abstract

We investigated the induction of resistance to Haemaphysalis longicornis infestation in rabbits that had been immunized with recombinant H. longicornis P27/30 protein. The success of immunological control methods is dependent upon the use of potential key antigens as tick vaccine candidates. Previously, we cloned a gene encoding 27 kDa and 30 kDa proteins (P27/30) of H. longicornis, and identified P27/30 as a troponin I-like protein. In this study, rabbits that were immunized with recombinant P27/30 expressed in Escherichia coli showed the statistically significant longer feeding duration for larval and adult ticks (P<0.05), low engorgement rates in larval ticks (64.4%), and an apparent reduction in egg weights, which suggest that H. longicornis P27/30 protein is a potential candidate antigen for a tick vaccine. These results demonstrated that the recombinant P27/30 protein might be a useful vaccine candidate antigen for biological control of H. longicornis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies / blood
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Insect Proteins / immunology
  • Ixodidae / immunology*
  • Microfilament Proteins / immunology*
  • Rabbits
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology*
  • Tick Infestations / immunology*
  • Tick Infestations / prevention & control

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Insect Proteins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • P27-30 protein, Haemaphysalis longicornis
  • Recombinant Proteins