Evaluation of Protective Immune Response Induced by a DNA Vaccine Encoding GRA8 against Acute Toxoplasmosis in a Murine Model
10.3347/kjp.2018.56.4.325
- Author:
Jia Qi CHU
1
;
Shuai HUANG
;
Wei YE
;
Xuan Yan FAN
;
Rui HUANG
;
Shi Cai YE
;
Cai Yuan YU
;
Wei Yun WU
;
Yu ZHOU
;
Wei ZHOU
;
Young Ha LEE
;
Juan Hua QUAN
Author Information
1. Stem Cell Research and Cellular Therapy Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong 524001, China.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Toxoplasma gondii;
DNA vaccine;
GRA8;
immune response
- MeSH:
Animals;
DNA;
Humans;
Immunity, Cellular;
Immunization;
Immunoglobulin G;
Incidence;
Interleukin-10;
Interleukin-12;
Mice;
Parasites;
Plasmids;
Toxoplasma;
Toxoplasmosis;
Vaccination
- From:The Korean Journal of Parasitology
2018;56(4):325-334
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan zoonotic protozoan parasite that infects most species of warm-blooded animals, including humans. The heavy incidence and severe or lethal damage caused by T. gondii infection clearly indicate a need for the development of an effective vaccine. T. gondii GRA8 is a member of the dense granules protein family and is used as a marker of acute infection. In the present study, we evaluated the protective immunity induced by DNA vaccination based on a recombinant eukaryotic plasmid, pDsRed2-GRA8, against acute toxoplasmosis in mice. BALB/c mice were intramuscularly immunized with the pDsRed2-GRA8 plasmid and then challenged by infection with the highly virulent GFP-RH strain of T. gondii. The specific immune responses and protective efficacy against T. gondii of this vaccine were analyzed by measuring cytokine and serum antibody titers, splenocyte proliferation assays, and the survival times of mice after challenge. Our results showed that mice immunized with pDsRed2-GRA8 demonstrated specific humoral and cellular responses, induced higher IgG antibody titers with predominant IgG2a production; increased levels of IL-10, IL-12 (p70), IFN-γ, TNF-α, and splenocyte proliferation; and prolonged survival times compared to those of control mice. The present study showed that DNA immunization with pDsRed2-GRA8 induced humoral and cellular immune responses, and all immunized mice showed greater Th1-type immune responses and longer survival times than those of control mice. These results indicated that T. gondii GRA8 DNA immunization induces a partial protective effect against acute toxoplasmosis.
