Molecular characterisation of paraflagellar rod protein gene (PFR) of Trypanosoma evansi

Abstract

Paraflagellar rod (PFR), the major constituent proteins of flagellum, is restricted to kinetoplastids, euglenoids and dinoflagellates. Owing to their strategic location and invariable nature the proteins are considered as prospective vaccine targets. The present communication reports molecular cloning of the coding sequences of PFR1 and PFR2 genes, the two important constituent proteins of PFR of Trypanosoma evansi, Izatnagar isolate. The cloned nucleotide sequence of PFR1 revealed 99.8% sequence homology between the Izatnagar and China isolates with a single nucleotide change at position 867 bp of PFR1 open reading frame (ORF). The nucleotide sequencing data also revealed 99.8, 82.1, 79.9 and 72.9% sequence homology with Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania infantum and Crithidia daenei, respectively. The cloned nucleotide sequence of PFR2 gene revealed 99.9% sequence homology between the Izatnagar and China isolates with a single nucleotide change at position 928 bp of PFR2 ORF of Izatnagar isolate. The PFR2 nucleotide sequence also showed 99.9, 82.4, 75.3 and 74.8% sequence homology with the published sequence of T. brucei, T. cruzi, L. infantum and C. fasciculata, respectively. The conserved nature of various PFR genes present in kinetoplastids could be exploited for development of a protective vaccine against multiple Trypanosoma species. © 2013 © 2013 Taylor & Francis.