Abstract
Microneme proteins play an important role in the invasion process of Apicomplexan parasites through adhesion to host cells. We discovered a new N. caninum protein, NcMIC8, which is highly identical to TgMIC8. The NcMIC8 sequence has 2049 bp and no intron in the open reading fragment. It has a molecular weight of 73.8 kDa and contains a signal peptide, a transmembrane region, a low complexity region and 10 epidermal growth factor (EGF) domains. Immuno-fluorescence assay showed that NcMIC8 is located in the microneme. NcMIC8 was secreted to culture medium under stimulation of 1% ethanol, and cleaved to form the mature body of 40 kDa before transporting to microneme or during secretion. Blocking NcMIC8 using anti-NcMIC8 serum effectively inhibited host cell invasion by tachyzoites in vitro. NcMIC8 in the form of mature body interacts with NcMIC3, and the two microneme proteins form a complex probably during transportation. NcMIC8 is a new microneme protein of N. caninum and could be an attractive target for the control of neosporosis.
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