The present study was conducted to identify new target immunogenic molecules from the larval stage of the cattle tick, Boophilus annulatus (Acari: Ixodidae). Two specific larval glycoproteins (GLPs) were isolated by two-step affinity chromatography. The larval immunogens were first purified with CNBr-Sepharose coupled to rabbit anti-larval immunoglobulins, and the glycoproteins were then purified with Con-A Sepharose. These glycoproteins have molecular weights of approximately 32 and 15 kDa with isoelectric points between 6.8 and 7.2. Antibodies against the two GLPs, labeled I and II, were detected in the anti-whole tick, -whole larval, and -gut antigens through immunoblot analysis. These results suggest that these GLPs are good immunogens and can be useful in the vaccination of cattle against tick infestation.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Cattle ; Cattle Diseases/immunology/*parasitology/prevention & control ; Chromatography, Affinity ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Glycoproteins/immunology/*isolation & purification ; Immunoblotting ; Isoelectric Focusing ; Ixodidae/chemistry/*immunology ; Male ; Molecular Weight ; Rabbits ; Sequence Analysis, Protein ; Tick Infestations/immunology/parasitology/prevention & control/*veterinary