title: Synergistic enhancement of immunogenicity and protection in mice against Schistosoma japonicum with codon optimization and electroporation delivery of SjTPI DNA vaccines.
abstract: Schistosomiasis is an endemic, zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Schistosoma japonicum that remains a public health concern and an effective vaccine is needed. Triose-phosphate isomerase from S. japonicum is a promising schistosome vaccine antigen shown to be immunogenic when delivered as a DNA vaccine, however, the previous S. japonicum triose-phosphate isomerase (SjTPI) DNA vaccine needs to be further optimized to achieve higher protection. In the current study, codon optimization of SjTPI DNA insert, combined with electroporation but not with the addition of a tPA leader or heat-shock protein in-frame with the SjTPI gene insert, enhanced Th1-type antibody and cytokine production and most significantly, achieved great than 50% reduction of infection against challenge with S. japonicum cercariae, a major milestone in S. japonicum vaccine development. Our results suggest that the combination of a codon optimized vaccine design and an efficient vaccine delivery system can greatly improve the potential of a SjTPI DNA vaccine as a viable schistosome vaccine candidate.
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Key Laboratory on Technology for Parasitic Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health, 117 Yangxiang Meiyuan, Wuxi 214064, Jiangsu, China. yczhu2006@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Yinchang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Xiaoting
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jianxia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Shixia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D003062:Codon; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000235:genetics; D018274:Electroporation; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014305:Triose-Phosphate Isomerase / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D003062:Codon; D018509:DNA, Helminth; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014305:Triose-Phosphate Isomerase