Two recombinant plasmids pVAX/Sj23 and pVAX/mIL-18 containing Schistosoma japonicum 23 000 membrane protein (Sj23) and murine IL-18 were evaluated for their ability to induce immune responses and to protect against S. japonicum challenge in mice. All animals vaccinated with pVAX/Sj23 alone or plus pVAX/mIL-18 developed specific anti-SWAP (soluble worm antigen preparation) ELISA antibody and splenocyte proliferation response,and co-injection of pVAX/mIL-18 significantly increased the production of IFN-γ and IL-2 compared with pVAX/Sj23 alone, indicating that IL-18 enhances the Th1-dominant immune response. The challenge experiment showed that worm reduction rates in pVAX/Sj23 group compared with control group (pVAX1) was 26.5% and in the pVAX/Sj23 plus pVAX/mIL-18 group was 41.9% ,and the hepatic egg reduction rates were 42.7 and 49.6%,respectively. These results indicated that co-injection of an IL-18 plasmid with Sj23 DNA vaccine efficiently improves the protective effect against S. japonicum infection.

Objective To test the protective immunity in mice induced by recombinant Schistosoma japonicum Sj14FABP through several adjuvant formulations. Methods The recombinant Schistosoma japonicum Sj14FABP was prepared by expression in E. coli as a GST fusion protein (rSj14/GST) and used to vaccinate outbred Kunming mice by using complete Freund's adjuvant (FCA)/incomplete Freund's adjuvant (FIA), Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and the immunostimulating complex (ISCOM) as adjuvant respectively. Results The purified recombinant protein rSj14/GST was immunogenic in mice, and 34.3% and 36.0% worm reduction rates were obtained in outbred Kunming mice immunized intradermally with BCG adjuvant and immunized subcutaneously with ISCOM adjuvant respectively, compared with non-vaccinated control group. However, intramuscularly vaccination with rSj14/GST in FCA/FIA was not protective, although the high level of IgG antibody was induced. Conclusion Both BCG and ISCOM are suitable adjuvants for rSj14/GST.

The gene fragment encoding the egg-shell precursor protein of Schistosoma japonicum was amplified with RT-PCR by using PCR primer designed according to the 423 bp cDNA fragment of the Philippine strain of S.japonicum, the corresponding mDNA fragment of Chinese strain as template and then the 5' and 3' ends of this gene cDNA were amplified with 5' RACE and 3' RACE by using a series of primers designed according to the result of sequencing. Result of sequence analysis showed that this fragment, named as Sj423, contained a complete open reading frame (ORF) of gene encoding the egg-shell precursor protein of S.japonicum.(Chinese strain). As demonstrated by sequencing analysis. No intron could be detected in this gene fragment. This gene was subsequently expressed in E.coli after cloning into the expression vector pET28c(+). The molecular mass of the expressed product of this gene was 20.9 kDa as revealed by SDS-PAGE analysis, and Western blot analysis showed that the recombinant protein expressed could react well with the rabbit antiserum against the worm antigen of S.japonicum;indicating the good antigenicity of this expressed product.

Objective To express the gene encoding mature protease of Schistosoma japonicum asparaginyl endopeptidase (Sj32) and evaluate the potential of the recombinant protein rSj32 in diagnosis of domestic animal schistosomiasis. Methods The DNA fragment encoding mature protease of Schistosoma japonicum asparaginyl endopeptidase was cloned with PCR from pET-28(a)/Sj32, and a recombinant plasmid was previously constructed in the laboratory, which contained the ORF of the gene encoding the pro-enzyme Sj32. The amplified DNA fragment was subcloned into pET-28a( + ) and the recombinant plasmid was transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3) to express the mature protease of Sj32. Then the recombinant antigen (rSj32) was used in ELISA assay to diagnose schistosomiasis of mice, rabbits and water buffalo artificially infected. The detection effects of soluble Schistosoma japonicum egg antigen (SEA) , rSj32 and the recombinant 23 KDa membrane protein were compared. Results The recombinant antigen rSj32 with a molecular weight 41 KDa was successfully produced in E. coli BL21 ( DE3) and was purified with His Column with a yield of 25 mg/L E. coli culture. By using rSj32 as coating antigen in ELISA assay to detect the specific antibody in artificially infected mice, rabbits and buffalo, the sensitivities were 88.9% , 85.0% and 71.8% , respectively, the specificities were 100% , 96.7% and 96. 9% , respectively. There were no significant differences among the detection results of rSj32, SEA and rSj23. Conclusion rSj32 is a promising antigen for serological diagnosis of domestic animal schistosomiasis.

