Protective efficacy of bacterial membranes containing surface-exposed BM95 antigenic peptides for the control of cattle tick infestations

The Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus BM86 and BM95 glycoproteins are homologous proteins that protect cattle against tick infestations. In this study, we demonstrated that the recombinant chimeric protein comprising tick BM95 immunogenic peptides fused to the A. marginale MSP1a N-terminal region for presentation on the Escherichia coli membrane was protective against R. microplus infestations in rabbits. This system provides a novel and simple approach for the production of tick protective antigens by surface display of antigenic protein chimera on live E. coli and suggests the possibility of using recombinant bacterial membrane fractions for vaccination against cattle tick infestations.This research was supported by INIA, Spain (project FAU2008-00014-00-00), the Consejería de Educación y Ciencia, JCCM, Spain (project PEII09-0118-8907) and the CSIC intramural project 200830I249 to J.F.M. Canales was funded by the Wellcome Trust under the “Animal Health in the Developing World” initiative (project 0757990).Peer reviewe