Exploring the role of infected red blood cell derived exosome-like vesicles in the pathogenesis of bovine babesiosis

Exosomes are small vesicles (50-150 nm in size) secreted by most cell types and are involved in cell - cell communication and regulation of immune responses. The release of exosome-like vesicles from parasites or parasite infected cells are described for several parasitic diseases. Accumulating evidence of exosome-like vesicles in parasitic infection highlights the role of exosomes in host-parasite communication and parasite-parasite communication. However, the release of exosome-like vesicles in babesia infection currently remain unknown. Characterisation of exosome-like vesicles in babesia infection will provide better understanding of babesia pathogenesis and facilitate the identification of novel targets for vaccine or drug development to control bovine babesiosis.This project seeks to identify the components of exosome-like vesicles isolated from babesia infected red blood cells and determine their role in babesia infection and disease. This project will provide an ideal opportunity to learn babesia parasite culture, molecular biological techniques (PCR, qPCR, gene knock-out, molecular cloning and protein expression), proteomics and high-resolution microscopy.