Objective To screen protective antigen genes and construct the T7 phage display library from adult worms of Schistosoma japonicum.Methods Total RNA was extracted from adult worms of S.japonicum by Trizol reagent and mRNA was isolated from the total RNA.The ds cDNA was synthesized by reverse transcription using random primer.Directional EcoRⅠ/HindⅢ linkers were ligated into the ends of ds cDNA and the ds cDNA was digested with EcoRⅠand HindⅢ,which resulted in ds cDNA with EcoRⅠand HindⅢ adhering ends.The digested ds cDNA fragments longer than 300 bp in length were fractionated and ligated into T7 Select 10-3b vector.After packaging in vitro,the T7 Select 10-3b vector was transformed into BLT5403 to construct the T7 phage display cDNA library.Plaque assay and PCR were used to evaluate the library.Seven known objective genes of S.japonicum were screened by PCR to detect the representation of the library.Result Primary library capacity was 4.98?106 pfu,and the titer of amplified library was 3.85?1011 pfu/mL.The PCR identification result of 96 clones picked at random showed that recombination rate was 93.8%,in which 95.6% inserted cDNA fragments were longer than 300 bp in length.All the seven known objective genes of S.japonicum were amplified from the library.Conclusion The T7 phage display library from adult worms of Schistosoma japonicum was constructed.

Objective: To systematically review the safety and efifciency for dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) ≤ 6 months and DAPT ≥ 12 months in patients after drug eluting stent (DES) implantation. Methods: We collected the data for randomized clinical trials for DAPT ≤ 6 months and DAPT ≥ 12 months in patients after DES implantation up to 2015-01 by searching the literatures of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Scopus and Chinese literature database, and meanwhile collected the relevant reporting cases from both domestic and international cardiovascular conferences for this study. There were 2 investigators independently conducted the literature screening, data extraction and quality evaluation, Meta analysis was performed with STATA 12.0 software. Results: A total of 15,378 patients from 7 eligible studies were enrolled and the patients were divided into 2 groups: DAPT ≤ 6 months group,n=7672 and DAPT ≥ 12 months group,n=7706. Meta analysis indicated that DAPT ≤ 6 months could effectively reduce the major bleeding (OR=0.58, 95% CI 0.37-0.91,P=0.017). While the other incidences between 2 groups were similar as all cause death (OR=0.90, 95% CI 0.73-1.11,P=0.314), cardiac death (OR=0.93, 95% CI 0.70-1.24,P=0.617), myocardial infarction (OR=1.13, 95% CI 0.91-1.41,P=0.275), in stent thrombosis (OR=1.21, 95% CI 0.79-1.85,P=0.382) and cerebrovascular accidents (OR=1.00, 95% CI 0.66-1.51,P=1.000). Conclusion: The incidence rates of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events are similar in patients with DAPT ≤ 6 months and DAPT ≥ 12 months after DES implantation. DAPT ≤ 6 month had the lower risk of bleeding, which is rather suitable for the patients received new generation of DES, with higher risk of bleeding, lower risk of thrombosis and with poor compliance to medication; however, the large and randomized clinical trials are needed to make ifnal conclusion.

Objective To look for the genes of Schistosoma japonicum related to the Schistosoma-resistance of Microtus fortis.Methods The fresh sera of Microtus fortis were used to screen a T7 phage display cDNA library from worms of Schistosoma japonicum established in our lab.The positive clones were sequenced and functionally analysed through bioinformatics.Results The specific phages binding to the sera of Microtus fortis were enriched 857-fold after three rounds of biopanning,and 58 positive clones picked at random were sequenced and 10 ESTs were obtained.BLASTn results showed that 7 ESTs had 99%-100% similarity to the genes of Shistosoma japonicum reported in GenBank and 1 EST had 82% similarity to a zinc finger protein encoden gene from Pan troglodytes.The results of these ESTs function prediction indicated most of them were involved in the regulation of gene expresion of Schistosoma japonicum.Conclusions Several target genes of Schistosoma japonicum related to the Schistosoma-resistance of Microtus fortis are obtained and those would lay foundation to expatiate the native resistance mechnism of Microtus fortis to Schistosoma japonicum.

Objective To investigate the pharmacokinetics and relative bioavailability of praziquantel injection in buffaloes in contrast to praziquantel tablet. Methods A single oral administration of praziquantel tablet at a dose of 20 mg/kg or intramus-cular administration of praziquantel injection at a dose of 10 mg/kg was performed in six healthy adult buffalos according to a two-period crossover design. The praziquantel concentration in plasma was determined by a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)method. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by non-compartmental analysis. Results The main pharma-cokinetic parameters of praziquantel tablet were as follows:Tmax=(0.60±0.29)h,Cmax=(0.57±0.37)μg/ml,T1/2β=(0.70±0.42) h,AUC=(0.80±0.70)(μg/ml)·h. The main pharmacokinetic parameters of praziquantel injection were as follows:Tmax=(0.65± 0.49)h,Cmax=(3.82 ± 1.17)μg/ml,T1/2β=(1.00 ± 0.73)h,AUC=(1.61 ± 0.89)(μg/ml)·h. The relative bioavailability of pra-ziquantel injection was 402.5％in contrast to praziquantel tablet. Conclusion The praziquantel injection has pharmacokinetic characteristics of rapid absorption,high bioavailability and extensive distribution,and the clinical recommended dosage of pra-ziquantel injection is 10 mg/kg.

Objective To construct a T7 phage display cDNA library from the lung of Microtus fortis for further screening the schistosomiasis-resistence-related genes of Microtus fortis. Methods mRNA was isolated from total RNA extracted from the lungs of Microtus fortis by TRIzol reagent, and was used to synthesize double strain cDNA by the reverse transcription. Then the double strain cDNA was given with EcoRⅠ and Hind Ⅲ adhering ends by ligation with the directional EcoRⅠ/Hind Ⅲ linkers and digestion with EcoRⅠ and Hind Ⅲ. The double strain cDNA fragments longer than 300 bp in length were fractionated by the Mini Column, and ligated into the T7 Select 10-3b vector with EcoRⅠ and Hind Ⅲ adhering ends. After packaging in vitro, the recombinant T7 Select 10-3b was transformed into BLT5403 to construct a T7 phage display cDNA library. Results The library constructed here contained 1.5?106 clones and the titer of the amplied library was 1.1?1012 pfu/ml. The PCR identification results of 100 clones picked at random showed that 91% clones were recombinant and 90% of recombinant clones contained cDNA fragments longer than 300 bp in length. Conclusion A T7 phage display cDNA library from the lung of Microtus fortis is successfully constructed.

Phosphoglycerate mutase (PGAM) is a key enzyme in glycolytic pathways. With PCR technique based on an EST identified in our lab, a novel gene named SjPGAM (GenBank Accession No. EU374631) was cloned. Sequence analysis revealed that the ORF of SjPGAM gene contained 753 nucleotides, encoding 250 amino acids, and the molecular weight was about 28.26 kD. Real-time PCR analysis showed that the mRNA level of SjPGAM was much higher in the 14 days and 19 days schistosomula than other stages, suggesting that the gene was a schistosomula stage differential expression gene. The SjPGAM cDNA fragment was subcloned into an expression vector pET-28a (+) and transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 cells. In the presence of IPTG, the 31 kD fusion protein was expressed in included bodies. Western blotting revealed that the fusion protein could be recognized by the rabbit serum anti-Schistosoma japonicum adult worm antigen preparation. The study provides important basis for investigating the mechanism of the PGAM in the glycolytic pathways of Schistosoma japonnicum.
Animals ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Phosphoglycerate Mutase ; genetics ; immunology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Schistosoma japonicum ; enzymology ; genetics ; Schistosomiasis japonica ; immunology ; parasitology