Glycoprotein antigen BM86 (Bm86) (Bm86)

Glycoprotein antigen BM86 is a membrane-bound protein primarily expressed on the surface of the midgut epithelial cells of the cattle tick, Rhipicephalus microplus [1, 2]. It is a 650-amino acid polypeptide containing multiple epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domains and is anchored to the cell membrane via a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor [1, 2]. While its exact physiological role is not fully understood, it is believed to be involved in endocytosis and maintaining the structural integrity of the tick's digestive system [1, 3, 6]. BM86 is the target of the first commercially successful recombinant vaccines for ectoparasite control, such as Gavac and TickGARD [4, 6, 7]. When cattle are vaccinated with recombinant BM86, they develop specific antibodies that are ingested by the tick during blood feeding [1, 6]. These antibodies bind to the BM86 protein in the tick's gut, leading to complement-independent cell lysis and destruction of the gut wall [6, 8, 10]. This process significantly reduces tick survival, engorgement weight, and reproductive capacity, thereby controlling tick infestations and reducing the transmission of tick-borne diseases like bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis [1, 6, 7].

Other names

Protective antigenGut surface antigen Bm86Bm86 antigenrBm86

Induction of host antibodies (IgG) that, when ingested by the tick during blood feeding, bind to the Bm86 protein on the surface of the tick's midgut epithelial cells, causing complement-independent cell lysis and gut rupture.