[Construction of multi-epitope DNA vaccine for Toxoplasma gondii and the study on protective immunity response in mice].
OBJECTIVE
To construct multi-epitope DNA vaccine for Toxoplasma gondii and study its protective immunity response.


METHODS
The gene encoding six polypeptides of T. gondii, which consists of plenty of T and B epitopes, was cloned into the eucaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1(+). BALB/c mice were vaccinated by this multi-epitope based DNA vaccine (intramuscular needle injection). The specific antibody and T cell proliferation were determined. Meanwhile, the DNA-vaccinated mice were challenged with a lethal dose of T. gondii tachyzoites for further observation.


RESULTS
The eukaryotic expression plasmid (pcDNA3.1/T-ME) encoding plenty of T. gondii epitopes was constructed successfully. pcDNA3.1/T-ME immunization induced T. gondii specific humoral and cellular immunity in mice. The mice immunized with pcDNA3.1/T-ME survived significantly longer than the mice in control after challenged by T. gondii RH strain infection.


CONCLUSIONS
The multi-epitope DNA vaccine can induce the protective immunity against T. gondii infection effectively in vivo, which is a potential strategy to control T. gondii infection.
Shi
Lin
L
Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China. shilin@mail.xjtu.edu.cn
Liu
Shan
S
Cheng
Yan-Bin
YB
Fan
Gui-Xiang
GX
Yuan
Yu-Kang
YK
Ai
Li
L
D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D056724:Immunity, Humoral / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000276:immunology; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D000939:Epitopes; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines; D019444:Vaccines, DNA