Multi-epitope recombinant vaccine induces immunoprotection against mixed infection of Eimeria spp.
Immunity to Eimeria is species-specific, and chickens with immunity to one species of Eimeria remain susceptible to other Eimeria species. This presents a major challenge in the development of effective vaccines against multiple Eimeria species. In this study, we cloned the antigenic epitope of a tachyzoite surface protein gene of Eimeria tenella, a tachyzoite surface protein gene of Eimeria acervulina and the gametocyte protein gene of Eimeria maxima, and constructed prokaryotic and eukaryotic plasmids carrying the multi-epitope antigenic gene. Immunization of chickens with the multivalent DNA and protein conferred partial protection against infection by the three Eimeria species, as shown by increased CD4+ T lymphocytes in the intestinal mucosa, decreased oocyst excretion and intestinal lesions, and increased body weight gain compared with non-immunized controls. The DNA prime-protein boost immunization schedule induced greater cellular immunity and protection from Eimeria infection than immunization with DNA or protein alone. Our findings demonstrated that DNA prime-protein boost immunization with a multivalent vaccine could stimulate protective immunity against challenge infection of multiple Eimeria species. This work provides a promising step towards DNA-protein vaccination against multiple species of pathogens.
Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture and National animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
Jun
J
Ding
Weifeng
W
Qian
Qun
Q
Liu
Qiaorong
Q
Liu
D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002645:Chickens; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D060085:Coinfection / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016786:Eimeria tenella / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology; D059208:Parasite Load; D010957:Plasmids; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D000939:Epitopes; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic