Recognition of conserved surface protein epitopes on Anaplasma centrale and Anaplasma marginale isolates from Israel, Kenya and the United states

Abstract

Palmer G. H., Barbet A. F., Musoke A. J., Katende J. M., Rurangirwa F., Shkap V., Pipano E., Davis W. C. and Mcguire T. C. 1988. Recognition of conserved surface protein epitopes on Anaplasma centrale and Anaplasma marginale isolates from Israel, Kenya and the United States. International Journal for Parasitology 18: 33–38. Field isolates of A. marginale from Israel, Kenya and the United States and Anaplasma centrale were shown to be antigenically distinct using a panel of 1:1 isolaterestricted monoclonal antibodies. One monoclonal antibody reacted with all A. marginale isolates but not A. centrale and may be species-specific. A second panel of seven antibodies detected epitopes common to all isolates and both species. These common epitopes were present on two major Anaplasma surface proteins of M r 36,000 and M r 105,000. Monoclonal antibodies capable of neutralizing heterologous A. marginale isolate infectivity recognized 100% of the organisms in each isolate including A. centrale. In addition, immune sera from cattle recovered from infection with each of the isolates contained high titer antibodies to the isolated surface proteins bearing the common epitopes. These results demonstrate that antigenically distinct Anaplasma isolates and species contain common surface epitopes that may be important in developing effective immunoprophylaxis.