THE MSP1-BETA MULTIGENE FAMILY OF ANAPLASMA-MARGINALE - NUCLEOTIDE-SEQUENCE ANALYSIS OF AN EXPRESSED COPY

A gene for the beta subunit of the immunoprotective surface antigen MSP-1 of Anaplasma marginale was previously cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. A nucleic acid probe based on this gene detects A. marginale infection in carrier cattle and in the tick vector. We report here the sequence and structural features of the cloned msp1-beta gene and expressed polypeptide. The gene codes for a polypeptide of 756 amino acids that contains domains of tandemly repeated sequence and glutamine-rich regions at the N and C termini. The cloned copy is a member of a multigene family with multiple restriction fragment length polymorphisms in isolates of this rickettsia from different geographical regions. The availability of the sequence will allow use of the polymerase chain reaction in diagnostic assays and the preparation and testing of different vaccine constructs in cattle.