title: Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of two recombinant pseudorabies viruses expressing Toxoplasma gondii SAG1 and MIC3 proteins.
abstract: Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most common parasitic pathogens in humans and warm-blooded animals, causing toxoplasmosis. One of the efficient ways to control this disease is immunization. In this study, two recombinant pseudorabies virus (PRV) expressing TgSAG1 (rPRV-SAG1) and TgMIC3 (rPRV-MIC3) based on the PRV vaccine strain were developed by homologous recombination and used for immunizing BALB/c mice. Ninety BALB/c mice were randomly divided into five groups including four experimental groups (inoculated twice in 4 weeks interval with PRV TK-/gG-/EGFP+, rPRV-SAG1, rPRV-MIC3, rPRV-SAG1+rPRV-MIC3, respectively) and one control group (inoculated with medium). All mice vaccinated with rPRV developed a high level of specific antibody responses against T. gondii lysate antigen (TLA), a strong increase of the splenocyte proliferative response, and significant levels of IFN-γ and IL-2 production. These results demonstrated that rPRV could induce significant humoral and cellular Th1 immune responses. Moreover, rPRV immunization induced partial protection against a lethal challenge with T. gondii RH strain, and neutralizing antibodies against PRV in a BALB/c mouse model. The mice immunized with the rPRV-SAG1 and rPRV-MIC3 cocktail could develop higher T. gondii-specific IgG antibodies and lymphocyte proliferative responses and conferred more efficient protection against T. gondii challenge. These results suggested that expression of protective antigens of T. gondii in PRV is a novel approach towards the development of a vaccine against both animal pseudorabies and toxoplasmosis.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Sizhishan Street, Hubei, Wuhan 430070, PR China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Bing-Qing
authors.initials: BQ
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Li-Xia
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Yan-Qin
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jun-Long
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D011558:Herpesvirus 1, Suid / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000378:metabolism*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D016207:Cytokines; C421382:MIC3 protein, Toxoplasma gondii; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines; C047168:SAG1 antigen, Toxoplasma; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic