Species-restricted antibody response against a DNA-construct coding for aspartic proteinase from Schistosoma japonicum.
DNA-based vaccine technology was used to immunize against the schistosome digestive enzyme, cathepsin D aspartic proteinase. The cDNA coding for Schistosomajaponicum aspartic proteinase was cloned in a mammalian expression vector under control of the CMV promoter/enhancer and expressed for the first time in transfected mammalian cells as well as in mice immunized--by means of intra-ear pinna injection--with the aspartic proteinase-encoding DNA construct. Mice developed antibodies which recognized the native protein in homogenates of S. japonicum worms and reacted with the gut and, to a much lesser degree, with the parenchyma of the parasites in cryostat sections. It was noteworthy that the vaccinated mouse sera did not detectably cross-react with S. mansoni antigens either in homogenates or on cryostat sections. By contrast, infection sera of mice or humans strongly cross-reacted with both schistosome species. We conclude that DNA vaccination can induce species-restricted antibody responses against schistosome proteins. The implications of this previously unrecognized specificity are discussed.
Chlichlia
K
K
Department of Tropical Hygiene, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
Bahgat
M
M
Schirrmacher
V
V
Ruppel
A
A
D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D019556:COS Cells; D002402:Cathepsin D / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003429:Cross Reactions; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000276:immunology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014162:Transfection; D014611:Vaccination; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology*
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D018509:DNA, Helminth; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D002402:Cathepsin D