Comparison of the Molecular Structure of the TaSP Gene of Theileria annulata from Sudanese Isolates

Abstract

The polymorphic region of the Theileria annulata surface protein (TaSP) was cloned and sequenced from different isolates of cattle and cell lines from different areas of Sudan. Amino acid sequence alignment revealed a high diversity showing amino acid and length polymorphism, both within and between parasite isolates. The generation of TaSP diversity may allow the evasion of host immunity by the parasite since TaSP is a highly antigenic parasite protein.