The expression and regulation of tribbles in bovine/theileria host pathogen interactions

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Background: The tick-borne protozoan parasite Theileria annulata is of global economic importance as the causative agent of the cattle disease tropical theileriosis. Over 250 million cattle, (around one sixth of the World population), across Europe, Asia and Africa, are at risk of infection. Most pathology caused by the disease is associated with the schizont stage of the parasite, which resides primarily within bovine macrophages, immune cells that should recognize and destroy the parasite. T. annulata alters the phenotype and function of the infected macrophage, altering the expression of host immunomodulatory molecules and in addition, inducing host cell proliferation. The tribbles gene family (Trb) have recently been identified as key regulators of inflammation as well as proliferation. Hypothesis: Trb play a key role in host-pathogen interactions and as T. annulata targets the intracellular pathways controlled by Trb, we propose that Trb may play an important role in the severe dysregulation of the inflammatory response in susceptible cattle. Research at Roslin: We have preliminary data that suggest that Trb are regulated during T. annulata infection.

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