Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Myeloid Cell Isolation from Mouse Skin and Draining Lymph Node Following Intradermal Immunization with Live Attenuated Plasmodium Sporozoites
Published on: May 18, 2016
Anaplasmosis: focusing on host-vector-pathogen interactions for vaccine development
José de la Fuente1, Patricia Ayoubi, Edmour F Blouin
1Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA. jose_delafuente@yahoo.com
Abstract:
Anaplasma marginale and A. phagocytophylum are intracellular rickettsiae that cause bovine anaplasmosis and human granulocytic anaplasmosis, respectively. The ultimate vaccine for the control of anaplasmosis would be one that reduces infection and transmission of the pathogen by ticks. Effective vaccines for control of anaplasmosis are not available despite attempts using different approaches, such as attenuated strains, infected erythrocyte and tick cell-derived purified antigens, and recombinant pathogen and tick-derived proteins. Three lines of functional analyses were conducted by our laboratory to characterize host-tick-Anaplasma interactions to discover potential vaccine candidate antigens to control tick infestations and the infection and transmission of Anaplasma spp.: (1) characterization of A. marginale adhesins involved in infection and transmission of the pathogen, (2) global expression analysis of genes differentially expressed in HL-60 human promyelocytic cells in response to infection with A. phagocytophilum, and (3) identification and characterization of tick-protective antigens by expression library immunization (ELI) and analysis of expressed sequence tags (EST) in a mouse model of tick infestations and by RNA interference in ticks. These experiments have resulted in the characterization of the A. marginale MSP1a as an adhesin for bovine erythrocytes and tick cells, providing support for its use as candidate vaccine antigen for the control of bovine . Microarray analysis of genes differentially expressed in human cells infected with A. phagocytophilum identified key molecules involved in pathogen infection and multiplication. The screening for tick-protective antigens resulted in vaccine candidates reducing tick infestation, molting, and oviposition and affecting Anaplasma infection levels in ticks.
Insights
Developing effective vaccines against Anaplasma is crucial for controlling bovine and human anaplasmosis. This study identified potential vaccine antigens targeting pathogen transmission by ticks and host-pathogen interactions.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Parasitology
- Molecular Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Anaplasma marginale and A. phagocytophilum cause significant animal and human diseases.
- Current vaccines for anaplasmosis are ineffective, necessitating novel control strategies.
- Controlling tick-borne transmission is a key goal for anaplasmosis vaccines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize host-tick-Anaplasma interactions for novel vaccine antigen discovery.
- To find antigens that can reduce Anaplasma infection and transmission by ticks.
- To discover antigens that confer protection against tick infestations.
Main Methods:
- Characterized Anaplasma marginale adhesins involved in infection and transmission.
- Performed global gene expression analysis in human cells infected with A. phagocytophilum.
- Screened for tick-protective antigens using expression library immunization and RNA interference in ticks.
Main Results:
- Identified A. marginale MSP1a as an adhesin for erythrocytes and tick cells, a potential vaccine candidate.
- Discovered key molecules involved in A. phagocytophilum infection and multiplication in human cells.
- Found vaccine candidates that reduced tick infestation, molting, oviposition, and Anaplasma infection levels.
Conclusions:
- Characterization of Anaplasma adhesins and host-pathogen interactions provides new vaccine targets.
- Novel vaccine candidates targeting tick-Anaplasma interactions show promise for controlling anaplasmosis.
- Further research into these identified antigens could lead to effective anaplasmosis control strategies.
Related Concept Videos
Malaria
Arboviral Encephalitis
Toxoplasmosis
Diversity of Protists II

