title: IL-18 enhances protective effect in mice immunized with a Schistosoma japonicum FABP DNA vaccine.
abstract: Two recombinant plasmids, pVAX/SjFABP and pVAX/mIL-18 containing Schistosoma japonicum 14 kDa fatty acid binding protein (SjFABP) and murine IL-18, were constructed and evaluated for their ability to induce immune responses and to protect against S. japonicum challenge in mice. Mice were intramuscularly immunized twice at three-weekly intervals, and challenged with S. japonicum cercariae at 4 weeks after the last vaccination. All animals vaccinated with pVAX/SjFABP alone or plus pVAX/mIL-18 developed specific anti-SWAP ELISA antibody and T lymphocyte proliferation. Co-injection of pVAX/mIL-18 significantly increased the production of IFN-gamma and IL-2 compared with pVAX/SjFABP alone, indicating that IL-18 enhances the Th1-dominant immune response. The challenge experiment showed that co-injection of plasmid encoding IL-18 significantly enhances protective effect against S. japonicum infection, as demonstrated by worm reduction rates and the hepatic egg reduction rates 45 days post-challenge. These results indicated that IL-18 may become a novel vaccine adjuvant for development of vaccines against schistosomiasis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology, Veterinary Institute, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun 130062, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Quan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yujia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.forename: Zhiqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Wensen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Limin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.forename: Jingtao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Men
authors.forename: Shengyan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Hai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lian
authors.forename: Hongtao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jiaojiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yaojun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Zhiping
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Xing-Quan
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D010957:Plasmids; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D020382:Interleukin-18; D007376:Interleukin-2; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D007371:Interferon-gamma