Immunoinformatics IV: Computational prediction of immuno-dominant variable surface antigen-like protein as a diagnostic marker for bovine trichomonosis

Bovine Trichomonosis is a venereal disease of cattle caused by Trichomonas foetus. Even though it is most common disease, a kit for identification of Trichomonas foetus infection is not yet available. During present investigation, transcriptomics and proteomics based data of the pathogen was evaluated. Simultaneously, similar data on Trichomonas vaginalis, a closely related human parasite, were also analyzed. Immuno-Dominant Variable Surface Antigen-Like Protein was identified as potential virulent protein. TMMHM analysis revealed it to be as transmemebrane protein. It was further analyzed using Epitope Prediction and Analysis Tools, in Immune Epitope Database Analysis Resource. It was pointed out that above protein contained several large continuous epitopes, which can be exploited for developing suitable diagnostics.