Comparison of high throughput RNA sequences between Babesia bigemina and Babesia bovis revealed consistent differential gene expression that is required for Babesia life cycle in the vertebrate and invertebrate hosts.

To understand Babesia gene regulation during tick and mammalian host infection, we performed high throughput RNA-sequencing using samples collected from calves and Rhipicephalus microplus ticks infected with Babesia bigemina. We evaluated gene expression differences between B. bigemina kinetes and blood-stage parasites Overall design: Parasite mRNA isolated from 3 biological replicates for each of bovine blood stage and tick kinete stage parasites were compared by RNAseq methodology using Illumina technology.