DNA Vaccines Encoding Toxoplasma gondii Cathepsin C 1 Induce Protection against Toxoplasmosis in Mice.
10.3347/kjp.2017.55.5.505
- Author:
Yali HAN
1
;
Aihua ZHOU
;
Gang LU
;
Guanghui ZHAO
;
Wenchao SHA
;
Lin WANG
;
Jingjing GUO
;
Jian ZHOU
;
Huaiyu ZHOU
;
Hua CONG
;
Shenyi HE
Author Information
1. Department of Parasitology, Shandong University School of Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, P. R. China. shenyi.he@hotmail.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Toxoplasma gondii;
DNA vaccine;
CPC1;
protective immunity;
mouse
- MeSH:
Animals;
B-Lymphocytes;
Cathepsin C*;
Cathepsins*;
DNA*;
Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte;
Immunoglobulin G;
Interleukin-2;
Mice*;
Peptide Hydrolases;
Spleen;
Toxoplasma*;
Toxoplasmosis*;
Vaccines, DNA*
- From:The Korean Journal of Parasitology
2017;55(5):505-512
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Toxoplasma gondii cathepsin C proteases (TgCPC1, 2, and 3) are important for the growth and survival of T. gondii. In the present study, B-cell and T-cell epitopes of TgCPC1 were predicted using DNAstar and the Immune Epitope Database. A TgCPC1 DNA vaccine was constructed, and its ability to induce protective immune responses against toxoplasmosis in BALB/c mice was evaluated in the presence or absence of the adjuvant α-GalCer. As results, TgCPC1 DNA vaccine with or without adjuvant α-GalCer showed higher levels of IgG and IgG2a in the serum, as well as IL-2 and IFN-γ in the spleen compared to controls (PBS, pEGFP-C1, and α-Galcer). Upon challenge infection with tachyzoites of T. gondii (RH), pCPC1/α-Galcer immunized mice showed the longest survival among all the groups. Mice vaccinated with DNA vaccine without adjuvant (pCPC1) showed better protective immunity compared to other controls (PBS, pEGFP-C1, and α-Galcer). These results indicate that a DNA vaccine encoding TgCPC1 is a potential vaccine candidate against toxoplasmosis.
