Anaplasma phagocytophilum transmembrane and surface proteins play a role during infection and multiplication in host neutrophils and tick vector cells. Recently, A. phagocytophilum Major surface protein 4 (MSP4) and Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) were shown to be localized on the bacterial membrane, with a possible role during pathogen infection in ticks. In this study, we hypothesized that A. phagocytophilum MSP4 and HSP70 have similar functions in tick-pathogen and host-pathogen interactions. To address this hypothesis, herein we characterized the role of these bacterial proteins in interaction and infection of vertebrate host cells. The results showed that A. phagocytophilum MSP4 and HSP70 are involved in host-pathogen interactions, with a role for HSP70 during pathogen infection. The analysis of the potential protective capacity of MSP4 and MSP4-HSP70 antigens in immunized sheep showed that MSP4-HSP70 was only partially protective against pathogen infection. This limited protection may be associated with several factors, including the recognition of non-protective epitopes by IgG in immunized lambs. Nevertheless, these antigens may be combined with other candidate protective antigens for the development of vaccines for the control of human and animal granulocytic anaplasmosis. Focusing on the characterization of host protective immune mechanisms and protein-protein interactions at the host-pathogen interface may lead to the discovery and design of new effective protective antigens.

Biology Centre Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of ParasitologyČeské Budějovice Czechia

Departamento de Sanidad Animal Instituto Vasco de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario Derio Spain

Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences Norwegian University of Life SciencesSandnes Norway

Department of Veterinary Pathobiology Center for Veterinary Health Sciences Oklahoma State UniversityStillwater OK United States

Department of Virology Veterinary Research InstituteBrno Czechia

Faculty of Science University of South BohemiaČeské Budějovice Czechia

SaBio Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas CSIC UCLM JCCMCiudad Real Spain

UMR BIPAR Animal Health Laboratory INRA ANSES ENVAMaisons Alfort France

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