Babesia Subtilisin

Abstract

Provided is an isolated and purified protein produced by a naturally occurring Babesia sp. comprising an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:1 and an isolated and purified nucleic acid encoding the above protein. Additionally provided is an isolated and purified nucleic acid comprising at least 20 nucleotides having a sequence 100% identical to a portion of SEQ ID NO:2 or its complement. Further provided is an antibody preparation comprising an antibody that specifically binds to the above protein. Also provided are methods of diagnosing a Babesia sp. infection in a mammal, methods of determining whether a blood preparation is contaminated with a Babesia sp., methods of determining whether a blood preparation is contaminated with a Babesia sp., and methods of treating a mammal infected with a Babesia sp., the method comprising inhibiting the production or activity of the protein comprising an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:1 by the Babesia sp. in the mammal. Additionally provided are methods of screening a compound for treating an infection by a Babesia sp.

1 . A method of treating a mammal infected with a  Babesia  sp., the method comprising:
 inhibiting the production or activity of a protein comprising an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:1; and   treating the infection with the  Babesia  sp. in the mammal.   
     
     
         2 . The method of 1, wherein the mammal is treated with an antibody that specifically binds to said protein. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mammal is treated with at least one protease inhibitor that inhibits the activity of said protein. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mammal is treated with a nucleic acid which inhibits the production of said protein. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said nucleic acid is an aptamer, an antisense molecule, a ribozyme, or an RNAi molecule that specifically inhibits production of the protein by the  Babesia  sp.