Cloning and molecular analysis of voraxin-α gene of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus

To identify suitable targets for development of cross-protective tick vaccine, in silico analysis was attempted and male tick derived molecule, voraxin-α was targeted. The voraxin-α homologue of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus was cloned, sequenced and analyzed employing standard methods. The deduced amino acids sequence analysis of the 419 bp cloned voraxin-α gene of R. (B.) microplus indicated very high (94.6 %) similarity with voraxin-α of the R. appendiculatus and moderate to low identity with Amblyomma hebraeum, Dermacentor silvarum and Haemaphysalis longicornis. The results suggest that recombinant voraxin-α might be a good candidate as cross-protective anti-tick vaccine.