Evaluation of immune responses in sheep induced by DNA immunization with genes encoding GRA1, GRA4, GRA6 and GRA7 antigens of Toxoplasma gondii.
The dense granule proteins of Toxoplasma gondii are investigated as possible vaccine candidates against the parasite. The aim of this research was to evaluate the immune responses of sheep injected twice, intramuscularly, with DNA plasmids encoding T. gondii dense granule antigens GRA1, GRA4, GRA6 and GRA7 formulated into liposomes. Control sheep were injected with an empty vector or received no injections. The injection of sheep with DNA plasmids encoding for GRA1, GRA4, GRA6 or GRA7 elicited an immune response after the first and the second injections as indicated by the moderate to high antibody responses. The injection of pGRA7 induced a significant level of anti-GRA7 IgG2 antibody and IFN-γ responses indicating a Th1-like immune response whereas injection with pGRA1, pGRA4 and pGRA6 stimulated a IgG1 type antibody response with a limited, if any, IFN-γ response. The results demonstrate that the intramuscular injection of sheep with a DNA liposome formulated plasmid coding for GRA proteins is an effective system that induces a significant immune response against T. gondii.
Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, PO Box 84, Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand. ehiszczynska@yahoo.com
Elżbieta
E
Hiszczyńska-Sawicka
Gabriela
G
Olędzka
Lucyna
L
Holec-Gąsior
Hong
H
Li
Janet Boyu
JB
Xu
Richard
R
Sedcole
Józef
J
Kur
Roy
R
Bickerstaffe
Mirosław
M
Stankiewicz
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D007114:Immunization / Q000662:veterinary; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D008081:Liposomes / Q000494:pharmacology; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D008081:Liposomes; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D007371:Interferon-gamma