Comparisons of the topographic characteristics and electrical charge distributions among Babesia‐infected erythrocytes and extraerythrocytic merozoites using AFM

Summary Tick‐borne Babesia parasites are responsible for costly diseases worldwide. Improved control and prevention tools are urgently needed, but development of such tools is limited by numerous gaps in knowledge of the parasite–host relationships. We hereby used atomic force microscopy (AFM) and f...

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Published in:	Journal of microscopy (Oxford) Vol. 271; no. 1; pp. 84 - 97
Main Authors:	SCUDIERO, L., MERCADO‐ROJANO, W. DE J., RUDOLPH, A., WANG, J., LAUGHERY, J.M., SUAREZ, C.E.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-07-2018
Subjects:	Atomic force microscope (AFM) Atomic force microscopy Babesia Babesia bigemina Babesia bovis Babesia caballi Babesiosis Blood Charge distribution Electric charge Erythrocytes frequency‐modulated Kelvin probe force microscopy (FM‐KPFM) Lymphocytes B Merozoites Microscopy Parasites Physical properties Ridges Roughness Skewed distributions Surface charge Surface layers Texture Topography merozoites Babesia bigemina Atomic force microscope (AFM) frequency-modulated Kelvin probe force microscopy (FM-KPFM) Babesia bovis Babesia caballi
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Summary:	Summary Tick‐borne Babesia parasites are responsible for costly diseases worldwide. Improved control and prevention tools are urgently needed, but development of such tools is limited by numerous gaps in knowledge of the parasite–host relationships. We hereby used atomic force microscopy (AFM) and frequency‐modulated Kelvin probe potential microscopy (FM‐KPFM) techniques to compare size, texture, roughness and surface potential of normal and infected Babesia bovis, B. bigemina and B. caballi erythrocytes to better understand the physical properties of these parasites. In addition, AFM and FM‐KPFM allowed a detailed view of extraerythrocytic merozoites revealing shape, topography and surface potential of paired and single parasites. B. bovis‐infected erythrocytes display distinct surface texture and overall roughness compared to noninfected erythrocytes. Interestingly, B. caballi‐infected erythrocytes do not display the surface ridges typical in B. bovis parasites. Observations of extraerythrocytic B. bovis, B. bigemina and B. caballi merozoites using AFM revealed differences in size and shape between these three parasites. Finally, similar to what was previously observed for Plasmodium‐infected erythrocytes, FM‐KPFM images reveal an unequal electric charge distribution, with higher surface potential above the erythrocyte regions that are likely associated with Babesia parasites than over its remainder regions. In addition, the surface potential of paired extraerythrocytic B. bovis Mo7 merozoites revealed an asymmetric potential distribution. These observations may be important to better understand the unique cytoadhesive properties of B. bovis‐infected erythrocytes, and to speculate on the role of differences in the distribution of surface charges in the biology of the parasites. Lay description Improved control of Babesiosis parasites is urgently needed. Numerous gaps in knowledge of the parasite–host relationships impede the development of efficient tools for control. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Kelvin probe potential microscopy (FM‐KPFM) techniques were used to obtain detailed microscopic information on size, texture, roughness and surface potential of normal and infected Babesia bovis, B. bigemina and B. caballi red blood cells. In addition, AFM and FM‐KPFM allowed a detailed view of free parasites revealing shape and topography of the surface of paired and single parasites and its surface potential for the first time. A significant increase in diameter of the infected Babesia cells was measured compared to normal red blood cells. B. bigemina and B. caballi‐infected red blood cells do not display the surface ridges typical in B. bovis‐infected red blood cells. B. bovis, B. bigemina and B. caballi parasites also revealed differences in size and shape. FM‐KPFM images reveal an unequal electric charge distribution, with higher positive surface potential above the red blood cells regions harbouring B. bovis parasites whereas surface potential of paired B. bovis Mo7 parasites revealed an asymmetric potential. These observations may help explaining the unique cytoadhesive properties of B. bovis‐infected red blood cells, and mechanisms involved in cell invasion.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0022-2720 1365-2818
DOI:	10.1111/jmi.12697