Functions of the proteins Bm86, BmATAQ and an Ixolaris-like protein in Rhipicephalus microplus as candidates for anti-tick vaccines.

Abstract

The function of Bm86, the target protein of vaccines against the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus, as well as the functions of two recently identified candidates for anti-tick vaccines, BmATAQ and Ixolaris-like protein (ILP) are to be investigated in future research. In this research, the coding sequence of these proteins was prepared for yeast two-hybrid screens to investigate other proteins that interact with these anti-tick vaccine candidates. Plasmids of BmATAQ and ILP were successfully prepared for the continuation of the research, but the sequence of Bm86 showed two important mutations, which made the DNA unsuitable for yeast two-hybrid screens. It is important that the functions of these proteins will be discovered and other candidates for anti-tick vaccines will be identified, so that an efficacious and cost-effective vaccine can be made to control cattle tick infestations in Africa.